Chapter 6
Liam stormed into the trendy cafe, fury etched across his face. The sting of humiliation still burned after Ava had firmly kicked him out of her office earlier. He thought his charming ways would win her over like they had at the bar weeks ago, but she saw right through his act.
Across the cafe, his old college buddy Alex nursed a steaming espresso. Liam slid into the chair opposite him, and Alex's brow furrowed with concern.
"Whoa, what happened man? I heard about the Ava situation. That's rough," Alex said with a sympathetic wince.
Liam sighed heavily, scrubbing a hand over his face. "Rough doesn't begin to cover it. I thought I had a shot with her this time. But she wasn't falling for any of my usual moves and kicked me right out of her office. My ego is completely shattered."
Alex reached across, giving Liam's arm a comforting squeeze. "I'm sorry, bro. I warned you Ava wasn't the type to fall for cheap tricks. You should walk away from this bet thing you've got going. It's not worth ruining your self-respect over."
Liam groaned, slumping in the chair. "But I can't back down now! The guys will never let me live this down if I tap out. They'll ride me about this for months, making me the laughingstock."
His friend leaned back, mulling it over. "Dude, a little ribbing from the fellas is better than utterly humiliating yourself again. Before you know it, this will all blow over."
"You don't get it!" Liam snapped, his face flushing red. "This isn't just about taking some jokes. It's my whole identity, my pride! I can't let myself be pegged as a loser who couldn't seal the deal. I refuse to accept defeat before I've even started."
"There's that stubborn attitude again," Alex grumbled, shaking his head. "We're supposed to be adults here, not kids pulling juvenile pranks."
"You're just never going to understand," Liam muttered darkly. In his mind, letting this perceived slight against his ego go without redemption was utterly unfathomable. He refused to be the punchline, mocked by his so-called friends as a pathetic loser with no game.
Rejection wasn't something Liam was accustomed to. From the moment he hit puberty and realized the power his good looks and overflowing charisma held over girls, he had been an unstoppable force. Liam was used to women falling at his feet, intoxicated by his cocky swagger and the impression of wealth and status he projected.
In high school, he was the classic lady's man, dating a revolving door of different girls from the cheer squad and dance team every few weeks when he grew bored. At parties, they flocked around him like hungry animals, giggling and batting their lashes whenever he entered the room. Liam fully embodied the term "Big Man on Campus."
His prolific player ways only escalated once he got to college. Any notion of trying to "settle down" with one girl was laughable - Liam's insatiable appetite for sexual conquests couldn't be tamed. He became a legacy member of one of the biggest fraternities on campus, where raging keggers, Hauze nights, and access to a never-ending stream of drunk, down-to-party sorority girls enabled him to indulge in his every hedonistic whim.
Yes, Liam was addicted to the chase, the thrill of being wanted and desired by every hot coed in a five-mile radius. He loved the feeling of being powerful and in total control, able to pick and choose his romantic targets at will. Getting shut down or rejected simply wasn't something that computed in Liam's egomaniacal brain. Ava's harsh dismissal at her office had shaken him to his core, cracking his facade of overflowing arrogance. Her brutal takedown was a hit to his pride that he couldn't just shake off.
Alex glanced around before leaning in closer, lowering his voice. "Speaking of growing up, I've got to tell you about this business opportunity my parents are looking at..."
Liam perked up, his eyes glinting with interest. "Does it involve a way to get Ava to go out with me?"
"Not exactly," Alex said slowly. "You remember my parents' old friend Jamal? He's gotten insanely rich from some shady 'business ventures.' Now my parents want to bring him on as an investor for their new company."
Jamal's name triggered a flicker of recognition in Liam's mind from their hard-partying college days. "Wait, sketchy Jamal? The guy who always seemed to have pockets overflowing with cash from his 'odd jobs'?"
Alex nodded grimly. "Yeah, that's the one. I've tried warning my parents against getting mixed up with his schemes, but they're blinded by the money." He pulled out his phone, pulling up a video clip of Jamal making it rain at a club, money raining down on scantily clad women.
"See what I mean? This guy practically bleeds illegal income. My parents are playing with fire even considering a deal with him."
But Liam's eyes were locked on the video, his mind whirring as gears began turning. Finally, a solution to his problem was taking shape - one that could not only help him woo Ava but elevate his whole lifestyle to new levels of success.
"You know...maybe partnering with Jamal isn't such a bad idea after all," Liam mused aloud.
Alex recoiled like he'd been slapped. "Dude, did you not just see that video? There's no way you're seriously considering getting tangled up with a creep like Jamal! The guy is straight-up shady."
"Look, you don't understand the whole story between me and Jamal," Liam said carefully. "We go way back to the party days...we've got a complicated history, for sure. But if anyone could give me the boost I need, it's him."
"A boost?" Alex sputtered in disbelief. "Are you delusional? Jamal is bad news - the kind of guy who leaves a trail of destruction in his wake! Don't go catching feelings and ruining your life over some girl who already rejected you."
Liam's jaw clenched stubbornly. "Ava is more than just 'some girl'. And this isn't just about her anymore - it's about respecting myself enough to not let others treat me like a failure. With Jamal's connections, I could finally achieve the status and success I deserve. Then Ava and everyone else would have to take me seriously."
Alex shook his head vehemently. "This is a terrible idea, man. Jamal is going to take you for everything you've got! I'm begging you, as your friend, to walk away from this before it's too late."
But Liam wasn't listening anymore. His mind was made up, drunk on visions of money, and power, and Ava finally falling at his feet. "Don't worry about me," he said with a cocky grin, pushing back from the table. "I've got this under control. Jamal and I will be a powerhouse team - you'll see."
As Liam strode out of the cafe with a renewed sense of purpose, Alex watched him go with a pit of dread growing in his stomach. He had a terrible feeling that Liam was way over his head...and this dark path he was heading down would not end well….