Infinite Cashback System

The bathroom door opened, releasing a cloud of steam. Chloe emerged wrapped in a towel, her wet hair slicked back from her face.

"Your turn," she said, crossing to his closet where she’d stashed some of her clothes. "I hung my dress in here yesterday. The blue one."

"Blue dress, nice." Jordan grinned. "Easy access?"

"You’re impossible." She swatted his arm as he passed. "Hurry up. We can’t be late."

The shower helped clear Jordan’s head. He stood under the hot spray, mentally preparing for the evening ahead. His parents were going to love Chloe. She was smart, beautiful, talented. Nothing like Eliza, who’d only wanted his money and attention. Chloe had her own life, her own ambitions. She was independent and stubborn and so goddamn sexy it made his brain short-circuit sometimes.

But she was also nervous about meeting his family, and that made him want to protect her. To make sure his mother didn’t say anything judgmental, that his father didn’t interrogate her about her career goals or financial stability.

By the time he stepped out of the shower, Jordan had a plan. He’d keep the conversation light, focused on easy topics. He’d steer his parents away from anything that might make Chloe uncomfortable. He’d be the perfect boyfriend.

He wrapped a towel around his waist and opened the bathroom door.

Chloe stood by the window, already dressed in the deep blue cocktail dress they’d picked out together. It hugged her curves in a way that made Jordan’s mouth go dry, the neckline dipping just low enough to show the upper swell of her breasts. Her hair was partially dry, the blue streak vivid against the dark strands.

She turned when he entered. "What do you think?"

"I think I’m the luckiest guy on the planet," Jordan said honestly.

A smile spread across her face, lighting up her eyes. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." He crossed to her, still dripping from the shower, and kissed her softly. "You look incredible."

"So do you." She ran a finger down his bare chest, leaving a trail of goosebumps. "But you should probably put some clothes on, or we’re definitely going to be late."

Jordan dressed quickly, the new clothes feeling strange but good against his skin. The navy shirt brought out the green in his hazel eyes, and the slacks fit perfectly, showcasing his newly enhanced physique.

When he emerged from the bathroom fully dressed, Chloe whistled.

"Look at you, all grown up," she teased, but her eyes were appreciative.

"This tie feels like it’s choking me," Jordan complained, tugging at the knot.

"Stop that. You’ll mess it up." Chloe batted his hands away and straightened the tie herself. "There. Perfect."

"Are you ready for this?" Jordan asked, watching her face carefully.

"No." She forced a smile. "But I’ll survive."

He pulled her into a hug, careful not to wrinkle her dress. "They’re going to love you. And even if they didn’t—which they will—it wouldn’t change how I feel about you."

Chloe looked up at him, vulnerability naked in her eyes. "How do you feel about me, exactly?"

The question caught him off guard. They’d been dating for just over a week, though it felt like much longer. They’d already said the ’girlfriend’ and ’boyfriend’ words. They’d already had sex multiple times. They’d already spent almost every night together.

But they hadn’t said those three words yet. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Jordan opened his mouth, unsure what was going to come out.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, saving him from having to answer. He pulled it out, expecting a text from his mother asking where they were.

Instead, it was a System notification.

💝 MILESTONE REACHED 💕

Chloe Kim: 75% Chemistry!

Slot 3 now available

Register a new beauty to expand your roster

Bonus: +10 Quest Tickets

Jordan stared at the screen, his brain struggling to process what he was seeing. Seventy-five percent chemistry? That was great. Fantastic, even. It meant all his spending on Chloe would be hugely profitable now.

But the second part... Slot 3 available. Register a new beauty.

"What is it?" Chloe asked, peering at his phone. "Is your mom mad we’re running late?"

Jordan quickly locked the screen. "No, just a game notification. We should get going."

He grabbed his keys and wallet, his mind racing. A third slot meant he was supposed to be hunting for a third girlfriend. According to the fiction he’d created, he needed three women for his inheritance.

But according to the System, he needed Chloe’s approval to register someone new, and she hadn’t even approved the second girl yet.

"Jordan?" Chloe’s voice pulled him back to the present. "You okay?"

"Yeah, sorry." He forced a smile. "Just nervous about dinner."

"That makes two of us." She took his hand. "But like you said, we’ll survive."

Jordan nodded, pushing thoughts of the System and additional girlfriends aside. Tonight was about Chloe meeting his parents. About showing them that he wasn’t the same loser who’d spent thousands on a girl who didn’t even like him.

He was different now. Better. And a lot of that was thanks to the woman standing beside him, looking both nervous and determined.

"Let’s do this," he said, squeezing her hand.

Chloe took a deep breath and nodded. "Let’s do this."

They walked out of the apartment together, heading toward the parking garage. The sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, casting long shadows across the pavement.

Jordan held the car door open for Chloe, watching as she slid onto the passenger seat, her dress riding up slightly to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of thigh. The sight reminded him of how they’d spent the afternoon before her singing lesson—tangled together on his bed, her nails scratching down his back as he moved inside her.

"Ahhh, Jordan! Mmm, yes, right there! Don’t stop!" Her breathy cries echoed in his memory.

He adjusted himself discreetly before walking around to the driver’s side. Now was not the time to get worked up thinking about Chloe naked and writhing beneath him.

"You look like you’re thinking something dirty," Chloe observed as he started the car.

"How could you tell?"

"Your ears get red." She laughed. "What is it?"

"Just remembering this afternoon," he admitted. "That thing you did with your tongue..."

"Jordan!" She slapped his arm lightly. "Focus on driving. We can’t show up to meet your parents with you sporting a tent in those nice new pants."

"Then stop being so sexy," he retorted, pulling out of the parking space.

"I’m not doing anything!"

"You exist. That’s enough."

Chloe rolled her eyes, but he could see the pleasure his words gave her. She reached over and placed her hand on his thigh, her touch warm through the fabric of his slacks.

"Just so you know," she said quietly, "I’m planning on ripping those nice new clothes off you the minute we get home."

Jordan nearly swerved into another lane. "Jesus, Chloe. You can’t say stuff like that when I’m driving."

She smirked. "Consider it motivation to get through dinner quickly."