Chapter Twenty Three
"I thought you already did your research since you have no issues with my relationship with Monica."
Ren let out a huge sigh as he turned to look at Alex, who was blinking at him in disbelief. "What??"
"How do you know I ran a background check? No. How do you know I am rich enough to run a background check on you?" Alex grabbed Ren's sleeve as they climbed on the next set of escalator, burning holes through his face.
Ren bit his lower lip, letting out a huge breath as he closed his eyes weighing the options that might prove profitable for him. "Duel?"
"What?" Alex's face scrunched in confusion at the word that sounded more like a question than an answer to her question. "What are you talking about Ren?"
"Let's have a duel. The loser must reward the winner with a set of two wishes and answer to their two questions. What do you say?"
Alex's grip on his sleeve tightened as the escalator leveled off, her eyes narrowing into slits. "A duel? You're serious? You realize I spend half my life fighting monsters, right?"
"I know." Ren adjusted his collar as a teasing smirk played on his lips that didn't quite reach his eyes. "But aren't you also dying to know how I found out about your little investigation? This is the only way you'll ever get those answers from me, Alex."
"You're scheming something. It's clear." Alex huffed as the two of them stepped on the third set of escalator. "Why should I accept the duel? I can live without knowing the answer to that question anyway! Humph!"
Ren raised his eyebrow at Alex's unexpected refusal which he obviously couldn't afford. "You sure?" Ren counter-questioned, hoping for Alex's curiosity to take over and make her agree.
"Yes. I'm not going to agree to a duel despite knowing the fact that you're clearly scheming something Mr. Esper. However…" Alex trailed off as a devious glint replaced her initial annoyance as she leaned closer.
"However?"
"I might agree if you offer something that might actually be of use to me." Alex's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper as she trailed her long nail over Ren's clothed manhood.
Ren felt a sharp jolt of electricity shoot up his spine from the sheer audacity of Alex's gesture. However, he remained still as his breath hitched while his eyes glanced down at Alex's hand and then back into those shimmering eyes.
"You want my nine inches?"
"Huh?" Alex's eyebrows scrunched as she stared at Ren's face as if he had spoken some alien language. "What nine inches?"
"The nine inches that you're teasing with your nail." Alex's face cycled through a breathtaking array of emotions as a mortified flush crept up from her neck to the tips of her ears. She snatched her hand back as if his zipper had burned her.
"That's not—I wasn't— Pervert!" Alex sputtered, her earlier predatory confidence evaporating into the recycled air of the mall. This was the first time Alex had blushed like a schoolgirl in love as Ren couldn't help but smile. "Don't smile! I don't need yours anyway. I can have any guy I want!"
"Hmmm… Then, how about despite the win or lose I will join your guild as a Hunter. Does that work?"
"You're offering to sign a contract? For real?" Alex asked, her voice regaining its edge as she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to regain her composure once again. "You can't back out later, Mr Esper."
Ren shrugged nonchalantly. 'Everything is secondary. I need this duel to quickly finish the special mission.'
"However, there are two conditions to this duel."
"Name them."
Ren raised his index finger, making Alex raise her eyebrow before continuing. "First, neither of us will use equipment or special skills. It will be a duel of pure strength and speed."
"Agreed. Next?"
"Second," Ren said, his gaze deepening as he leaned slightly into Alex's personal space before raising his second finger. "Whoever slaps their opponent's butt twice will be the winner."
"Pfft." A low chuckle passed Alex's lips as she stared back into Ren's eyes unafraid before continuing. "Then, Mr. Esper should be ready to not be able to sit for a week."
"Hah… We'll see who will be the actual one who can't sit for a week." Ren pulled back straightening his spine as they finally reached the ninth floor.
The ninth floor opened up into a sprawling fitness complex, all gleaming chrome and floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
A sleek reception desk manned by a bored-looking attendant guarded the entrance to what was clearly not your average public gym.
Alex breezed past the desk with a curt nod, flashing a black card that made the attendant's eyes widen slightly before she returned to her phone.
"Private training room," Alex announced, her heels clicking authoritatively on the polished concrete floor as she led Ren past rows of state-of-the-art equipment. "Soundproofed. No cameras. Perfect for what you have in mind to train for the Hunter Crystal Test after we are done with the duel."
Ren followed, his eyes scanning the space with appreciation. "You're indeed a good business woman, Miss Vance. You have good knowledge of what your customers want."
"That I know."
The gym was mostly empty at this hour, with only a few dedicated souls grinding through their routines. The private room Alex guided him to was at the end of a short hallway, accessible only after a second biometric scan.
The door clicked shut behind them, sealing out the ambient thrum of treadmills and the distant bass of workout music. The room was surprisingly spacious, with padded flooring and mirrored walls that reflected their silhouettes back at them in infinite regression.
Alex kicked off her heels, sending them skittering into a corner. She rolled her shoulders, the tension in her frame shifting from social posturing to genuine combat readiness. "Last chance to back out, Esper. I won't go easy on you just because you're pretty."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Vance." Ren shrugged off his jacket, draping it neatly over a nearby bench. He loosened his collar, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows with deliberate slowness. "Standard rules apply? No face shots?"
"Obviously. I have a photoshoot tomorrow." Alex stepped into the center of the room, bouncing lightly on the balls of her bare feet. Her stance was textbook.
Weight balanced, hands up, chin tucked.
Despite her earlier bravado, there was no sloppiness in her form. "Whenever you're ready, Mr. Nine Inches."
Ren's lips twitched. "You're not going to ever let that go, are you?"
"Nope~ Come on, pretty boy~ Let's see what you got."