The quiet, carpeted hallway of Ivory Island's residential wing was perfectly peaceful as Wren walked side-by-side with Diana.

They reached the polished mahogany door of her luxury suite.

Diana stopped, turning to face him.

The tropical afternoon sunlight filtered through the large hallway windows, illuminating the soft genuine happiness radiating from her mature features.

Diana reached out, resting her slender hands gently against his broad chest.

"Thank you for today, Wren," Diana murmured with her brown eyes looking up into his eyes with undeniable adoration. "I can't remember the last time I had that much fun... or felt that bold."

Wren smiled warmly, looking down at her flushed face. "You were amazing out there but you need to rest now. Don't push your luck with that ankle."

Diana let out a soft, breathy giggle.

She leaned up on her tiptoes, sliding one hand up to cup his jaw, and pressed a soft kiss directly to his cheek. Her lips were warm, and the scent of her vanilla perfume wrapped around his senses.

"I will," Diana promised, pulling back just enough to catch his gaze. "I'll see you later."

"Be safe," Wren instructed softly. "Keep the leg elevated."

Diana offered one last, brilliant smile before turning and swiping her keycard.

She stepped inside the suite, and the solid wooden door clicked shut behind her with the brass lock engaging with a definitive snap.

Wren stood in the empty corridor for a moment, letting out a long, slow exhale.

He turned on his heel, his sneakers making absolutely no sound against the thick carpet and began the walk back toward his own suite.

However, as the residual thrill of the date faded entirely, a vastly different emotion crept into the forefront of his mind.

Guilt…

Wren shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his dark trousers, his brow furrowing as he stared at the ornate wallpaper passing by.

He realized with a sudden clarity that he had been subconsciously avoiding Leah.

It wasn't intentional maliciousness.

It was a mental hurdle he simply hadn't figured out how to clear yet. Leah was his best friend at the very least but two days ago, Wren had bent Leah's billionaire mother over a massage table and completely, brutally fucked her into pure unconsciousness.

He vividly remembered the dominance of the act… the way Isabel had gasped his name… and the bright red handprints he had left on her pale flawless skin…

Looking his best friend in the eyes immediately after completely conquering the woman who gave birth to her felt like crossing an invisible dangerous line so he needed time to handle the situation.

Unfortunately, he was completely out of time.

Wren turned the corner of the hallway, stepping into a wider intersection near the glass elevators.

"You've been avoiding me."

The voice was casual and completely devoid of any real accusation, yet it still made Wren stop dead in his tracks.

He looked up.

Leah was leaning casually against the polished marble wall next to the elevator bank.

Her striking, vibrant purple hair fell in loose, effortless waves over her shoulders, contrasting beautifully with the sleek, tropical designer outfit she was wearing.

Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her bright piercing green eyes were locked dead onto his face.

She offered him a slow, incredibly crooked smile that told him she saw right through his casual facade.

Wren blinked, pulling his hands out of his pockets. He reached up, awkwardly massaging the back of his neck which was a gesture he only ever used when he was genuinely caught off guard.

"I haven't been avoiding you," Wren lied smoothly, though he knew she wouldn't buy a single syllable of it. "I've just been... busy. The schedule is packed, and I had to sort out some stuff regarding the lodge renovations back home."

Leah's crooked smile widened a fraction. She pushed herself off the marble wall, entirely unbothered by his blatant excuse.

Instead she rolled her green eyes dramatically with the sarcasm practically dripping from her posture. "Sure. Business stuff. You've been so incredibly swamped with Business stuff that you haven't answered my last three text messages. I absolutely believe you."

Wren let out a quiet chuckle with the tension in his chest melting away.

That was the beauty of Leah. She didn't press, she didn't demand tearful apologies, and she never made things unnecessarily dramatic…

She just called him out on his bullshit and moved on.

"Alright, fine," Wren conceded, dropping his hand from his neck. "I've been a terrible friend so how do I make it up to you?"

Leah's green eyes sparked suddenly as she stepped into his personal space, reaching out to playfully adjust the collar of his dark shirt.

"Why don't we go shopping?" Leah proposed with her voice brightening. "We've been trapped inside this resort and lounging on the private beaches for a while now. I want to actually go into the island's commercial district… There are exclusive tropical boutiques down there selling items you literally cannot buy anywhere else in the world."

The absolute second the word "shopping" left her lips.

A sleek, glowing blue interface booted up directly in the center of Wren's vision.

((SIDE MISSION ACTIVE))

((Purchase a luxury gift for a Target worth over 50,000 Credits))

((Reward: 20,000 Credits + Affection Boost))

Wren stared at the floating blue text for a fraction of a second. The System was practically handing him the perfect opportunity on a silver platter.

He could clear a massive highly lucrative objective, smooth things over entirely with his best friend, and spend some genuine quality time with her away from the chaotic dynamic of the other women.

He swiped the notification away with a subtle mental command.

"Shopping it is," Wren agreed instantly with a genuine smile returning to his handsome face. "Lead the way."

…

Thirty minutes later, the vibrant energy of Ivory Island's high-end commercial district surrounded them completely.

The tropical heat was mitigated by the towering, pristine white awnings stretching over the cobblestone streets.

Wealthy tourists, celebrities, and even normal people walked the promenade with their bags flashing in the afternoon sun.

Wren and Leah stepped through the massive, reinforced glass doors of an incredibly exclusive, air-conditioned luxury boutique.

The interior of the store was a masterpiece of modern, minimalist design, featuring dark mahogany displays and soft, ambient golden lighting.

The air smelled of expensive and custom-blended citrus perfume.

They began browsing the aisles, but the dynamic quickly shifted.

Instead of Leah simply picking out clothes for herself, it turned into an active, mutual gift exchange.

She kept pulling high-end tropical shirts off the racks, holding them up against Wren's broad chest, analyzing the fit and asking him what colors he preferred.

"You look good in dark blue," Leah noted, tossing a ridiculously expensive silk button-down over his shoulder. "It matches your eyes so we are definitely getting this."

Wren chuckled, entirely content to let her play stylist.

As they moved toward the center of the sprawling boutique, the soft ambient lighting shifted, completely focused on a single, highly secure glass display case resting on a velvet pedestal.

Leah stopped walking, her green eyes locking onto the display. "Whoa..."

Wren stepped up beside her, looking down through the pristine glass.

Resting on a bed of black velvet were two matching utterly breathtaking necklaces. They weren't made of traditional gold or diamonds.

The chains were forged from a dark, matte platinum, but the centerpieces were what commanded attention.

They were jagged, beautifully polished cuts of pitch-black stone that seemed to absorb the light around them, glittering with microscopic iridescent flecks of silver and deep purple.

A professionally dressed jeweler immediately approached from the other side of the display, offering a polite, practiced bow.

"You have exceptional taste, madam," the jeweler said smoothly. "These are our masterpieces. The pendants are not standard gemstones… They are forged directly from the ancient meteorite material found exclusively on the blackened cliffs of Ivory Island's northern coast. The mineral composition is entirely unique to this exact location."

Wren's eyebrows rose slightly. He instantly recognized the lore from the boat tour he had just taken with Diana.

"They are stunning," Leah murmured, completely captivated by the dark glittering stones she had never seen before. "How much are they?"

The jeweler maintained his polite smile, entirely unfazed by the question. "They are sold as a matching set or individually, madam… The price is exactly one hundred thousand credits per necklace."

Wren didn't flinch, but he did mentally calculate the numbers.

One hundred thousand credits... That was double the absolute minimum requirement for his System Mission. It was a staggering amount of money for a piece of jewelry.

Before Wren could even open his mouth to speak, Leah reached into her designer purse.

With the effortless, entirely casual motion of a billionaire heiress who had never once looked at a price tag in her entire life, she pulled out a sleek, matte black credit card.

"We will take both of them," Leah said to the jeweler, offering the card forward. "Put them both on this."

Wren's hand shot out with terrifying speed.

He clamped his fingers directly over Leah's wrist, stopping her from handing the card over to the jeweler.

Leah blinked, looking up at him in genuine confusion. "What are you doing? Let go, I'm buying them."

"No, you aren't…" Wren stated. He looked directly into her bright green eyes, completely shutting down her instincts. "You are not paying for the necklaces, Leah."

Leah's brow furrowed with a flash of stubborn defiance crossing her beautiful features. "Wren, it's two hundred thousand credits total. Just let me pay for it... It's literally a drop in the bucket for my account… It's a gift."

"I said no," Wren repeated with his voice leaving absolutely zero room for negotiation.

He wasn't going to let her buy his affection, and he absolutely refused to let her cover the cost when he literally had an active mission demanding he spoil her.

He was the man in this dynamic, and he was taking control.

Wren looked at the jeweler, entirely ignoring Leah's pouting expression.

He reached into his own pocket with his free hand and pulled out his digital wallet device that he had gotten registered on the Island earlier… linked directly to the massive 1.5 million credit reserve her mother had tipped him.

"I will pay for her necklace," Wren instructed the jeweler, his voice calm and authoritative. "Split the transaction. I cover her hundred thousand, and she can cover my hundred thousand. That's the only way we are doing this."

The jeweler glanced nervously between the stubbornly pouting heiress and the fiercely dominant young man holding her wrist. "Of course, sir. Right away."

Leah let out a dramatic frustrated groan, her shoulders dropping in defeat. She knew that exact look in Wren's blue eyes.

Once he made a decision like that, moving a mountain would be easier than changing his mind.

'Where did Wren get all this money from though?'

Regardless… it made her blush on the inside, He was paying for her half. It wouldn't be the first time that Wren had gotten her a gift but it was the first time that he had done something really expensive like this.

Though she didn't care for expensive things that much, Leah would cherish this one.

"You are incredibly annoying, you know that?" Leah grumbled, finally lowering her black card.

Wren smirked, releasing her wrist. "I've been told. Now pay for my half of the rocks so we can leave."

…

Five minutes later, they stepped back out through the glass doors of the boutique with the warm vibrant air of the commercial street washing over them.

Both of them were wearing their brand new purchases.

The matte platinum chains rested against their collarbones with the dark glittering meteorite stones catching the bright tropical sunlight.

The second Wren's foot hit the cobblestone street, the blue interface booted up in his vision, flashing with a triumphant golden border.

((MISSION COMPLETED))

((Purchase a luxury gift for a Target worth over 50,000 Credits))

((Target: Leah Merrett. Gift Value: 100,000 Credits.))

((Reward: 20,000 Credits deposited into System Bank. Affection Boost applied to Target… Target boost does not wor—))

Wren dismissed the screen with a wave of satisfaction rolling through his chest.

He had secured the bag, checked off a massive objective, and successfully managed to navigate the tricky waters with his best friend.

"Well," Leah said, reaching up to gently trace the edge of the dark meteorite stone resting against her chest.

A soft genuine smile touched her lips as she looked up at him. "That was our only purchase. Is there anywhere else you want to go before we head back?"

Wren scanned the bustling, sunlit street.

High-end restaurants with white tablecloths and snooty waiters lined the left side of the promenade.

Designer boutiques filled the right. But further down the cobblestone road, tucked between two massive luxury buildings, was a small local market area catering to the island's working staff.

Wren's sharp blue eyes locked onto a small, incredibly simple street vendor cart. A local man was standing over an open charcoal grill, flipping several ears of fresh corn over the smoking, crackling embers.

Wren knew exactly what to do.

He didn't point to the five-star seafood restaurant or the imported wine bar. He raised his hand and pointed directly at the smoking grill...

"Why don't we go there?" Wren suggested, looking down at Leah.

Leah followed his finger, her green eyes landing on the charcoal grill and the golden roasted ears of corn resting on the metal grates.

For a fraction of a second, the image of the elegant woman completely vanished. Her face instantly brightened, a massive, entirely uncontained smile breaking across her features.

She absolutely loved roasted corn.

It was a massive comfort food for her which was a simple pleasure that completely contrasted with her insanely wealthy upbringing.

She puffed her hands together excitedly, clapping once in pure joy.

"Why not?" Leah cheered, her purple hair bouncing as she immediately started walking briskly toward the vendor cart.

Wren chuckled warmly, following right beside her.

They reached the cart with the rich incredible smell of roasting charcoal, sweet corn, and melting butter completely filling the air.

Wren handed the vendor a few basic credits, purchasing two large perfectly roasted ears wrapped in simple paper napkins.

They didn't bother finding a bench. They just continued walking side-by-side down the lively, cobblestone street, blending in completely with the relaxed island atmosphere.

Leah happily lifted the hot corn to her mouth. She bit into the sweet roasted kernels with genuine enthusiasm.

"God, this is so good," Leah mumbled around a mouthful of food, chewing happily. "The restaurants here are great, but nothing beats street food… It just tastes better."

"I think it's the charcoal," Wren agreed, taking a bite of his own.

As Leah continued to chew, entirely lost in the simple joy of the snack, a small slick piece of melted butter and roasted corn mush escaped her lips, sticking directly to the soft corner of her mouth.

She didn't notice it at all…

Wren stopped walking.

He stood perfectly still on the cobblestone street, his blue eyes locking onto the small mess on her flawless pale skin.

He could have just told her it was there. He could have easily reached over and handed her the spare paper napkin he was holding in his left hand. It would have been the normal thing to do with his childhood best friend but Wren didn't do that.

Because at the end of the day… Leah was a target.

He turned his body entirely toward her, stepping directly into her personal space. The height difference between them was stark.

He loomed over her, his broad shoulders blocking out the sun, casting a warm shadow over her face.

Leah stopped walking, blinking in confusion as he stepped entirely into her bubble. She looked up with her green eyes meeting his. "What? Is there a bug on me?"

Wren didn't say a word.

He leaned his head down, his handsome face closing the distance until he was mere inches away from hers.

He could feel the warmth radiating from her skin, could smell the sweet corn and her expensive perfume mixing in the air.

He tilted his chin slightly, parting his lips.

With a slow, incredibly smooth, and devastatingly intimate motion, Wren darted his warm tongue out.

He dragged the wet muscle directly over the soft corner of her mouth, expertly licking the piece of butter and corn cleanly off her skin.

He pulled his head back slightly, his face still hovering dangerously close to hers, and swallowed the morsel.

Leah completely froze.

Her brain short-circuited.

The feeling of his hot wet tongue sliding directly against the sensitive corner of her lips sent a massive, terrifying jolt of electricity straight down her spine.

Wren looked right into her wide, stunned green eyes. A dark, incredibly arrogant smirk curved his lips.

"You should eat properly," Wren murmured. "The corn isn't rushing anywhere."

Leah's breath hitched violently in her throat as the paper napkin crinkled in her grip.

A massive, burning blush exploded across her cheeks, rushing rapidly up to the tips of her ears and down her neck.

Her pale skin turned a brilliant, completely uncontrollable shade of crimson.

She stood frozen on the bustling tropical street, entirely stunned, staring up at the man who had just effortlessly stolen her breath away.

'Oh… I really love it when he's like this.' Leah thought with a smile, Wren was hotter when he was aggressive.