"Miss Perseus."
Karen urged Vincent to kneel with her before Perseus, who was seated in the school garden gazebo.
Only the dark blue-haired girl was there alone, casually sipping Earl Grey tea like a noble. It didn't feel right to say 'like a noble' because the girl was indeed of noble descent.
"Thank you, Karen. You always help me."
After a brief thank you, Karen bowed respectfully and left, leaving the two of them to talk privately. Vincent finally voiced the frustrations he had held back throughout being dragged by Karen.
"What's up? And why did you tell that girl to drag me here like a puppy? I thought we would fight honorably and fairly?" Vincent tried to put on an annoyed face while his eyes were still heavy with sleepiness. Dark circles hung under his eyelids, making Perseus think Vincent looked like a panda.
"Sit. Let's enjoy tea together."
Vincent stood and took a seat opposite Perseus. A round table with four chairs was inside the gazebo. Light snacks like cream puffs, cheesecakes, and various other pastries were laid out before them. It was truly a noble's afternoon tea.
Perseus poured tea into a gold-engraved porcelain cup. It looked expensive. The fragrant aroma of Earl Grey immediately wafted as Vincent's cup was filled. The effect? Vincent's eyes were now slightly open, helping him stay awake and temporarily overcome his drowsiness.
Hesitantly, Vincent picked up the teacup in front of him, sensing something Perseus was hiding from her suspicious behavior.
"Just get straight to the point. You wouldn't bother inviting me during lunch break just to drink tea with you."
Vincent gulped down the still-steaming warm tea in one go and firmly placed the cup back on its small saucer, giving no room for tenderness to Perseus, who was smiling suspiciously at Vincent.
But Perseus shook her head.
"No, I just want to get to know you better. As an childhood friend and a new friend. I don't really know the current you, Vincent. Do you still like fairy tales? Do you like girls? Have you grown into a gentleman or a jerk? I want to know everything about you directly from you."
Perseus rested her chin on her hands, which formed a bridge on the table. Her eyes looked serious, observing every small detail Vincent made. This made Vincent a little awkward, feeling watched like that. He was still a man after all.
Before saying a word to refuse, Vincent thought this was a great opportunity to get to know his opponent better. Among many companies, why was Perseus targeting his company? And also targeting his company's CEO position?
"Alright. I'll ask one question and answer one question in turn. That way, we both get what we want. Agreed?"
Perseus nodded slightly. "Agree. You can ask the first question, Vincent."
Vincent adjusted his relaxed posture to a serious one. He placed both hands on the table as if interrogating a national-level criminal.
"Why me, Perseus?"
A short question, but it encompassed everything Vincent wanted to know. Even without Fortis company, Vincent sure Perseus could be successfully build her own company in the future. If it was for ambition and greed, then Vincent would not hesitate to fight Perseus with all his heart. But if it was for other reasons, Vincent couldn't guess Perseus's motives and all her actions.
Perseus glanced briefly behind Vincent, then gave a small smile. A mysterious smile.
"That's because I love you, Vincent."
Vincent fell silent upon hearing it.
"It seems I misheard. Could you repeat that?"
"That's because I love you. You are my prince. I want to possess you completely for myself. By taking over everything that is yours."
The corner of Vincent's lips twitched slightly. He felt this was no different from Iris's kidnapping incident. What exactly happened in the past that all the childhood friends he had forgotten were targeting him?
Then Vincent shook his head quickly.
"I won't allow it."
"Is that so? What a pity, it seems you'll have to work hard if your words are true, Vincent. Currently, three councils are already on my side. Seven more councils, and you will lose your place in your own company. And you will become my pet, forever."
Perseus uttered the last sentence with unfeigned enthusiasm. Vincent could even see Perseus's smile widening, which was quite eerie. Whatever was going on in that girl's head, Vincent would not let Perseus do as she pleased.
Vincent let out a long sigh. Meanwhile, Perseus had refilled her cup completely.
"Hahh, your turn."
"What color underwear are you wearing today?"
"Sprrutt!!!"
Vincent spat out the tea he had just sipped. It splattered on the white tablecloth and some cakes. He had not expected Perseus to ask such an indecent question with an elegant smile on her face.
"Ugh... why are you asking that?"
"Hm? Am I not free to ask anything? Isn't that the rule?"
"There are better questions you could ask."
"Right now, I'm more curious about your underwear color, Vincent. Is it blue? Black? Or red? Or perhaps... you're not wearing any underwear?" Perseus asked with an elegant smile on her face.
Vincent's cheeks began to flush red, hearing the girl's rather provocative words. He shyly answered softly.
"Black..."
"Hm? I can't hear you."
"You're deliberately embarrassing me, Perseus."
"No need to worry, it's just the two of us here. Whatever you ask, even if it's very intimate, I guarantee no ears will hear it except ours. Isn't this romantic?"
Vincent let out a heavy sigh.
"Black. Satisfied?"
Perseus nodded contentedly. "Your turn."
Vincent took a deep breath. For some reason, this conversation felt almost losing its way because of Perseus's recent question.
"What exactly happened in the past? Why did I forget my past? My childhood friends?" Vincent asked the question he had been asking himself for several weeks.
The elegant smile on Perseus's face faded. Then she shook her head.
"I can't answer that question."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not the one who should answer it."
They both fell silent. Vincent looked into Perseus's eyes seriously, but there was no response. Vincent could only sigh in disappointment at not getting an answer to his question.
"Alright, your turn."
Perseus once again flashed her characteristic elegant smile.
"How many times do you masturbate in a week, Vincent? I do it three times a week." Like a child, Perseus enthusiastically talked about masturbation.
Meanwhile, Vincent's cheeks grew redder hearing it.
"I won't answer it! Your questions are starting to go off-topic!" Vincent stood up, intending to leave.
But before Vincent could turn around, Perseus chuckled.
"Cute. You're still as cute as ever. No need to worry, Vincent. I only imagine you every time I masturbate. This conversation is meant for me to get to know you better. Isn't knowing how often your partner masturbates quite romantic? I want to know you until there's nothing left about you."
Vincent slowly turned back. Perseus smiled elegantly, enthusiastically talking about it.
Then Vincent sat back down.
"I rarely do it... I don't remember how many times I've done it because there are so many women in my house and I barely have time for such things.."
Perseus chuckled. "If you want, I don't mind helping you now or later."
Vincent shook his head firmly and quickly many times. "No, thank you." But the blush on his face did not disappear at all.
Perseus looked satisfied seeing Vincent's shy expression. She took a quick sip from her cup.
"Your turn. There are still five minutes for the last question."
"Alright." Vincent racked his brain to find important question to ask Perseus. He got one. "How did you manage to persuade the council board? Do you really have an idea to make my company's business gain 50% profit from previous revenue? I've never heard of any company in the world achieving that number."
Perseus smiled slightly. She lowered both hands from the table.
"My family has long been involved in medical world. Almost all modern medical equipment and needs now require high-quality materials. Seeing that Fortis company used to focus on infrastructure and was the largest raw material supplier in automotive, I thought it would be great if your company expanded its wings to a larger industry, namely technology. One of my advantages is my connections in the modern medical world. Your company will supply most of the high-quality materials to hospitals worldwide and healthcare facilities, including laboratories, at a higher price than infrastructure or automotive."
Perseus explained clearly and concisely. Vincent nodded in understanding after hearing it once.
"But doesn't my company already have stable revenue? Taking a chance on something new is very high risk for my company. Its same like gambling."
"That's why I was chosen as a candidate. With my leadership as president of your company, I will ensure that risk never exists. And you don't need to think about complicated things like that, Vincent. My pet only needs to sit pretty and receive warm caresses from its master."
Perseus's words sounded serious and threatening. Vincent clenched his fists because he refused to be called her pet.
"I won't let that happen. If anyone is going to be a pet in the end, it's you, Perseus."
Perseus chuckled softly. "You're so sweet, Vincent." Taking a few sips from her cup, Perseus continued. "Now it's my turn to ask. Do you have a fetish? I like voyeurism. I want to see you have sex with another girl right in front of my eyes and it really excites me."
Thud! Vincent slammed the table and stood up, turning his flushed face away.
"I won't answer that!"
Even Vincent know Perseus have some hidden kinky side, he didn't know that elegant looking noble girl like weird things.
"How disappointing. I wanted to get to know your cute side better."
Triiinggggg!!!
The school bell rang and break time was over. Vincent immediately left the school garden gazebo and returned to his classroom with flushed cheeks. He remembered the incident in the hotel bathroom where Perseus almost made Iris have sex with him.
Meanwhile, two people eavesdropping in the bushes also ran to get to their classroom seats first.
"It seems the fish has took the bait." Perseus calmly took the last sip of her tea before walking to class.
***