CH: 297 Seeking Help

{Chapter: 297 Seeking Help}

Finally, Maria lost her footing on the treadmill. With a frustrated gasp, she tumbled forward, landing hard on her hands and knees, almost sprawled out on the floor.

William casually squatted down beside her, watching her with a bemused expression. "Feeling upset, are we?"

Maria shot him a glare. "What do you think?"

"When you tried to trade yourself like some kind of bargaining chip," William said, his voice low and serious, "I was furious too. Honestly, I've never met a more foolish woman in my life."

Maria bit back a retort but eventually muttered, "You're the foolish one."

William chuckled softly. "You're not wrong. I was foolish... for thinking you were different."

There was a pause between them, filled only by the faint hum of gym equipment in the background. Maria finally looked away and said quietly, "What I said back then... it wasn't what I truly meant. I didn't really want to do that."

"But you still said it," William replied flatly.

"I won't deny that," she said, her tone calm but cold. "Still, there's something you should understand. Even if I said those words, it doesn't mean I would've followed through. I said them to manipulate you. That's all. I wanted to use you."

A flicker of amusement crossed William's face. "Use me, huh? You've got guts."

Maria nodded without hesitation. "Exactly. I wanted to use you to wipe out the Chitauri army. If you succeeded, great. If you died in the process, also fine. Either way, we would lose nothing."

William gave her a slow, sarcastic thumbs-up. "What a ruthless little plan. I'm glad I didn't fall for it. Otherwise, I'd be nothing but a disposable piece in your game."

"I genuinely thought you'd take the bait," Maria admitted, looking at him with a mix of frustration and something. "I didn't expect you to refuse so bluntly—and humiliate me while doing it. That took nerve. You're incredible, William. Really."

William grinned. "Don't flatter me now. So… you've given up on the whole 'sacrifice myself for the country' routine?"

"To mislead you, I had to raise the stakes," Maria said with a small shrug. "It's just a shame you didn't fall for the trap."

"A shame indeed," William said teasingly. "I wonder why I didn't. Any theories?"

Maria looked at the floor for a moment. "Your words… even if they were twisted and arrogant, had some truth to them. You forced me to see things from another perspective."

"And in the future?" William prompted, tilting his head.

Maria sighed. "I'll be more careful with my words. But don't get the wrong idea—this has nothing to do with you."

William smirked. "You sure you're not just avoiding your feelings?"

"I'm sure," Maria said quickly, her gaze firm. "By the way, you once said something—if I begged you, you'd help me defeat the Chitauri army."

"Did I?" William asked innocently, glancing up at the ceiling like he needed to recall it.

"You did," Maria said, her voice stiff. "Well… I'm asking now. I'm begging you—please help us destroy the Chitauri."

William looked at her, his expression unreadable. "That's your version of begging?"

"I've never begged anyone for anything before," she admitted, her face slightly flushed.

He leaned closer, a smug grin tugging at his lips. "So I'm your first? Your very first?"

"Don't make it weird."

"Hey, important things are worth repeating," William said. "Your first time asking for help… and it's me. The first time. First time. First time."

Maria rolled her eyes. "Cut it out. You're enjoying this too much."

"Of course I am." He chuckled. "But since it's your first time, I'll let the attitude slide."

"Then… do you agree to help?" she asked, bracing herself for his answer.

William tapped his chin dramatically, pretending to be deep in thought. "Hmm… well… I don't know…"

Maria's eyes narrowed. "Can you just say it already? Don't beat around the bush. I know what you want—you're probably planning to blackmail me. Whatever it is, say it. I'll agree, as long as it's within my power."

"Alright then," William said, shrugging. "Go to bed with me."

Maria's expression froze.

Silence filled the room for a few seconds before she finally responded.

"You're unbelievable."

William grinned. "But honest."

Maria's expression changed instantly, her eyes flashing with anger. "Absolutely not. That's impossible. I will never agree to something like that. Ask for something else."

William chuckled at her sharp response, entirely unbothered. "Such a blunt and passionate rejection. I like that kind of fire in a woman. But fine, I'll give you an easier one to start. Give me a proper back massage. If you can't even do that… then we really have no reason to continue this conversation."

He walked over to a recliner chair, stretched his body with exaggerated comfort, and sank into it with a smirk. "Now be a good girl and get started."

Maria clenched her fists and ground her teeth. But after a long breath, she forced herself forward. "Fine. I can do that."

"That's the spirit," William said lazily, folding his arms behind his head. "Just know this—if I'm not satisfied, then our entire agreement is void. Don't disappoint me."

"I understand," Maria muttered, moving behind him. Her hands, stiff and hesitant at first, landed on his shoulders and began pressing down with sharp, tense force.

"Hey! What the hell is that?" William jolted. "Are you trying to relax me or assassinate me? You've got enough strength to snap my spine!"

Maria drew back immediately, flustered. "I-It was a mistake! I didn't mean to—there won't be a next time, I promise!"

William snorted. "You sure like to go from one extreme to another. One second you're trying to crush me, the next you're barely touching me like I'm a porcelain doll. What's with you?"

"I've never… I've never done this kind of thing before," she admitted, swallowing her pride.

"What? Don't tell me you've never even eaten a proper meal either," he mocked. "Forget the massage. Just pat my back a little. And don't tell me you don't know how to do that, either."

Without waiting for further instruction, Maria began patting. But she wasn't just patting—she was smacking his back like a blacksmith hammering an anvil.

Bang, bang, bang…

The force was so exaggerated, even Alice and the other women standing seventy or eighty meters away turned to stare in confusion.

"Okay, stop! What are you doing, trying to forge a sword on my spine?" William shot up from the recliner and glared down at her.

"I… I'm sorry," Maria murmured, clearly holding back the storm inside.

"Don't say sorry," he snapped. "What's the point of apologizing if you're this useless? You can't give a proper massage, you can't even pat someone's back properly. What good are you, huh? You're a woman, and you can't even do something this simple. You're a failure. Do you realize that?"

Maria took two deep, shuddering breaths to calm herself. "I'm a trained special agent…"

"Oh, I know," William interrupted coldly. "You're an agent. So what? That doesn't mean a damn thing to me. What matters is that I asked you to do something, and you failed. Don't try to justify it. Don't make excuses. A failure is a failure, period."

He could see her pride breaking bit by bit, and that was exactly what he wanted. William had a cruel fondness for stripping away pride, especially from those who thought they were above weakness.

Maria stood frozen for a moment, then lowered her head. "Please… just give me one more chance," she said through clenched teeth, swallowing her dignity.

William shook his head slowly. "No. You don't get another chance. You blew it. Begging won't change anything now. If humanity is destroyed, I'll make sure everyone knows it was your fault. You alone."

He watched her face as she endured the humiliation, her jaw trembling with rage.

Finally, Maria muttered, "William… please. I'm begging you. Give me another chance. I'll do better. I swear it."

William sighed, rubbing his temple dramatically. "Why am I always so soft-hearted? I can't seem to say no to a woman in distress." He paused, pretending to think deeply. "Fine. I'll give you one more shot. Don't make me regret it."

"Thank you," Maria said, though the words tasted like poison on her tongue. 'Why the hell am I thanking this bastard?' she cursed internally. 'He doesn't deserve my gratitude…'

"No need to thank me," William said with a grin, reading her mood effortlessly. "I'm just doing my part as a generous man."

Maria could only grit her teeth harder and brace herself for what was coming.

"So, what do you want me to do this time?" she asked, her voice flat and resigned.

William's expression turned playful and indecent, lounging back once again with a satisfied look. "Oh, nothing too complicated. I'll lie right here—and you just need to kiss me. One hundred times."

Maria blinked. "One… hundred?"

He nodded smugly. "That's right. A hundred kisses. Should be easy for a proud agent like you, right? Think of it as a warm-up for earning my support."

Maria's entire body stiffened. Her fists clenched again at her sides, but she said nothing. She knew this was just the beginning of her trial—and her pride would be tested more than ever.

*****

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