Chapter 136: Not soft, not begging

The following morning, Aria turned over on the average sized bed in the room she shared with the other housekeeper.

For a moment she simply stared at the ceiling, still unable to accept what had happened the night before. Tom had not pulled her in. He had not even given her the dignity of temptation.

He had taken her hand, pushed her back from his doorway, and told her firmly that she could not satisfy him in any way. Then he had closed the door in her face.

Aria’s jaw tightened.

"Is it because of my status?" She wandered inwardly and her frown deepened.

She had never flirted with a man and been looked down on like that. She was young, beautiful, and had a body men noticed without being asked to. Her poor background had never mattered before.

In the houses where she had worked earlier, she rarely needed to chase the husband. He was usually the one making the first move. Once he saw she was receptive, he would find his way to her room, keep her busy through the night, and give her whatever she asked for afterward. That was how she had managed; housekeeper by title, bed-warmer by arrangement, salary from both sides.

So why was this one different?

This husband, who was not even a real husband to her employer in any visible way, slept alone and still refused her. His own bed stayed cold, and he still pushed her away. Aria exhaled in frustration and pressed her fingers against her forehead.

"Or..." Another idea rose in her head and questions followed;

Was it because of that personal assistant of his? That woman with the figure and the shameless confidence? Was that the standard he was using to measure everyone else?

Before the thought could settle fully, the other housekeeper, Leah, spoke up from the other side of the room, already pulling her hair back for work. She had obviously woken up since and had taken a bath and dressed up.

"It’s time to start chores."

"Yeah, right." Aria dragged herself up and headed for the bathroom.

"When you came in last night, you looked so upset. Did something happen?" Leah said, glancing over.

"Nothing worth talking about." Aria forced a flat look onto her face as she replied dismissively.

Leah did not push. She understood that in houses like this, some truths were safer left untouched. Aria walked into the bathroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~

In his bathroom, Tom stood under the water with a morning hardness that was worse than usual.

Last night had left a mark. The phone call with Josie... His body had taken it personal and had not forgotten any of it. He braced one hand on the tile and let the water run down his shoulders, his jaw tightening against the stubborn pull of the arousal.

The System did not waste the chance to comment.

[Host let a willing opportunity walk away.]

Tom shut his eyes briefly. "That’s not an opportunity. I don’t want to be involved in such scandal." He huffed then added;

"Or maybe you could say I was looking out for her. The last housekeeper who ended up connected to my bed got fired, and nothing even happened."

[As Host wishes.] The system replied flatly.

A new panel opened at that moment, bringing the daily tasks;

```

[DAILY TASKS]

1. Engage in an intensive exercise for one hour

2. Ensure one intimate act with Josie

Reward: Harem Chest

```

Tom read the second task slowly. And at the end of reading, he let out a dry chuckle. He could tell the System was no longer interested in slow courtesy with Josie. That much was clear. He let the mission be without argument.

He had thought that was all for the day and looked away from the panel, wanting to start thinking on how to complete the task.

But before he could sink fully into how he would complete it, he heard a chime and another panel cut in, bringing another notification which cut harder than the first.

```

[PRIMARY MISSION]

Complete the setup of the club and open it.

Timeframe: 14 days

Reward:

• A luxury house

Penalty:

• Club package revoked

• $300,000 debt

```

Tom’s mouth fell open.

A luxury house as a reward? That was what he wouldn’t trade for anything but the mission wasn’t anything he had ever done before.

Fourteen days for the full club setup?

And if he failed, the entire club package gone plus a debt large enough to punch a hole through his current momentum. He shut the water off with more force than necessary and stood for a second in the steam.

"I’m not failing this," he muttered.

"One step at a time." one part of him reminded him.

His mind turned immediately to the Josie task. An idea surfaced, sharp enough to pull a small smile from him before he left the bathroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time Tom dressed and stepped out of his room, Sienna was already in the living room, dressed for work.

Her outfit was as gorgeous as usual, and Tom could see her bag ready on the side chair. The moment she saw him, she brightened with the same intentional warmth as the previous morning.

"Good morning," she said to him.

"Good morning."

"Do you have time for breakfast today?"

Tom nodded simply. "Yes."

Sienna’s throat moved as she swallowed. The happiness that flashed through her body language was too immediate to miss. Her shoulders eased, and for a second she looked like a woman who had won something small but important. Tom followed her to the dining table, still not fully used to this version of her, and pulled out a chair when she did.

The spread waiting for them was larger than it needed to be.

There were scrambled eggs and finely sliced avocado toast, smoked salmon on small bagels, turkey bacon, buttered croissants, fresh fruit arranged in a glass bowl, Greek yogurt with honey on the side, and two pots of coffee and tea left within reach. It looked less like breakfast for two and more like a table prepared by someone afraid of choosing wrong.

They sat.

"So concerning what you mentioned lasr night... I checked my schedule," Tom said once the first plates had been drawn closer. "I won’t have time for lunch. Can we do dinner instead?"

"Yes, that’s totally okay." Sienna replied.

"Alright."

She poured herself some coffee then began telling him what she had asked the kitchen to prepare, as if explaining the excess might soften it.

"I told them to make the eggs and the salmon. The croissants too. And the fruit... just in case you didn’t want anything heavy."

Tom looked over the table again and raised a brow. "Why this much?"

Sienna’s fingers smoothed the edge of her napkin. "I didn’t know what you would like."

Tom nodded once, understanding the awkwardness beneath the effort. "Fair enough. Thanks." he was appreciative.

He reached for the eggs and a piece of toast. Sienna watched him take the first bite before she touched her own plate, as if confirming he was actually staying this time.

Then she surprised him again.

"Tell me your favorite meals, so tomorrow morning won’t be a hassle." she said.

Tom peered at her across the table, his movement to grab another bite pausing slightly.

As if she could read the question in his face, Sienna held his gaze and added very calmly, "This is how it will be every morning."

The line landed with more weight than casual conversation deserved. It wasn’t soft, it definitely didn’t sound as begging too. It was a decision she had made.

Tom was taken aback. The question rose in his mind;

Why?