The World Is Mine For The Taking

Leon glanced at his watch. "Oh, right—I've got something I need to take care of. Mind if I head out? Or are you still feeling a little alcohol-sluggish?"

"I-I think I'm okay enough to drive home," I said quickly. "You can go ahead. We've got this."

I forced a smile that probably looked as stiff as I felt.

Leon nodded and gave us a casual goodbye, like everything was completely normal. Then he left.

Just like that.

Silence fell again.

Rose and I looked at each other, hesitant.

"W-Well… I guess it's time for us to go home too…" we both said, at the exact same time.

Like two broken dolls trying to say something—anything—just to break the tension.

We quickly packed up and left.

The second I got back to my place, I collapsed backward onto my bed with a soft thud. The mattress welcomed me, but my mind didn't.

It raced. Non-stop.

The sounds. The heat. The way Rose moaned into my neck. The way Leon's hands gripped my hips. The slick slide of our skin. The pleasure, the rhythm, the sheer intensity of it…

It all came flooding back.

And the worst part?

It felt good. So fucking good I almost hated myself for remembering it that way.

That feeling of being wrapped in two bodies, of surrendering completely, of being devoured and giving in—that memory was so intoxicating, so addictive, I could still feel it.

But I didn't want to be addicted to it. I couldn't.

Because if I let myself crave that again—if I let myself fall down that rabbit hole…

What would happen to me?

Would I lose myself?

"…I guess I'm just really selfish, huh?" I whispered to no one, the ceiling blurring slightly as I stared upward, still trembling from something I didn't even want to admit felt good.

***

I must've dozed off for a while, because by the time I opened my eyes, the sun was already dipping low into the horizon, painting the room with this warm orange glow that stretched lazily across the walls.

My stomach let out a soft grumble.

Right. I didn't even get to eat anything for lunch.

Not even a bite.

It was all because of the damn hangover. A headache was still faintly clinging to the back of my skull, like a dull echo that just wouldn't go away.

Honestly, it was kind of surprising how much it hit me. I didn't even feel drunk last night. Not at all. If anything, I felt like I had control the entire time.

It was... weird.

But I remembered hearing somewhere—maybe from someone or somewhere or whatever—that when you're horny, you sometimes don't even realize you're drunk. Like your body just overrides everything and focuses on the heat instead.

Maybe that was it.

Maybe that was why I didn't notice it at all last night.

Letting out a quiet sigh, I dragged myself up, rubbing my arms a little. My body felt sticky with leftover warmth and sweat, even though the air had already cooled down.

I figured I should cook something before my stomach made me pass out from hunger. Thankfully, I still had some preserved meat tucked away, just enough for one person.

I took it out, peeled off the wrapping, and dropped it on the pan. It sizzled instantly as the oil kissed its surface. The smell was... comforting. Familiar. Kinda like home.

I cooked it on medium heat, watching it closely. As it browned, I seasoned it right there, letting the spices soak in as the scent grew richer. Then, once it looked about done, I flipped it with a practiced flick of the wrist and let it fry just a little longer.

After a few more seconds, I pulled it off the pan and laid it on the plate. Steam curled up from the meat as I sat down and finally—finally—took a bite.

It was... good.

Surprisingly good, actually. Tender, salty, a little juicy still.

Even though it had been days since I bought it, it was still totally edible. That preservation tech really worked wonders.

Of course, preserving food wasn't exactly a new concept. Even back in the old ages, people knew how to keep things fresh using ice or salt. Store it in a box packed with cold and, bam—it stays good for a while.

But what Leon made?

That was on another level.

It wasn't anything revolutionary, sure—just inspired by the same idea. But it was so much more efficient, so much more... effective. Cleaner. Sharper. Faster.

That's just how Leon was. Always improving things, always pushing past the limits of what people thought was possible. One innovation after another, like he didn't even need to try.

His company just kept expanding, like a wildfire with no one fast enough to stop it. No rivals. No real competition. Just him—scaling up, rising higher.

Now, he stood at the top of the world.

Untouchable.

Unreachable.

And me? I was just an instructor. A nobody in comparison. A woman with nothing but her own fading pride.

If I really was the only woman in his life... maybe he'd get bored of me. Maybe not. I didn't know.

But it felt like I didn't deserve him.

It wasn't like he made me feel that way—he never did—but just knowing the difference between us… it made the thought impossible to shake off.

He was literally rewriting the rules of the world, and I was just... existing.

Maybe—just maybe—it was time for me to stop pretending.

Maybe I should stop clinging so tightly to the idea of being the only one.

I mean... I already slept with the others anyway.

Rose, for example. Last night, we were tangled up in each other like it was the most natural thing in the world. And even though I didn't want to admit it—no, I really didn't—but technically, me and Gabrielle... yeah, that happened too.

Leon was that kind of man.

Incredible. Unbelievable. The kind of man no other could ever measure up to.

No one else even came close.

I sighed again. A deeper one this time.

I've been sighing a lot lately. Too much, maybe.

Maybe it was time to stop being so damn stubborn. Time to let go of all the pride and the old-fashioned ideals I'd been holding onto.

Maybe... I should just accept it.

Accept being one of Leon's women.

Not his only one.

Just... one of many.

And honestly?

That should be enough.

Back then, the only reason I didn't give in, the only reason I held back... it was because of Gabrielle.

If she wasn't part of his harem, I think I would've already said yes.

The moment he asked... I would've joined.

But no, Gabrielle was there. And I couldn't let things go. Couldn't let the past fade into the background.

I was still stuck.

Still bitter.

And while I was sitting there, overthinking everything like always, my phone suddenly lit up with a buzz.

I blinked, a little startled, and looked down.

The screen flashed with a name I didn't expect.

Gabrielle.

Well, not her name exactly. I didn't want to see it saved in my contacts. So I had her listed as "Staff 1." Just a generic, forgettable label.

But there it was—Staff 1—glowing at me like it was daring me to press accept.

I stared at it for a few long seconds. My finger hovered.

Then, finally, I picked it up.

"I was starting to think you weren't gonna answer," came the voice on the other end, soft but unmistakably hers.

It really was Gabrielle.

I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. "Why'd you call?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

"I want to meet with you. Is that okay?"