One final talk before a decision.

I suspected it, but considering how quickly Mr. Allen arrived, I was then sure he’d been close by, probably watching us through a camera or something. It was probably also why Ms. Jennifer made that half-hearted attempt at seducing me. And speaking of…

“Mr. Brooks, I’d like to apologize,” he said the moment he sat down across from me. “I was watching your conversation with Jennifer. And while I didn’t agree with the decision to try to test you, I also didn’t oppose it. That was disrespectful of us.” Mr. Allen bowed his head. “I apologize.”

The headache this time came with a faint ringing of my ears. My vision blurred for a split second, but I sensed the honesty behind Mr. Allen’s apology.

“No, my own request to talk to her was pretty suspicious to begin with. I expected something like this, which was why I suggested a public place of your choosing,” I told him.

“Was Jennifer able to satisfy your curiosity?” he asked me.

I nodded. “I think she was being honest with me.” I didn’t know if Mr. Allen could tell some of my own powers had worked on Ms. Jennifer and were apparently working to a lesser extent on him, but I’d keep that card close to me for now. You know, for insurance. “I’m also sorry for being suspicious of you, sir.”

Mr. Allen sighed heavily, arms crossed. “I’ve been told I don’t inspire the most confidence in people who are just meeting me for the first time. But even without that, I think you SHOULD be suspicious of people like me. You and I aren’t the only ones with power, and I’d be willing to bet we’re some of the very few who actually show some restraint in its use.”

I thought back to Julian. The very moment he got his hands on supernatural abilities, he tried to use them to trick Mila. We got lucky he got impatient and tried it before developing his powers.

“I’m aware there are others,” I told him. “I don’t know if I want to dig deeper into it. Not sure I’m fit for that world.”

“Now that you’re aware of its existence, running into the supernatural will be inevitable. You’d already seen it before you met me, and even if we hadn’t met, someone else would’ve come along. Maybe someone else WILL come along.”

“...” I knew he was right. Frey kept warning me about it.

“Let me restate my offer, Mr. Brooks,” Mr. Allen said. “I’d like you to work with me in the manufacturing of a lust potion. An elixir that, in theory, should provide a temporary boost to sexual performance and enhance pleasure. In return, I will pay you the amount of money we have already discussed. Not only that, but I will provide protection for you and yours, much like I do for my closest employees. I would also be willing to teach you what I know of the supernatural, assuming you wish to learn and that there is some common ground between your powers and mine. What do you say?”

“...” I took a deep breath, then firmly met Mr. Allen’s gaze. “Before agreeing, I’d like to request three things. Is that okay?”

Mr. Allen nodded. “Go ahead.”

“First, I’d like to be involved in the manufacturing of the elixir. I’d like to learn how it’s made and where my… powers are going. If possible, I’d like to learn to make it myself. I don’t want to simply give you magical energy and ignore everything else.”

I saw Mr. Allen’s eyes shine as he smiled. “You wish to have a backup. In case our partnership falls apart, you’d take the knowledge with you.”

“Correct.”

“Denying that request would be awfully hard without risking the newfound trust you’ve placed in me. Very well. You will be a proper member of the manufacturing team.”

Mr. Allen didn’t hide the pride in his smile, but I also felt his shock. He did not expect me to have thought that far ahead.

“Thank you. Next. Remember when we talked about the way we would handle payment? You said I could be hired on paper without needing to do anything else.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“That’s my second request. I’d like to be put to work.”

Mr. Allen’s eyebrows shot up in further surprise.

“I don’t care what it is. I can sweep floors, clean bathrooms or whatever, but I want to have a proper job. I don’t want to sit on my thumbs. Besides, actually showing up to work would make it more believable, right?”

This time, Mr. Allen eyed me more carefully. “Do you have any work experience, Mr. Brooks?”

I nodded. “Some. I’ve been working at a coffee shop for the last seven months or so.”

“What do you do?”

“Practically everything since we’re only two people. I wait tables, clean the shop, wash dishes, prepare coffee, even handle the register.”

Mr. Allen smiled and stroked his chin. “Oh. So you have some experience in the service industry.” He then narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. “Hmm. This is harder for me to agree to. You’ve likely heard, but I hire people based on skill and their ability to work well with others. A single rusty piece can slow down a well-oiled machine. I have standards I need to meet, you see. That goes for everything, even cleaning.”

“Y-Yes, I understand.” Alright, I admit I might have gotten ahead of myself, but I just wanted to continue honing my skills, any skill. I felt like I’d grown so much from waiting tables. I wasn’t above doing things like cleaning bathrooms and bedrooms.

“Oh, but don’t misunderstand me. I admire your resolve,” Mr. Allen said. “So how about this? How would you feel about training under Diana at our bar? She would teach you the ropes, and if she believes you are fit for it, then you can continue working there.”

Working with Diana? I admit, I liked the sound of that. I liked it a lot. However… “I-I’d like to ask her, first. The last thing I want is to make her uncomfortable at her job.” Especially because this meant a lot to her. To Diana, running the bar at this hotel was valuable experience for when she opened her own.

Mr. Allen nodded. “Very well. And your third request?”

“Ah. Um… Please, just call me Oliver from now on. I appreciate the formality, but it’s a little uncomfortable.”

He chuckled. “I see. I will agree to that on one condition of my own.”

“W-Which is?”

“That you call me Luke. No mister, no sir. Just Luke. We’ll be partners from now on. It’s only fair.”

Calling someone older by their name always felt odd to me, but then again, I was growing used to it with Maria and Diana, so… “Alright… Luke.”

He smiled and extended his hand to me. “I’m looking forward to working with you, Oliver. I promise you won’t regret this.”

Considering the clandestine nature of the whole thing, that handshake sealed the deal more firmly than any legal document.

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