The morning light that spilled through Helena's penthouse windows was too white, too clean. It gleamed across glass tables and polished marble, making everything look untouched, no matter how ruined the night before had been.
Jack stood by the window, shirt half-buttoned, watching the city pulse below. Helena lay in bed, silk sheets clinging to her bare skin, but her eyes were fixed on him like she was waiting for the next command.
The System's hum cut across his vision:
[Major Quest: Rivalry — Progress 55%]
[Warning: Rival Sabotage Imminent]
Jack smirked faintly. "Let him try."
Helena's phone buzzed on the nightstand. Then again. And again. By the time she snatched it up, dozens of notifications glared across the screen. Her face went pale.
"Jack…" Her voice cracked. "It's you."
She turned the screen.
Grainy photos. Jack leaving the secretary's apartment. Helena's door. Shadows that told just enough of a story to damn him.
The captions were worse:
Predator in the Building.
Landlord's Wife Compromised.
Secretary on Her Knees.
The System flared red:
[New Metric Activated: Reputation]
Current Score: Neutral (0)]
Penalty Applied: Sabotage — Reputation −25]
Consequence: Asset Resistance Increased | Authority Checks Harder to Pass]
Helena's fingers clutched the sheet to her chest. "If he sees this… my husband—"
Jack cut her off with a low chuckle. "He won't see the truth. He'll see what I give him."
The System chimed:
[Micro-Quest: Restore Reputation]
Objective: Stage a public display of authority to override the narrative.]
Reward: +600 XP | Reputation Restored +20]
Jack turned from the window, eyes sharp. "Get dressed. Both of you."
The café was all gleaming glass, gold trim, marble floors — the kind of place built to be seen in. Jack picked the corner table with the perfect lighting. Helena arrived first, pearls at her throat, posture regal but pulse quick beneath it. The secretary followed, nervous, cheeks hot, but she sat beside Helena instead of across, just like Jack told her.
The System purred in his head:
[Scene Established: Public Theater]
Rival Observing: Marcus (Remote)]
Jack leaned back in his chair, one hand sliding under the table to rest on Helena's thigh. She stiffened, then relaxed into it. The secretary watched, breathless, squirming in her seat.
Jack's voice carried low but loud enough for nearby tables. "Both of you know who you belong to. Say it."
Helena's voice came first, cool and cutting: "You."
The secretary followed, soft but desperate: "Yours."
The café hushed. Heads turned. Phones lifted.
The System roared:
[Micro-Quest Complete: Public Domination]
Reward: +800 XP | Reputation Restored +25 | Rival Suppression +10%]
[Current Reputation: −25 → 0 → +15 Respected]
Gasps rippled. Snapshots caught Helena's pearls, the secretary's flushed cheeks, Jack's calm, unbothered smile.
Miles away, Marcus slammed a fist into his glass, cracking it down the middle.
[Rival Status: Rage Heightened]
[Control Reduced to 25%]
Jack sipped his coffee, watching the room eat up the display. "Good. Let them whisper. Every rumor they spread only makes me sharper."
Later, Helena's phone buzzed again. A forwarded email lit up Jack's HUD: Building Sale in Discussion — Meeting Scheduled.
The secretary's breath caught. "That's Marcus's ally. He's trying to buy the building."
Jack's grin curved slow. "Perfect. Then I know exactly where to cut him open next."
The System chimed:
[Major Quest Update: Rivalry 65%]
[Objective: Undermine Marcus's Alliance | Target: Investor]
Jack's reflection gleamed sharp in the café glass, Helena and the secretary both framed beside him. "War in the open, then.