Harem Streamer System: Every Crime I Broadcast Wins Me a Superheroine Chapter 254: Telecom Panic

The large VIP room of the event center had soft golden lamps and the faint aroma of imported cigars that no one here was actually smoking.

Plush couches lined the marble walls, and the hum of low jazz music made the final touches.

Scott sat there, slouched, legs crossed, one arm resting lazily over the couch while the other dangled over his lap. He had that drained look of a man who’d already had enough of the night and wanted nothing more than to go ho and bury himself in bed.

"I can’t believe this..." (＃￣0￣)

He muttered under his breath as he loosened his bowtie and let his head flop back against the couch.

Sitting beside him, Adira gave a graceful shrug and raised one eyebrow as she bit her wine-painted lips. She swirled the red liquid in her glass like she was in a comrcial for expensive loneliness.

Scott sighed even harder and rolled his head from side to side like he was arguing with the world.

"So you really don’t have anything on this guy?"

He groaned and slapped his palm over his face.

Adira tilted her head slightly and nodded.

"Well, I an—it’s Grave. THE Grave. One of the top ten assassins on the United Nations GSI list. You think a guy like that leaves breadcrumbs? Please."

She leaned forward, resting her elbow on her knee.

"He’s that good." ╮( ˘ ､ ˘ )╭

The silence that ca after made the air awkward enough to cut with a spoon. She shot him a quick side-eye before taking another sip of her wine, like maybe that would distract from how guilty she suddenly felt.

Scott rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"I’m sure you’ve used him a lot, and yet you don’t know squat about him."

That got a reaction.

Adira almost choked on her wine (actually choked) as she jerked forward with a muffled cough.

"What—NO!"

It was a "no" filled with absolute guilt.

She coughed again and leaned back and suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.

She went quiet for a mont and sipped her wine in that mild awkwardness of soone caught lying.

"Who is even Grave...?" (¯ . ¯٥)

Adira went quiet briefly, then took a sip of her wine.

Now, she just looked a bit awkward, like soone who’d just been caught lying.

"I’m a changed woman, you know..."

Another awkward sip.

Scott just stared blankly.

She gave him another guilty side-glance and kept sipping like a toddler with a sippy cup.

"I’m serious."

Another side-glance then a dramatic sigh.

"I REALLY am!"

"I’ve been attending group therapy sessions and I think it’s really working..."

She nodded so proudly then waved after.

"Bye bye murdering CEO psychopath bitch."

She wagged a finger with mild seriousness.

"Turns out almost getting killed by an evil society you used to work for really makes you rethink your life."

She raised her glass toward him as the corner of her lips bent into a sly grin.

"True story."

Scott exhaled heavily.

"Still gonna have a talk with you about that. Don’t think you’re off the hook."

He finished it off with a long, judging side-eye.

Adira smirked and gave a teasing wink.

But then her eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Wait a second... why would soone like Grave even co after you?"

She leaned in, suspicious.

"You’re only a model... with a very questionable set of impressive skills."

Scott froze.

"Uh—cough! COUGH!"

He exaggerated the coughs and straightened up as he tugged at his collar.

"That’s not really important."

He gently scooted a little further down the couch and pretended to fix his cufflinks.

–

–

–

anwhile, in the main hall—

Beca sat at one of the round tables near the stage and rested her chin on her palm while her phone glowed in her hand like it was her only lifeline.

Across from her was Shawn did his best to charm her.

"So... uh, how do you like the wine?"

He asked, smiling so brightly it was almost painful.

"It’s fine."

Beca replied without looking up.

Her thumbs flew across her phone screen.

Her brows were knit tightly, her face so tense it looked like she was fighting soone in a text war.

Cecilia’s na blinked at the top of her screen.

[Cecilia: what do you an he turned you down??]

[Beca: he said he wanted to "talk with soone" 😤]

[Cecilia: girl WHAT. That’s absolutely insane. Was ur dance offer not sexy enough??]

[Beca: EXCUSE ?? I can assure you it was perfectly sexy!! I even practiced the smile 😭]

Shawn tried again.

"So, uh, you done any runway shows recently? I heard you were in that one in Milan—"

Not even glancing up, Beca muttered—

"Yeah, Milan. Was okay."

TAP TAP TAP.

[Cecilia: ok, ok, fairs. But is he really worth all this?]

[Beca: Cece, this is Scott we’re talking about 🙄]

[Cecilia: show pic again? 😬]

[Beca: ugh fine hold on]

Beca scrolled through her gallery as she bit her lip.

"Okay, maybe this one..."

She whispered to herself and sent one of Scott looking away from the cara.

[Cecilia: 😳😳😳]

[Beca: told ya 🤷‍♂️]

[Cecilia: not my type but goddamn. those nails tho??]

[Beca: yeah he’s got those perfect jerk nails I hate]

[Cecilia: I’d still risk it. anyway go find out if he’s with a girl or a guy rn, I gtg for my online roleplay 😘]

Beca sighed and slumped in her seat.

Shawn leaned forward eagerly.

"Sooo, uh, do you like seafood? They’ve got this thing here with smoked olives and—"

"Uhm, sorry, Shawn..."

She finally looked up.

When she saw Shawn her face softened.

"There’s this guy I really like. Well... kinda like. I’m still figuring that out."

She looked away, a little embarrassed. („¬ᴗ¬„)

"I know I said I wasn’t looking for a relationship. Or... I think I said that. But that was a lie."

He blinked while his smile twitched.

"Oh."

"I just didn’t want you bothering anymore."

She winced.

"Sorry. You’re nice. I just..."

Beca reached across the table to gently hold his hand.

"I promise I’ll make it up to you—TOMORROW! Or... uhm... so other ti, okay?"

Shawn didn’t even answer. He just nodded and looked down at his untouched drink.

But Beca’s eyes weren’t even on him anymore.

They were locked on the side door.

The one that led to the VIP section.

Scott shook his head and rushed in there right after turning down her offer to dance.

Beca stood up quietly and anxiously tugged her short black dress straight.

She tiptoed toward the door like a sneaky cat.

"Alright, that jerk..."

She muttered under her breath.

Her tail flicked out in irritation before she quickly smacked it down.

"I hate when it does that!" (〃＞＿＜;〃)

Pressing an ear to the door, she tried to peek through a small crack.

"Now let’s see wha—"

BAM!

The door swung open and hit her right in the nose.

"FUCK, MY NOSE—!"

She yelped, clutching her face and stumbling back.

Scott froze, wide-eyed.

"Oh—sorry about that, Beca!"

He reached out and held her shoulders to steady her.

Beca hissed through her fingers.

"Don’t tell sorry like you hurt . You can’t hurt ! I’m a tough woman! Don’t think just because you refused to dance with my self-esteem sohow took a hit—that’s dumb—SHUT UP!"

She imdiately cringed and looked away in sha.

『Why did I sound so nasally?』 ｡ﾟ･ (>﹏