"I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry. Could you please let go?"
The woman's tone was curt, her voice sharp with irritation. She twisted her wrist once, then again, trying to yank free from Alex's grasp. But his hand didn't budge—it was like being caught in an iron clamp.
Her annoyance deepened. She lifted her chin slightly, defiant, trying to mask the faint flicker of unease in her eyes.
But no matter how much she pulled, Alex's grip remained firm, steady, and effortlessly strong.
Her breath quickened. Then, catching where his gaze seed to linger, her expression shifted instantly from annoyance to disgust.
"You—where are you looking?!" she snapped, glaring at him coldly.
Alex didn't answer. His eyes weren't on her curves at all. He was staring at a small, delicate pendant that glead faintly at the base of her throat—a silver charm that shimred strangely under the streetlight.
In the next instant, a familiar chanical chi echoed in his mind.
[Special energy source detected!]
Alex's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Well, that's lucky," he murmured to himself, amused. "Didn't expect to harvest source points this soon."
The system's scan flashed briefly in his vision—300 source points, small but pure. And more importantly, the energy felt fragnted, incomplete. That ant there were other pieces out there, more waiting to be found.
How could he let that slip through his fingers?
So while the woman assud he was harassing her, Alex's real interest lay entirely in the pendant—and in the faint energy pulsing within it.
The "maid" comnt he'd tossed earlier was just his sense of humor, a mild tease wrapped around a predatory smile.
After all, she was the one who tried to rob him. If she wanted to dance with fire, she shouldn't bla him for getting burned.
"If you don't let go, I'll scream! I swear, I'll scream!" she warned, voice rising with theatrical panic. "Assault! Help! Assault!"
Her performance was impeccable—her body trembled, her tone cracked, tears seed to glimr at the corners of her eyes. Anyone watching would think she was the perfect image of a terrified victim.
And, predictably, it worked.
"Hey! You there, let her go!"
"Yeah, what the hell are you doing?!"
Several pedestrians turned toward them, anger flashing in their eyes. Even in Gotham, where cri was part of the air, there were still a few who couldn't ignore the sight of a woman in distress.
They began to move toward Alex.
The woman's lips curved in a subtle, triumphant smirk.
Hook, line, and sinker.
But Alex's expression didn't change. His grip didn't loosen.
"Catwoman," he said softly, his voice carrying a strange, knowing amusent, "you think you've got figured out?"
The na hit her like an electric shock.
Her body went rigid, her smile faltered, and the blood drained from her face.
How—how did he know?
Her mind raced. She hadn't introduced herself. Her costu wasn't on. She'd been careful, subtle. Yet this stranger had called her by na without hesitation.
She forced a sneer, trying to mask her alarm. "First, I have no idea what you're talking about. Second, if you don't want the entire crowd to jump you, you'd better let go."
Alex's eyes glinted with faint amusent.
"Is that so?"
Before she could blink—
Boom!
A sharp sonic crack tore through the air. Wind exploded outward.
The world blurred.
And in the blink of an eye, both Alex and Catwoman vanished.
The would-be rescuers froze mid-step, blinking at the now-empty sidewalk.
"What the—where did they go?"
"Did you… did you see that?"
Confusion spread like wildfire.
---
When Catwoman's vision cleared again, she stumbled slightly. Her boots scraped against rough concrete. She looked around—only to realize they were no longer on the sa street.
A deserted alley. No witnesses. No noise. Only the faint hum of a broken streetlight above.
Her heart skipped a beat.
How…?
"What did you do?" she demanded, her voice unsteady despite her effort to sound in control.
Alex didn't answer. He simply lifted a hand and made a casual beckoning motion.
Her purse—slung securely over her shoulder—trembled, then flew straight into his grasp as if yanked by an invisible string.
"What—what the hell?!" Catwoman gasped, eyes widening.
Alex unzipped it leisurely. Inside, his missing watch glead.
He slipped it back onto his wrist with the calm grace of soone putting on a crown. Another flick of his fingers, and the purse zipped shut, floating gently back to her stunned hands.
She caught it reflexively, staring in disbelief.
Her pulse thudded painfully in her throat. Just what kind of monster had she picked tonight?
He wasn't so clueless rich mark—he was sothing else entirely.
And when he looked at her, the faint smile tugging at his lips sent a chill down her spine.
"I don't bother those who don't bother ," Alex said quietly, almost pleasantly. "But when soone crosses … I make sure they rember it."
His words were soft, but the nace in them was sharp enough to cut glass.
Catwoman's survival instincts flared. She dropped the act imdiately.
"Sir, I was wrong, okay? I admit it!" she said quickly, hands raised. "Look, the watch's worth two-fifty grand on the market, right? I'll pay you double! Triple, even!"
Alex smiled faintly.
"Oh, you'll compensate , all right. But how you'll do that isn't up to you."
He reached toward her again.
Catwoman's eyes widened. "What are you doing?!"
She spun and bolted—only to slam headfirst into sothing solid and invisible.
The air rippled like glass. The impact knocked her back several steps.
"What—what the hell is this?!"
Before she could recover, the world snapped again.
Boom!
The sound of air shattering. A rush of vertigo.
Then—
Wind. Deafening, roaring wind.
She opened her eyes and scread.
Because the ground was gone.
Below her stretched nothing but clouds and city lights far, far beneath her feet.
"Wh-what happened?!" she shouted, voice breaking. "Oh, God—oh, God!"
Her body trembled uncontrollably, heart hamring as she glanced down. The dizzying drop made her stomach twist.
"Who—who are you?!" she cried, eyes wide with terror.
Alex hovered effortlessly before her, his expression unreadable.
"You have two choices," he said simply, holding up two fingers. "One: beco my maid. Be obedient, serve well. Two: I let go of the force keeping you here, and you enjoy a ten-thousand-ter free fall."
Her mouth opened and closed soundlessly.
"Can I… can I choose sothing else?" she stamred weakly. "Being a maid is just—humiliating."
Alex tilted his head. "You can call it sothing prettier. Personal assistant, secretary, life companion—take your pick."
Catwoman could only stare at him.
She'd dealt with lunatics, mobsters, even gods—but never soone like this.
Finally, her shoulders slumped. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
"What do you think?" Alex asked mildly.
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. "Then… fine. Boss, I'll be your assistant. Just—please, get back down."
"The correct choice," Alex said with a smile.
Boom!
In an instant, the sky vanished.
Catwoman's feet hit solid pavent again. She gasped, clinging to a nearby wall for balance, breathing hard.
Her heart was still racing, her palms cold with sweat.
She was alive.
She wanted to run—but the mory of that impossible fall, of Alex's calm voice promising death, froze her in place.
Her instincts scread at her to flee.
Her reason whispered she'd never make it.
So she stayed.
For now.
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