Harem Investment System: Getting Money And Women - Chapter 84

Chapter 84: I Have A Boyfriend Chapter 84: I Have A Boyfriend Vanessa leaned back against the couch in the racer’s lounge, rolling her shoulders as she took a deep breath.  The room smelled like engine oil, sweat, and the lingering adrenaline of competition.  She could still hear the muffled roar of the crowd outside, the energy of the race still alive even after the finish.

Her name had flashed across the screens, marking her victory, but despite the celebration, her thoughts were somewhere else.

She glanced at her phone.

The screen was dark.

No new messages.

A part of her had been hoping – just a little – that Ethan would have texted again.  He had called her, congratulating her while standing in his kitchen, flour dusting his cheek as he fried something on the stove.  The sight had been so… different from what she usually saw of him.

So real.

She smirked slightly, imagining him cooking in that ridiculous mansion of his.

What a contrast.

The door to the lounge creaked open, pulling her from her thoughts.

Rafaelle stepped inside.

His shirt was off, a towel draped over his shoulder, and his lean, sculpted physique was impossible to ignore.  His hair was damp, strands sticking to his forehead, and there was a quiet confidence in the way he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

“You ran a hell of a race out there,” he said, his voice carrying a low admiration.

“Didn’t think you had it in you.” Vanessa arched a brow, unimpressed.

“Please.

You knew I had it in me.

You just didn’t want to admit it.” Rafaelle chuckled, stepping closer.

“Fair enough.

But I gotta say, you fought for that win like your life depended on it.

That kind of drive – it’s rare.” Vanessa smirked, standing up and stretching.

“Winning’s the only thing that matters in the end.” She moved toward the door, ready to leave, but before she could pass him, Rafaelle’s hand caught her wrist.

She stopped, her body tensing slightly as she looked up at him.  His grip wasn’t tight, but it was firm enough to make her pause.

“There’s something I want to ask you,” he said, his gaze steady.

Vanessa sighed, already knowing where this was going.

“What is it?” Rafaelle hesitated for only a second before speaking.

“Go on a date with me.” Vanessa stilled.

She blinked up at him, half expecting him to break into laughter and say it was a joke.  But there was no humor in his eyes.

He was completely serious.

Her initial reaction was to brush it off – to turn it into a joke – but instead, she pulled her wrist free and took a small step back.

“Rafaelle…” she started, shaking her head.

“Before you say no,” he interjected, “just think about it.

You and me – we’d make a damn good pair.” Vanessa exhaled slowly.

If he had asked her before – before Ethan – maybe she would have considered it.  Rafaelle was attractive, skilled, and confident.

In another life, maybe she would have gone out with him just for the thrill of it.

But not now.

Not anymore.

“I appreciate it,” she said honestly, “but I’m not interested.” Rafaelle’s smirk faltered for half a second before it returned, albeit softer this time.

“Not even one date?

Come on, Vanessa.

Live a little.” She chuckled under her breath, shaking her head.

“I am living.

Just… not in the way you want.” Rafaelle studied her for a long moment, then his smirk turned into something knowing.

“This is about him, isn’t it?” he asked.

Vanessa didn’t answer right away.

She didn’t have to.

Rafaelle was sharp – he had already figured it out.

Vanessa met his gaze without hesitation.

“I have a boyfriend.” Rafaelle blinked.  The words seemed to settle over him for a moment before he let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.

“Damn,” he muttered.

“Lucky guy.” Vanessa didn’t respond.

She simply gave him a small nod, then turned and walked out of the lounge, leaving him standing there alone.

As she stepped into the hallway, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and stared at the screen for a moment.

Then, with a small smile, she typed a message.

[Vanessa: Still awake?] A few seconds passed before the reply came.

[Ethan: Yeah.] Vanessa’s smile widened.

[Vanessa: How about we have a good call this time?] Vanessa walked through the dimly lit hallway of the estate, the echoes of the race still fresh in her mind.  Her teammates had invited her out for drinks – an impromptu celebration for her win – but she had politely declined.

Normally, she would have gone.  She wasn’t the type to turn down a chance to unwind after a high-stakes race, but tonight… tonight felt different.

She had someone she wanted to talk to.

Her phone was pressed to her ear as she made her way toward the section of the estate where her room was located.  Ethan’s voice came through the speaker, his tone relaxed, with the occasional clatter of something in the background.

“What are you even doing?” Vanessa asked, laughing softly.

“It sounds like you’re building a whole house over there.” Ethan scoffed.

“I dropped a pan, relax.” Vanessa smirked.

“Are you cooking again?” “I don’t just cook.

I perfect my craft,” Ethan said with mock seriousness.

She chuckled.

“Oh, so now you’re a chef?” “Call me Chef Ethan.” Vanessa rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips.

“Alright, Chef Ethan.

What’s on the menu tonight?” “A disaster, most likely,” Ethan admitted.

“I tried making something fancy, but I’m pretty sure I messed up somewhere.” Vanessa laughed.

“Now I really wish I was there to see this.” Ethan’s voice softened slightly.

“Maybe next time.” Her steps slowed as she neared her room.  She glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby before slipping inside and shutting the door behind her.

The estate was grand – elegant in a way that screamed wealth and status.  Her room was no exception.

The bed was massive, the furniture sleek, and the view from the window was nothing short of breathtaking.

But none of it really mattered right now.

She kicked off her shoes and sank onto the bed, stretching out as she held the phone closer.

“Ethan,” she said after a moment.

“Yeah?” She hesitated, then exhaled, letting herself relax fully.

“I miss you.” There was a pause on the other end of the line.

Not a long one.

Just enough for her to wonder if she had caught him off guard.

Then, his voice came through, quieter than before.

“…I miss you too.”