Ms. Grant

Metropolis International Airport.

Metropolis was cloudless today. Boundless golden light poured from the clear sky, reflecting blindingly off the airport runways. Passenger planes roared back and forth, spreading their wings toward the blue sky like giant birds.

Jay followed his father to the airport, biting into a sandwich from an airport convenience store that served as his lunch. "So, we rushed over from The Daily Planet to welcome some important figure?"

Mr. Reynolds said, "Ms. Kate Grant. She used to be with The Daily Planet too, and worked as Perry's assistant for a while. But... well. Let's just say they didn't get along very well back then."

Jay nodded. Thinking of how Perry could shout loudly enough for pedestrians on the street below the building to hear when he lost his temper, he felt he could understand.

"Then she resigned," Mr. Reynolds said. "She left Metropolis, moved to Nashino City, and struck out on her own. She founded Kateco International Media Enterprise. She's quite an impressive woman."

"So why does everyone react like they'd rather avoid her whenever she comes up?"

"You heard that?"

Jay spread his hands. "I wasn't eavesdropping, but the editor-in-chief's office isn't exactly soundproof. With Perry's voice, I figured everyone heard it."

"Well, it isn't much of a secret." Mr. Reynolds sighed helplessly. "When we talk about Ms. Grant, we have to admire her talent and courage. She reached heights most of us could never attain in a lifetime, but... forget it. Once you meet her, you'll understand soon enough."

Jay did not have to wait long. About ten minutes later, a small private jet swooped down from the blue sky. It was as light and graceful as a swallow returning to its nest, sunlight glinting off its white fuselage.

"That's her plane?" Jay asked.

"That's definitely her plane," Mr. Reynolds said. "We should go."

Mr. Reynolds had been right. They soon met the "legendary Ms. Grant." She wore custom-made white high heels, and her smooth, dazzling blond hair had clearly been styled by some renowned expert. She wore black sunglasses with effortless flair, dressed head to toe in designer brands. Every elegant, confident step exuded upper-class refinement.

Her assistant followed closely behind her. She was a girl who looked barely twenty, yet she was almost completely overshadowed by her boss's radiance. She too had blond hair. One hand carried a brown handbag that presumably belonged to her—because it was clearly not an expensive designer brand—while the other pulled a suitcase bearing Ms. Grant's nameplate. She might have been quite pretty, if not for those silly oversized glasses on her nose ruining the overall impression.

"Ms. Grant." Mr. Reynolds put on an enthusiasm that did not come from the heart and extended his hand. "Long time no see."

"Charles Reynolds." Kate Grant gave him a disdainful glance over sunglasses that seemed nearly rolled to the top of her head, then shook his hand perfunctorily. "Let me guess. After all these years under Perry, you still haven't made any progress?"

Mr. Reynolds felt a little awkward. She was telling the truth. He gave an awkward laugh. "Not everyone can compare to you. I don't have that kind of talent. Maybe I'll just be a minor reporter for the rest of my life."

Ms. Grant snorted twice without any politeness. "It isn't that you lack talent, Reynolds. I told you that when I left The Daily Planet. I used to admire you greatly—a reporter who dared to challenge darkness and truly fought for the truth. Back then, I thought you had limitless potential. But look at yourself now. Look in the mirror and tell me what you see in those eyes. Other than a numb soul like everyone else's, there's nothing."

Mr. Reynolds's smile stiffened slightly. His expression hovered somewhere between embarrassment and anger, but he did not argue.

Ms. Grant's gaze shifted to Jay, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

"And this young man is?"

"This is my son. He just graduated high school, so I brought him to intern at the paper and learn a little about society," Mr. Reynolds introduced. "His name is Jay. Jay, say hello to Ms. Grant."

"Hello, Ms. Grant."

Ms. Grant smiled and nodded. "Jay? Very good, very good. I can see something in your eyes that your father had when he was young. I hope you won't abandon it once you understand society well enough."

"Thank you," Jay said flatly. "Maybe you don't think he's a qualified reporter, but as far as I know, he's the best father."

Both Ms. Grant and Mr. Reynolds looked at him in surprise. Then the former's smile grew even brighter. "I'm starting to like you more."

"Thank you." Jay turned his gaze to the girl dragging the suitcase behind her. "And this is...?"

"Oh, I nearly forgot." Ms. Grant turned sideways and introduced her. "This is my new personal assistant. Kara, say hello to everyone."

When the girl heard that attention had shifted to her, she set down the suitcase for the moment and pushed up the silly-looking glasses on her nose. "Hi, I'm Kara. Kara Kent."

She extended her hand to Jay in a friendly manner, but Jay did not take it. Instead, he froze where he stood.

"Wait," he said. "You said your name is Kara?"

The girl looked confused. "Y-Yes. Is there something special about that name?"

From Nashino City, Kara Kent. Jay's mouth twitched. He fought back the urge to use X-Sight to see whether she wore a skintight uniform with an "S" beneath her clothes, because it would be incredibly awkward if she noticed.

But there was no way this could be wrong, right? This girl was almost certainly Nashino City's local superhero, Supergirl. He had always thought it ridiculous that a pair of glasses could change most people's perception of a face. Now, though, it suddenly did not seem so unbelievable.

"Are you okay?" Kara awkwardly pushed up her glasses. "You've been staring at my face."

"Ah, sorry." Jay snapped back to his senses and hurriedly looked away after realizing how rude he had been. He shook Kara's outstretched hand and explained, "You just reminded me of someone I know."

Kara then shook hands with Mr. Reynolds as well. He smiled and teased, "You've got it rough, Kara. Being Ms. Grant's assistant must be exhausting."

Kara flashed a sunny smile so infectious it seemed almost magical. "You have no idea."

"Kara?" Ms. Grant's tone seemed to jump up several octaves in an instant. "If you have a complaint, feel free to say it to my face."

Kara immediately wiped the smile from her face, obediently lowered her head, and picked up the suitcase again without another word. But Jay noticed that when Ms. Grant was not looking, she secretly stuck out her tongue at her, making him want to laugh.

Back at The Daily Planet, Perry's welcome for Ms. Grant was anything but warm. They were both perfectly polite on the surface, but from the first sentence they exchanged, they had begun trading barbs and sarcasm, as though gaining even the slightest verbal advantage would earn them a massive bonus. Jay quietly returned to his desk and watched the two big shots argue from afar. He noticed Kara frantically taking notes behind Ms. Grant, looking comical and a little cute.

After listening for over five minutes, he finally got the gist of it—Ms. Grant had come to Metropolis to attend a grand banquet in three days, and Perry appeared to have been invited as well. When Ms. Grant casually asked Kara whether she had found a dance partner, Kara was thoroughly startled.

"Me?" She pointed the end of her pen at herself in disbelief. "I have to dance too?"

Ms. Grant looked her over as though she could not believe what she was hearing. "Of course, Kara! What else did you think I brought you all the way from Nashino City for? A company-funded vacation?"

"But I... I can't dance."

"There's a first time for everything." Ms. Grant spoke in a commanding tone.

"But I don't even have an evening gown prepared..."

"I expected that. I rented one for you." Ms. Grant wore the smug expression of someone who had foreseen everything, then deliberately emphasized, "But remember, when you return it to me, there can't be even one wrinkle."

Kara took a deep breath, knowing she could not change her boss's mind once she had made it. She had never attended such a grand banquet before. She felt she might be so nervous dancing the tango in a setting like that that she would suffocate.

Incidentally, she would not suffocate even in a vacuum.

"Uh, speaking of the ball..." Jimmy Olsen appeared from some unknown corner at that very moment, wearing a miserable expression. "I'm afraid I can't go after all. Sorry, boss."

Perry raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

"An old problem flared up. I have to go to the hospital the day after tomorrow. For a minor procedure."

"Then what am I supposed to do about my photographer?"

Jay happened to lightly tap the doorframe with his knuckles, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Uh, boss, I was thinking maybe I could go as your photographer—if you don't mind."

Why had he suddenly said that? He did not know either, but the words had simply come out, as though his head had heated up in that instant. He told himself it definitely was not just because he wanted an opportunity to get close to the "legendary" Supergirl. Well, maybe that was part of it.

But deep down, perhaps in a part of himself even he had not realized existed, he was merely trying to get close to someone like himself. This was the first time in six years that he had encountered someone like him.

Perry raised an eyebrow. "You know photography too?"

"A little. I joined the school photography club."

That was not a lie. He had joined most of the clubs at school.

"I'll find someone else to fill in," Perry said, shaking his head. "An event like this is too soon for an internship experience."

"But everyone has to be brave enough to take that first step, don't they, boss?"

Hearing this, Ms. Grant narrowed her eyes and studied Jay. She smiled. "That makes sense. People should be bold enough to try things while they're young. I like that. Here's what we'll do—I'll get you a ticket, young Mr. Reynolds. Maybe you can even be Kara's dance partner."

"Thank you, Ms. Grant." As Jay spoke, he thought that perhaps this woman was not as bad as everyone said. He gave Kara a small smile, and she returned it with a polite, faint one.