"I really—really need just an hour alone," Lunessa said, trying to keep her tone calm. "I need to buy a few clothes. Mine are, um—"
"Your clothes?" Julian asked.
Since the mosquito conversation, he had been sitting far too close to her, his presence filling the backseat like he had deliberately decided personal space was optional.
"I mean," Lunessa continued, choosing her words carefully, "my clothes are all quite—"
She stopped, then sighed and turned to him.
"Wait, Mr. Julian Hale," she said, pointing pointedly to the other side of the car. "Can you move a bit? I feel stuffy with you this close to me."
She gestured again. "See that big empty space over there? The one you're completely ignoring?"
Julian glanced at the space.
Then back at her.
"I see it," he said calmly.
"And?" Lunessa prompted.
"And I chose not to sit there," he replied, unfazed.
Her eyes twitched. "That's not a reason."
"It is," Julian said mildly. "I prefer this side."
She stared at him. "You prefer invading my personal space?"
"You… have personal space?" he asked, his tone dry, almost sarcastic.
It wasn't hard to understand what he meant.
Lunessa looked away, jaw tightening.
'Why does this man,' she thought irritably, 'always choose the harshest possible way to phrase things?'
She shifted slightly toward the door, trying to reclaim at least a fraction of distance.
"You know," she muttered, "normal people don't talk like that."
Julian glanced at her, the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.
"I'm not normal," he said simply.
Lunessa squinted at him. "Figured…"
She crossed her arms and leaned back against the seat, pointedly angling her body away from him.
"Most people at least pretend to respect personal space," she muttered.
Julian's gaze lingered on her for a second longer than necessary.
"I'm not most," Julian replied calmly.
He turned his head just enough to look at her properly. "I'm one of the top three richest bachelors in this country."
The car felt smaller.
"And you," he continued evenly, without raising his voice, "are mine."
The words settled between them, heavy.
Lunessa bit her lip.
For a brief second, a dozen arguments crowded her mind. Sharp replies. Sarcastic deflections. A reminder that she wasn't an object to be claimed with money and status.
But the words never made it out because she realized something.
She had chosen this road the moment she agreed to the system. The moment she stepped into his penthouse and stayed. The moment she accepted that survival came with conditions.
Gold digger.
Villain.
Neither role came with the luxury of pride.
She exhaled slowly, then leaned back against the seat, eyes forward.
"Then try not to suffocate what's yours," she muttered.
Julian hummed beside her.
"Suffocate?" he repeated lightly. "If you ever feel like you can't breathe, do tell me."
She shot him a wary look.
"I'm certified in CPR," he continued calmly. "And I'm quite good at it."
There was a deliberate pause before he added, "Very hands-on."
Lunessa stared at him for a second.
Then she let out an awkward laugh. "Ha—ha. I never knew one of the top three richest bachelors in this country could be… this funny."
Julian shook his head slowly, his expression still completely stoic.
"No," he said. "I'm serious."
She blinked.
"Should I demonstrate it now?"
"Oh— I'm late!" Lunessa blurted out. "I should go now. I'll be back in an hour, I promise. You don't need to wait for me, Mr. Julian."
She smiled too brightly and hurried to open the door.
She didn't make it.
Julian's hand caught her wrist, and in one smooth motion, he pulled her back into his embrace. Not rough but firm enough to stop her completely.
"I don't have much time," he murmured near her ear. "So tell me... what would make you agree to do it tonight?"
A shiver ran straight down her spine.
"Ah…" She swallowed hard. "I really don't understand, Mr. Julian." Then, without thinking, the words slipped out. "Why is your time always so limited? Like—if you don't have sex, would you die or something?"
The effect was instant.
Julian pulled away.
Completely.
The warmth vanished, replaced by a sudden, chilling distance. His expression hardened, dark, like she had pressed on something raw.
"That's not funny," he said flatly.
The playful edge was gone.
Lunessa's smile faded. "And I'm not joking," she said quietly. "I seriously wanted to know."
Julian looked at her for a long moment.
"You don't need to know everything," he said at last. "Especially not things that don't concern you."
Her brows knit together. "But it concerns me, doesn't it? You keep saying your time is limited. You keep rushing things."
Silence stretched.
"I didn't expect your type to be concerned about something like that," Julian said at last, his tone flat. "Isn't it enough that I give you what you want, and you give me what I want in return?"
The words landed harshly.
Lunessa nodded hard and let out a small, disbelieving chuckle. "Right… that's how it works."
She pressed her lips thin before continuing, forcing her voice to stay steady. "I'll take note of that. I just need some time to digest all of this."
She reached for the door handle.
"So, yeah, Mr. Julian," she said quietly, not looking at him. "I'll take my leave first."
The door opened.
Cold air rushed in, carrying with it the sudden space between them.
Then…
[NEW MISSION]
[ASK JULIAN HALE FOR MONEY]
[REWARD: RECEIVED AMOUNT ×2]
Her steps stopped instantly.
"Seriously?" Lunessa muttered under her breath. "At this moment?"
Her fingers tightened around the door edge.
Of all times.
She had just drawn a line. Just swallowed her pride. Just told herself she needed space to breathe and now the system was shoving her right back across it.
Julian noticed the pause.
He glanced at her, eyes sharp. "Did you forget something?"
Lunessa froze.
'Say it. Don't say it. Say it.'
She closed her eyes briefly, then turned back to face him.
"Actually," she said, forcing the word out, "there is something."
Julian's brow lifted slightly. Not surprised but looked expectant.
Lunessa inhaled slowly, the taste of bitterness settling on her tongue.
"I need money to shop," she said.
There… out in the open.
The car was quiet again.
Julian leaned back against the seat, studying her like she had just confirmed something he already knew.
"How much?" he asked calmly.
'How much?' She repeated the words in her head. 'How much should I ask?'
Seeing her hesitate, Julian reached into his wallet and pulled out a card, holding it out to her.
"Take this," he said. "Call me if it's not enough."
She blinked. Once… Then again.
"How?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.
"How?" Julian echoed. "You mean calling me?"
Lunessa nodded.
"I already saved my number in your phone," he said casually. "And one more thing… change that phone. I'm not even sure anyone still uses that kind of model."
"You did…?" Her voice slowed as she pulled her phone from her sling bag. She unlocked it, fingers stiff. "What did you save your name as?"
"My benefactor," Julian replied without hesitation.
She frowned, then sighed, typing quickly to confirm it.
"Okay," she said weakly.
She took the card he pressed into her hand, the weight of it feeling far heavier than plastic.
"How much is on here?" she asked.
Julian watched her in silence for a few seconds.
"Not much," he said at last. "A hundred thousand."
"A hundred thousand?!"