Douglas's Dilemma - Chapter 3

Douglas prepares for yet another meeting with Illyana, hoping that this time things will turn out differently.

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Douglas dragged the chair backward, eager to sit again in their familiar spot at the coffee bar. 

As he settled into his seat, he couldn't resist sneaking a fleeting glance at Illiyana's legs. 

Like last time, Illyana wore a scandalous short skirt, revealing a tempting expanse of her smooth thighs. 

They were crossed elegantly beneath the table, a tantalizing glimpse of her silky skin and luscious curves. Douglas would be willing to spend significant money to feel their touch.

The way she unconsciously moved her foot back and forth while checking her phone sent a wave of desire through him. 

He quickly looked away, trying to focus on their conversation. Still, the image of Illyana's legs burned into his mind like a beautiful painting he would use during his moment of me-time during the night.

Her feet were adorned with sleek, black knee-high boots that shone under the warm glow of the ceiling lights, adding an extra touch of allure to her already enchanting presence.

Douglas snatched the menu from the table and looked at the bar's name, blinking in large letters at the top: "The Mindful Mug! We're becoming regulars here." He pointed out that this was the same bar they had met at a few days before.

From across the table, Illyana gave him an inscrutable glare. Her emerald eyes contrasted marvelously with her pitch-dark hair pulled up on her head, apart from a few strands that dangled along her comely face. "I already am."

            Puzzled, Douglas glanced at Illyana. "You are?"

"Don't act like you're not aware of that," Illyana said, picking up her mug of steaming coffee. You know that I work at a boutique store and live with my dad on the opposite side of town, so figuring out which bar I frequent is child's play to you."

"How plausible your reasoning may sound, it's still not true. I was being truthful when I said I had no idea you came here often."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that at least some aspects of my life remain a mystery to you."

"I suppose so." Douglas set the menu aside and requested a coffee from the waitress as she approached their table to take his order.

Illyana's gaze drifted to the bar where two employees were playfully chatting with each other. One of them, a blonde girl with a sidecut hairstyle, noticed Illyana's glance and waved at her. Illyana smiled and waved back in response before turning her attention back to her own company.

            "You know her?" Douglas asked.

Illyana nodded while taking a careful sip of her hot coffee. "We grew up on the same street. We used to play hide and seek in the woods all the time as kids. She's kind of a bookworm, smart as fuck, but she's cool. It turns out we'll be attending the same university after the summer break. Should be fun."

Douglas glanced at Illyana's friend, who was cleaning glasses behind the bar. "Does she know the reason for our meeting?" he asked hushedly.

Illyana shrugged. "Perhaps… Does it change the infill of this meeting?"

Leaning closer, Douglas spoke even quieter. "Discretion is crucial for this matter."

            Illyana glanced at an older woman sitting at a nearby table, savoring a slice of cheesecake. 

The old lady gave Douglas a quizzical look, clearly confused by his secretive actions. 

"Look who's talking," Illyana teased. "You're drawing more attention to yourself than someone plotting to assassinate the king in some the backroom of the royal palace."

"I'm not drawing anything–" Douglas said with a slightly vexed voice as he glanced around. He fell silent when he saw an older woman staring at him with small glasses perched on her crooked nose.

He curses inwardly as he notices another customer, a man, quickly looking away, pretending to read on his e-reader.

"Why, Douglas?" Illyana's voice pulls him back into the conversation they were having.

"Why, what?" he said, leaning back in his chair, pretending to be comfortable while he was anxious about the outcome of this meeting.

            Illyana gingerly set her coffee mug down on the table and leaned in closer, fixing him with a piercing gaze that seemed to penetrate deep into his very being. "Let's just say I believe your story, which I highly doubt, but let's assume for a moment that it's true and you have some control over Tiffany's powers. Even then, why are you so insistent on giving them to me? And don't you dare feed me that 'because you deserve it' line again!"

"Listen, I'm going to tell you something." Douglas ignored Illyana's startled stare as he leaned forward to take hold of her hands and spoke hushedly. "I've never shared this with anyone, not even Tiffany."

Illyana cocked an eyebrow. "Am I supposed to be flattered?" She pulled her hands free and cupped her mug of coffee.

"You definitely should!"

"Well, I'm not."

"Whatever, just hear me out."

"I'm all ears."

Douglas shot a glare at the elderly woman, causing her to avert her prying eyes quickly. "I'm… I'm fond of superheroines."

            "So I heard," Illyana said.

"Ever since I hit puberty, I've been captivated by characters like Supergirl and Wonder Woman. Their beauty, attitude, and abilities just fascinated me."

"So you pleasured yourself while thinking of them?" Illyana said, more as a statement than a question.

Douglas ignored the comment and continued. "I particularly enjoyed when they effortlessly dominated grown men, as if they were mere ants in their path. Seeing them soar through the sky like supersonic jets was awe-inspiring as they showcased their grace and power to the cheering crowd below. And when a thundering train threatened to collide with a school bus filled with innocent children, they calmly saved the day with just one hand."

"Pretty cool story," Illyana said. "Sounds exactly like Tiffany. So what do you need me for?"

Douglas raised his hand to signal for her patience. "I'm not done yet."

Impatiently, Illyana waved her hand for him to continue while she checked the time on her phone.

"Despite this display of unimaginable power that floats my boat, there was still something lacking."

            Illyana cocked a brow. "Like what? Bigger tits?"

"I began to notice that I found these characters the most fascinating when they started to act all cocky and brazen, which, unfortunately, did not happen very often since they were supposed to portray the perfect hero with a strict moral code. But eventually, I found myself rooting for the characters on the opposite end of the moral spectrum."

            "You mean the baddies?"

Douglas nodded. "I adore them. At least the feminine ones. But the problem is." He made a fist and pounded it on the table, exclaiming, "They eventually always lose!"

Illyana shrugged. "I suppose that's just the fate of being a villain – to be defeated by the heroes inevitably."

Douglas gave Illyana a piercing stare, his eyes narrowed to slits. "Not if they cannot be beaten."

"Okay, so let me get this straight. You admire powerful superheroines for their ability to dominate others, but you dislike their principles, which ultimately result in creating a better world for all. Essentially, what you want is for them to be ruthless and cruel, like a bitch. Which makes me wonder, Douglas, do you consider me a bitch?"

            "I… uhm, yes," Douglas said with the voice of a mouse, his throat constricting as he waited for Illyana's reaction.

Illyana's expression changed from inscrutable to a slow grin. "You are refreshingly honest, Douglas. I like it."

A slow, cautious smile formed on Douglas's face as he noticed that Illyana didn't seem offended; in fact, she seemed pretty pleased. 

"It still doesn't make sense!" Illyana's voice cut through the air, wiping the smile off Douglas's face. "Why risk giving someone like me these powers, knowing they could lead to a catastrophic event when you could easily just roleplay? Even Tiffany, who seems like such a goody-two-shoes, could probably transform into a total bitch if she put her mind to it."

Douglas's expression revealed to Illyana that they had attempted something similar, but it did not go as planned.

            Illyana let out a laugh. "Practice makes perfect," she said. "If your girlfriend wants to come and learn from me, I'll gladly take her on as an apprentice. My rates are fair, and you know I'm the top bitch in town." She couldn't help but chuckle at her joke.

Douglas shook his head. "That won't be enough."

Illyana arched her brows. "Well, what would be enough for you then?"

Douglas leaned in closer, speaking quieter to avoid drawing attention from the elderly woman sitting nearby, who glanced at him curiously.

"I want her to unleash her powers on the world, but she will never do that."

"And you have trust that I would?"

Douglas nodded his head in agreement.

"Ha! I think you may be right. My whole life, I've struggled to fit into society's expectations and often found myself in trouble. But what if society could no longer control or correct me? What if I could forge my own path to do whatever I please without repercussions, even to have control over others to do my bidding? Hmm…” Illyana had unknowingly begun to voice her thoughts out loud, lost in her musings instead of speaking directly to Douglas. 

She didn't notice his excitement at her words as he listened intently to her thought process.

"I want it!" Illyana said as her fist pounded on the table, her eyes fixed on Douglas with determination. "Give me those powers. How does the transfer work?"

Douglas gave a sheepish grin. "You may not like what I'm about to say."

"Let me guess, I have to kiss you or something," Illyana said with a hint of sarcasm.

Douglass nodded cautiously, anticipating Illyana's response.

"That's all? Come on then." Illyana stood up abruptly, causing her chair to screech against the floor as she walked towards Douglas, who was taken aback by her sudden movement.

"What, right here? Right now?" He glanced nervously around at the other customers, who were staring at him, stupified by Illyana's bold actions.

"Yeah, why not? This is what you want, don't you? Well, so do I. Now stand up, and let's lock lips."

Douglas stood up. He was more than eager to kiss Illyana. not merely because she was hot as hell and he wanted to lick her gorgeous face, but mostly because he was on the verge of making his biggest fantasy a reality. One kiss was all it took, and Illyna would be an unstoppable Goddess by tomorrow, while Tiffany would return to being merely mortal.

He was confident that the excitement would commence shortly, especially after listening to Illyana speak so provocatively. But suddenly, doubts crept in. What if he had made the wrong decision? What if this thing wasn't truly what he desired in the end? After all, it was just a fantasy. Would it live up to his expectations when it materialized into reality?

Illyana was growing impatient with Douglas's passive approach, so she forcefully grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her. "Idiot! If you don't take the initiative, then I will." 

 Douglas's eyes widened as he saw Illyana's pursed lips approaching, the sweet scent of her morning cologne filling his senses. 

This was it. Douglas was about to lock lips with his dream girl and, while uttering the intention in his head, would make her a Dark Goddess.

Before their lips could meet, the sound of an explosion outside caught everyone's attention, causing the customers to shriek and the windows to rattle.

            "What was that?" Illyana said, fear in her voice as she grabbed Douglas's arm.

            "I don't know," Douglas said, glancing through the window. Outside, another explosion rang out, sounding closer than the first. 

"Stay here!" Douglas instructed Illyana before darting towards the door to investigate the commotion on the street.