Capítulo 6: The Challenge System
Henry finally touched the pool's tiled wall.
He rose his head out of the water and turned to his sides to see nobody. He reached the end of the pool first, he won the challenge.
With a smile on his face, he pulled himself out of the water and sat at the edge of the pool. That was when something caught his eye.
"Huh?"
He saw Anne emerging at the other end of the pool.
He was confused. Why did she come out at the wrong end of the pool?
His confusion vanished and fear became present, as he gained a new line of thinking.
He quickly turned around to check his surroundings, to find out he was the one at the wrong end of the pool. He had literally done a U-turn during the race. And now, he was back at the starting line.
Anne burst out laughing, after seeing him at the other side. She had heard of rookies making U-turns when swimming, but this was the first time she saw it first-hand.
"Did you just swim back to the starting line?"
"Shut up." Henry said, but Anne wasn't going to let this slide without having some fun.
"During races you swim to the finish line, not back to the starting line. You know that, right?"
It was hopeless trying to get her to stop. He simply just picked up a towel to dry himself.
"Uh? Why are you suddenly quiet? Everyone makes mistakes, you know? Though this is my first time of seeing this type of mistake. Is this your first time making it?"
"You won the challenge and get to keep William's room. There's no need to rub salt on my injury." Henry said and Anne nodded in agreement.
"You're absolutely right...it's just that I'm still trying to wrap my head around how it happened. Were your eyes closed? Or did you miraculously reach the finish line and swim back in such a short time?"
Henry cursed himself, as he walked away. He had no choice but to retreat to his room and live out the rest of his days. She obviously wasn't going to let him off easy.
"Wait, don't go. I'm not done." Anne mocked as she pursued after him. After taking two steps she slipped on the puddle of water he left behind.
Reflexively, she closed her eyes and hoped the tiled floor wasn't as hard as she knew it was.
Her wish came true. The floor was hard, but in a soft kind of way.
"Huh?" She muttered after feeling a couple of ridges. The tiled floor was supposed to be smooth and cool, so why was it the complete opposite?
She opened her eyes to see herself on top Henry. He had used his body to break her fall.
Anne was tongue-tied, and he was just as confused. He hadn't ordered his body to save her, it did so reflexively.
"Oh my!" They heard someone say, and they turned to see the executor. In a split second, they both stood up and distanced themselves from each other.
"I'm sorry to barge in on such an intimate moment. I rung the bell, but no one came to open the door so I let myself in."
"I'm afraid you are mistaken for thinking there was something going on between us. I simply slipped and he saved me." Anne explained, but the executor still had on a wide smile.
"Of course, you did."
"She's telling the truth." Henry reiterated.
"Of course, she is."
It was obvious the executor had made up his mind on the matter, his smile and sarcastic replies were proof.
"Why are you here, Executor?" Anne asked, and the executor regained his composure and reverted to his usual poker face.
"I did say I would be back as soon as I could, didn't I? Although it wasn't meant to be this soon. But you can't blame me, I was worried you two would tear down The Imperial Palace before I can think of a way to share William's assets."
"Oh, but we've already thought of one." Henry said and the executor's curiosity rose.
"Please, do tell."
They explained the challenge system and rules to the executor, who pulled out a notepad and started jotting down.
———
Anne walked into the hearth room to see Henry waiting. She looked around but didn't see the executor.
"Where is he?" She asked and Henry shrugged his shoulders. She took a seat and waited too.
Her gaze roamed round the room, then landed on Henry. His clothes hid the sturdy body that had recently broken her fall. His eyes moved and made contact with hers, which made her quickly look away.
"I never got to thank you for saving me."
"You still haven't—"
She threw a pillow at him and it slapped him in the face.
"It is common manners to not interrupt someone that's showing gratitude." She educated.
Henry returned back the pillow, but she gracefully dodged it. Before she could even smile, he sent another one and it made contact.
"It is also common manners to thank someone, rather than tell them how you haven't thanked them yet."
"I'm grateful to you for breaking my fall. But I would be more grateful, if you could fall in a ditch somewhere."
"I would also be glad if you could do that too."
Anne gritted her teeth. She abhorred him. He was the only one that would cut in when someone was trying her best to thank him.
Henry couldn't help but dislike her. If she had to beat around the bush to thank him, it meant she wasn't genuinely grateful.
The executor walked in and the bloodlust in the room reduced drastically. He placed a piece of document on the table.
"This is a written document that states you both agree and will adhere to the challenge rules."
Anne picked it up and read it. She noticed there was an extra rule. She turned to executor. "You added a fifth rule?"
"Yes."
Henry eyes widened. He stretched his hand towards the document, and she passed it to him.
He read the fifth rule. It stated that the challenge rules could be temporarily or permanently made, edited, overridden or destroyed, as long as himself and Anne are in agreement. He turned to the executor.
"I don't really have a problem with it, but why did you add it?"
"Because the initial rules have countless loopholes."
Anne and Henry tilted their heads and the executor understood their confusion. They had thought the original four rules covered everything.
"What happens if one of you finds out you're infinitely better than the other at something, doesn't that mean you would win all your challenges and also be able to stock up on game rights? Wouldn't that make the challenge system favour one person? Or what happens when one loses the challenge they initiated to win game rights, does the challenged get the game rights since they won or does nobody get the game rights?"
Anne and Henry eyes widened. They hadn't thought of these instances. They both now understood why William entrusted this man with the task of sharing his assets.
"With this fifth rule, you guys can decide what to do on the spot when those kind of situations occur." Ethan added.
"I understand now. Can I have a pen?" Henry asked.
After they both signed the written agreement, the executor kept it in his suitcase.
"If the challenge prize is something as serious as full ownership of an asset worth a million or more, I would love to be notified before it takes place."
"Okay." Anne and Henry said in unison.
"I'm still paying off inheritance tax and gathering William's remaining assets, that's why it would take a while before I can adequately distribute it between you two. So for now, you would've to endure this challenge system. Since I've achieved my goal, I would be taking my leave now."
Anne stood up to see him off, but he stopped her with a gesture. "There's no need, I know my way out." He said and she sat back down.
"Oh, and one more thing..." The executor said and they focused their attention on him. His serious look got replaced with a wide grin, the same smile he had on when he caught Anne on top of Henry.
"...you guys don't need to hide your relationship. It's not illegal, seeing as you two are not legally or biologically related. If William raised the two of you together under the same roof, that would've been a totally different issue."
Anne couldn't believe her ears. She could only wish the executor could feel how much she despised Henry.
Henry couldn't help but laugh. Himself and this annoying self-centered woman? Not a chance in hell!
The executor finally took his leave, and Anne turned to Henry.
"Do you think it's funny that he thinks we are together?"
"Isn't it?"
Anne ignored his question and walked away. The thought of being paired with him made her blood boil, yet he just took it as a funny joke. Was he ever serious with anything?
———
Henry waited till he was sure Anne was sleeping, then he snuck to the front of William's bedroom. He tried to open it, but it didn't budge.
"Shit! Guess she chose to leave it locked."
He had hoped she unlocked it since he could no longer move in, after losing his rights to the bedroom. He needed the keycard, but it was somewhere in her room.
He could ask her, but that might make matters worse. He could sneak in, but she might kill him if he gets caught and besides, he didn't exactly know where the keycard was. He could also forget about the keycard and bring down the door, but this was his grandfather's personal room.
Henry saw his best move was to make a deal with Anne, but first he needed to have something she wanted.
———
Anne walked to Henry's room and opened his door as softly as she could. She saw him sleeping on his bed, which made her relieved.
It would be troublesome if he resumed work today with her. She could barely endure him invading her private life, that's why she is sure the company wouldn't survive him taking on his role as co-owner.
The day went as every other work day, and soon Anne forgot about the pest issue she had at home. But that was until....
"Miss Great, there's someone in your office. He claims he owns half of The Empire."
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