The Heart System

Chapter 873: Chapter 873

"Hey, bucko." Tessa walked toward my desk, probably coming from the break room. "We have a job to do tomorrow."

"What kinda job?" I asked, looking up at her. "Is it about Project Phoenix?"

"Nope. Emma asked for a ’willing participant’ for the video she’s making for her customer." She leaned against the edge of my desk, looking completely casual about it. "You and I are going to fuck, and you’ll cum on her toes."

Fuck that.

"No."

Recording me was one thing. I could deal with that. But I couldn’t possibly have Emma record Tessa like that. This shit was supposed to be private. We weren’t some kind of animals in an enclosed zoo, dancing around and eating bananas every time some passerby threw one at us. Plus, I couldn’t allow Tessa to be naked on camera for other men to see.

"Look, I always try to be a modern guy, okay?" I said, standing up and facing her. "I’m not a caveman or old-fashioned."

"Okay?" Tessa raised an eyebrow.

"I never smothered you over how you dress or how you act, because those are some of the things that make you who you are." I took a breath, trying to keep my voice calm. "But I’m not going to allow you to be naked in front of a fucking camera. I won’t."

Tessa stayed quiet for a moment, watching me.

"You know me. You know I trust you." I lowered my voice slightly, but I didn’t back down. "I’ve never used the word ’allow’ with you before, but I’m going to use it this time. I will not allow it. So tell Emma you changed your mind, okay?"

As soon as I finished speaking, I realized how close I had gotten to her. My voice had been harsher than usual, and judging by the warmth in my face, I was probably a little red from anger. But, well, who could blame me?

I wasn’t going to let other people see Tessa when she was at her most vulnerable. That was something I wasn’t comfortable with, no matter how much I tried to be open-minded about everything else.

"Jeez." Tessa shrugged, her voice quieter now. "I didn’t know you could get angry. Now I know."

"I’m not angry. I just..."

"Sure." She nodded, cutting me off. "I can tell her the deal is off, Mr. Alpha Guy."

Huh.

Ten points from her? Nice.

"More like Mr. Common Sense." I softened my voice as I looked at her. "I’m not going to let other people see the woman I love in her birthday suit."

"Wow, wow, wow. Point after point." She smiled and stepped closer, getting onto her toes so she could bring her face nearer to mine. "I like this side of you."

I didn’t answer. I just stood there, suddenly unsure what the hell I was supposed to do with myself.

Tessa eventually took a few steps back and glanced at her wristwatch. Her break was apparently over.

"Gotta go." She turned toward the office before looking back at me. "And you better find a girl for Emma, because it’s happening tomorrow."

"Ugh..."

Tessa grinned and walked away, leaving me standing beside my desk and wondering what the hell I’d just gotten myself into.

══════════════════

WOMEN - INTERACTIONS

──────────────────

Jasmine: Interest: 40 / 60

Kayla: Interest: 38 / 40

Tessa: Interest: 50 / 60

Kim: Interest: 100 / 100

Delilah: Interest: 100 / 100

Cora: Interest: 100 / 100

Mendy: Interest: 24 / 40

Nala: Interest: 100 / 100

Penelope: Interest: 29 / 40

Minne: Interest: 38 / 40

Ivy: Interest: 25 / 80

Eleanor: Interest: 25 / 40

Amelia: Interest: 14 / 20

Esme: Interest: 72 / 80

Carrie: Interest: 4 / 20

Layla: Interest: 29 / 40

Emma: Interest: 20 / 40

Sophia: Interest: 6/20

══════════════════

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

Well... who would I even call? And why the hell was I supposed to find a girl for Emma? Tessa was the one who promised Emma, not me. Crap. Maybe I could call the same woman I called for Stingy Ladies, the one who acted like she was interested in Melvin? Hmm... nah. She’d probably think I was a weirdo.

"Who..." I exhaled, rubbing my forehead. "Man..."

I took another sip of my coffee and leaned back in my chair. I was waiting for Layla at a coffee shop nearby. We were supposed to meet since she was going to close her shop early because of some bike race happening on the street. From what she’d told me, the roads around her store were going to be closed for most of the afternoon.

She was late, though.

I wasn’t too worried about it. The streets were probably a mess because of the event, and I had nothing better to do anyway. Still, my mind kept circling back to Emma’s stupid video.

Who the hell was I supposed to find?

A sudden hand slapped down on my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked up and saw Penelope standing beside my table.

"It’s you!" Penelope smirked. "What’s up?"

"Penelope..."

The kind of woman I wouldn’t mind other people seeing on camera. She was confident, wasn’t shy about herself, and, from what I’d seen yesterday, probably wouldn’t be too bothered by something unconventional. She also seemed like the kind of person who wouldn’t immediately say no to some extra money.

More importantly, though, I needed to make sure she actually wanted to do it.

"Just the girl I wanted to see." I smiled.

"Uh-oh." She gave me a suspicious look. "That sounded ominous. But I have to go, so whatever it is can wait."

"I’ll text you."

"Okay... yeah."

She gave me a quick wave and walked out of the coffee shop. I stayed seated, watching the door close behind her.

Hopefully, she wouldn’t find the whole thing weird.

I already felt a little strange about it myself. I wasn’t willing to let Tessa do the video, but I was considering asking Penelope instead. The difference was that Tessa was someone I loved, and I didn’t want her private moments recorded for other people to watch. Penelope was different, but that didn’t mean I wanted to pressure her into anything either. If she said no, that would be the end of it.