To meet Mr. Allen’s girlfriend.

I knew I was making excuses for myself. I was nervous but I was going to go through with it anyway, okay? Just… The restroom at work needed some more cleaning, alright? And in the cupboard some of the cups weren’t upside down. And I had to check that we had indeed thrown the trash away. And…

“Oliver, I need to close shop,” Maria told me.

OKAY. I’M LEAVING.

Ugh. I didn’t want to, but best to just get it over with. I’d be meeting Jennifer, one of Mr. Allen’s girlfriends, at the hotel’s restaurant. I felt restless and it wasn’t just the nerves. My body felt hot. It was something akin to arousal, but… dry. Like I felt horny but didn’t want to have sex.

Frey was getting ready to work, I assumed.

I took the bus and made my way to the hotel. I didn’t expect the person greeting me at the front desk to be Diana, though.

“Huh? What are you doing here?” I asked her, walking up to the desk, happy to see her.

“I work here. Did you forget already?” she teased. “No, I’m just working late tonight and filling in for someone. I know why you’re here, though.”

“Do you?”

“Of course. I was told to bring you to the table where Ms. Jennifer is waiting.” Diana walked over to me, got close and began to fix the collar of my shirt. “Do what you have to do. Just be respectful, you hear? Ms. Jennifer is a good woman.”

“Do you think I have it in me to be disrespectful?” I asked her.

“To the people you don’t like? A bit.” She grinned. “Am I right?”

“Uh… Maybe.”

Diana leaned down and kissed me. Lips only and it only lingered for three sweet seconds before she pulled away. “For good luck.”

“Please tell me you don’t do this with all the guests.” I got my cheek pinched for that one.

Diana led me to the restaurant. There were more people than when I was there last. There was also live music on the stage.

“And when is the bar actually opening?” I asked Diana.

She groaned, frustrated. I think I hit a nerve.

“As soon as Mr. Allen finds enough people to fill all shifts. But as you’ve learned, he’s… picky with personnel. The people applying don’t meet his standards. Though to be fair, they don’t really meet mine, either.”

“Ah.”

We had to leave that exchange at that. We had made it to the table where Ms. Jennifer was waiting. Diana called her that, so I figured I should, too.

“Oliver Brooks, ma’am,” Diana said, introducing me to the lady.

I remembered her. She seemed a bit older than Diana. Maybe close to late 30s. Straight golden hair reaching below her shoulders, slender, small chest. Her nose had fully healed, apparently. Not even a scar was left. She was wearing a simple, yellow glittering dress that showed her shoulders.

Ms. Jennifer smiled at me. “Of course I remember him! My hero!” she said, giggling. “Please, Oliver, sit down! I’m so, so sorry we haven’t properly thanked you for what you did for me. You see… My nose took time to heal and I was too embarrassed to show my face.”

Well, she was a cheerful one. “I’m glad to see you’re okay now.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.” With a bow, Diana went back to the lobby.

I sat down across from Ms. Jennifer, and the moment I did, I felt something… off. Ms. Jennifer’s eyes were on me, a sultry look that didn’t hide intent.

“Now… You wanted to talk to me, but it doesn’t have to be here, right? We have more… comfortable rooms upstairs. What do you say? We’ll have a lot more privacy there. My… Hero.”

“...” I frowned and crossed my arms. “I’ll admit to be naive, Ms. Jennifer, but not that much. Was that supposed to tempt me into revealing some ‘true intentions’ or something? I really just want to talk.”

Her face went completely red from shame, yet she laughed it off. “Yes, that was the intent, hahaha! I’m so sorry. Cecilia insisted I tried.”

Yeah, I felt a little offended, but I couldn’t blame her. I was suspicious of Mr. Allen, too. it was the reason I was here now. Wait, maybe… Maybe my suspicion offended Mr. Allen, too, and Ms. Jennifer was trying to let me see that? Okay, now I was overthinking it too much.

“Truly, I’m very sorry about that. I thought it was a stupid idea, too.” Ms. Jennifer sighed and smiled at me. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Please, don’t worry. I’ll eat when I get home, and I don’t want to take much of your time. I only want to ask you a few questions.”

“About Luke, right? You deserve the truth, Oliver. Natalie wanted me to keep quiet, but I won’t. We think we have an idea of what you’re trying for here. You want to read my mind, don’t you?”

“...”

“Please, I don’t hold it against you. Luke really does come across as shady, doesn’t he?” Ms. Jennifer grinned. “He’s overly polite to the point of coming across as disingenuous, looks younger than he is and has so much power and influence than you’d believe he could get away with anything. And yes, that last part is mostly true.”

“Does that mean you will let me read your mind, then?”

She chuckled. “It’s not up to me. I have no magic of my own, but Luke made sure my mental resistance against magic was top notch. All I can do is promise you I’ll answer every question with full honesty, even if my boyfriend would rather I didn’t. He has some embarrassing stories, you see.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s the least I can do. You helped me out, remember? I was so scared, but you and your friends didn't think twice. I owe you. Besides, I…” Her cheeks reddened again. “I’d like to have that elixir, too. You know, the… sex elixir. I’d like you to work with Luke, so I’ll do what I can to convince you.”

…

I felt my chest swell with pride. And I know what you’re thinking. Pride? What does that have to do with anything she just said? Well, she mentioned her mental defenses were top notch, right? I could believe that. And yet… I felt the honesty in her words just like I’d feel it in any of my girlfriends.

Frey had gotten through.

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