Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System!

Parker exhaled slowly, feeling the tension settle as Madison slinked off, her energy deflating like a balloon with a pinprick. The music seemed to dial back in, the low bass thrumming beneath the hum of conversation, but Parker's focus stayed locked on Cassidy.

She'd gone back to her drink, all cool indifference, but there was a sharpness in her eyes—like she was still watching, still on guard.

He felt it again. That thing.

It wasn't just gratitude.

It was...powerful.

She hadn't just defended him. She'd shut Madison down with finesse, making her look ridiculous without even raising her voice. She was calm, calculated—but for him.

And damn, she hadn't lost her bite.

The memories stirred—he remembered that fierce loyalty back then. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

But now?

Now it was different.

Because this wasn't just a protective older friend stepping in for some kid. She was looking out for a grown man. His business. His reputation.

And it made something shift in his chest.

"You, uh..." Parker finally broke the silence, leaning closer so his voice didn't carry. "...You didn't have to go that hard on her, you know?"

Cassidy raised a brow, the corner of her lips tugging into a smirk. "Didn't I?"

"She was—" He struggled for the right words. "I mean...she wasn't a threat—"

Cassidy leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs, that same impossible figure practically defying her frame. "Parker. She was a walking headline waiting to happen. You might be new to the whole...powerful young billionaire thing, but trust me, clout chasers like her? They see you as a target. Not a person."

He blinked. "Target? Like I'm some—"

"Yeah." She cut him off gently, swirling her drink again. "Exactly like that. You have power now. You don't get to be reckless about who you let into your space, no matter how good they look in a dress."

The words hit harder than expected even though he knew the same things she was telling him.

Because she was right.

And maybe—just maybe—part of him liked that she cared enough to say it.

"...Thanks," he muttered, softer this time.

Cassidy's smirk softened too. For just a second, her eyes lingered on his. "Anytime, kid."

Kid?

The word stung, but not in a bad way. It felt like a barrier—a reminder that no matter how much had changed...she still saw him as that same boy from before.

And Parker?

He wasn't sure if he liked that.

Parker leaned back, eyes narrowing just slightly as Cassidy's toast lingered between them.

No smile. No deflection.

Just silence. Calculated. Heavy.

They both knew what the other was capable of—far beyond wealth and influence. Power radiated from Cassidy like a quiet storm, that magnetic presence of hers pressing against the edges of the room. She was strong. Dangerous. A woman who could level cities if she wanted.

But Parker?

He wasn't that kid anymore.

His magic ran deep—potent, restrained, yet thrumming beneath the surface of his skin. They both knew it. But tonight? This wasn't about power.

This was about control.

His...

The server arrived with the next round of champagne, and Parker moved before anyone else, plucking the chilled bottle from the silver stand without a word.

Not flashy. Not rushed.

Smooth. Intentional.

He poured Cassidy's glass himself, the crystal flute catching the low lights just enough to shimmer as he filled it. When he handed it back, his fingers brushed hers—lingering just enough to feel the heat of her skin, steady and confident.

His gaze never wavered. Locked on hers.

'You're powerful. But you're still a woman. And I'm a man.'

Not just her boss.

A man who owned this moment and her in some sense.

For once, Cassidy didn't have a cutting remark. Her lips parted slightly, eyes narrowing, like she was trying to figure out what the hell just shifted between them.

Parker didn't give her the satisfaction of breaking first.

He leaned back again, swirling his glass, calm and composed.

The tension lingered—thick.

Then, a burst of laughter snapped the mood, Ava throwing her head back mid-story, Claire practically wheezing as Alina shook her head with a grin.

The spell broke.

Cassidy blinked, exhaling through her nose as if grounding herself. But Parker caught it—the flush just barely creeping along her neck.

Satisfied, he turned back to the group, wearing a small, unreadable smirk. He didn't need words, she got the message.

Just as the toast settled and conversation resumed, the soft pulse of music blending into the low hum of chatter, a waiter approached their table.

He didn't go for Cassidy directly. No. His eyes flicked to Parker first—because of course they did.

Parker, with his sleeves rolled up, the low lights catching on his watch, sitting at the center of it all with four stunning women, owned the space without saying a word.

"Sir," the waiter murmured, dipping closer. "Ms. Cassidy, there's... someone asking for you at the bar."

Cassidy's head tilted, brow arching, "Who?"

The waiter hesitated. "He wouldn't give his name. But he said—" His throat bobbed. "The Devil."

Silence.

The words hit like a crack in the atmosphere. Cassidy's entire body shifted. Not obvious. Just subtle—shoulders squaring, jaw tightening. Her fingers flexed against the stem of her glass before setting it down carefully, too carefully, the crystal barely making a sound.

The waiter's words hung in the air, tension curling around the table like smoke.

"The Devil." Cassidy's lips pressed into a thin line as she stood, her face schooled into that perfect mask of calm. But Parker saw it. The shift. A tightness at the corners of her mouth, the way her hand lingered a second longer on her glass before letting go.

"Excuse me," she said, voice smooth but slightly clipped. Without another word, she turned and made her way toward the bar.

Ava leaned closer, murmuring, "What the hell was that about?"

Parker didn't answer. His gaze was already locked on Cassidy as she disappeared into the crowd.

Something wasn't right. He could feel it. The energy in the room hadn't changed for the others, but his senses—that other part of him—picked up the faintest pulse. Wrong. Twisted.

The system flickered in the corner of his vision as he focused, scanning. And there he was.

[Race: Demon]