Chapter 66: The Power Of Manipulation

Arias and Diana had managed to leave the building and make it to the car with minimal reporters focused their way.

Diana had brought up the matter concerning residence after it clicked that she couldn't find a place to stay on her own. But Arias calmed her worries when he revealed he had already prepared a room for her at the hotel he was staying.

The ride there was uneventful and Diana was too drunk to be her usual rowdy self. By the time they arrived she could be barely stand straight and just wanted to sleep.

Arias carried her to her room and just placed her on the bed, also wanting to call it a day but just as he was about to leave… she jumped on his back.

"Hiya! Never turn your back on your opponent." She yelled in a drunken stupor.

He had no trouble shaking her off and tossing her back on the bed. It was then that it clicked to her. "Now that I think about it, you are very strong. Earlier when I wanted to punch Steven Trevor with all my might, you were able to restrain me."

Although drunk and speaking quite carelessly, she made a valid point. One Arias hadn't even taken into account. It was such a negligible thing that he didn't think on it until now.

Although he had brought Diana to his side, nothing was set and anything could change. It was far too early to make his true power known to her, especially since his true character was yet to be revealed.

He needed to get her to a point where she would still be in support of him despite what he did before placing any firm expectations on her. With that in mind, he quickly shrugged off her question.

"You're Diana, get some sleep." After saying this, he gave a light wave and was ready to walk away but she launched herself towards him.

This time though, he didn't stay standing and just allowed himself to fall to the ground with her on top. Diana stared at him with narrow eyes, either she wasn't drunk enough to let it slip or it mattered just that much to her.

Arias couldn't outright reject it either because once he did finally reveal his power, it would be known that he lied. After seeing how much importance she placed on trust and honesty, he wasn't going to make the same mistake as Steven and the U.S government.

"Ok fine, maybe I did. Listen Diana, despite us being friends, I'm going to need to know that I can trust you before revealing my greatest secrets. I'm sure you too have secrets about yourself or your people that you cannot reveal carelessly and that's fine. Because friends understand each other's circumstances, so please understand mine."

Arias spoke gently while looking directly into Diana's eyes. He even feigned some regret as if they were any deeper meaning behind his words.

This combination churned a psychological reaction from Diana that most would gain in such a situation, guilt. She now felt like she was being stubborn and that she was in the wrong, after all, his words did make sense.

This left her options limited. She could either let it go or reveal her own secrets.

Arias knew the latter was unlikely. She had known him for about a day whereas she had been with her kind all her life. She was childish and naïve to matters outside her own home but not a total fool.

Thus, she could only respond by saying. "I'm sorry, it was rude of me to dig into your personal matters…"

Her apology and regret were genuine, amplified only by the alcohol still lingering in her system. Arias's bet paid off.

He now played the role of the understanding friend and even took the opportunity to place his hands on her slim waist while subtly rubbing them. "It's fine Diana, I know you meant no harm."

His quick understanding of the situation brought a smile to her face. As for his hand movements, she didn't even notice anything wrong with them.

Why? Because the entire night, Arias had touched her multiple times around the waist.

The first time she noticed it, it did feel rather odd but she had noticed many male and female pairs doing the same. Her negligence of the customs of the outside world made her think it was normal.

Arias also made sure he was gentle and didn't overly do it, making her eventually grow comfortable to that form of touch.

With the matter settled, it was time for Arias to take his leave since Diana wasn't saying anything more.

But he couldn't allow this wonderful atmosphere he created to go to complete waste, so an idea came to mind.

"I was planning to take a soak in my jacuzzi before sleeping so I feel more relaxed, you should do the same. Or if you prefer, you could join me, in some cultures, bathing together is considered to strengthen bonds."

He perfectly set up an offer that he felt had no cons. Worst case scenario was her saying no, which would tell him how comfortable she was with him.

Its not like he outright asked her, he gave her a choice and even added a fact that was true of some cultures so that even if she researched the matter in future, he couldn't be seen as lying.

Diana didn't need to ponder long. The alcohol made her lack inhibition and she wasn't exactly uncomfortable with the idea either as Amazons often bathed in a huge open bath together.

"I would like to join you then, we can continue sharing stories."

She had taken the bait…

The only real thing that made her nervous was that it would be her first time revealing her naked body to a man. It made her slightly anxious, but Arias's calm and carefree nature towards the whole matter made her feel like she was just overthinking it.

Once she and him finally got to the jacuzzi in room, Arias began undressing without uttering a word. She followed suit and took off the dress she had worn that night along with the accessories and shoes, baring her naked body to a man for the first time.

Once fully undressed also, Arias could see she was slightly nervous so he tried to lighten the otherwise awkward atmosphere by cracking a joke. "What do you think? If I were a woman, would I qualify to be an amazon?" He asked while flexing his muscles jokingly, bringing immediate laughter from Diana who shook her head.

"You are fit yes, but it takes more than that to be an Amazon." She replied while laughing at the thought.

Unaware she had been made to forget her initial anxiety and was lured into a conversation. Arias kept the flow by showing surprise while entering the jacuzzi and asking.

"Oh? Hmm, well I'm curious what makes an amazon, an amazon, could you tell me more? Who knows, I might just be keen to apply after."

Diana continued to laugh at his joking tone and she too entered the jacuzzi and answered his questions.

Just like that the two conversed for over an hour. Arias maintained eye contact and didn't let his eyes wander, right now the go was to make Diana feel completely comfortable doing such with him.

He had no need to push things, he knew he could make her his. At time he could whatever he wanted with her tone fit body.

Eventually the conversation was getting even more interesting, but at that exact point, Arias decided to end it. He wanted her to go sleep thinking about it and hence subconsciously craving more.

A simple tactic that many men used to keep a woman's interest in them. Always leave them wanting more.