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SHOP [Page 2]

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• Hypnotic Perfume (40c)

• Time Stop (90c)

• 500 Dollars (50c)

• 1 Ability Point (150c)

• 1 Mastery Point (160c)

• Desire Aura (100c)

• Reputation Point +30 (200c)

• Mastery Evolve (1500c)

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Credits: 605c

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Now it was at 70%. Life-saver.

Next, stats:

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CURRENT STATS

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◆ Strength: 10 (+5)

◆ Charm: 13

- Manipulative Charm

⤷ Honeyed Words (⏹⏹⏹⏹⏹)

⤷ Gaslight (⏹☐☐☐☐)

⤷ Emotional Charisma (☐☐☐☐☐)

- Seductive Allure

◆ Libido: 16

⤷ Endless Vigor (☐☐☐☐☐)

◆ Pleasure: 30 (+15)

⤷ Sensory Overload (☐☐☐☐☐)

⤷ Erogenous Insight (⏹)

⤷ Bliss Multiplier (▩▩⏹⏹⏹)

◆ Luck: 1

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4 Unused Ability Points

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Forgot I had those four unused points. Good reminder. I'd save them for when I leveled up—next one should unlock something in the shop. Hopefully.

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Evan Marlowe (Lvl 15)

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Age: 21

Height: 180 cm

Weight: 75 kg

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EXP: [████████░░] 6310/6973

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Close. A few more good nights and I'd hit 16.

"I'm gonna take a bath," Eleanor said, standing slowly, stretching her arms above her head. "Want to join?"

"Nah," I exhaled, sinking back. "Dead tired. You go ahead."

"Alright, handsome. Your call."

"Hey," I called as she headed to the bathroom. "Leave the door open, yeah? I might change my mind."

She chuckled softly, paused at the door, then opened it wider and peeked back with a smirk. "Noted."

Damn, a woman like Eleanor was just under me. I'd never thought the old Evan would manage to get her in bed.

Water started running. I smiled, still panting, letting the sound wash over me.

"Got beer?" I called as I swung my legs off the bed and stretched, joints cracking.

"Should be in the fridge," Eleanor said. "Back, to the side."

I padded into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Behind a couple of milk crates sat four beers, tucked away like contraband. I grabbed one, popped the cap, and moved to the floor-to-ceiling window. Naked, cold glass in my hand, I took a long pull and stared out at the city.

My phone buzzed faintly on the dining table. I stepped back, grabbed it, then returned to the window.

Huh. I'd always imagined myself standing like this someday—looking out over a view with a whiskey in my hand instead of cheap beer, living somewhere that didn't feel like a glorified dumpster. Whiskey would have to wait. This was close enough.

"So," I said, eyes still on the lights outside. "You getting used to the place?"

"I am," Eleanor replied. "You?"

"I got used to it a long time ago." I smiled to myself. "Like… a lot of time ago."

"Good. That's good to hear."

I turned and scanned the apartment, half-expecting to notice some change. But everything was mostly the same—same furniture, same shadows—except for the fridge. Stickers. No, sticky notes.

I hadn't noticed them before; the lights were still off. I squinted and walked closer.

One note had a clumsy smiley face drawn on it. Another read: Monday: 3 hrs. Friday: 50 mins. Wednesday: 4 hrs.

I frowned. Three hours. Fifty minutes. Four hours.

"How long I managed to sleep," Eleanor said behind me.

I turned. She stood there in a bra and blue panties, arms folded loosely over her stomach. The color suited her. She looked smaller now, quieter.

"Managed to sleep?" I asked.

"Yeah." She shrugged. "I've got problems sleeping. As if random panic attacks weren't enough."

"You take pills?" I asked. "I get insomnia sometimes too."

"No." Another shrug. "Well… not no. Sometimes."

"Hmm." I took another sip and wandered into the living room, rubbing the back of my neck. "Damn. I missed the bath, huh?"

"Decided on a quick shower instead," she said. "I want to sleep early."

"Yeah. Same." I nodded, drank again. "Guess I'll head out."

She looked up. "Already?"

"Got a guest waiting."

A pause. "So you're one of them. Fuck & run type."

"Fuck and…" I repeated with a smile. "Wow. I might use that."

"Mm." She hesitated, then said, "Well… thanks for the night."

"I should be the one thanking you." I set the beer down on the dining table. "Uh—where'd I leave my clothes?"

"By the couch," she said, pointing. "There."

"Oh." I crossed the room, scooped up my clothes, and started pulling them on. "Thanks."

"No problem." She shifted her weight. "I'll put something on and walk you out."

"Right."

I quickly got dressed, straightening my clothes with quick tugs and zips.. I grabbed my beer again, took another long sip, the cold biting my throat as I stared at the fridge. Damn, Eleanor was in rough shape—barely sleeping, tracking hours like a desperate log, and on top of that, working at Stingy Ladies now. She was tough. Tougher than she let on.

A few seconds later, just as I lifted the bottle for another pull, the bedroom door opened. Eleanor stepped out in oversized blue pajamas—comfy, loose, the color she clearly loved. She leaned against the frame, arms crossed, hair still damp from the bath.

I smiled, lowering the bottle. "You love the color blue, huh?"

"Yep." She returned the smile, small but genuine. "You?"

I answered fast, without thinking. "Phthalocyanine Green."

She blinked, then laughed—a real one, surprised. "Wow. You've been waiting your whole life to answer that question, haven't you? What even is that?"

"Green… but different," I said, squinting dramatically. "Intense. Almost electric."

"Wow. So descriptive." She rolled her eyes, but the smile stayed.

"I know."

I walked to the door and opened it. Eleanor leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching me step out. With a small smile, I hit the elevator button and waited. Shit—was she expecting a hug? A kiss? I'd just walked away like an idiot. But we weren't… there yet. Or… were we? The thought lingered, awkward and warm.

The elevator dinged almost immediately, doors sliding open. I put a hand between them and glanced back at her.

"Goodnight, Eleanor."

"Mm. Night, Evan."

I stepped inside and pushed the penthouse button. The doors closed, and the elevator moved one floor up before opening again.

Mendy stood there, startled, jumping slightly when she saw me, hand flying to her chest. Behind her, Jasmine and Minne waited in the penthouse doorway.

"Oh," I said, stepping out. "Hey, Mendy. Going back?"

"Yeah. I'll sleep, I think." She stepped into the elevator, voice soft. "Thanks for everything, Evan."

"Hmm." I moved aside. "Call if you need anything, okay?"

"Alright." She smiled faintly. "Good night."

Jasmine and Minne stepped aside to let me in, then closed the door behind me. I kicked off my boots, stretched, yawning as I headed toward the master bedroom. I was pooped—Eleanor had drained me to the brim.

"Not even a hello?" Jasmine called from behind me, voice teasing.

"Sorry. I'm dead tired," I muttered, pushing the bedroom door open. "I'm gonna hit the hay."

"What?" Tessa peeked out from the common bathroom, towel around her hair. "You party-pooper! We were getting ready for some fucking."

"I can't move at all," I said, collapsing face-first onto the bed. "I'm just… tired."

"You fucked Eleanor, didn't you?" Tessa rushed toward me, pushing me from behind with a laugh. "Ya animal."

I groaned into the mattress, then Tessa grabbed my shoulders, flipped me onto my back, and straddled my legs. She squeezed my cheeks together, smirking as she leaned in and licked my lips playfully.

"You fucking horny monkey," she said. "Fucking anything that moves now, eh?"

"Hey, she's hot," I mumbled, half-dead.

"Well, she is," Tessa agreed. "I'd fuck her too if I had a dick."

"So no hard feelings?"

Tessa exhaled, tilting her head down, then hopped off me. She stood at the foot of the bed, looking down at me. She was wearing a dress I'd never seen before—red at the top, vibrant and bold, slowly fading into deep black as it flowed downward, hugging her curves perfectly, short enough to tease, elegant enough to kill.

"I like that," I said, voice rough. "Nice dress."

"Thanks. Bought it because I thought someone—name starts with E—would find it sexy."

"Well, that someone thinks it looks perfect on you."

"We already destroyed his poor dick, Tessa," Jasmine called from the living room. "Leave him be."

"Fine, fine." Tessa rolled her eyes, heading out. "Fuck you, Evan."

"Yeah, well, too tired for that," I muttered, closing my eyes.

"Evan!" Delilah's voice called from far off, probably the kitchen. "Don't forget about Chase, please."

Chase. Ivy's soon-to-be-boyfriend. What was I supposed to do about him? He was a working man, a psychologist, unlucky. Probably a little depressed since his last three patients had killed themselves—blaming himself, I guessed. Otherwise, he looked normal.

I opened my eyes, grabbed my phone from my pocket, and searched his name. Pressed the first site that came up. He was giving online sessions, plus in-office meetings.

"Minne!" Kayla's voice called from somewhere. "How do I open the freezer?"

"Oh, it's a button," Minne replied. "I'll show you."

"Chase Bellings," I muttered. "Very popular guy, huh?"

"What's that?" Nala asked, walking into the room, heading for the bathroom.

"Ah, just talking to myself," I said. "This Chase dude. Ivy's next 'victim.'"

"What about him?" She paused, hand on the door handle.

"I dunno." I shrugged, eyes on the phone. "I just don't know what to do. How do I figure out if he's decent or not?"

"Get an appointment from him," she said, stepping into the bathroom and closing the door. "He's a psychologist, no?"

"But we'll talk about my fake problems the whole time if I do that," I said. "How would I learn about him?"

"No idea. That part's all up to you, Evy."

"Evy?"

"Yep. Evan… but Evy. We call you Evy when we talk about you."

"You girls talk behind my back?"

"Yep."

"Good things, I hope?"

Nala opened the bathroom door, toothbrush in mouth. She looked at me, shook her head frantically.

"You don't wanna hear it."

"Now that you said it like that," I muttered, "I don't wanna hear it. You're right."

"I mean," Nala said, closing the door again, "Jasmine told me about your first time. Has to be so embarrassing."

"I said I don't wanna hear it." I looked back at the screen. "Book an appointment from him, huh?"

Well… why not?

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