Futureproofing the wishes

Jack's fingers twitched against his phone as the reality of his situation sank in. Three wishes seemed like infinite power until you actually used one, now down to two. He frantically scrolled through the GenieUs FAQ, his stomach dropping when he found the pricing section. "Dynamic wish pricing based on market value and user demand" corporate bullshit for "we'll charge whatever the fuck we want." The current rate? A cool million per wish. Jack nearly laughed at the absurdity, yesterday that number would've been life-changing money, now it was just another problem to solve. His thumb hovered over the keyboard, the solution obvious but terrifying: he could wish for the money. One carefully worded request and he'd never have to worry about pricing again. The power buzzed in his veins like cheap energy drink, equal parts exhilarating and nauseating. What was the point of magic if you had to budget it?

Jack stared at the GenieUs app, his thumb hovering over the glowing text field. Two wishes left.

Fuck it.

He typed fast, his fingers stumbling over the keys:

"I wish I (Jack Arnault) was the CEO and owner of NexaTech Solutions, which is now a very successful multi-billion dollar tech startup. My life and upbringing outside my job should remain relatively the same and I am now a billionaire."

The flash this time wasn't just light, it was heat, a furnace blast that seared his retinas. His bones vibrated like guitar strings. For one terrifying second, Jack thought his teeth might shake loose.

Then- silence.

The café sounds rushed back in. The hiss of the espresso machine. The clatter of cups. Some indie folk bullshit playing too loud over the speakers.

Jack blinked. He was still in the same shitty chair, at the same sticky table. Veronica was still watching him with those big, clueless eyes.

Did it work?

His phone buzzed. A notification at the top:

Wish #2 Complete. 1 wish remaining.

He rushed to check his banking app to see if the wish had actually worked.

Chase Private Client: Account balance updated: $4,387,921,114.22

Jack's throat tightened, his pulse hammering as the numbers loaded. Four billion. Four billion.

Veronica giggled, licking matcha foam off her upper lip. "You keep staring at phone like it bite you."

Jack barely heard her. He was too busy scrolling through his new life, emails from board members, acquisition offers, a penthouse suite booked for tonight. The universe hadn't just given him money. It had rewritten history to make him always the king of this castle.

Now that money was taken care of he didn't have to worry about using up all his wishes for now.

One free wish left.

His mind exploring the possibilities, looking at the woman sitting across from him. He could bring back the real Veronica. Or...

Veronica stood, smoothing her skirt over thighs that hadn't known a decade of deadlines and disillusionment. "I go first? You look like you need minute."

Jack grabbed her wrist. Harder than he meant to.

She froze. Not playful anymore. Scared.

In this world, he wasn't just her boss. He was the man who owned her future.

The power hit him like a ****.

"Change of plans," he said, thumbing open GenieUs. The final wish pulsed onscreen, begging to be used.

Veronica's pulse fluttered under his fingers.

What's one more rewrite?