Friday morning. Another run, another quest completion. Eric's stats were climbing steadily. He allocated his new free points: one to intelligence, one to stamina, one to charm. Balance continued to feel right, keeping all his attributes developing together.
Friday evening was the final session with Bianca. She'd booked four hours this time, wanting to maximize chances.
"This is our last night," Bianca said as Eric arrived. "I want it to be special."
They took their time, Bianca less frantic than previous nights. Eric made an effort to be attentive, to give her an experience she'd remember positively. He explored her body thoroughly, his hands and mouth learning what made her gasp and moan. He took her slowly the first round, building pleasure gradually rather than rushing toward orgasm.
"You're amazing," Bianca breathed afterward, curled against his chest. "I'm going to miss this. Miss you."
"You have a husband," Eric reminded her gently. "This was always temporary."
"I know." Bianca's voice was sad. "Doesn't make it easier though. You've shown me what I've been missing. How good sex can actually be."
Eric had no response to that, so he just held her until she was ready for round two.
They went three more times over the four hours, Bianca determined to make every moment count. By the time Eric left at ten PM, Bianca was exhausted and glowing, her body thoroughly satisfied, her hopes high that conception had occurred.
"Thank you," she said at the door, her amber eyes soft with emotion. "For everything. You've given me more than just a chance at pregnancy. You've given me confidence, shown me I'm desirable, reminded me I'm more than just a wife failing to produce an heir."
"You were always all those things," Eric said honestly. "I just helped you remember."
Bianca kissed him one last time, soft and lingering. "If this works, I'll never forget you."
Eric drove home in thoughtful silence. The week with Bianca had been profitable, certainly. But it had also been emotionally complex in ways his usual work wasn't. She'd needed more than just physical services. She'd needed validation, confidence, hope.
'Is that what all my clients need?' Eric wondered. 'Not just pleasure but something deeper? Something they're missing in their actual lives?'
It was an uncomfortable thought that he pushed away for later consideration.
---
Saturday morning arrived with grey skies and the promise of rain. Eric woke early despite having no appointments scheduled, his body now trained to the routine of morning runs.
He checked his phone before getting out of bed. Several notifications waited.
The first was from Sarah.
Sarah: "Good morning handsome. Miss waking up next to you. When can I see you again?"
Eric smiled and typed back quickly.
Eric: "Miss you too. Tomorrow? Your place or mine?"
Sarah's response came almost immediately.
Sarah: "Mine. Rafe's staying at Jennifer's all weekend. We'll have the apartment to ourselves."
Eric: "Perfect. I'll bring breakfast."
The next message was from Isabelle, sent late last night.
Isabelle: "I know it's been almost a week. Are you available next Saturday? I've been thinking about you constantly. Will pay triple your usual rate for the whole night."
Eric did mental math. Triple rate for a full night was serious money. And Isabelle had been a great client, professional and appreciative.
Eric: "Next Saturday works. Same location?"
Isabelle: "Yes. I'll send details mid-week. Can't wait to have you again."
The third message made Eric's heart jump.
It was from an unknown number, sent at 6:47 AM.
Unknown: "Took a home test this morning. Two pink lines. I'm pregnant, Eric. It worked. It actually worked."
Eric sat up in bed, adrenaline spiking. He knew immediately who it was even before the next message came through.
Unknown: "This is Bianca btw. Sorry, forgot you wouldn't have my personal cell saved. But yes, PREGNANT. The test was positive. I can barely believe it."
Eric stared at the messages, an unfamiliar emotion swelling in his chest. Pride? Satisfaction? Something deeper he didn't have words for?
A child was going to exist because of him. A whole human life that wouldn't otherwise be. Bianca's marriage was saved, her future secured, her happiness restored. And it was because of the services he'd provided.
'That's significant,' Eric thought, the weight of it settling over him. 'I created life. Even if it'll never know me, even if it'll call another man father, I made that possible.'
He typed back carefully.
Eric: "Congratulations, Bianca. That's incredible news. I'm really happy for you. How are you feeling?"
The response came quickly, Bianca clearly glued to her phone.
Bianca: "Happy. Terrified. Grateful. Excited. All of it at once. I can barely process that this is real. I'm going to take three more tests just to be sure, but the line was so clear, Eric. So definitely positive."
Bianca: "Thank you. Thank you so much. You gave me back my marriage, my future, everything I was about to lose. I can never repay you for this."
Eric: "You already did. I'm glad I could help. Take care of yourself and the baby. Doctor's appointment soon to confirm?"
Bianca: "Monday morning. I'm calling as soon as they open. But I know it's real. I can feel it somehow. Like my body knows even though it's impossibly early."
Bianca: "And Eric? If this is a boy, I'm naming him after you. Middle name at least. David won't question it, I'll tell him it's after my grandfather. But I'll know. The baby will carry part of your name."
Eric read that message three times, emotion tightening his throat.
'Somewhere in Stardale, in nine months, a child will be born carrying my DNA and my name,' he thought. 'Raised by parents who think he's theirs. Living a life I'll never be part of. That's surreal. Really fucking surreal.'
Eric: "I'm honored. Truly. But make sure you're making that choice for the right reasons. The baby should have a name you and David both love."
Bianca: "We will. But he'll carry part of you regardless. That feels right to me."
They exchanged a few more messages before Bianca signed off to take more pregnancy tests and start planning. Eric set his phone down and just sat there for a moment, processing.
In one week, he'd:Leveled up his system. Started a relationship with Sarah. Made a mortal enemy of a gang. Met a wealthy CEO who seemed interested. Got a client pregnant. Increased his stats significantly. Acquired combat equipment
'My life has completely changed,' Eric realized. 'One week ago I was just a prostitute with decent income and simple problems. Now I'm... what? Something more? Something different?'
He pulled up his banking app, checking his weekly gains.
Current Balance: $22,347.23
Monday session with Bianca: $3,600
Wednesday extended session: $4,200
Thursday session: $3,600
Friday extended session: $5,400
Total from Bianca this week: $16,800
Plus his existing balance and the money from the previous week, Eric was sitting comfortably above twenty-two thousand dollars. More money than he'd ever had in his account at one time. More than enough to cover several months of expenses even without additional work.
'I could take a break if I wanted,' Eric thought. 'Focus on the system, on training, on figuring out what's happening to me. I don't need to work every week anymore.'
But he knew he wouldn't. The work was part of who he was now, as much as the system and the quests. He enjoyed it, was good at it, found satisfaction in providing services people needed.
'Balance,' Eric decided. 'Keep working but be selective. Quality over quantity. Build toward something more sustainable.'
His phone buzzed again. Sarah this time.
Sarah: "I'm officially calling it. We're dating. You're my boyfriend. I don't care if we haven't had the official talk. After the other night, you're mine."
Eric laughed despite himself.
Eric: "Is that how this works? You just declare it?"
Sarah: "Yes. That's exactly how this works. You have a problem with being my boyfriend?"
Eric considered his response carefully. Did he have a problem with it? Sarah knew what she was getting into, knew he'd continue his work, knew he wasn't monogamous. She'd accepted all of that and wanted him anyway.
'Fuck it,' Eric thought. 'Why not?'
Eric: "No problem at all. Guess that makes you my girlfriend then."
Sarah: "Damn right it does. Which means you're obligated to take me on actual dates now. Not just sex. Real dates where we go places and do things."
Eric: "Deal. Where do you want to go?"
Sarah: "Surprise me. You're supposed to be charming and romantic. Show me what you've got."
Eric smiled, already thinking of possibilities. The system had given him advantages beyond just physical enhancement. His increased charm meant he could probably plan dates that would genuinely impress rather than just being adequate.
'This is going to be interesting,' he thought.
He spent the rest of Saturday relaxing, doing absolutely nothing productive. It felt strange but necessary. His body needed recovery despite the enhanced stats. His mind needed space to process everything that had happened.
Sunday he'd see Sarah. Monday morning he'd run his quest. The week ahead held possibilities both exciting and terrifying.
But for now, Eric just existed. Sat on his couch, watched mindless TV, ate food that wasn't optimized for anything except tasting good.
'I'm dating Sarah Sterling,' he thought as he drifted toward sleep that night. 'Rafe's sister. My friend. And somehow that feels right despite all the complications it creates.'
He dreamed of pink hair and warm brown eyes, of red hair and blue eyes, of amber eyes and gratitude. All the women weaving through his life in increasingly complex patterns.
When he woke Sunday morning, Eric felt ready for whatever came next.
The system was real. His life was changing. And he was going to ride it as far as it would take him.
Bring on the complications. He was done playing it safe.