Who was Ethan Wraith? A true gentleman. Devoted to his future wife, he held himself to the highest standard of purity, refusing to waste his virginity on a woman he felt no emotional connection with. His refusal was firm – unflinching, even. Despite his repeated "no's", Bob, relentless in his pursuit, dragged Ethan to a place called Paradise Spa.
"Paradise Spa just opened recently, it's the most luxurious one in town. The ambiance, the facilities, the quality of service – oh boy, I've only heard tales. I'm ready to break the bank for you, brother," Bob explained as they entered the establishment.
"Come on, Bob, you're not fooling anyone. You're a cop, you think they'd open a place like this without inviting you guys for a 'test drive'? They'll need your 'protection' in the future," Ethan said, not mincing words.
"Haha, brother, I won't lie to you. I've been to almost all the spas in WestMoon City, but this one…this is my first time. They invited a deputy director from the bureau, I wasn't high enough on the totem pole," Bob said with a shrug, unable to hide his disappointment.
"Alright, alright, stop sulking, we're here already. If Isabella Vale found out you frequent places like this, she'd pickle you. Man, I can't believe how scary she can be when she's angry," Ethan said, recalling Fiona's furious expression when they were discussing her figure in the interrogation room last time. If the chief hadn't arrived in time, things would've turned ugly. One of them would have to be sacrificed to appease Fiona's rage.
"Oh, don't remind me. We're just friends now. Brother, I've got nothing to hide from you. After our brawl that day, she asked me to meet her at a café after work…"
"Did it work? See, I told you your approach was all wrong! With a woman like her, you have to be bold, dominant, throw in some dirty talk to spice things up!" Ethan interrupted.
Bob shook his head with a bitter smile. "If only it worked. She told me, very seriously, that she already has someone she loves, that he's abroad, and that she's waiting for him to come back. She told me not to waste my time on her anymore, and she even mentioned you…"
"Me?" Ethan was puzzled. What did he have to do with their relationship?
"Haha, she said you were despicable, shameless, vulgar, a…a piece of…well, you know… She said if I chased girls your way, I'd scare them all off."
"She really said that?" Ethan was a bit depressed. He couldn't believe Isabella compared him to…that. It was simply outrageous.
"Well, that was the gist of it. I just…artistically enhanced it a little. Haha, but I've come to terms with it. Isabella and I grew up together, went to elementary school, middle school, even the police academy – we're practically childhood sweethearts. My parents love her and have always wanted me to marry her…too bad I'm not good enough. I just find it strange, she's never been in a relationship, so where did this overseas lover come from? Damn it, I don't know which bastard got to her first. If I ever find out, I'll crush his balls." The thought of his long-time crush being taken by another man filled Bob with indignation.
As they chatted, a waitress approached, inquiring about their desired services. Bob gestured for Ethan to choose. Being a novice in such establishments, Ethan had no idea what to pick and simply waved his hand, leaving the decision to Bob.
"Let's start with something 'light'. How about a herbal foot bath followed by a Thai massage? Get those muscles loosened up. Then we'll move on to the 'heavy' stuff." Bob said, looking at Ethan with a mischievous grin.
"Sure, whatever you say," Ethan replied nonchalantly. He didn't even know the difference between "light" and "heavy" in this context.
Bob asked the waitress for a private room "for the foot bath."
"I'm sorry, sir, all private rooms are occupied at the moment, it's peak hour. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Would you like to wait for a while or shall we provide you with service in a larger room?" the waitress explained apologetically.
Bob looked at Ethan, who shrugged indifferently.
"Alright, a larger room then... It won't be too crowded, will it?" Bob asked, still slightly concerned.
"No, sir. It accommodates eight people. It's quite spacious," the waitress assured him with a smile as she led them to the room.
The room echoed the luxurious décor of the spa; eight leather sofas were arranged in rows, separated by marble coffee tables, giving the space a spacious feel.
Five people were already enjoying their foot baths when they entered, leaving three vacant seats. They chose two adjacent ones and sat together. After Bob placed their order, the waitress left to make arrangements.
Taking a sip of the complimentary tea, Ethan turned to Bob. "So you're giving up?"
Bob knew what Ethan was referring to. He forced a smile. "What else can I do? I know Isabella too well. If she says she doesn't like someone, she means it. There's no room for negotiation. But if she says she likes someone, she truly means it. She may seem cold on the outside, but she's extremely stubborn. I… I don't stand a chance. But that's alright, I can finally go back to sowing my wild oats."
Ethan frowned, knowing that giving up was not as easy as Bob made it sound.
Closing their eyes, listening to the soothing music, and sinking into the soft sofas, both men fell silent, lost in their thoughts.
"Ahhh – Help me! Someone!" A scream pierced through the air, shattering the tranquility.
As a policeman, Bob was incredibly alert to such cries. He jumped up from the sofa and dashed outside.
Curious about what was happening, Ethan followed closely behind.
"What happened? Who was screaming for help?" Bob asked, grabbing a waitress.
The waitress didn't respond, her eyes fixed on one of the rooms with an angry glare.
Bob released the waitress and listened at the door of the room. Muffled cries and men's vulgar laughter could be heard, the sounds barely audible due to the excellent soundproofing.
Bob knocked on the door.
"Get lost!" a man's angry voice roared from inside.
Bob kicked the door open.
The room was filled with smoke. A short, stout man was sprawled on the long sofa, a young girl struggling desperately in his embrace. Her clothes were ripped, revealing her budding breasts and full thighs. Two other men sat on the reclining chairs, watching with amusement, their hands groping the breasts of the masseuse beside them.
The men were taken aback by the intrusion, momentarily stunned. The trapped girl seized the opportunity and sank her teeth into the man's neck. Her bite was fierce, drawing blood that gushed like a spring.
"Ahhh!" the man screamed in pain, slapping her across the face. Blood trickled from the corner of the girl's mouth, yet she gave him a defiant, triumphant smile.
The men were caught off guard, their faces a mixture of shock and anger. A chubby, middle-aged man stood up, pointing at Bob and Ethan who had just entered. "Get out of here! Do you know who I am?" he bellowed.
Ignoring him completely, Ethan took off his jacket and draped it over the partially naked girl. Looking at her beautiful face, he asked softly, "Are you alright?"