I obviously couldn't tell Hailie much, not without letting her know about Ann's shady business apart from the sheer fact that she was the one who saved us from certain doom.

I do not have the heart to tell such a kind and innocent and dumb soul about the underground prostitution ring happening right under our noses… Possibly a mercenary ring, too. Sounds like something Ann would do, I mean, why would Lady_Valerie be there for the New Destiny, and why was she after Pearl?

Of course, chances are, the Lion's Parade members were lying and they actually planned everything, pinning it on Ann.

During dinner, Hailie told me that the fighting cease, the casualty were suffered greatly on both sides and they both need time to recollect their resources.

Pearl and Olga doesn't know what to do after reactivating the barrier, so they told people to seek shelter somewhere else, and an official announcement will be put out soon.

"Oh… Um- I hope whatever the case is… It'll turn out fine for them."

Then, I stared at Eirlys, who seemed to be having restless nights as fatigue was visible on her face.

I have business I want to talk to her about regarding Tanya and the fact that both of us forgot to uphold the promise about me befriending Hailie in exchange that I'd get to grope her boobs.

Next morning, though. I took another bus, wearing my casual clothing and not one of the thousand dresses that the Sonders provided me with.

Through the rich, gated neighborhood, through the downtown area with dense white collars and tech millionaires that never understood social interactions with their model trophy wife.

This was comparable to the Vinewood Hills that people yearned so much about yet know so little about.

I made my way to my old apartment at the other end of town, passing through the familiar stores and hospitals, and took a deep breath under the sunlight.

I took the stairs for some exercise, though I didn't know why I that thought crossed my mind… And I located the room.

Floor 18, Room 1807.

knock

one knock

knock knock knock

followed by three.

Then, she actually opened the door.

I was looking for Tanya, and recived what I asked for, as she stood there practically naked, wearing nothing but black underwear and a loosely hanging white shirt that wasn't even buttoned right, half of it sliding down her shoulder like some kind of… Fucking, fetish sight.

For a moment, both of us froze.

My brain short-circuited.

Boobies detected, neuron activation initated.

"Woa-" I muttered.

"Oh," she said, blinking once, not embarrassed at all, still that same cold smile with half-opened resting eyes. "Cory."

"You answered without wearing an… Wha-" I shook back to reality, trying to keep my eyes off her juicy collarbone, "I, uh… like, I mean, you- What if it was someone else? I don't know, the delivery guy or something!"

"Mhm…" She tilted her head slightly, "I can handle it."

How was she so sure? What if it was, I don't know, the neighbor who studies Jiujutsu, or a murderer with knife, or God forbid, just a peeping Tom who decided binoculars from across the street wasn't enough and was there with the full intent to pin her down and murder-suicide?

"If… You think so?" I tilted my head slightly in response to her already tilted head.

Without much of another word, Tanya stepped aside and gesturing for me to come in.

I entered before my brain could veto the decision, I do not mind the possibility of danger when it came to entering the personal space of a woman.

The apartment looked exactly like I remembered it.

That same faint amber glow from the standing lamp still washed the place in soft warmth, bouncing off the smooth gray walls and polished floor. There wasn't a trace of dust anywhere, once again, I felt dirty just existing here considering I didn't shower that thorough this morning… God, what's with me and being around clean women? First the Sonders giant spotless mansion then her…

Tanya closed the door behind me, then calmly walked to the windows and drew the curtains shut, leaving only thin streaks of sunlight cutting across her body.

Her skin caught the light, pale gold over soft shadow. I didn't say anything, mostly because I couldn't trust myself not to sound like a degenerate wanting to hook up with her.

Granted, I do wanna hook up with her, just, not my intent of coming over today.

I sat on her couch, and she didn't want the conversation to go for long, I'd assume, because she remained standing, letting my eye to be leveled with her crotch.

"So," she started, her tone unreadable as ever. "You came for something… Does it have to do with last night?"

She went straight to the point.

"Yes!" I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "The guild war… The one between New Destiny and Lion's Parade."

"Mhm…" She nodded slowly, then turned to glance at her bedroom door, crossing her arms. "And you're asking me… because?"

"I wanted to know if Ann had anything to do with it," I blurted out.

That made her raise a brow, but not much else as her smile persist.

"Why not just ask Ann directly?" Tanya asked.

"I…"

I paused, because that was a fair question. But something about looking Ann in the eyes after realizing she probably orchestrated an entire guild war just to make popcorn out of it and probably profit in some way or another… no thanks.

"I still owe her a favor," I said finally, trying to look anywhere but at Tanya's body. "You probably don't know who Jared is but like… She technically led me to him, and- even if it meant a trap, I still received her info at the Bastet and... And I don't think I can just… ask her to expose herself like that. You, on the other hand…"

She waited for me to continue, despite the fact that I was stuttering out of fear and thirst.

That other kind of thirst.

"You know her personally, and you're working with her, I think… You were at her cabin in the woods when we first met, and you were there to have sex with Sarah from the Lion's Parade, so uh… I reckon I'd ask you first."

There was a pause.

And Tanya opened her mouth.

"What if I say no?"

That question startled me

And that's when my mouth, apparently suicidal, decided to say the one thing it shouldn't have.

"I saw you that night."

"..." She didn't respond.

"At the Sonder mansion," I said, already regretting it. "You and Eirlys, you guys were- I- um, you were inside her with a two-way dildo… God why the fuck must I dive into the details?"

Tanya gave me the cold look, then she smiled.

Not an embarrassed smile or even a mocking one.

It was the kind of smile that could shut a confession down with just calm, steady confidence, like she was doubling down my accusations.

She took a step closer, then another, until she was close enough that I could smell her scent.

"I know," she whispered. "I saw you watching."

My breath hitched as she reached down and touched my face, which made me cum (exaggeration of course), then she raised my chin with two fingers.

"It's cute that it took you this long to admit it," she murmured. "Were you planning to blackmail me with that, Cory?"

"N-no, I wasn't…"

"Relax." She chuckled, but this time, there was warmth beneath the teasing. "If I thought you were blackmailing me, you wouldn't be standing here."

"Where would I b…"

"Poof."

She stopped me mid-sentence with another smile and vague wordings.

At times, I thought that Tanya might be Ann herself, but I met Ann in real life way long before, so that couldn't be possible.

She turned and walked towards the bedroom door, motioning for me to follow.

I expected sex, yet I received laundry.

Clothes… Fabrics… Just so, so, SO many of them, spread neatly across her bed.

Shirts, skirts, coats, even a few sets of shoes lined on the floor, all perfectly arranged by color tone and fabric texture, because of course she would.

"Oh," I said, awkwardly.

"Oh?" she echoed, mildly amused.

"I… thought you were inviting me in for something else."

That earned a chuckle out of her, which, for Tanya, was basically equivalent to a full laugh. Then she sat on the edge of the bed, pulling a black skirt across her knees.

"I'm going on a date,"

She said it so casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world… Despite how she was so open about her profession of being an escort for money last time we met, so, naturally, I got a whiplash.

"A- A what?"

"A date, with someone."

"Who?"

"Not important," she replied simply, smoothing the fabric between her fingers. "It's supposed to rain this evening, so I was wondering if I should wear something waterproof."

"And… I am relevant, how?"

"You are not," she said, glancing up at me, "But if you really want the truth about Ann, you can help me pick an outfit."

"…You're joking."

"And accompany me for an hour or… so until I have to go on my date, sounds good dear?"

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