The World Is Mine For The Taking

Rose's POV

I still had no idea what Irene wanted to talk to me about. Even now, as I sat there waiting, it was a mystery gnawing at the back of my mind.

I was at the same table where we'd been drinking last night. With the same seat and the same faint scent of spilled alcohol clinging to the wood.

"It seems you're going for a round two. Didn't manage to satisfy you last night, eh?"

The bartender's voice broke my thoughts. He was smirking, elbows on the counter like he was in on some secret.

I forced a wry smile, trying to shake off the lingering haze from last night. "Well, I'm not really here for drinks today," I said, matching his tone but keeping my voice light.

"Oh, is that so?" he asked, one brow lifting.

"Just juice is enough," I told him, my fingers drumming idly against the table.

"Well, okay. If that's what you want." His smirk softened into something closer to concern. "If you're having a heartbreak or something, I suggest you don't go blaming it on alcohol. It's not the best for your health, you know? That kind of thing."

I gave a small laugh that didn't quite reach my eyes. "Yeah… that's why I'm taking a break today."

He nodded knowingly. "Alright then. It's coming right up. Wait for it."

When he left, the weight in my chest sank deeper. I let out a long sigh, my stomach twisting. God, how much had I drunk last night? Enough to make my head pound and my thoughts run in circles, that was for sure.

But that wasn't the only thing making me feel like I was going to puke.

What I'd done last night… why the hell had I done that? Why had I pressed my body against Irene while Leon fucked me? Why had I kissed her? And—seriously—why the fuck did we end up in a threesome at all?

Just thinking about it sent heat rushing to my face. My ears burned.

I'd done it… with Irene, of all people.

Part of me wished she had stopped me, pulled me away before it went that far. But she didn't. She got swept up in it just like I did. Both of us did. And before we knew it, we were past the point of no return.

It was humiliating. I wanted to bury the memory deep, burn it out of my brain, or maybe drink myself into forgetting it completely. But no matter how much I wished, the drunken fog hadn't stolen that night away from me. I remembered everything. Every. Single. Thing. And it left me feeling… filthy. Messed up.

And now—barely a day later—she wanted to meet up.

Honestly, I didn't want to see her yet. I needed time to get my head straight, to stop replaying last night in my mind like some perverse theatre show.

But when I heard her voice on the phone… it was different. Serious. Heavier than usual. And against my better judgment, I agreed to meet.

Still…

"She's late, huh?" I muttered under my breath.

Irene was always late, but never this late. A tiny part of me worried—had something happened?

Before I could spiral, she finally walked in.

Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on me in our usual spot. She lifted a hand like she was about to wave… but froze mid-motion. And then, out of nowhere, her cheeks flared red like she'd just remembered the most shameful thing in the world.

Great. If she was going to blush like that, of course I was going to blush too.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she said, voice a little tight.

"N-No. It's fine," I replied quickly.

She slid into the seat across from me, and the air instantly felt heavier. Almost suffocating.

"W-Well… this is kinda awkward, huh?" She gave a shy smile, then her expression shifted, her tone sharpening. "But… I don't think anyone's going to be able to help me other than you, Rose."

"Huh?" My brows knit together.

The awkwardness evaporated, replaced by a strange tension.

"What do you want me for help with?" I asked.

"I actually talked with Gabrielle today."

My stomach sank. Of all people, of all days…

What were the odds Gabrielle would call Irene right after the night the three of us—with Leon—had a threesome?

"And?" I leaned forward more than I meant to, almost challenging her to continue.

"She wanted me to join Leon's harem. And… she knows that Leon, you, and I had a threesome."

My voice shot up before I could stop it. "W-Wait, did you tell her?!"

Heads turned. I didn't care. This was my dignity on the chopping block.

"S-Shhh! I didn't!" she hissed back. "She just assumed. She figured it out from how I was acting so…"

I groaned inwardly. Gabrielle really was sharp. Even without seeing it, she'd pieced it together.

"So? What happened? Did you accept her?"

"W-Well…"

I already had a feeling about her answer.

"You probably guessed it—I didn't accept. But… I didn't outright reject her either. I just… stayed quiet. I couldn't choose," she admitted.

Yeah… this was bigger than I thought.

"But…" she went on, her gaze locking onto mine. "Even I'm tired of this feud. I want it to end. It's eating up more time and energy than anything else in my life right now. Which is why…" She hesitated, then asked, "Do you think you could help me with this?"

"Help you?" I repeated, tilting my head.

Thinking about it, Gabrielle and Irene had been at each other's throats for years. And if I was honest, I was getting tired of it too.

"…If it's something I can help with, I guess I will," I told her.

I thought I was doing the right thing. But that single answer—just like last night—would lead to us getting swept up in the mood again. This time… with Gabrielle involved.

I had no idea I'd soon find myself in a foursome with them.

Whether I'd regret it or not… well, that's a story for another time.