บท 16: Master And Servant Cimnect

Parker groaned as he rolled over, the rich scent of high-end laundry detergent and luxury cologne hitting him all at once. His room oozed elite vibes, a solid reminder he'd leveled up. A system notification chimed, pulling him fully awake.

[New Mission Generated…]

He waved it away with a lazy hand. "Man, I'm not about to do the whole 'OMG, it wasn't a dream' thing. Nah, I'm better than that cringe."

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he stretched, muscles pulling taut. A quick trip to the bathroom later, Parker came out feeling ten times sharper. His reflection in the mirror confirmed it: hair slick, jawline sharp, a total menace.

He grinned. "Yeah, they ain't ready."

He sauntered into the living room just in time to catch Tessa hauling in shopping bags. She was going back and forth, arms loaded with sleek logos, while the delivery guy outside was busy ogling her butt. Parker smirked, leaning against the wall. "Yo, my guy, eyes on your route, not my property."

Tessa, oblivious, kept moving, her hair swinging as she passed him with an exasperated sigh. Parker's eyes followed her for a moment. Servant life suits her. Maybe I should make this permanent.

When the delivery guy finally left and the door shut, Parker grabbed an Amazon bag, dangling it off one finger as he spoke. "Alright, let's wrap this up. We're heading out."

Tessa paused, mid-step, her stomach growling audibly. She glanced at the clock. It was evening, and the last thing she'd eaten was probably her pride. "Wait, what about dinner? I'm starving."

Parker grinned to himself. "We'll eat out. Time for us to experience our first fine dining, servant and master." he replied.

The idea of eating at a restaurant felt oddly thrilling—a strange but welcome shift from his usual routine.

He disappeared into his room, leaving Tessa to huff in frustration. When he finally stepped back out, he was dressed down but still deadly. A black oversized sweater hung just right over his new build, paired with loose black trousers and spotless white sneakers. His dark hair had a styled, messy look, the kind that said, I just woke up hot. If someone didn't know better, they'd assume he was some K-drama heartthrob on a casual day off.

Parker adjusted his sleeves, ready to go, but froze when he saw Tessa. She wasn't trying too hard, yet she was trying. A brown dress clung to her just enough to tease, her long legs peeking out from the high slit. Her hair cascaded in soft waves, a simple necklace and earrings completing the look. Even her sneakers somehow made the outfit cuter. And that little touch of red lipstick? Dangerous.

"You look beautiful," Parker said automatically, but then he added with a smirk, "for a servant."

Tessa flushed but bit back her smile, her retort sharp. "Thanks… master," she said, emphasizing the word. But inside, she was still reeling. Had he just called her beautiful? And meant it?

"But you could've just called me Tessa."

"You wish, servant," Parker teased with a smirk, grabbing his old phone and car keys.

The two headed down the elevator, the air tense but buzzing. In the underground garage, Parker led her to his new ride: a sleek black Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.

The glossy exterior reflected the dim lights, every curve a testament to its absurd price tag.

Tessa stared, wide-eyed. "Wait, this is yours?" It wasn't that she was new to cars but she didn't expect Parker to own a car like this.

Parker tossed her the keys, his grin widening. "Unlock it. I mean, you're my driver, aren't you? Servant?"

She caught them and unlocked the car, sliding into the driver's seat like it was second nature. Parker climbed in on the passenger side, stretching out as if he'd owned the car for years.

"Where are we headed?" she asked as they pulled out of the tower.

"To your favorite restaurant," Parker replied. "Call it a master's treat."

Tessa didn't need to be told twice. She sped off, the car purring as they left the hotel garage. They soon pulled up to 71Above, one of LA's most iconic restaurants, located not far from LA Live. Perched high in the US Bank Tower, the place was all about elegance with an insane panoramic view of the city.

Tessa parked, her excitement bubbling over.

But when she reached for her door, she noticed Parker wasn't moving. Instead, he sat back, waiting. She rolled her eyes but got out, walking around to open his door.

"There. Happy?" she asked, her tone dripping sarcasm.

Parker stepped out, his smirk intact. "Thrilled. You're learning."

They entered the restaurant, immediately drawing attention. Parker's casual-yet-rich energy turned heads, while Tessa's understated beauty had people whispering. Parker ignored the stares, his expression calm and aloof, but Tessa felt every pair of eyes on her.

She squared her shoulders, deciding to own it.

When they were seated, Parker leaned back, scanning the menu briefly before pushing it toward her. "You pick. Keep it simple, though. I'm not a heavy eater."

Tessa rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath about control freaks, but she was secretly excited. She flagged the waiter and placed their orders, choosing dishes she knew were good.

Meanwhile, Parker just sat there, one hand tapping his phone, the other draped casually over the back of his chair.

As the waiter walked away, Parker glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Don't get used to this, by the way."

Tessa smirked, lifting her water glass. "You mean being treated like a human? Or eating food with you?"

Parker chuckled, shaking his head. "Both."

****

As Parker leaned back in his chair, enjoying the buzz of attention their entrance had stirred, a familiar system ping caught his attention as he checked the previous mission notification. A sly grin spread across his face as he skimmed the message.

[Ding! New Mission:

Spend more than $500,000 on a woman!

Rewards: Bad Boy Charm & McLaren Speedtail.]

Parker's grin widened, almost devilish now. Bad Boy Charm? Sure, whatever. But a McLaren Speedtail? That sleek beauty was worth over $2 million. The mere thought of owning one, all for the low cost of spoiling Tessa, sent a wave of excitement through him.

This mission? Too easy.

Across the table, Tessa was deep in the menu, clearly picking the most extravagant but simple options she could find. When the waiter returned, she ordered without hesitation—a filet mignon, truffle-infused sides, and a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine. Parker just leaned back, amused by her determination to run up his tab.

"Going all out, huh?" he teased, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

She smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You said it's your treat. I'm just making it count."

Dinner arrived shortly, and the two settled into the easy rhythm of eating and talking.

Parker didn't pry into her family or past—not his style—but let her steer the conversation. She was surprisingly animated, her eyes lighting up as she rattled off her favorite things.

"I love shopping," she admitted, her voice gaining a touch of excitement. "Like, there's nothing better than finding that perfect outfit."

Parker nodded, mentally filing that away. "Good to know," he said casually, though his mind was already spinning. 'Shopping it is, then, I was even offering it without even the mission.'

Tessa went on about her favorite music—90s pop, to Parker's surprise—and a secret obsession with baking shows. She even admitted to loving sunsets at the beach, though she quickly rolled her eyes when Parker raised an eyebrow.

"Don't make it weird," she muttered.

He chuckled. "Noted."

They polished off their meal, Parker paying no attention to the bill as he swiped his card. He wasn't there to pinch pennies. As they stood to leave, Tessa stretched slightly, the wine clearly loosening her up.

"So," she asked as they stepped outside into the cool evening air holding her anticipation. "What's next?"

Parker dangled the car keys from his fingers, his smirk returning. "We're going shopping. Your favorite spot."

Her eyes widened, a mix of surprise and giddy excitement flashing across her face. "Melrose Avenue?" she asked, almost cautiously.

"Obviously," Parker replied, heading toward the car. "Get in. We've got some damage to do."

Tessa didn't need to be told twice, practically bouncing into the passenger seat. As Parker slid into the driver's side, he glanced at her, his smirk softening. "You're gonna love this."

The drive to Melrose was quick, the city's lights buzzing around them as they pulled up to the iconic street. Lined with boutique stores and designer shops, it was every shopaholic's dream.

Tessa was already leaning forward in her seat, her excitement palpable.

"This," she whispered as they parked, "is going to be so much fun."

Parker chuckled, unlocking the doors. "Good. Now let's max out this mission." He said but she didn't understand the underlying meaning. She didn't need to.