Parker groaned, stretching like a lazy cat as he woke up. He wasn't a morning person, but being a freshly minted millionaire had its perks, and it showed in the cocky grin he wore as he ambled to the bathroom.
Stripping off his pajamas, he stepped into the shower, cranking the water up to a steamy bliss.
After his shower, he stood before the mirror, striking a ridiculous pose. "Damn," he muttered, running a hand through his damp hair. "Most handsome guy in the world, no contest." He winked at himself before heading back to the bedroom.
Sliding into a casual-but-classic outfit—ripped black jeans, a crisp white tee, and a denim jacket—he finished off with sneakers that cost more than some people's rent. He reached for his cologne, spritzing just enough to leave a lingering trail.
"Subtle but dangerous," he said with a smirk.
Picking up his phone, he frowned at the spiderweb of cracks on the screen. "Man, I really need a new one of these." He unlocked it anyway, ignoring the shattered display as he pulled up his trading app. Profits were running green, but the market was shaky—it was Friday after all.
As he set the phone down, a whiff of something delicious hit his nose. 'Pancakes? Maybe bacon?' Parker grinned and followed the scent into the living room.
Unbeknownst to him, a group of troublemakers had just landed in the same city, their arrival unnoticed—by him, at least.
Meanwhile, in the godly realm, Apollo scowled at Parker's obliviousness.
Hera, sitting nearby, had a sour look that even she couldn't explain. For reasons she didn't understand, the boy irritated her beyond measure.
Parker, as usual, didn't care. He strolled into the living room with the swagger of someone who couldn't be bothered by divine grudges. It was as if his every step was a silent challenge that said: Jealous? Deal with it.
The 75-inch TV hummed softly with Tessa's preferred playlist—a soothing blend of old-school tracks that Parker found tolerable. Morning sunlight streamed through the high-rise windows, painting the room in a golden glow.
Grinning wide, Parker headed for the kitchen. Tessa was there, arranging breakfast on the counter like she was hosting a banquet.
"Morning, servant," he teased, plopping into a chair.
She glanced at him, unimpressed. "Good morning, boss," she replied, her tone dripping with warm sarcasm.
Breakfast was uneventful, apart from the occasional looks Tessa shot him. Parker ignored them, savoring his food. When he was done, he sauntered back to the couch, grabbing the remote and flipping to CNN.
The news hooked him immediately.
Parker loved the drama of it—the anchors, the breaking stories, the chaotic energy of the world. It thrilled him in ways he couldn't explain.
Today, though, was different.
The screen showed footage of a 20-story building engulfed in flames—a skyscraper that had caught fire overnight. Remarkably, no one had died. Even more bizarrely, survivors claimed they'd been saved by a teenager in a suit...and a cape?
Parker choked on his water, laughing so hard he nearly fell off the couch. "A superhero? You gotta be kidding me."
Tessa frowned at him. "Hundreds of lives were saved, Parker. Maybe don't laugh at a miracle?"
The broadcast continued, showing CCTV footage of the alleged hero.
Sure enough, the kid wore a golden cape, his hair glowing like the sun itself. Survivors called him Captain Sun, claiming his aura felt like standing under the warm rays of dawn.
Social media was ablaze. Marvel and DC had even tweeted jokes about having predicting the future and now it was happening.
Parker smirked. "Captain Sun, huh? Definitely a message from the gods?" he muttered, though the thought made his stomach twist.
To distract himself, he turned his attention inward. It wasn't true right?
"System," he said, "give me my rewards."
[Ding! Rewards received.
Host has received Bad Boy Charm!
Ding! Critical x3 hit! Host has received Handsome Villain Charm. Host's charisma has increased. You can charm all kinds of personalities.
Ding! Host has received McLaren Speedtail.
Ding! Critical x3 hit! Host has received three McLaren Speedtails. Cars are parked in the hotel lot.]
Parker's grin widened as he turned to Tessa, catching her blushing under his gaze.
Parker grinned wider, locking eyes with Tessa, who was clearly blushing under his gaze. It wasn't like she had no resistance to his increased charm—it was just that she was already so hopelessly into him that the boost only turned up the volume.
'Fair enough,' he muttered to himself, leaning back with a smirk. 'It'd be ridiculous if I could charm anyone into falling for me like some cheesy novel protagonist.'
Parker wasn't about that life. Sure, women might throw themselves at him now because of his money and looks, but not entirely for his looks. He couldn't hypocritically think he could have a woman fall for him at first sight because of his charms.
Sure there were people who could fall for someone at first sight but Parker was glad his charms weren't going to work like that, not hopelessly at least.
He always preferred the old-school way—winning someone over with real effort, not some magical cheat code.
Looks? Of course, they mattered. Just like other... physical attributes. But for Parker, the thrill was always in the chase, the hard part, the challenge of making someone choose him. That was the real game.
Knowing what they want, their weaknesses and your strengths, utilize them and then the lady is yours, that how he got Tessa in the first place, although she wasn't his woman but well, same concept applied.
So Tessa's reaction wasn't entirely because of his charm buffs—Tessa had been head-over-heels for him for ages. Still, the charm boost didn't hurt.
'Time to max you out,' Parker thought, a mischievous glint in his eye.
[Tessa Wilder: 80AP.]
Parker leaned back, his smirk growing yesterday night had made wonder, after all. This is gonna be fun.
Parker called Tessa over, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Kneel," he said, motioning to the space between his legs.
She hesitated for a moment, her reluctance clear, but there was something in her eyes—anticipation, curiosity—that made her comply.
"Parker, this is ridiculous," she muttered, a weak protest slipping from her lips.
"Master," he corrected, his voice firm, cutting through her resistance.
Her cheeks flushed, and though she grumbled under her breath, she obeyed, lowering herself to her knees.
[Ding! +5 Affection Points!]
Parker couldn't help but grin.
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