Chapter 1 - The First Rejection
The afternoon sunlight poured through the large kitchen windows, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the quiet air. Leo sat squarely at the heavy wooden dining table, his short brown hair messy from a long afternoon of staring at screens. He wore a faded blue t-shirt and grey shorts, his posture rigid and entirely unchildlike. On the white ceramic plate before him rested a rich, decadent slice of layered chocolate cake, dark and glossy with fudge frosting. A small silver spoon rested beside it. Leo raised a spoonful of the cake toward his mouth, savoring the bitter-sweet richness of the cocoa.
From the hallway, a soft patter of tiny footsteps signaled the arrival of Lily. The one-year-old toddler, dressed in a colorful pastel rainbow dress that rustled with every step, toddled into the kitchen. She stopped right next to the wooden table, steadying herself by gripping the edge with chubby fingers. Her big blue eyes stared longingly at the chocolate masterpiece.
Lily looked up at her older brother, her voice a soft, high-pitched murmur.
“Other... give me a little bit.”
Leo paused, the silver spoon hovering just inches from the plate. He looked down at his sister, his expression devoid of the warmth typically found between siblings.
“No, I will not give you any,” Leo said, his voice flat and detached.
Lily tilted her head, her expression a mix of innocence and genuine confusion.
“Why? Why don’t you give me some?”
Leo stared at her seriously across the table, his eyes cold.
“Because you don’t have enough followers.”
Lily’s small face crumbled into deep sadness. Her lower lip quivered, and she pressed her tiny hands together in a desperate, pleading gesture. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Please follow me, I want to eat that cake.”
Leo turned his head away, ignoring her tears, and reached into his pocket to pull out a sleek black smartphone. The screen glowed brightly, displaying a live analytics dashboard with millions of active viewers watching their every move.
“It’s business, Lily,” Leo muttered to the screen.
May you like
As Lily continued to sob softly, the front door of the house suddenly unlocked and swung wide open with a heavy bang.
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