All Chapters of THE SYSTEM GAVE ME A GLOW UP (Ugly no more, men at my feet): Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The elevator ride up is silent. The tension is high and I’m trying not to act too impressed by being in a house that has an elevator. Then again, Dominic is a rich man. He stands close enough that I can feel the warmth of him without touching. His jacket brushes my arm every time the lift shifts. It’s undoubtedly deliberate and unhurried. I can smell his designer perfume and all I want to do is eat him up. He doesn’t look at me. I think that’s worse than if he did. Why does he have to be so hot? My phone vibrates in my hand. I don’t check it. I already figured it was Claudia reaching out to say some dumb shit. I already texted my dad to let him know I wouldn’t be home. When the doors open, he steps out first, fingers wrapping around my wrist. It’s not tight, just enough to guide me gracefully. The penthouse is quiet, lights low, glass walls reflecting the city like it belongs to him. And to be honest, it might as well. The door shuts behind us. Tha

The front door closes behind me with a soft click. I barely take two steps inside before Claudia’s voice cuts through the house. Just great….. just when I was getting ready to fully enjoy my day. “So you finally decided to come home huh.” I stop. Her tone tells me everything. And by everything I mean she obviously wants trouble. She’s standing in the living room, arms crossed, lips curled like she’s been waiting all morning just for this moment. Emilia is on the couch, phone in hand, eyes already bright with interest. Just take very deep breaths, Avery. I decide not to engage with them and walk up to my room. I keep my bag on my shoulder. I don’t greet them. “I asked you a question, Avery,” Claudia says. “Where were you last night?” “I stayed out, is that a problem?” I reply calmly. “With who?” “That’s none of your business, Claudia.” She lets out a sharp laugh. “Don’t insult my intelligence. You didn’t come home. You didn’t answer your phone. And this

That Wednesday morning started with a challenge I didn't expect. Before I even left for the office, the blue screen had shimmered into life over my vanity. [ NEW TASK: PRECISION UNDER PRESSURE ] Precision over pressure? What does that mean this time? The system had been offering the weirdest of tasks these days. [OBJECTIVE: CATCH 50 DROPS OF WATER FROM A LEAKY FAUCET WITHOUT LETTING A SINGLE ONE TOUCH THE BASIN.]Did I say weird tasks, make that cruel task. [TIME LIMIT: 5 MINUTES] It had sounded boring but easy until I tried it. I’d spent five minutes in my bathroom, eyes dilated, muscles coiled, my hand struggling to stay steady as I tried to catch every erratic drop. By the time the chime sounded, I was sweating and my heart was racing. [ TASK COMPLETE ] [REWARD: PERMANENT SKILL – LIGHTNING REFLEXES] [BONUS: COORDINATION +15]That’s it?That’s all I get?I try not to think about it and just get ready to head to work. The members of my new floor were t

. I was still riding the high of Dalia’s humiliation. It’s not everyday that you get to put your bully into their place. Just then, the blue screen flickered to life in the back of the car that Dominic has arranged to take me home. This time, the glow wasn't a comforting blue. It was a deep, bruised violet. [ SPECIAL EVENT: THE ULTIMATE UPGRADE ] [TASK: SABOTAGE THE REPUTATION OF A COMPETITOR.] [TARGET: ELARA VANCE – LEAD DESIGNER AT VANCE CO. (GREYHOUND’S FOURTH BIGGEST RIVAL)] [OBJECTIVE: LEAK HER CONFIDENTIAL DESIGNS TO THE PUBLIC UNDER A PROXY ACCOUNT TO ENSURE HER COMPANY’S DOWNFALL.] My heart plummeted. Elara Vance? I’d read about her. She was a self-made woman, brilliant, and by all accounts, a kind employer. She hadn't done anything to me. She wasn't a Claudia or a Dalia. It also threw me off that the system would give me tasks like this. This was wrong. This was so so very wrong. "I can't do that," I whispered. "That's... that's her life's work

The silver fork clinks softly against the fine china, the only sound in the cavernous dining room of the Greyhound estate. Across from me sits Veronica Greyhound, the matriarch of our family and the only person left on this earth who still calls me by my childhood nicknames. She’s eighty-four, but her eyes are as sharp as the diamonds around her neck. She doesn't miss a thing.I suppose decades of running a dynasty will do that to a person. She was the only family that I had left and I loved her to death. "You’ve barely touched your sea bass, my love," she observes, her voice like velvet and iron. "And you’ve smiled at your phone twice. Should I be concerned, or should I be celebrating?" I set my cutlery down, leaning back into the leather chair. "I didn't realize I was being so obvious, Grandma” "To the rest of the world, you are a stone," she says, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "To me, you are transparent. There is a light in your eyes that hasn't been there