The following morning arrived quietly.

Tom stirred as pale light crept across the floor. He was still half-asleep when the System’s voice slipped into his head, lighter.

[Good morning, Host. Sleep well after yesterday’s performance?]

Tom groaned and dragged a pillow over his face. "Define ’well.’"

[Well enough, apparently. Your body is already awake.] The System sounded faintly amused.

[Daily tasks are ready whenever you are.] The system added after a second.

He pulled the pillow away and sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Let’s hear them."

```

[DAILY TASKS]

1. Complete fifty push-ups

2. Drink one healthy tea

3. Walk with good commanding posture throughout the day

4. Compliment a woman’s outfit as nastily flirty as possible

[REWARD: Bronze Chest]

```

Tom stared at the list for a second, then a low chuckle left him. He shook his head.

"At this point I’m not even surprised anymore. No matter what you throw at me." he muttered.

[Good going, Host.]

[That attitude will serve you.] The System almost sounded pleased.

Tom swung his legs over the side of the bed as he asked; "So, here’s a question. What do you mean by ’walk with good commanding posture’?"

The system chimed immediately, as if it had been waiting for this exact moment;

[Host has spent months walking as if the floor might reject him. Head down. Shoulders folded. Steps careful. That ends today. Raise your head. Square your shoulders. Move like the ground belongs to you and anyone in your path should step aside... or be stepped on.]

Tom blinked at the analysis. He couldn’t argue that the system hadn’t been accurate with all of that information. He nodded slowly.

"Alright. I’ll get that bronze chest." he said with determination.

[I like this version of Host far more than the previous one. Get to work right now.] The system said, sounding excited.

Tom chuckled then stood up. He was happier these days. He had reasons to.

As he stood up, the heavy, insistent weight of his morning erection strained against his boxer briefs. He glanced down and a small private smile tugged at his mouth. The enhancement was still making itself known. He ignored it for now, dropped to the floor, and began the push-ups.

"I can do it..." He told himself as he began.

The first twenty were manageable. By twenty-five his arms burned. By thirty his breath came ragged. Sweat gathered at his temples. Every instinct told him to stop but he kept going. The thought of the bronze chest and what would be inside it was enough to push him through the final twenty.

When he finished he collapsed onto his back, chest heaving, a rough laugh escaping him.

~~~~~~~~

In her own room, Sienna was already awake and already furious. She woke up with anger.

She was standing in front of her open closet, her phone pressed between her shoulder and ear, as she yanked clothes off hangers with more force than necessary.

"I can’t even go down to the dining hall without wondering if that ugly, wretched face is going to be sitting in my chair again," she told her friend, in a tight voice.

On the other end, her friend Suzanne made a sympathetic noise. "Sienna, why did you even agree to that arrangement? It’s not like you."

"I mean, it’s ridiculous." Suzanne added with a loud hiss.

Sienna groaned, dragging a hand through her sleep-tangled hair. "I don’t know. I just... I didn’t know what else to do in the moment. The launch is so close. I can’t afford headlines about a sudden separation."

"I know... Alright." Suzanne said and exhaled deeply then her voice took another tone;

"I can come over and deal with him for you," Suzanne offered.

"Nah, That won’t be necessary. Not yet at least." Sienna’s jaw tightened. "I’ll deal with him myself. I was just tired last night after work. My reactions were slow. Today he is going to feel the full brunt of it." she maintained firmly.

"Now, that’s the Sienna I know. I trust you. Call me later." Suzanne said.

Sienna ended the call and tossed the phone onto the bed. She turned to the full-length mirror, her expression so hard her jaw seemed to look painfully clenched.

She selected a tight, short blouse from her own collection - one that clung without a bra underneath and a matching mini skirt that ended high on her thighs. She pulled her hair into a severe, tight ponytail, applied perfume at her pulse points, and studied her reflection.

The outfit was sharp. Controlled.

She grabbed her purse and left the bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~

Downstairs, Tom had already showered, dressed, and made himself a cup of the expensive herbal tea Sienna preferred.

She used to take it in the mornings like this, while she casually scrolled through the fashion magazine, checking whatever it was she checked.

And on the first few days after their rushed wedding, Tom would discreetly watch her, admiring the elegance she oozed.

Right now, Tom sat at the dining table, practising the new posture the System had demanded; Spine straight. Shoulders open. Chin level.

He heard her heels on the stairs before he saw her.

Sienna appeared in the doorway, the short blouse and mini skirt making her look both polished and intentionally provocative. The moment her eyes landed on him - and on the cup of *her* tea in his hand - fresh anger flashed across her face.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. She was already drawing breath to speak when she noticed the way he was looking at her.

Tom’s gaze moved over her deliberately slow and careful. From the tight blouse that stretched across her chest, down the bare strip of stomach, to the short hem of the skirt. He did not look away when her eyes met his.

Sienna’s nostrils flared.

"Why the hell are you gorging me?" she snapped.

Tom set the cup down. He had prepared for this moment. He had concluded to himself up that his wife was the person he would work the daily task on.

Actually, that wasn’t originally his idea. It was the system’s. It had insisted his wife was the perfect candidate to use for the task.

The Flirty book’s lessons sat ready behind Tom’s teeth. He kept his voice calm, almost conversational, but the words themselves were anything but as they rolled out of his mouth...

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