Doors slid open. We stepped in.

Silence. Thick, awkward. Elevator hummed downward. I stared at the numbers. She stared at her shoes. Damn. I wish I had taken the stairs or something. I didn't know things would be this weird between Minne and I.

As the elevator dinged open, we stepped into the hotel lobby. The receptionist behind the front desk gave me a polite nod and a smile.

"Mr. Marlowe," she called out. "Heading outside?"

"Yep."

"I'll let them know to get your car ready," she said. "If you'd like, you may sit. Shall I bring you some coffee?"

"No, no. I'm in a hurry."

"Of course."

I walked to one of the couches nearby and sat down. Minne stayed standing next to me like a soldier waiting for instructions.

I patted the seat beside me. "Come on, sit. Why are you standing?"

She hesitated, then shyly sat down, stiff and upright like she wasn't supposed to be there.

"So," I said, leaning back. "How is… your mother? If you don't mind me asking."

"She is sick," she replied quietly. "Bedridden."

"Damn. Sorry to hear that. What did the doctors say?"

Minne took a small breath. "She… she had a workplace accident two years ago. A heavy box fell on her back. It damaged her spine. She can walk sometimes, but not for long. And she needs help with everything now. Medicine, therapy, cleaning… all of it costs money. Father died years ago, so… I am the only one."

I nodded slowly, listening without interrupting. Damn. She was tougher than she looked. All this time she'd gritted her teeth, worked under Guy, lived in fear, lived in shit… and still kept going. She had more backbone than half the rich assholes I'd met so far. And honestly… fuck Guy even more for making her life hell while she was trying to support a disabled mother.

"So you," I said, "ended up working as a maid for Guy Nolin. Despite how he treated you…"

I placed a hand on her shoulder gently and she immediately jumped a little, eyes wide like she wasn't sure if she should be afraid or excited. With Minne it was always hard to tell. She had that stiff, robotic way of reacting.

"You're one of the strongest women I know, Minne," I said. "And I'm lucky to have you in the penthouse."

╭───────────╮

EVENT

===============

Minne's Interest +5

╰───────────╯

"M-m-m… Master…" she stuttered, face turning red so fast it looked like someone hit a switch.

Before she could say anything else, the receptionist called out from the desk.

"Mr. Marlowe? Your car has arrived."

"Thanks," I said, getting up.

╭───────────╮

WOMEN - INTERACTIONS

===============

Jasmine: Interest: 40 / 60★★

Kayla: Interest: 5 / 20

Tessa: Interest: 27 / 40★

Kim: Interest: 30 / 40★

Delilah: Interest: 75 / 80★★★

Cora: Interest: 100 / 100★★★★★

Mendy: Interest: 6 /20

Nala: Interest: 66 /80★★★

Penelope: Interest: 3 /20

Minne: Interest: 17 /20

Ivy: Interest: 2/20

===============

Progress:

★☆☆☆☆ - 20 Interest: Milestone reward

★★☆☆☆ - 40 Interest: Milestone reward

★★★☆☆ - 60 Interest: Milestone reward

★★★★☆ - 80 Interest: Milestone reward

★★★★★ -100 Interest: Milestone reward

===============

Select a woman to track progress.

╰───────────╯

Minne stayed seated for a second, still overwhelmed, then quickly stood up and smoothed her t-shirt like she needed to reset her whole system.

We headed outside, down the couple of steps leading from the entrance. The car waited by the curb, a black Jeep, polished, clean, probably the only thing in my life right now that looked more confident than I felt.

One of the valet guys approached. He handed me the keys with both hands like the damn thing was sacred.

"Your car, sir."

"Thanks, man."

We got in. I took the driver's seat. Minne climbed into the passenger side and immediately fumbled with the seatbelt like she had never been in a car this expensive before. She finally clicked it in and folded her hands in her lap, sitting perfectly straight.

I turned on the engine, the Jeep rumbling softly under my hands. Minne quietly told me her mother's address, and I tapped it into the GPS on the dash, the screen lighting up the cabin with a soft blue glow. Then I shifted into drive and pulled out of the hotel circle.

"So…" I said, keeping my eyes on the road. "Is there any possibility of a surgery for your mom?"

"There is," she said, folding her hands in her lap. "But the doctor said it would be very risky. They… they recommend a better hospital. One with more advanced equipment. So I'm saving money for that."

I nodded slowly. "How much are we talking?"

"Two hundred thousand," she said. "Maybe more."

"Damn…" I muttered. I turned left at the intersection, wipers squeaking once as the rain started to pick up. "That's a lot."

We rolled up to a red light and stopped. Outside, the drizzle turned into real rain, streaking the windshield harder. The storm wasn't angry yet, but it was warming up.

I reached over and turned on the AC, letting the warm air cut through the damp feeling inside the car.

The light changed to green, and I pressed the pedal, moving forward. Took another left.

"So," I said, glancing at her, "how'd you land the maid job anyway?"

She straightened a bit. "I know Emma. Nala's friend. We cosplay together. Emma recommended me."

"Cosplay, huh?" I said, turning my eyes back to the road and turning on the wipers. "What were you doing before this job?"

"I used to help Emma… with her channel," she said quietly.

"Channel?" I lifted an eyebrow. "She a YouTuber or something?"

Minne's eyes widened just a tiny bit, like she'd been caught in a lie she didn't prepare for. She nodded quickly, almost too quickly.

"Y-yes. Y-YouTube."

I didn't press. I could tell she was hiding something, but honestly… I didn't care enough to dig. She'd talk when she wanted to talk. Or never. Either way, not my biggest problem today.

We reached another red light and slowed to a stop. The rain hammered harder now, bouncing off the windshield.

Being outside in this weather sucked. The sky was basically having a breakdown, and the streets were shiny and wet like they'd been polished with misery. But… whatever. Better than sitting in the penthouse worrying about Cora. At least this kept my brain busy.

And hell, I still needed to give Mendy her damn panties back.

"So," I said as we waited at another red light, "how was Nala before? Y'know… before all this."

Minne slowly turned her head. "W-what do you mean, Master?"

"Like… how was she? How did Guy treat her? Was she happy? Miserable? What was her deal?"

Her face tightened, not her usual blank robot look. It twitched, like something sour passed under her skin. She looked down at her lap.

"Bad, Master," she muttered. "H-he treated her bad."

The light clicked green, and I drove forward.

Outside, people were sprinting for shelter, jackets over their heads, grocery bags held like shields, one guy slipping and almost eating shit on the sidewalk. The rain wasn't gentle anymore; it hammered the road, bouncing off the asphalt in thick droplets. Cars splashed through puddles, and sirens wailed somewhere distant.

"Damn," I muttered. "We couldn't choose a worse time to go out, right? This weather sucks."

"I'm sorry for insisting on taking time off, Master," Minne said quietly.

"Nah, nah," I shook my head. "This one's not on you. I was going out anyway."

We drove past a small accident, nothing dramatic. Two cars bumped on the side of the road, one guy holding his head like it was the end of the world, the other yelling at the rain instead of at the driver. I moved past them and kept driving.

Then I took a right.

"That's the place?" I asked.

"Yes, Master."

The street was tight, narrow enough that two cars could pass, but you'd suck in your stomach while doing it. Tall apartment buildings lined both sides, old concrete, weird balcony angles, some windows dark, some glowing yellow. A couple of rusty AC units hung like they were ready to fall on someone's head.

"Thanks," Minne said softly.

"I'll pick you up here," I said. "Two hours. That work?"

"I-I can't ask that, Ma—"

"Two hours," I repeated. "I'll call you."

She swallowed. "O-of course, Master. Thank you."

I parked by the curb and unlocked the doors. Minne stepped out, holding her small bag close to her chest. She hurried under the awning of the building, then pushed the door open.

I waited.

Watched her disappear inside.

Only after the door closed behind her did I put the car in drive and pull away, the rain swallowing the street behind me.

I backed off, tires crunching on wet asphalt, then turned left and kept driving.

The dashboard screen lit up: Incoming Call-Sarah.

I exhaled through my nose, thumbed the answer button on the wheel.

"What do you want, Sarah?"

"Just checking in," she purred. "Guy called me. Asked what was taking so long."

"Did you tell him you sold him out and now work for yourself?"

"Yep." She chuckled. "Wish it was video call. I wanted to see his face. God…"

"Yeah," I muttered, braking at a red light. "That's why you called?"

"Nope. Two million a month. Are we doing it?"

"Give us time. We can't conjure two million out of thin air."

"You better," she said. "Or I'll spill every dirty thing our dear Nala's done."

"Last I checked, Sarah," I said, easing forward as the light turned green, "I'm the one who humiliated you in that bar. Why take it out on her and not me?"

"Oh, your turn's coming," she sneered, half-serious, half-sarcastic. "Just wait."

"Exciting." I chuckled. "You'll regret this. I took down Guy. What's stopping me from doing the same to you?"

"Is that a threat?"

"Blunt truth. Nothing more."

"Nothing more, huh?"

"I'm hanging up. My day's shitty enough without your voice in it."

"Ouch. You wound me, Henrik."

"Hmm."

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