Chapter 259: Bold Words For A Dead Man. [Bonus]
[1/34 of Castle Mass Release!]
Hugo pulled into the parking lot of Arcadia Games Arena, his black Benz gleaming under the neon lights.
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The place was bustling with life in different shades.
There were groups of friends laughing, couples holding hands, and the occasional lone warrior marching in, determined to conquer the claw machine or get revenge on the air hockey table.
The air smelled of popcorn, soda, and just the right amount of competitive tension.
Arcade machines beeped and buzzed from inside, and the glow of bright LED lights gave the place a futuristic vibe.
But Hugo wasn't here to admire the atmosphere.
He was here for war. A different kind of war. A war of attraction.
A battle of wits, charm, and—God help him—games.
Hugo stepped out of his car like a damn movie star, his white designer hoodie perfectly fitted to show off his physique, his black jeans crisp and stylish, and his sneakers looking fresh off the shelf.
He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, checked his reflection in the side mirror, and smirked.
Damn. He looked good.
Compared to the him of a few months ago, the difference was like the sky and mud!
If there were cameras around, this would be the part where the slow-motion effect kicked in, complete with background music.
But as much as he was oozing confidence, a strange feeling crept up his spine as he shut the car door.
It had been a while since he actually even felt such a feeling. Nerves. He was actually nervous!
And it wasn't the normal, 'oh no, what if I lose at Mario Kart' kind of nervous.
It was Celine-induced nervousness. Because no matter how many women Hugo had been with, Celine was different.
She was a 10. At least, she was a 9.5.
And not just any 9.5—she was the type of 9.5 that made you question your entire existence.
The type that made you reevaluate every decision you've ever made in life!
The type that could make a grown man write poetry at 2 AM while listening to sad R&B!
And worst of all?
She knew it.
Celine made him feel like a damn rookie every time they talked. It was almost like trying to beat a final boss when you were still on Level 1!
But Hugo was nothing if not persistent. This wasn't just about getting closer to Celine.
It was about proving to himself that he was the man for the job.
That's why he picked this place. A game arena.
A place where they could have fun, get competitive, and—most importantly—break the ice in a casual way.
Although, they weren't strangers, they hadn't really gotten to know each other beyond how they both looked naked.
Which was why he chose this venue.
After all, people revealed a lot about themselves when they were fighting for their lives in a game of laser tag.
Hugo exhaled, adjusted his hoodie, and stepped into the arena.
And immediately stopped in his tracks. Because Celine was already there. And she looked insane.
Damn! This was beauty!
Her light brown skin was glowing under the neon lights, her tight crop top and ripped jeans hugged her figure like they were custom-made for her, and her wild afro framed her face perfectly.
But the real killer was still the nose piercing.
Good lawd. It was unfair. She was just effortlessly sexy!
Not the 'trying too hard' kind. The 'I woke up like this and there's nothing you can do about it' kind.
She was like a real life succubus!
Hugo's brain momentarily short-circuited. And then, he saw him. The enemy!
Some random guy standing way too close to Celine, smiling like he was auditioning for a toothpaste commercial.
And worst of all? The bastard was about to ask for her number.
Hugo's blood pressure skyrocketed. His brows rose to his scalp and his nostrils flared.
Oh, hell no.
This fool really thought he could just walk in and steal his woman?!
Over Hugo's dead body!
With no time to waste, Hugo picked up the pace, weaving through the crowd like a man on a mission.
He had one shot at this. One chance to make an entrance so smooth that Celine would drop this guy instantly.
So, just as the guy cleared his throat, all ready to say, "Let me get your number,"—
Hugo struck.
He slid in like a damn protagonist, flashing Celine a smirk so lethal it could have been classified as a weapon.
"Took you long enough," Hugo said smoothly, his voice oozing confidence.
Celine turned to look at him, and for a split second, her lips twitched—just a tiny bit—like she was trying not to smile.
Then, she turned back to the guy and shrugged.
"Too late."
BOOM.
Mission success. The guy stood there, blinking, his brain trying to process the L he just took.
Hugo almost felt bad for him. Almost. But this was war. And in war, only the strong survived.
It was the cold truth.
Celine crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as she eyed Hugo.
"Smooth entrance. But you're still getting crushed in every game tonight."
Hugo chuckled, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a teasing murmur.
"Oh, Celine," he said, shaking his head. "You talk a big game. But by the end of tonight, you'll be the one on your knees begging for mercy."
Celine's eyebrows shot up in amusement.
"Bold words for a dead man."
Hugo laughed. Oh, this was going to be fun. He grabbed her hand and started walking.
"Come on, let's get inside. I've got some winning to do."
Celine let him pull her along, but not without one last jab.
"More like losing. But sure, let's see if you can keep up, little guy."
Hugo's eye twitched. She was really pushing it. But it didn't matter. Because tonight, he wasn't just here to play games.
He was here to win. And not just in the arcade.
_____
Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.
Castle - 20 Bonus Chapters!