Demon, Gentlemen & Dangerous Feelings

He just shook his head, finding her enthusiasm contagious despite himself.

During the movie, Tessa was glued to the screen at first, occasionally elbowing Parker to laugh at her favorite scenes or share a whispered comment. But halfway through, exhaustion from their shopping spree caught up with her, and she leaned her head onto Parker's shoulder.

Before long, she was fast asleep.

Parker glanced at her, letting out a quiet chuckle. "She's like a kid," he muttered.

The theater's flickering lights illuminated Tessa's peaceful face, her soft breaths barely audible over the film's sound. For the first time in years, Parker felt something unfamiliar—a sense of warmth.

'Money changes everything,' he thought. A man who had grown up shrouded in coldness and indifference had, for one fleeting moment, created something close to happiness. But it wasn't just the money. It was her—Tessa, with her contagious humor, her hidden layers, and that ability to act tough while being so undeniably sweet beneath it all.

She was intriguing in a way Parker hadn't expected.

"I guess I don't hate people that much after all," he murmured to himself. "Just the wrong kind of people. The right ones, though… they're interesting."

It's just that, his right kind of people had a different definition of right!

It wasn't much of a revelation, but it felt like progress. He smiled faintly, scooping Tessa up in a gentle princess carry as the credits rolled.

Ignoring the curious stares of theatergoers, Parker carried her through the lobby and out to the car. People whispered as they passed, some women sighing dreamily at the sight.

"Bad boys who act soft—it's too much," one woman muttered to her friend.

Parker, unaffected by the attention, carefully placed Tessa in the passenger seat, adjusted her position, and buckled her seatbelt. The Mercedes purred softly as he drove off, taking his time so she wouldn't wake.

Parker parked in the hotel's underground garage, scooped Tessa into his arms again, and headed for the elevator. Inside, the soft murmur of admiration began again, this time from strangers sharing the ride.

"So cool and hot," one whispered, earning a small smirk from Parker.

He thought to himself how misguided most men were. Women didn't want gentle souls—they wanted men who were dangerous, captivating, and untouchable, yet showed just enough softness to leave them wondering.

That blend of power and mystery, Parker knew, was what really drew them in.

Back in the penthouse, Parker laid Tessa on the bed, carefully tucking her in. She stirred slightly but didn't wake, her features soft and peaceful.

She stirred briefly again when he was about to ho, her hand brushing against his arm when he was to go.

"Parker~" she murmured sleepily, a soft smile on her lips.

For a moment, Parker froze, the sound of his name catching him off guard. But then he smiled, a rare, genuine expression. Carefully, he slid his arm free and straightened up.

"That... That's dangerous Parker, that's how you entangle yourself in strange feelings!" He lectured himself.

She had almost got him there.

Parker stepped back, watching her for a moment. The room felt unnaturally still. He wasn't tired, not even close. Instead, he turned toward his laptop, ready to put his trading skills to work and see just how far he could push his newfound wealth.

____

As the hours ticked by, the penthouse was filled with the quiet hum of his laptop and the faint sound of Tessa's steady breathing, a strangely comforting rhythm in the background.

Parker worked tirelessly, the glint of ambition and curiosity in his eyes reflecting the fire within him—one that Tessa, unknowingly, had helped stoke.

'Two things accomplished today,' he thought. 'I got rich, and I learned that maybe… just maybe… the right kind of people aren't so bad.'

"How're the next two weeks going to be like?" He wondered.

Parker leaned back in his seat, his expression as unreadable as ever, as he checked his balance, previously the waiter had handed him the bill. The total? A cool $100,000. Tessa, wild as ever after a few glasses of wine, had ordered like she was feeding an army. And Parker?

He didn't even blink. One swipe of his card, quick and smooth, and it was done. It looked so effortless it almost annoyed her.

Growing up around wealth, Tessa thought she was immune to people flashing cash, but Parker? There was something about the way he handled it—calm, indifferent, almost like it was beneath him.

"Damn, that's kind of hot," Parker had heard her as she admitted, while swirling the last of her wine.

Little did Tessa know, Parker wasn't just casually spending. That $100k meal? It wasn't a loss; it was an investment. Thanks to his system, it earned him $1,000,000 back instantly.

The dinner had been a whirlwind of indulgence, leaving Parker's wallet significantly lighter—or at least it should have, but thanks to the system, it was the opposite.

The extravagant meal, which cost a jaw-dropping $100,000, rewarded him with a $1,000,000 rebate.

That little system perk brought his balance up to $2,901,000, climbing from his previous $1,901,000.

Earlier, during their day of endless shopping, Parker had spent $547,800 on Tessa—on clothes, shoes, and whatever else caught her fleeting interest.

It wasn't just about the splurge; it was strategic, feeding into the system's mechanics.

That spending spree earned him a hefty $5,478,000 in return, bumping his total balance to $8,379,000, not forgetting the $1,000 tucked away in his crypto wallet.

Yet, Parker hadn't decided how to handle the multiplier on the mission completion. The system offered to double the rewards, but he wasn't one to jump into decisions without thinking. With Tessa's score at 53 points, he knew cashing in now could triple his rewards. Still, Parker wasn't in a rush.

Apart from the Bad Boy Charm perk he'd already claimed, everything else could wait. But he didn't know what I would change into after cashing in his 3X.

For now, he'd put the rewards—and the system itself—on hold. Tomorrow was another day, and Parker wasn't one to push every button just because he could.

Strategy came first, and he was playing the long game.

*****

Guys is this far enough to ask for reviews or should we wait a bit more? Okay, I get that, writing reviews can wait if that's what you wish but what about power stones?

Okay no pressure! I will wait take your time.