Surviving In This Filthy World As A Novel Villain

Alex was already pulling his clothes back on. Ashley reached for hers, only to find the expensive white designer top she'd been wearing was ripped beyond repair, courtesy of the 'damn man' himself.

Wearing it was out of the question now.

Such an expensive shirt, torn like it was nothing. What a complete waste!

Ashley gave up on getting dressed for now, simply sitting on the sofa with the lingering blush still warming her face. She switched gears back to business. "Okay, I'm going to the Wade Industries tomorrow to sign the contract with Henry. Right after that, I need to head back to home."

Alex just gave a simple nod. "Have a safe trip."

Ashley snatched the ruined shirt from the floor and tossed it in his direction. "Men! You're all impossible."

The second his pants are zipped, he acts like he barely knows you.

"So, when are you planning on visiting me?" she asked, her lower lip jutting out in a small pout.

Alex looked genuinely puzzled. "What for?"

"Maybe I should just break off my engagement," Ashley muttered, still pouting as she crossed her arms defensively. "He's dead now anyway." She certainly wasn't in love with Alex, not even close, but after these last two times... she was getting disturbingly accustomed to him.

It felt like getting used to driving a high-end, effortlessly smooth automatic car. The thought of going back to her old, clunky manual stick-shift… the difference felt too huge now. Ashley wasn't sure she could go back.

Alex's expression tightened slightly. He sat down on the chair opposite her. "Look, I don't mess around with breaking up families," he said flatly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Don't mention it again."

His internal thoughts were colder. 'Just because you enjoy taking someone else's fancy car for a spin doesn't mean you have to buy it and take it home. Especially when the original owner isn't even around to complain anymore. Sure, driving it is fun while it lasts, but actually owning it? If you get bored later, getting rid of it is a massive headache. And if you keep it? Besides the ridiculous cost of upkeep year after year, it just stops you from driving the newer, better models you really want.'

He hadn't forgotten about that girl from the Dawson Family. Not at all.

Sex wasn't the point. Collecting that sweet Critical Points', that was the real prize. Ashley's 'car' might be incredibly fun to drive, smooth and responsive, but she didn't generate any Critical Points. That, in his book, was her biggest downside.

Still, Alex wasn't exactly complaining. She was easy on the eyes and knew how to handle herself. Plus, Ashley could be very useful down the line.

He could already imagine it: the aunt and the niece, together. Making the young heroine watch helplessly as her own aunt... ah, the scenarios.

The Critical Points from the that heroine in that situation would likely be off the charts.

"Right," Ashley sighed, her eyes filled with a lingering resentment. She pouted again and made a small humming noise of displeasure. She wasn't blind. She knew perfectly well Alex was just using her for fun, with zero plans for anything long-term.

Yep. Men. All the same. Smooth, maybe, but rotten deep down.

"Well, I'm going back to my hotel," she announced. Ashley slipped into the replacement clothes Alex had conveniently produced from a closet hidden in the office, grabbed her stylish handbag, and walked out of the hospital, her hips swaying with deliberate confidence.

After Ashley was gone, dusk settled over the city. Alex climbed into his car and headed towards the Bar.

….

Pulling up outside, he saw three police cruisers parked near the entrance. He even recognized the specific models, he was the one who had funded the police department's upgrade to these exact vehicles. A small, ironic smile touched his lips.

Currently, about seven or eight officers in uniform were milling around the bar's entrance. Alex casually wondered what was up, a routine check for illegal activities? Drugs? Or had a major brawl broken out inside?

He spotted Lane standing near the entrance, dressed in a form-fitting black skirt that clung to her every curve.

Arms crossed, the tight fabric highlighted her striking figure.

With her likely European genes, she possessed a supermodel's physique, combined with the potent allure of a confident woman in her prime, a dangerous mix.

"As you know, all bars and clubs under the Reid Industries operate strictly within the law," Lane was explaining calmly to the officer in charge.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy for any illegal business." She handled these routine checks like a seasoned pro.

"We appreciate your cooperation, Ms. Lane," the lead officer responded, closing his small notebook with a polite smile.

Inspecting establishments owned by the Industries was always the easiest part of their rounds. They knew they wouldn't find any trouble here, no drugs, no gambling, no illegal sex trade. It stood in stark contrast to almost every other bar and club in the City.

The bar seemed quiet, almost respectable now.

Just as the lead officer snapped his notebook shut, ready to wrap things up, a good-looking young cop stepped forward, a friendly smile on his face. "Hey, is your boss around?" he asked.

"The boss?" Lane hesitated for a moment, then gave a polite smile. "Oh, he's incredibly busy. You know this is just one small spot owned by Reid Industries, right? It's not a huge focus for them, so he doesn't stop by very often."

The young officer nodded. "Yeah, the city's star entrepreneur. Good for him, being busy. Means he's helping the city grow and giving people jobs."

Lane simply smiled, saying nothing more.

The lead officer tucked his notebook into his pocket and glanced around. "Okay team, let's move out!"

As the officers began to leave the bar, a flashy red Ferrari suddenly pulled a U-turn across the street, heading straight for them.

Its headlights were blindingly bright, aimed right at the handsome young officer, making him throw a hand up to shield his eyes.

[The Protagonist 'Jed' has a Mentality Crack(Irritation). Congratulations! You've earned 50 Critical Points.]