176 Nightfall 1 (1/2)

Alessa had to leave, knowing it would be the wrong time and place to push the matter through.

The answer was obvious. He didn't want any change in their current relationship. Despite it looking so business-like and not even so much that of what was between friends, he showed no desire to improve it.

There might be reasons behind it. One angle she saw was the death of a childhood friend from three years ago. However, it was quite at the bottom of the list because half a month ago, when she tried to bring that name up, he didn't really show any signs of agitation.

So what could it be? Actually, he seemed reluctant to form any close-knit relationship with anyone. He was estranging himself even from his own family. When they were still at Jasper, after earning his first paycheck he immediately moved out of his parent's house and even lessened his time with them. Why?

Well, she didn't know. And actually, the only answer she wants to know was for the question, do they really have to remain friends with business-benefits forever?

'Why can't he just ask me if I still know the term 'platonic'?'

'Heck. No. Two years is enough to toss that out of my vocabulary!'

'Also, I am unfortunately never the kind to give up!'

She told herself as she walked out of the elevator with dark clouds seemingly hovering above her head.

An hour later, she was already at home and had already washed up. In her comfortable pajama, she brought her laptop on the bed then checked the encrypted files sent by the coldhearted guy. To make herself more comfortable, she lied on her stomach then propped up her chin with her left hand.

His work was as detailed as always. To a frightening degree. Almost to a fault.

There were even videos and audio clips. Some with labels such as 'Viewer's discretion is strongly advised', 'Gore', 'Politics intrigues'. Needless to say, she knew the first was for creepy and disgusting affairs of the person involved, the second, some bloody secrets, and the third, evidence of corruptions.

After rolling her eyes once to the first label she saw, she scrolled down to the last page of the document by swiping her right forefinger up the touchscreen LCD.

A dumbfounded look took over her immaculate face due to the last paragraph typewritten at the bottom.

A message Chris had actually left without her knowing.

...

The system asked its half-host about the postscript he included in the file sent to Alessa Morgan.

After the woman left his penthouse, he strode into his own bedroom and threw himself on the mattress. Fatigue quickly struck him after he closed his eyes. He'd been lacking enough sleep for so many days due to his work and part-time. And when he said enough, it was at least three-four hours of sleep a day.

If he'd been as normal as other young men his age, he would have collapsed or even been hospitalized for over exhaustion at least three days ago.

Just yesterday, he wondered if his current stamina and enhanced body was a blessing or not.

'If only that favor didn't exist...'