The Heart System

Chapter 824: Chapter 824

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CURRENT STATS

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◆ Strength: 30

⤷ Crushing Presence (▩▩▩▩▩)

◆ Charm: 20

- Manipulative Charm

⤷ Honeyed Words (▩▩▩▩▩)

⤷ Gaslight (⏹☐☐☐☐)

⤷ Emotional Charisma (☐☐☐☐☐)

⤷ Seductive Allure (☐)

◆ Libido: 20

⤷ Endless Vigor (⏹⏹⏹⏹⏹)

◆ Pleasure: 45

⤷ Sensory Overload (☐☐☐☐☐)

⤷ Erogenous Insight (⏹)

⤷ Bliss Multiplier (▣▣▣▣▣)

◆ Luck: 10

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◆ Passive Skill: On a Roll

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Nice.

Now I had to take advantage of my Hero reputation and earn as many credits as possible. More credits meant more Ability Points, and more Ability Points meant I could keep improving my stats.

For now, though, I was happy with forty-five points in Pleasure.

That was enough.

Hell, it was more than enough.

My phone suddenly buzzed against the table.I glanced down at the screen. Ivy.

’Want to grab coffee?’

I smiled and typed back, ’Sure. After work?’

A few seconds later, a thumbs-up appeared.

”Carrie,” Nala exhaled. ”It’s... I still can’t believe it.”

”Oh, yeah.” Kim said. ”Belive me, Nala. I’m more shocked than you are. But I think she is finally... well, she is still a bitch, a whore, a dumbo, don’t get me wrong, but I think she... looks and sounds tolerable.”

Honestly, having Carrie on board was kind of crazy.

She had a ridiculous number of followers and fans. Her support alone gave the project an audience it never could have reached otherwise. Every time she mentioned it, people seemed to pay attention.

And the backlash from Anotta stepping away from the project was finally starting to fade, too.

At first, it had been everywhere. People had questions, rumors spread, and the whole thing had looked like it might become a complete disaster.

But slowly, the noise was dying down.

People were moving on.

And for the first time in a while, the project actually felt like it was moving in the right direction. I just hoped the same thing could be said for my life, too.

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

Ivy and I sat down at one of the tables and shrugged off our jackets. Underneath she was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt and tight pants, the exact same combination she’d worn on our first unofficial ”date” back in college, when we just got coffee and played that online game we’d both been obsessed with.

Moneymoon was moderately busy. Behind the counter I could see Kayla taking orders and preparing drinks.

”What are we drinking?” I asked.

”Frozen Mango,” Ivy said without hesitation. ”You?”

I shrugged. ”Probably black coffee.”

”Ooh, I’m so cool. Look at me, people. I’m drinking black coffee.”

”Hey, I hate the taste,” I chuckled. ”But you have to admit, it wakes you up.”

”Yeah, it’s disgusting.”

Ivy glanced over her shoulder to flag down a waiter. That was when she noticed Kayla, who currently had her back turned while making a drink. Ivy immediately nudged my foot with hers under the table and gave me a pointed look.

”That’s the girl I was talking about.”

”Huh?” I asked. ”What girl, and what were you talking about?”

”The godliest ass I’ve ever seen,” she said. ”Her. It’s her.”

”Kayla?”

”Kayla?” Ivy repeated, frowning slightly. ”Wait... don’t I know someone named Kayla?”

”Yeah, man. It’s Kayla.”

Kayla finished the drink and turned to hand it to a customer. The moment Ivy got a clear look at her face, she leaned back in her chair and let out a long ”Aaaah” of recognition, finally putting a name to face... or... erm, to the ass, apparently. I’d been able to identify Kayla from behind in a split second because she was that distinctive. I guessed she and Ivy still weren’t all that close.

”That’s the gym girl you told me about, right?” Ivy asked.

”Jeez, you can’t remember?”

”Is it?”

I nodded. ”Yes.”

”Damn. I mean... that ass, Evan. That fucking ass.” She chuckled under her breath.

”I know.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a text from Nala. I quickly lowered the screen brightness just in case, it wasn’t unusual for the girls to send me random nudes after work hours.

Sure enough, it was a photo. Nala was completely naked, standing in front of the wardrobe mirror in the master bedroom. Behind her, also fully naked, Tessa was making a peace sign with one hand while holding Mik the cat in her other arm. Mik looked thoroughly done with the situation and was meowing loudly up at the camera.

Under the photo was a text from Nala:

’Guess who this little idiot pissed on?’

I shook my head and typed back: ’Who did Tessa piss on this time?’

A few seconds later another photo came in. This one was Tessa flipping me off while Nala laughed in the background. I could see part of Nala’s reflection in the mirror as she took the picture.

”Yo,” Ivy muttered. ”Who’s the other chick?”

I glanced to my right and realized Ivy had been peeking at my phone. I quickly pulled it back toward me and leaned away. She just flashed a naughty little grin, propped her elbow on the table, and rested her chin in her palm, looking far too curious.

”Don’t tell me Nala is bi,” she said. ”You two are in an open relationship, right? She fucks other women?”

Bi? Damn it. This... whatever this thing was, it was getting more complicated than it needed to be.

I couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if I’d just been... honest with her. If I told her about my life in the penthouse and everything that came with it. Maybe she’d hate me. Maybe she’d look at me differently. But at least she’d know the truth.

For now, though... Denial. Denial. Denial.

”No, no, no.” I shook my head. ”God, no. I... it’s... Jeez, Ivy, why did you peek?”

”Why wouldn’t I? Now spill, man.”

”I won’t. It’s... personal, alright?”

”She’s lesbian, isn’t she?” Ivy chuckled. ”I knew it.”

”God...”

Yeah, this was bad. Real, real, real bad. I didn’t know she’d do something like this, actually. And, for some reason, today she seemed... focused? Like she... eh, probably nothing. But it was a feeling that I wasn’t able to get rid of. Like she looked completely different today.