Chapter 1: Lucky Day

"You cut your hair again." Mr. Delacqua said as they walked down the halls of Delacqua Tech.

"I did. I think it looks good, don't you?" Charlie Delacqua replied to her father. She brought her hand up, and ran it through her short, dark brown hair.

"Your choice of outfit for today is, uhm, interesting as well." He said with a tight nod.

Charlie simply smiled back at him and adjusted the collar of her blazer.

"I do look good in a suit!" She said happily.

"Yes, uh. Okay." He said awkwardly.

Was he being awkwardly supportive, or passive-aggressive? That she never really knew. It was always hard to tell with him.

He was a really traditional type of man, which was obvious by his black suit, his clean shaven face, and his neatly combed graying blond hair.

"Either way, you did great in the meeting today." He said. "You were a regular little CEO."

She wanted to say that she wasn't really little anymore. She was in her twenties now, after all.

"You mean a regular little marketing director?" She said with a playful smile.

"We all have to start small." He said. "Speaking of starting small, do you remember how you used to love it when I took you to the product testing room when you were little?"

"Of course." She said.

"How about we go back? We're just about to roll out our spring products, and I think it would be good for you to have first hand experience with the new line. It might help you in the long run."

"Sure!" She said. "Sounds like fun. I just want to stop by and talk to Harleigh on the way back up."

"Sounds good."

They entered into one of the company elevators, and Mr. Delacqua scanned his clear VIP pass and punched in the elevator code. As he did so, Charlie got out her phone.

We still on for 8 tonight? She typed out, trying not to smile suspiciously down at her phone screen.

Three little bubbles popped up, and soon enough, Veronica Griffin replied:

You know it! I can't wait to finally meet you in person ;x

"What are you smiling about?" Her father asked.

She abruptly clicked her phone screen off and slipped it back into her pocket.

"Uh—"

Thankfully, the elevator got her out of the conversation.

"You are now on floor U1."

They stepped out into another set of double doors. On them was a red sign that read: restricted area, authorized personnel only. Her father scanned his card again, and they entered into the testing room.

There were people all over the place, rushing around, absorbed in their work. Unlike pristine blue and white of the upper floors, this one was bathed in splashes of gray and black, the glowing lights of machinery blinking here and there. Computer screens were everywhere, people pouring over the information that quickly flickered across the screen.

"Mr. Delacqua!" An employee said, coming forward to greet her father with a handshake.

He was the manager of this floor. She recognized nearly every employee of the company, as her father had made her pour over the company directory for hours until she had it memorized. He thought knowing each employee's name and position made you a more likable boss, and promoted workplace productivity. With the kind of output they'd had this year, Charlie couldn't help but think he was right.

"Good to see you, Mr, Hampton." Her father said.

"And Ms. Delacqua." He moved on to shake her hand as well, and she gave him a polite smile. "We're so excited to have you at the company as well."

"I'm excited to be here." She said.

"You two picked a good day to come." He said, not even hiding his excitement. "We've got a special customer on this floor right now."

Charlie felt excitement course through her, but she tried to hide it. She wanted to seem like a serious business woman, not a little kid meeting their idol for the first time.

"Who is it?" She asked, even though she already had a good idea of who it might be.

"The Copper Knight himself, Mr. Linton Barber!" He said.

I knew it! She wanted to squeal and jump up and down, but managed to control herself. She cleared her throat.

"Can we meet him?"

"Of course!" Mr. Hampton chuckled. "Come on, he's in the test room."

Mr. Hampton lead the way, and Charlie followed behind with her father at her side. They made it through another set of double doors, Mr. Hampton punching the code this time.

As soon as they walked in, she saw him. He looked exactly the same as he did on the cereal boxes and in the commercials, except he wasn't wearing his iconic copper suit, his dark, curly hair pulled back in a bun, his warm brown skin, and a beard, neatly trimmed close to his skin.

He smiled politely when he saw them approaching. He had a dazzling, movie star-like smile.

"Ah, Mr. Delacqua!" He said. "It's good to see you again."

"You too, Mr. Barber. It's always nice to get a visit from our best customer." Her father said, shaking his hand.

"And you must be Charlotte Delacqua?" He said, turning to Charlie and extending his hand.

"Yes, thank you!" She stuttered to say as she shook it. She heard her father sigh beside her.

Shit, get your act together Charlie!

"I mean, yes. It's nice to meet you." She corrected, quickly composing herself.

Linton seemed to pretend not to notice her freaking out as he turned his attention back to her father.

"Mr. Hampton was just going over the new technology with me. I'm particularly interested in the self repairing nanos and the improved shock absorbing cotton filler." He said.

"Ah, Yes." Mr. Delacqua said. "If you're interested, you can bring your current suits into the lab, and we can upgrade those. It will save you the trouble of having to buy a whole new suit."

"Of course. Mr. Hampton helped me with that last year." He said. "I think the self repairing nanos will help a lot, but they will keep me from having to come up here as much."

"Oh, I'm sure we can think of something to get you back up here again." Her father said with a chuckle.

They walked through the different departments, talking over all of the new products and what they could be used for.

Charlie kept her mouth shut for the most part. She was scared that the only thing she would be capable of while in his presence was an egregious fit of fangirling.

Eventually, the Copper Knight has to go, and he even shook her hand again as he left. She wished she could hug him. He probably smelled like justice.

After she told her father goodbye, she split off to floor three, the computer technology department, to see her friend Harleigh.

She made it to her office, number 135B, and slipped inside as quietly as possible.

The lights were dim, and she could see the top of Harleigh's curly hair poking out just above the chair, partially illuminated by the blue glow of her computer screen. As she kept closer, Charlie could tell she had on headphones.

She managed to make it all the way beside her without her friend noticing her approach.

"How's your day going!" Charlie shouted, slapping a hand down on Harleigh's desk.

The girl jumped nearly a foot out of her chair and yelped. She yanked her headphones off and narrowed her green eyes up at Charlie.

"Seriously, Charlie?" She said, waving her arms in frustration. "I'm in the middle of something."

"Ahh, it can't be that important." Charlie said dismissively, scooting her computer chair out of the way and standing in front of the screen.

"It can. It's actual work." Harleigh said. She added more quietly. "Something you know nothing about."

"Anyway!" Charlie ignored her. "You'll never guess who I just met!"

"Someone more responsible than you?"

"Yes, actually!" Charlie said. "The Copper Knight!"

Harleigh looked up at her like she was waiting for more.

"Wha— that's not exciting to you?"

"I mean, I guess it's pretty cool, but being able to finish my coding would be pretty cool too." She said.

"Fine, Whatever." Charlie huffed, though she still didn't move out of the way. "Also, I'm finally going on a date with Veronica tonight!"

Harleigh was leaning around her and typing away at her computer again.

"She's probably just after your money." She said, not taking her eyes away from the screen.

"You say that about every girl I take on a date." Charlie said.

"And I'm right too."

Charlie couldn't really say anything to that, so she settled for crossing her arms.

"I really think this girl likes me for me. We've been texting for like two whole months now."

"Wow. Two months. Maybe you should propose." Harleigh said flatly.

Charlie frowned. "You're no fun."

"And you're never serious."

"Fine. Whatever. I'll let you work."

"Thank god." Harleigh rolled her eyes. "Text me later. Let me know how it goes."

"No problemo!"

Charlie spent a good couple of hours lounging around her apartment, as she had a few hours to blow before her date. She texted Veronica a bit, trying not to reply too fast so she didn't sound desperate.

When it got closer to eight, she took the elevator down, and had her driver drop her off about a block away from the Cloud 9 Lounge. She walked the rest of the way, and strolled happily until the dimly lit bar.

Charlie scanned the area, and even though it was crowded, she quickly spotted Veronica sitting at the bar, sipping on a drink. She took a deep breath to compose herself, and tried to do her best confident walk.

Veronica saw her before she made it all the way over, and smiled shyly at her. She looked exactly like her pictures. Dark hair, green eyes, and a button nose. Maybe a little bit more tired around the eyes.

"Hey." She said quietly. Charlie sat beside her.

"It's so good to finally meet you."

"Likewise." Veronica said. "Do you want me to buy you a drink?"

"No. It's fine. I'll cover the tab." Charlie rushed to say.

Veronica gave her a coy smile.

"If you insist. I'll just have to get the next one."

Charlie ordered her drink, and bought a second round for Veronica. The girl raised her eyebrows at her.

"Don't worry. If we have too many, I'll call my driver to take us home." She said.

"Whatever you say." She said, grabbing the second drink. Her voice was dark and even, the tone barely wavering. Something about it was undeniably alluring. It made Charlie's head spin. "So how was your meeting today?"

"It was good." Charlie said. "It was real basic stuff, though. Sometimes I think my dad is just letting me play adult instead of giving me actual stuff to do."

"Everyone's kind of just playing adult, if you really think about it." Veronica offered.

"I guess so." Charlie chuckled. "Something pretty interesting did happen today, though."

Veronica raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I got to meet the Copper Knight!" She said.

"Linton Barber? In the flesh?" She asked.

"Yes! I was so excited that I was a total dweeb in front of him."

Veronica laughed.

"If you ask me, he's sort of a dweeb himself."

Charlie slapped her hands down on the table.

"Have you met him before?"

"A few times, yes." Veronica said, taking another sip of her drink. Charlie had some of hers as well. It must have been stiffer than she thought, as her face was already growing a bit warm.

"How?"

"It's nothing really crazy." Veronica said, glancing down at the bar counter. "Maybe one day I'll tell you the story."

"It's crazy to me! He's like, my idol!"

"So do you prefer heroes who build their power with technology over those who are born with it?" She asked.

"I think a lot of people do." Charlie said. "I think it makes us ordinary people feel a little more special. Like even we could save the world."

"How do you know your ordinary?"

"Hm?" Charlie turned back to her. When she did so, her vision spun a bit. "I think I would know if I had any powers."

"Have you ever tried?" Veronica asked. She pushed her glass forward. "Here try to move this with your mind."

"No, no." Charlie laughed. "I'll just feel silly."

"Come on, do it for me." Veronica said. She placed a hand on Charlie's thigh and squeezed it.

Charlie felt her skin heat up, and she nervously rubbed her legs together.

"Okay, Fine." She said. She stared down at the glass and... not really knowing what to do, focused on it as hard as she could and—

Nothing happened.

"See?" She chuckled. "Just a regular woman."

"I wouldn't say being born into one of the richest families around is ordinary." Veronica said.

"I guess." Charlie said, slipping in her chair a little bit. Veronica caught her by the arm.

"Careful." She said.

"Sorry." She said. "I—I think I'm... drunk somehow."

The lights in the bar blurred. How was she so drunk all of a sudden? She hadn't even had a whole drink yet.

"Charlie? Do you feel okay?" Veronica said. Her voice sounded like it was a hundred miles away.

"Here, I got you." Veronica helped her up from the barstool.

She was vaguely aware that they were heading outside. Veronica was more or less shouldering her entire body weight.

"Hey, you're—" Charlie slurred. "You're pretty strong."

Veronica did not respond.

They made it to a car. It didn't look familiar, but Charlie could barely register what as going on around her. Someone was buckling her in, she thought.

She heard one last thing before she blacked out completely.

"Sorry, Charlie. It's nothing personal."

EDIT as of 7/30/2020: Thank you for reading! Since I'm nearly done writing this book, I've started to go back and edit previous chapters. Every chapter with a banner is the edited version, and those without will be the first draft.

I made a mood board for this book. :)