17. Beer

"Besides being good in the music business, Mr. Alex Matthew is also good in other businesses. So, can you give some advice to the youth out there to keep their spirits up, no matter what their aspirations are? Especially in their desire to be part of 88 Corp."

Alex didn't answer right away. He just leaned back and grinned. Then, his eyes stared intently at the camera. "To hell with grades. You have to take bold steps to succeed."

Irene instantly turned off the café's television. She laughed after hearing Alex Matthew's ridiculous interview. It made no sense that he was idolized by so many young people out there.

"Does this make sense?" Irene couldn't believe it. She then ate the piece of fruit that the café waiter had just prepared. The cafe was quiet at the moment.

"Yeah. Alex looks like a righteous man from his interview." Jeff folded his arms across his chest.

"Looks like a fucking lunatic, right?" Irene still couldn't contain her laughter. "How could anyone in their right mind put on two fake faces?"

"In front of many people, Alex looks like an authoritative person. But underneath it all he's just a drug addict and dealer," Irene continued, shaking her head in wonder while munching on fruit.

"But... is he a drug addict? I mean... maybe he's just making and marketing them to grow his other business?" Jeff searched for other possibilities. Because drug addicts usually have obvious physical characteristics.

"Of course. How could Alex not have tasted it?" Irene laughed.

"But he looks fit. Like nothing physical characteristics on him. Did you see that?"

Irene was busy with her fruit. "Saw what?"

"Your psychometry."

Even Irene was stunned. She stopped chewing. Her eyes narrowed as she scavenged for hypotheses. "That's right. I didn't see it..."

Jeff peeled the apple. "I doubt if he ate it. So, I guess he's creating drugs for profit. He's also not that stupid to be an addict."

"Jeff."

"Hm?"

"I don't know for sure. From what I saw, I never found drugs in his memory." Irene was still trying to remember. "Drugs are usually taken in the form of pills, injections, capsules, or powders. Yeah..." Irene nodded. "That's what we usually find."

"But you didn't find that in your vision."

Irene tapped Jeff on the shoulder until he flinched. "You know what I think?"

"What the fuck?" Jeff threw Irene's hand away.

"He's got a dangerous drug of an unexpected kind. It could be inhaled like an inhaler or taken like a drink."

"You mean he's got a new kind of drug?"

Irene nodded confidently. "I think Danni should check it out more thoroughly."

"Then you're getting revenge on Alex?" asked Jeff.

"Of course. I have to catch him even if it ends up in Danni's hands."

Jeff chuckled. "What a hassle. You just leave it to your husband."

"What do you mean? Alex has been treating me like a sex slave. How can I just keep quiet?!"

Jeff leaned closer until their noses almost touched. "By the way..."

"Why so close? Can't you back off?" Irene grumbled.

"Honestly, you enjoy it too, don't you?" Jeff grinned.

"What?"

"Being Alex Matthew's sex slave."

Irene fell into silence. Her face was cold, uninterpretable. Then she grinned. "I hate being a sex slave, but I am a satisfier of sex."

Jeff grinned. He moved closer to Irene's cheek until they touched. Then whispered, "You... you're a professional bitch, you know?"

Irene burst out laughing. "David! Bring us some beer!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Irene looked at Jeff intently. "I was already at the peak of pleasure, but he stopped it before his dick even entered." He chuckled. "Can you imagine that?"

"So, I hate a lot of things about him," she continued as David brought her a beer for both of them. "Mainly not because of the sex, but because he gave Danni a hard time. Look, I barely see my husband. Let alone have sex!"

"That's the same thing about sex." Jeff opened the beer can for Irene. "You feel unfair. But so do you."

"Me?" Irene squinted after downing the beer.

"Don't you remember what happened to us?"

Irene stopped her drinking. She put the beer can on the table, looked at the sweet man before her meaningfully, and then she laughed.

"You seem to remember."

"You want to do it again?"

Jeff took a sip of his drink and laughed. "One thing I still don't understand is why good Danni would marry a madwoman like you?"

"My madness is my charm." Irene winked.

Jeff still couldn't stop laughing. Irene was crazy. She made no sense.

"But, just so you know... I can fuck anyone. But my love is only for Danni."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"You're not crazy about Alex Matthew, for example?"

"Of course I am!" said Irene honestly. "But that doesn't mean I love him." She cleared her throat. "So, you don't want to have sex with me anymore? I'll pay for my mistake last time."

"No need. I appreciate Danni." Jeff took a swig of beer.

"But you did ask me for sex first and that was early in my marriage to Danni. Don't be a hypocrite!" Irene throws nuts at him.

Jeff tried to dodge. "And I was still a kid back then. Now I realize that no man is as good as Danni."

"Okay. You're right. We've already had sex in high school anyway," Irene added.

Irene and Jeffrey were childhood friends. They grew up together since before elementary school. Their relationship is just friends, nothing more. More like friends with benefits.

"Then what is your plan to undermine Alex Matthew? He's strong. I hope you don't do anything silly. Your life is in his hands."

"I'll turn around." Irene looked at Jeff. "His life is in my hands."

"It's up to you. But what's your plan?"

Irene scanned the floor. "I'm still strategizing, too. But, at least for now, I want to wait for him to come."

"Come?"

"Yes. I'm sure Alex must still need me about his missing girlfriend." Irene squinted. "Alex will look for me, then I'll look for another opening."