"Sometimes I really wish there were good men around me"
Anne complained while sneaking a few glances at James.
Her act had not gone unnoticed, James had experience in using words and actions to seduce women. It was one of the key skills he had mastered which allowed him some semblance of success in his previous life.
The key to attracting women without using money was to have good looks or some semblance of attraction.
Smooth talking could only get you so far, the greatest wall to get past is the ice wall of "first impressions",
Fortunately, he already had that attractiveness and now, all he needed to do was keep her interested.
Based solely on the way she acted and the experiences she had spoken of, James had already crafted a way to get her to like him.
"Isn't there one right now?"
He answered her with a light hearted tone, keeping up a smile as he waited for her response.
"Oh? I don't see one though?"
She answered while looking around in an exaggerated manner.
In response to her actions James did not continue with his flirty guy act but instead showed a look of repressed sorrow. He maintained a calm atmosphere but his eyes showed a melancholic look as he answered.
"Yeah, they're really hard to spot but they do exists… wish I could be one of them"
James turned to the window as he watched the pedestrians below. Despite being a private lounge, since the shop was a cafe and not a club, the windows were not covered.
There were curtains but customers could easily open them up and James had opened the curtains just as they arrived. This was to give Anne a sense of security, their meeting was private but not completely.
His actions and words had quickly caught Anne's attention, curiosity overcame her as she asked, "Aren't you a good man?".
She was fishing for some information, but what she didn't know was that James was also fishing for that very reaction from her.
He didn't react immediately, instead, he let out a small sigh as he slowly turned to face Anne once more.
"To be honest, I'm not really that much of a "good guy" myself"
James paused, he showed a hesitant expression but he was simply fishing for a response… and he got it.
Out of the corner of his eye, James noticed the deep look of interest in Anne's face.
Some people would have a hard time to notice it but James was adept at dealing with people. He learned how to deeply empathize and read others based on how they reacted, even silence was a reaction as a person's expression was the easiest to read in silence.
Especially in a semi-public space, their location allowed Anne to be more direct and open but at the same time, it also restricted her from acting out. The privacy afforded to her by the room allowed her to speak more openly but the fact that they weren't in a completely private place like their home or apartment meant that she still had to maintain a certain level of decorum.
It was in these spaces where people are more predictable, even with small bits of information, James could read Anne's thoughts in a way, but James did not have "small bits" of information.
No, the system and Anne herself had provided James with all the ammunition he needed.
James had already done a search of his own status, his public image was already ruined and his name and face was well known.
Though his current appearance was different, all he had to do was reveal his name and people would quickly realize who he truly was.
But that "weakness" of his would not become his power.
After showing a small act of hesitation, James stared Anne in the eyes. The emotions he portrayed were that of grievance and regret. He spent a good few seconds looking into Anne's eyes before he continued…
"You may already know me… my name is James Bowen-"
"The playboy who got disinherited?!"
James paused, he showed an expression of repressed pain, an act that he had gotten used to.
"Sorry…"
"No need to apologize, it's actually normal for you to react that way… honestly, I can't really blame anyone but myself"
James paused once more, a silence came between them and if Anne gave up on him, she would have taken this chance to leave.
This was the moment of truth, Anne's next actions would decide whether James would succeed or not and-
"No- I mean… well it just shocked me. The articles said you were a slimy bastard, a playboy who got many women pregnant which is why your fiance left you."
Gotcha~
James thought as he maintained his act, he showed a self deprecating smile as he answered back.
"I was a playboy, I partied a lot and spent more time indulging in my desires than I did thinking about my future. BUT! One thing I did not do is sleep with random women. Yes, I liked their company, it made me feel important when they fawn over me but… deep down I knew… they were only after my money."
He raised his gaze, staring deep into Anne's eyes once more as he continued his words.
"I was a bastard but I didn't take advantage of anyone nor did I get anyone pregnant. I have been surrounded by women but I have yet to sleep with any of them… yeah…"
Then, as if he realized what he had just said, James broke away and turned his face as he muttered…
"I'm a pussy, despite being surrounded by hot women I never bedded a single one. I was scared of controversy, scared of responsibility and didn't want to make a mistake… yet I continued to make innumerable mistakes by wasting money and opportunities…"
Anne listened quietly, she stared at the handsome man who used to be an infamous playboy. A man who walked through the streets of PC with confidence and pride.
She had never crossed paths with him before but looking at the man now, she realized that he was just a regular man.
Isn't that normal? He was born handsome and rich, he had everything and he didn't need to worry about anything… I would have ended up the same if I was in his place…
Although Anne could not empathize with James' rich lifestyle, now he was far removed from that.
News articles reported that all his assets were transferred back to his parents and that he was left with only a single property and a million dollars.
No information about the property was published but there were articles that described it as being "rundown" or "worse for wear".
Normally she would have thought of James as a spoiled brat who got what he deserved. But… with his actions and words, the picture framed by the media was shattered.
All people knew of James was the playboy who walked around with his body decorated in exquisite jewels and branded items.
Images of James tossing hundred dollar bills at women or pictures of him bringing groups of women into clubs.
Those news articles framed James as bringing them into those places for sex, not a single woman had come out to claim to have James' child. But many believed that he had many baby mama's suffering alone and ignored him.
Yet that narrative was shattered upon seeing James' expressions and reactions.
He spoke to her without hiding, he looked her straight in the eye as he admitted to being a playboy. About how he loved to surround himself with women but he also added that he never truly "touched" them.
Maybe some touching was done but Anne now had a good reason to believe that James simply brought the women in for company.
Even the words he said in shame, turned away as if hiding were admissions of his own failings.
He did not admit to it directly, instead, he tried to hide it when he admitted to not having any sexual experience yet.
For the amount of "playing" he has done, if word got out that he had yet to actually lose his virginity were to get out…
Eagle Country was a weird nation, because of the media, people now despised James. Some even called him a r*p*st.
But if word got out that he had never slept with anyone, if it was proven true, people would stop condemning him but he would still end up becoming a joke. The same people who cursed at him for being human scum would start calling him a "weak man".
Damned if you do, damned if you don't
That was the kind of life people like James lived, it also didn't help that he was truly handsome.
Anne could already tell that the women he invited all came willingly, some may have even presented themselves to James, offering their bodies up to him.
No one dares to claim that they have his child, after all, despite being disinherited by his parents, a rich family would not let anyone who could potentially inherit their fortune slip by.
Although it was rare, people could still claim an inheritance through blood relations if a will was not made.
James' parents had adopted a daughter who had been marked as the next in line to inherit the wealth of the Bowen family. But they only had one child, and they had no other extended family.
Should the worst come to worse, it was highly likely that James would still be given rights should all other inheritors be lost.
If there was any proof that James had left out a child, the Bowen family is likely to hunt them down in order to ensure that their line of inheritance is kept within the family.
This would mean that any claims would immediately be placed under scrutiny, this was not a family that could not afford a small apartment. The Bowens could buy hospitals if they wanted, a quick DNA test was not something hard to get.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that James was just a handsome man who was placed in an environment that made him drown in his own hubris.
In a way…
He's kinda like me…
Anne thought of her own problems, she was really pretty and since her youth had been chased by many boys. Some were rich, some were strong, others were influential and others were just weirdos.
Unfortunately, unlike James who could walk around with a large security detail, Anne was forced to learn self-defense.
Although she loved gymnastics, that made her an even bigger target for perverts and stalkers.
She ended up needing to learn self defense and carrying pepper spray and a taser in her bag at all times.
But, even those defenses were useless in the workplace.
She couldn't really attack her boss could she? Her colleagues? Anyone in her workplace were coworkers and she could only retaliate and not be the aggressor.
Unfortunately, the company did not allow her to bring in her taser, all she had was a small bottle of pepper spray but even that did not really calm her down.
What if someone attacked her from behind? A blindspot? Set up a trap?
Her beauty had caused her problems and her economic and social status left her vulnerable.
Although they were from two different worlds, their issues… were somewhat similar-
At least, that is what came over her mind. A fairy tail of a prince and commoner falling in love after empathizing with each other.
[Anne Deline has developed deep affection towards you]
As Anne was going over her own thoughts and realizations, James heard the system's notification.
She hasn't left…
James did not act on this information though, instead he simply continued his silence as it matched with his act.
"That doesn't seem bad at all though? Doesn't that just show that you respect women? Compared to the perverts who install cameras in women's toilets, a playboy who doesn't shove his dick into every hole around him is a lot better"
She didn't try to comfort him, Anne just said those words casually while rolling her eyes.
James took this chance to take a deep breath and show an attempt at calming down. He turned back to Anne as he replied with a forced smile.
"If you compare evil acts, anything "good" would be a lesser evil. Yes, it may be better, but it is still evil"
Upon hearing James' words, Anne turned back to the man, his face still having that self deprecating expression. When she saw him like that, the image of James on the streets appeared in her mind.
Compared to the images used by the media, James had now calmed down. Without the endless supply of money from his parents, he should have started to realize how hard life truly was.
The image of him walking down the street filled with confidence was something James could reach but…
It was all an act… he's quite- fragile…
Without his safety nets, the real James appeared, a man with low confidence but with great potential.
Maybe…
Anne did not know what came over her, the image of the confident James, the moment she realized it was all an act, the moment she saw James "trueself"…
*gulp*
I like it…
James had turned his away from her again but this time, Anne did not wait for him to say anything.
*clatter*
She pushed the tableware to the side as she leaned forward. Her shirt appeared to struggle to keep her bountiful breast in place as she stretched out her hand and grabbed James chin.
Soft
It was not rough like that of other men, his face was smooth and soft. But, that was proof of his great skin and the attention he put into caring for his body.
A subtle scent entered her nose, it was not the deep musky scent that most men thought was attractive. It was a refreshing scent that was not spayed in excess, instead it was just enough to give James a pleasant air around him.
Anne had stopped thinking at this point, her mind was driven by a desire.
I'll build him into a proper man, a man to stand by my side…
She had spent her life surrounded by men who chased after her, wanting to make her "theirs".
But their continued pursuit and lack of empathy made Anne feel as if she was nothing more than an object in their eyes. None tried to talk to her and when they did they immediately tried to get into her pants.
James?
She was the one who made the move and even when he tried to make his own move, he ended up buckling down.
The man had lost his confidence and was trying to regain it but…
I'll give you that confidence back~
She pulled his face to turn towards her and without any hesitation she kissed him. It was not a simple smooch as Anne forcefully entered James mouth. She gave him a french kiss, she was the one who initiated it and James even showed a hint of resistance.
The feeling of taking the lead invigorated Anne, she parted her lips from James, a deep blush on her face as she stared at the dumbfounded man.
James' expression made Anne even more excited, she stopped leaning and stood up, her breast bouncing with her sudden movements.
"Then let's put that to the test"