Helluva Boss Codename Ghost

Change of pace

"Huh? Oh yeah! Sorry. "
I say my voice is off.

"Adrian, are you ok?" Of course, she hears the vocal patterns in my words.

"Yeah.. yeah, I'm ok. I'm fine just just a little distracted right now, Fatima- FATIMA!".

"Boss, what happened?". she says.

As I said her name, I knew what I could do to keep the empire rolling and also help a friend.

"Nothing, everything is fine, my dear. Listen, Fatima, I need to talk to you tomorrow. This can't wait. "

"Ok, sure.." she sounds worried but willing. "ok, I'll be at the house when you arrive."

"Alright, I'm on my way now."

I hang up, and for the first time in a long time, a weight is lifted off of me, and the clouds begin to part. I put away the phone and restarted my car. I pull out of the parking area and head to the highway again. I knew what I was going to do...what I had to do.

"Hi Adrian?" she asks, sticking her head through the door.

"Is everything ok?" she repeats.

"Yes, I'm fine. I have something I wish to speak with you about. Please come in and sit down. "

She crosses the space between us and sits down, crossing her legs, her hands joined together waiting.

"So I've given this a lot of thought and a lot of consideration, and after much deliberation, I've decided to step down."

Her eyes appear shocked, her mouth agape. "Step down?" she asks. "I don't understand."

"I know Fatima, it's just time for me to step away. I've been at this for years, and I don't think I was meant to rule an empire. It's been a great few years. Don't get me wrong, I've done things I'd never thought possible. But the time has come, and I'm done. "

"So you're firing me?'

"No, absolutely not Fatima, quite the opposite. Would you be willing to hear my proposal?"

"I...trust you."

"As I said, I've called you here today to announce my abdication. But what I'd like to happen is also my biggest conundrum. If I leave the empire, it'll fall apart, and all our work is gone. My proposal is this: I'd like to pass the reins to you. "

"Me?" she says, shocked.

"Absolutely, you've been with the household since the beginning, and you know how the empire functions down to the last final detail. Everyone trusts you, and you understand business. I want to pass everything over to someone I know I can trust. "

"I don't know what to say."

"Well, you can start by saying thank you and by accepting my offer."

"Are you making a deal with me?". she asks worriedly.

"No deal, Fatima, you're my friend, and I care about you. I'm offering you my world in exchange for relinquishing my title. "

"How would this work exactly?"

"I would relinquish all the empire's assets to you. The house, the businesses, the hustles, and everything in between would become yours to do with as you see fit. I'm doing this for you and your family. "

"What about them?".

"I'm passing everything to you so that they can have the life they deserve. In addition, I will be transferring over to you 75 percent of my financial assets. "

She drops her tablet on the ground with a clatter.

"75%?" she's stunned "Adrian that's too much. That's your money -"

"It's Greeze's money just like this is Greeze's house. There's a reason I haven't gone to the next floor and kept Greeze's room sealed off and why I've been in my quarters since. I'll be retaining 25% of the money I made him in the past 5 years. The rest along with this house and empire will be yours. Keep it, sell it, and do whatever makes you and your family happy. "

"How would this work?".

"All you have to do is sign here." I pushed the contract the lawyer drew up for us. She takes a second to look it over before she signs the paper.

"Now we'll shake on it," I say, coming from around the desk, stopping in front of her to extend my hand to her. She takes it with hesitation immediately. I feel that the life and power that I had acquired from Greeze spilled into her.

"Now it is finished Fatima, all the powers of an overlord are now yours. You will now be the acting overlord for this district. "

"I feel so different," she says.

"It'll take some getting used to, but you'll be fine," I say to her. "Now the contract you signed is relinquishing my powers and assets to you. as well as the transfer of the house and financial assets as well. Now, the contract will take a few days to go through, but as far as I'm concerned, you and your family can move in tomorrow if you wish. "

She cries quietly, looking at me.

"I'll never forget what you did for me."

She closed the distance and hugged me.

"You deserve this. It should have been you that took over, not me. But I like to hope the progress made will make your reign easier. "

The next morning, I packed up what little possessions I had along with my clothes and any other thing I might want to take with me. I made sure to grab the salts in the bathroom cabinets. I took one last inventory of the room and one last look around, I knew that one way or another, I wouldn't be coming back here again, and I was on my own. But for the first time since I arrived here, I was happy, optimistic, and ready for my afterlife. I passed over the deed to Fatima and her family and made sure that it was ironclad. It was a good thing for them, and for me, it was time to say goodbye to the place anyway.

Fatima helped me load my two bags into the trunk of my car even though I could have done it without her help.

I shut the trunk and turned to her.

"Well... I guess this is it." I say.

"We'll miss you,"

"I know, but we'll both be fine, and your family will be happier here,"

"Yeah, the little ones have been bouncing up the walls since I told them. They'll be arriving this evening after school, " she said. "So what will you do now?".

"Well, I think I wanna relax for a few days, sit back, and enjoy the afterlife."

I checked my phone and the email from I.M.P. confirming an appointment for an interview in a few days at 10:30 am.

"Who knows, maybe I'll get a part-time job."
I turn to my car to leave.

"Wait before you go," says Fatima
"There's one last thing, I have something for you."

"What's that?"

Fatima reached into her pocket and opened her hand to me, showing me a ring in the center of her palm, one I recognized immediately.

"Is..that-?"

She nods.

"But I saw him destroy it,"

"I found it the other day while going through Greeze's things he never destroyed it. He couldn't. It was the symbol of your deal with him. I don't know if it was a magic Trick or what he was planning, but it's still intact. I know that it can never replace her or get back your old life, but I thought you'd like this back. "

I take the ring from her. I turn it over in my hands, running my fingers over the familiar grooves. I smiled, placing it into my pocket. The ring seemed to weigh a ton.

"Thank you. You've always been a good friend to me, and I'll never forget what you've done for me. "

"Your empire will be here for you when you return."

I smile at her.

"We'll see," I say. I hugged her one last time. And get into my car. I drive down the lane, stopping at the gate, which opens to let me out. I drive through the gate onto the street. Fatima, a sad, resigned face, is the last I see before it closes behind me.