The tiny dressing room was hot and filled with deep desire for something intimate. 

Chrome's back was pressed against the cold mirror as his hand firmly gripped Mandy Forbes' surprisingly soft butt through her designer skirt. The campus belle—the woman who'd publicly excluded him from her party, who acted like no one was worth her time—was currently grinding against him like her life depended on it.

Her tongue was deep in his throat.

'What the hell happened?'

He'd only come to the back area of Forbes Mall to use the restroom. Then a commotion, a spilled drink, and suddenly he'd been shoved into this cramped dressing room with the heiress herself, whose curvaceous body wouldn't stop trembling against his own. 

She kissed him like she was drowning.

Chrome's fingers dug into her butt—firm, round, everything he'd expected from a woman with her figure. Mandy moaned against his lips and her milky thighs squeezed together as she pressed closer.

When he finally pulled back, gasping for air, Mandy's eyes were glassy and unfocused. Her usually perfect platinum hair was a mess. And from her nostril…

Drip. Drip. Drip.

A thin trail of blood trickled down her upper lip.

"Hey, are you—"

Sssssss.

Warm liquid suddenly soaked through his hand.

Chrome looked down. A dark patch was spreading rapidly across the back of Mandy's tight white pencil skirt, right where his hand was planted. 

This scent…

'SHE PEED HERSELF—?!'

His mind went blank.

Mandy's face turned the color of a ripe tomato. 

Her nostrils flared, still bleeding, and she let out the most pathetic, humiliated whimper he'd ever heard from a woman.

"I-, I'm so sorry—"

She buried her face in his chest, trembling violently.

Chrome stared at his soaked hand.

'This is… actually…'

He immediately shook the thought away.

"No, no, it's fine."

He said quickly, pulling his hand away and trying to find somewhere to wipe it. 

"Accidents happen. It's—it's really okay."

The golden liquid dripped from his hand. 

The short-haired blonde beauty froze up. 

Since when is peeing yourself on a man's hand okay?!

She sobbed harder against his chest.

---

Three hours ago. 

In the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant.

"That old hag's face!" 

Lana laughed loudly as a mouthful of cheeseburger nearly sprayed out. 

"Oh my god, babe, you should've seen her expression when she realized you tricked her into paying! I thought her face was going to melt off!"

Chrome choked on his fries, wheezing.

"And then—and then that other one started screaming like a dying cat!" 

Lana continued, slapping the dashboard. 

"I thought I was going to die! 'Ten times! Pay ten times!' To think she believed that! BWAHAHAHA!"

"Lana—" 

Chrome coughed, pounding his chest. 

"Lana, I'm gonna—"

"You're gonna what?" 

She laughed, but then she finally noticed him struggling. 

Her eyes went wide with concern.

She leaned over and started patting his back.

"Hey, are you okay? Babe, you were laughing too hard!"

Cough! Cough!

Chrome finally cleared his throat, tears streaming down his face. He took a shaky breath and gave her a lopsided grin.

"I'm fine. I just… I keep forgetting how funny you are."

Lana's cheeks pinked as she settled back into her seat and took another big bite of her burger.

"I'm glad you didn't end up paying for that meal…"

She mumbled through her chewing. 

"That restaurant was such a rip-off! How does anyone expect you to pay that much for an itsy-bitsy little meal like that? We barely got any food!"

Grrrrrrr. Her stomach growled loudly.

Lana sighed, rubbing her belly with a mournful face.

"Seriously… none of that fancy food entered at all. It just felt like I drank tea and left. THIS is much better."

She shook her burger in his face. 

Chrome smiled, taking a sip of his soda.

"Junk food is fine, but not too much. You have to stay in shape for work."

She gave him a flat look.

Chrome pointed toward her mouth. 

"And also, bite and chew with the other side. You just got that implant."

Lana paused mid-chew. Her expression shifted.

Chrome frowned. "What's wrong? Did I say something?"

She chewed slowly, then swallowed.

"I quit my job at Freya Cosmetics."

Chrome blinked. "What?"

Lana set her burger down, suddenly not hungry.

"I know, I know. Before you complain, I didn't think we'd be getting back together. I wanted to start fresh, get a job I actually like."

The car got quite silent. 

Chrome felt uncomfortable. 

Lana noticed immediately. She reached over with a smile and gently petted his golden hair.

"Hey. I'm not saying it's your fault I've been stuck in a job I hate for two years. Being without you for a while gave me some clarity. I always wanted to work somewhere that helps the world. A pharmaceutical company, something like that. Helping models prepare for photo shoots… that's not what little Lana of ten years ago pictured for herself."

Her voice was soft and passionate.

Chrome took a quiet bite of his burger.

"I get it. Whatever job you take, I'll support you. But I'm planning to start a company soon. Maybe you could—"

"No. This is something I have to do myself."

Lana cut him off gently, her brown eyes earnest.

"I don't want to sound arrogant. You've helped me so much already, and I think it's too—"

Chrome leaned over and kissed her.

The words died in her mouth. 

Her eyes fluttered shut, and she hungrily melted into the kiss like butter on hot bread.

When he pulled back, Lana was still leaning forward with her lips slightly parted for more of the kiss. 

Chrome grinned like a smug cat.

"Didn't you say I use too much tongue?" 

He tilted his head. 

"Now you're all over my kiss. I can practically feel your tongue dancing in your mouth, wanting the same thing."

Lana's face burned red-hot.

"Shut up!" 

She turned away, sitting upright with a stubborn pout.

Chrome poked her shoulder. 

A small smile cracked through her stubborn face.

He faced the steering wheel and let out a breath.

"Look, I respect your decision. But just know I'll support you in my own way."

Lana opened her mouth to argue.

"Let me finish. If you want to find a new job, you need new clothes. The ones you've been wearing aren't good enough. Let's go shopping."

"Mhm."

That was all Lana could say as she squeezed her thighs together and shyly nibbled on her burger.

---

The sputtering sedan cruised into Forbes Mall's massive parking lot like a dying cockroach.

To be fair… "cruised" is an overstatement. 

People looked and pointed. 

"Is that a car or a coffin?"

"Look at that thing. How did it even make it here?"

"Maybe they're here to apply as janitors?"

Chrome ignored them all. He hurried around to open Lana's door, then pulled out a handkerchief to gently wipe a smear of ketchup from the corner of her mouth.

Then he took her wrist and led her toward the entrance.

"Chrome, this is a bad idea…"

Lana whispered, staring up at the luxury mega-building. 

"There are perfectly good malls in the middle district—"

"Relax, babe." 

He squeezed her hand. 

"I got my clothes here. You should get something just as good."

"What?"

"You know, a man's money speaks through his lady. If you look bad, it makes me look bad."

Lana stopped walking.

She suspiciously raised an eyebrow.

"Since when does a man's money matter so much in a relationship?" 

She studied his face. 

"Are you sure you're okay? You're acting weird."

Chrome coughed, quickly rethinking his words.

'Shit. Different world, remember?'

He composed himself quickly. 

"Uh, that's not what I meant. I just meant I want you to look lovely. And when we have kids, I want them to look fresh and dapper too. We shouldn't let things like expenses scare us when things are going so well."

Lana stared up at him.

Her brown eyes were wide open.

'She's suspecting me. She knows something's off.'

The young man started sweating. 

'Think, Chrome, think!'

He was already preparing a dozen desperate excuses—

Lana's cheeks turned the color of ripe strawberries. She pressed both her tender hands to her face and let out a shaky, delicate breath.

Chrome's panic level skyrocketed.

'It's over! She caught me! I'm busted!'

His heart froze up.

"CHROME!"

Her voice was high and squeaky.

He took a nervous step back.

"Since when did you get so bold and romantic?" 

Lana squealed, still covering her face. 

"Talking about kids and our future like that? What did I do to deserve this mature side of you?"

She was wiggling happily, her eyes dreamily closed.

"We're both virgins! We haven't done it before! And now all of a sudden you're eager to make babies?"

Chrome's mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Lana looked… aroused? 

To think his angel had this side of her. 

"I don't know how many I can pump out, but we can discuss the details later!"

…What.

Chrome sighed heavily, grabbed her hand, and pulled her into the mall.

…

Inside a luxury fashion boutique.

Chrome happily watched as Lana was surrounded by a swarm of impeccably dressed women in cream blazers and pencil skirts.

"What type of clothes would you like for the lady, sir?"

"And what brands are preferred?"

Chrome nodded thoughtfully.

"For house clothes, I want Etro. She's also a secretary so for that… hmm, something from Armani's professional collection will do. And for her shoes, definitely Bally—"

"WAIT!"

Lana looked panicked, her face a shameful red.

"The women are going to strip me and—and—"

Her voice got smaller with each word.

Her protests were ignored as she was expertly herded toward the large, fancy dressing room.

The head stylist bowed gracefully to Chrome.

"Please give us some time, sir. When we're done, she'll look like an angel."

"She already is. Take your time."

Chrome proudly said with his eyes closed. 

Shortly after…

"Well, well. What are you doing here?"

A soft, feminine voice he'd heard before. 

Chrome turned.

Mandy Forbes stood before him with perfectly styled blonde hair that glittered like platinum and her glasses perched elegantly on her tiny nose. 

She looked beautiful and composed as always. 

Chrome smiled awkwardly at the lady. 

"Nice to see you too, Mandy."

She stared at him with half-lidded eyes.

"Since when can a man like you afford a place like this?"

Chrome crossed his arms.

"Since when is that any of your business?"

Mandy adjusted her glasses with one finger. 

"My family owns this mall."