Chapter 17: PHOTOS

The coffee shop Jennifer had tagged was a trendy, glass-fronted place called Dillon’s, located right on the corner of the main avenue. It took me about fifteen minutes to walk there, and with every step, the anticipation built in my chest.

Bingo.

They were sitting at a small round table near the back corner, right by a decorative brick wall. Cole was dressed in a tight-fitting gym shirt, looking as loud and obnoxious as ever, gesturing wildly as he talked. Jennifer sat opposite him, stirring her iced coffee with a straw, looking at her phone instead of him.

I walked into the shop, the bell above the door chiming softly. The place was bustling with the morning rush, which was perfect. The noise of grinding espresso machines and overlapping conversations gave me the perfect cover. I ordered a basic black coffee at the counter, paid, and took my cup, scanning the room for the best vantage point.

There was an empty booth directly behind the decorative brick wall where they were sitting. The wall had open spaces between the bricks, a stylish design choice that was about to cost them their privacy.

I slid into the booth quietly, setting my coffee down. Through the gaps in the brickwork, I had a clear line of sight to the back of Cole’s head and the front of Jennifer’s face. Up close, my enhanced Perception skill immediately went to work, picking up details I would have missed entirely a week ago.

Jennifer was pretty, sure, but close up, the cracks were showing. She had a tight, strained line around her mouth. Every time Cole laughed loudly at his own jokes, her shoulders tensed up. She wasn’t happy. She was exhausted.

Suddenly, two digital dice tumbled across my field of vision, rattling silently before coming to a stop. A three and a five.

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PERCEPTION CHECK: ✓

[Needed: 12] - [Result: 18]

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Target is experiencing extreme

boredom and emotional neglect.

Grievance unlocked.

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Earned: 25 SP

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Perfect.

I took a slow sip of my coffee, a dark grin spreading across my face as a new window flickered to life.

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GRIEVANCE LOG

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Target: Jennifer Dash

Subject: Cole

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> Physical Aggression

> Extreme Jealousy

> Sexual Frustration

[!] Primary: Small Endowment

[!] Secondary: "Minute Man"

> Financial Parasite

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Hmm, there wasn’t anything I could use against him right now. He was abusive, jealous, and overall just a complete dick. How was I supposed to get on her good side without that bastard, Cole, realizing it was me, the guy he’d beaten up?

Still, that night when I saw him walking his dog, she’d been with him. Would she even recognize me?

Through the gap in the bricks, I listened intently as Cole’s booming voice drifted over the ambient noise.

"...so I told him, if your dog can’t handle the tracking drill, you shouldn’t even be on the field," Cole scoffed, taking a massive bite out of a croissant. "Fucking amateur. Anyway, Buster and I are going to hit the park for another three hours this afternoon."

Jennifer didn’t even look up from her phone. "That’s nice, Cole. But remember we had plans to visit my mom today? You promised last week."

Cole groaned loudly, rolling his shoulders. "Ugh, babe, come on. Your mom’s place is an hour away, and Buster needs his run. Can’t you just go by yourself? I’m wiped out from training anyway."

Jennifer froze, her fingers stopping over her screen. The disappointment on her face was sharp, raw, and completely unprotected. "You do this every single weekend, Cole. It’s always about the dog. Or the gym."

"Oh, don’t start with that drama now," Cole snapped, waving his hand dismissively as he stood up from the table. "I gotta use the restroom. Think about what you want for lunch, but make it quick. I want to get moving."

He turned and walked toward the back corridor where the restrooms were located, leaving Jennifer sitting entirely alone at the table. She let out a long, shaky sigh, burying her face in her hands.

My heart hammered against my ribs. The system menu flashed a bright, neon prompt directly into my eyes.

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PERCEPTION CHECK: ✓

[Needed: 20] - [Result: 21]

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Let her know about the wardrobe

malfunction she is having. (50SP)

OR

Take a photo of her. (50EXP)

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I glanced over my shoulder and froze.

Through the gaps in the decorative wall, I had a perfect view. Her tiny shorts had ridden up so high that the soft, puffy edges of her pussy were completely exposed. No panties. Just smooth, bare skin and those plump lips peeking out like they were begging for attention.

Fuck. She was wearing that in front of this guy? I thought Cole was supposed to be some jealous, controlling asshole. Guess I was wrong.

My cock twitched in my pants. The devil on my shoulder won instantly.

"Nah. I need the EXP."

I quietly pulled out my phone, angled it, and snapped a quick photo. The flash was off. The picture came out clear as day, her fat pussy lips spilling out the side of her shorts while she stood there completely unaware. Blackmail material. Fap material. Whatever the hell I wanted it to be.

Fifty EXP, huh? I guess that was the most valuable pussy I’d ever seen in my life... and she was just walking around like a free-use slut.

A few moments later, Cole came back into the room, still looking irritated.

"So what did the doctor say about your mom?" he asked, sitting down.

"She needs the surgery next month," she replied quietly. "But the hospital wants another deposit before they schedule it."

Cole snorted. "Yeah, well, money doesn’t grow on trees. I already told you I’d help."

She shook her head, her voice starting to rise. "That’s not the point. You always say that, but nothing ever changes with you."

Cole’s jaw tightened.

"You’re still the exact same asshole you were two years ago," she continued, glaring at him. "You never change, Cole. Not even a little."