Page 1 of Wrecked By My Alien Mentor

CHAPTER 1

CORA

The St. Louis Public Library is my sanctuary. The high ceilings and quiet hum of the HVAC system make it easy to focus. My table is a fortress of legal tomes and notebooks, my hair shoved into a messy bun with a couple of pencils sticking out like antenna. Yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt—perfection. No one here cares if I look like I just rolled out of bed, so long as I don’t spill coffee on the books.

I’m elbow-deep in a case from 1983 about corporate liability when a shadow falls across the table. I glance up, expecting a librarian or maybe someone asking if the seat’s taken. Instead, it’s a man—short, balding, with a smile that’s either genuine or practiced so well it doesn’t matter.

"Hello, Ms. Daniels." His voice is higher than I’d expect, almost chipper. "My name is Robbie Dalton, and I’m here to make you a job offer."

I blink. He hands me a business card:Orion Enterprises. The logo is familiar—a sleek silver constellation against a deep purple background. I’ve seen their building downtown, all glass and steel, towering over the skyline.

"I don’t remember applying to Orion Enterprises." My tone is flat, but my brain is already running through the possibilities.Scam? Pyramid scheme? Some kind of corporate espionage thing?

"Oh, you didn’t." Robbie’s smile doesn’t waver. "Mr. Weller, my boss, keeps a close eye on recent graduates. Your performance at university—perfect grades, high honors—caught his attention."

I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms. "So, what, you just… track people down in libraries now? Seems a bit desperate."

Robbie chuckles, hands raised in mock surrender. "Desperate? No. Efficient? Absolutely. We’re not in the business of waiting for talent to come to us. We find it."

"And you think I’m talent?" I raise an eyebrow. "With just a bachelor’s degree? No master’s, no internship at a top firm, no?—"

"A 4.0 GPA from a top-tier university," he interrupts, tapping the table for emphasis. "And a knack for outthinking the competition. That’s what we’re interested in."

I let the silence hang for a moment, studying him. He doesn’t flinch. Either he’s a fantastic liar, or he’s telling the truth. Either way, my stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten since breakfast.

"Is this legit?" I ask, half-expecting him to pull out a brochure about multi-level marketing.

"Totally legit." He spreads his hands like a magician showing there’s nothing up his sleeves. "How about I buy you lunch, and we can discuss the details? My treat."

I glance at the stack of books in front of me, then back at him. Lunch sounds good. Free lunch sounds even better. And if this turns out to be a scam, well, I’ve wasted worse afternoons.

"Alright," I say, shoving the books aside. "But if this is some pyramid scheme, I’m ordering the most expensive thing on the menu."

Robbie laughs, a high, tinkling sound. "Deal."

Robbie leads me to a steakhouse just a few blocks from the library. The place smells like seared meat and butter, and the dim lighting gives it a cozy yet upscale vibe. We’re seated in a corner booth, and Robbie immediately orders enough food to feed a small army—appetizers, sides, and two steaks. For a guy his size, he’s either got a hollow leg or a death wish for his cholesterol levels.

I’m not about to let this opportunity go to waste. I order the ribeye with endless shrimp, because why not? When the waiter asks if I’d like a drink, Robbie cuts in. "Iced tea for both of us. Work calls for a clear head."

The waiter nods and leaves, and Robbie leans forward, elbows on the table. "So, Cora, let me lay it out for you. Orion Enterprises is offering you a paid internship. Not the kind where you fetch coffee and file paperwork, either. This is hands-on, high-level work. You’ll be working directly with Mr. Weller himself. Think of it as a crash course in becoming the best version of yourself."

I take a sip of iced tea, the condensation cold against my fingers. "Directly with Weller? As in, the billionaire who owns half of downtown?"

"The very same." Robbie’s smile is smug, like he’s just handed me the keys to a Lamborghini. "It’s a rare opportunity. Most people would kill for this kind of access."

I set my glass down, leaning in. "Let’s cut to the chase. How much does it pay?"

Robbie laughs, a high-pitched sound that makes the couple at the next table glance over. "I like you, Cora. No beating around the bush. The exact compensation package will be discussed when you meet with Mr. Weller, but let’s just say… it’s in the six-figure range."

I nearly choke on my tea. "Six figures? For an internship?"

"Don’t act so surprised. Orion Enterprises doesn’t do things halfway." He spreads his hands, like he’s presenting me with the world on a platter. "You’re not just any graduate, Cora. You’re the kind of talent we invest in."

The shrimp arrives first, and I start picking at them while my brain processes what he just said. Six figures. For an internship. Either this is the best day of my life, or Robbie’s about to hand me a timeshare pitch.

"Okay," I say, dipping a shrimp in cocktail sauce. "I’ll meet with Weller."

Robbie’s grin widens. "Perfect. Be at the Orion Building tomorrow at seven sharp. Don’t be late—Mr. Weller doesn’t tolerate tardiness."

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