Lust Meter System: Conquering Beauties-Chapter 109: Getting Ready

*Beep beep beep beep*

The alarm blared, cutting through the quiet apartment like a knife.

Liam groaned and reached for his phone on the coffee table, silencing it with a quick swipe.

7:30 AM.

He sat up slowly, his neck stiff from the awkward angle he’d been sleeping at all night. The couch wasn’t built for comfort, and his body was making sure he knew it.

Across the room, he heard rustling.

Tasha was squeezing a pillow over her head, trying to block out the noise even though the alarm had already stopped.

’Guess I woke her up.’

Liam stood and stretched, his back popping in a few places. He grabbed his phone and headed to the bathroom without saying anything.

Twenty minutes later, he emerged showered and changed into a clean black t-shirt and jeans. His hair was still damp, and he ran a hand through it as he walked back into the main room.

Tasha had given up on sleep.

She was sitting up in bed now, the pillow still clutched in her hands, looking at him with tired, half-open eyes.

"Morning," Liam said.

She just nodded, too exhausted to form words yet.

Liam grabbed his door keys from the counter and pocketed them. "I’ll be out for a while. Text me if you need anything."

Tasha blinked at him slowly, then nodded again.

He left without waiting for a response.

The hallway was quiet as Liam made his way down the stairs and out into the parking lot.

Tasha’s Honda Civic sat in its usual spot.

Liam unlocked it and slid into the driver’s seat, adjusting the mirrors before starting the engine.

As he pulled out of the parking lot, his phone buzzed.

He glanced at it briefly.

A reminder.

**Meeting with Mr. Hart- Tomorrow 8:00 AM**

"Right," Liam muttered.

That was tomorrow. He’d completely forgotten, even though there was still time.

But first, he needed to talk to Elsa.

He changed direction and headed toward the his old work place.

---

The store sat on a corner lot in a quiet part of town.

Above the door was a hand-painted sign, slightly crooked, that read Mr. Sam’s Store in bold red letters.

Liam pulled into the parking lot and killed the engine.

Through the front windows, he could see a few people moving around inside.

He got out of the car and walked up to the entrance, pushing through the glass door.

The bell above jingled as he stepped inside.

The store looked the same as always. Narrow aisles packed with snacks, canned goods, and household items. Fluorescent lights humming overhead.

A counter near the back with a register.

And standing behind that counter was Elsa.

She looked up when the bell jingled, and her eyes lit up immediately.

"Liam?"

Elsa had white hair that fell just past her shoulders in soft waves, and warm brown eyes that caught the light.

She was wearing the store uniform—a green polo shirt with "Sam’s Mart" embroidered on the chest and a pair of dark jeans.

The shirt stretched tight across her chest, her large breasts straining against the buttons.

The polo was tucked into her jeans, which hugged her wide hips and thick thighs.

She had curves that the uniform couldn’t hide—an ass that made those jeans work overtime and a waist that tapered in sharply.

She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the counter with a grin.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," Liam replied.

Elsa looked at him for a while before speaking. "Okay, you’re lucky Mr. Sam isn’t around. Last time I saw him, he said if he catches you here, he’ll actually kill you for just disappearing on him like that."

Liam let out a small, awkward laugh.

Liam smirked. "If that’s the case, he might actually kill me. Because of what I’m about to tell you."

Elsa raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "What’s that?"

"I want you to work for me."

Elsa blinked. Her smile faltered slightly. "What?"

"I need help running my consulting business," Liam said. "And as much as it’s my dream and all that, I’m still just a teenage kid with a lot going on in his life. I can’t do it alone."

Elsa stared at him for a long moment, her expression caught between surprise and confusion.

"Liam..." She let out a short laugh. "I don’t know if I can do that."

"You can," Liam said firmly. "Your dad even said so himself."

Elsa’s eyes widened. "Wait. When did he say that?"

"At dinner, when he praised you even though he was angry with you."

Elsa opened her mouth, then closed it again. A faint blush crept across her cheeks as she looked down at the counter, her fingers tapping against the surface.

"I mean... I want to," she said slowly. "But I’m not sure I’m ready for something like that. This job is easy. I know what I’m doing here."

"That’s exactly why you should do it," Liam said. "Are you sure you’re really happy here?"

Elsa bit her lip, uncertainty flickering across her face.

"Look," Liam continued. "I need someone I can trust. Someone who’s smart and capable. That’s you."

She looked up at him, her brown eyes searching his face like she was trying to figure out if he was serious.

"And besides," Liam added with a small smile, "proving to your dad that he wasn’t wrong about you? That’s worth something, right?"

Elsa let out a breath and shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You’re really selling this, huh?"

"I’m trying."

She was quiet for another moment, then finally nodded. "Alright. But give me a day to tell Mr. Sam first. I’m not just gonna leave him hanging without notice."

Liam nodded. "That’s fair. But we do have to meet with your dad tomorrow morning at eight."

Elsa’s eyes widened. "Tomorrow?"

"Yeah." Liam grinned. "But don’t tell him it was my idea to bring you in."

Elsa laughed. "You’re ridiculous. Why shouldn’t I?"

"Because if it comes from you, he’ll see it as you taking initiative. If it comes from me, it just looks like I’m doing him a favor." Liam’s grin widened. "Plus, it’ll mean more to him that way."

Elsa crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "I can’t even argue with that logic"

Liam laughed. "Yeah. I’m that good"

Elsa shook her head, laughing. "You’re ridiculous."

"Maybe," Liam said with a shrug. "But you’re still gonna do it, right?"

She rolled her eyes, but the smile didn’t leave her face. "Yeah. I’m still gonna do it."

Before either of them could say anything else, the bell above the door jingled.

A man walked in—middle-aged, balding, wearing a stained shirt. He shuffled over to the counter with a scratch-off ticket in his hand and slapped it down in front of Elsa.

"This one’s a winner," he said gruffly.

Elsa’s expression shifted instantly. The warmth disappeared, replaced by something polite but strained.

"Let me check it for you," she said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

She scanned the ticket and glanced at the screen. "Sorry, sir. This one’s not a winner."

"What?" The man leaned over the counter. "Check it again. I’m telling you it’s a winner."

"I already checked it," Elsa said, her voice still polite but tight now. "It’s not a winner."

The man muttered something under his breath and snatched the ticket back before storming out of the store.

The bell jingled as the door slammed shut.

Elsa let out a slow breath and turned back to Liam, her jaw tight. You could see the frustration barely contained behind her polite expression.

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Still happy here?"

Elsa glared at him, but there was no real heat in it. "Shut up."

Liam grinned. "See you tomorrow."

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

He turned and walked out of the store, the bell jingling softly behind him.

---

Liam drove across town to an empty lot near an old abandoned warehouse.

Shay was already waiting, leaning against the chain-link fence in a gray hoodie and black joggers.

He looked up when Liam pulled in and pushed off the fence.

"You’re late," Shay said.

"By like two minutes," Liam shot back.

"Still late." Shay walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on. Let’s get started."

They walked into the lot, and Shay dropped his bag on the ground.

"So," Shay said, turning to face him. "Got your text last night. You saw some serious shit, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Tell me about it."

Liam hesitated, then started explaining. "There was this kid... his brother got killed right in front of him."

Shay’s expression darkened. "The kid saw it happen?"

"Yeah. He was there when it happened."

"Damn." Shay crossed his arms. "And you think this X guy is really that dangerous?"

"I know he is," Liam said quietly. "Saw what he did. Six bodies, Shay. All of them dead. They didn’t stand a chance."

Shay let out a low whistle. "And you think you might have to fight this guy?"

"Maybe. I don’t know. But I need to be ready."

Shay stared at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. That’s why you want to learn how to actually fight."

"Yeah."

Shay shook his head. "I was shocked when you sent me that text. Didn’t think you’d be the one asking for training."

Liam scratched the back of his head, an awkward smile on his face. "I mean... I got lucky when we fought. That’s all."

Shay stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing. "Lucky? Stop lying. You beat my ass fair and square."

’All thanks to the system’

Liam’s smile grew more awkward, and he kept scratching his head.

Shay shook his head, still grinning. "You’re a terrible liar, you know that?"

"Maybe."

"Definitely." Shay’s expression turned more serious. "But you’ve still got a lot to work on."

Liam nodded. "That’s why I’m here. I want to get stronger." He paused. "In our fight... as an experienced fighter, what did you notice I was doing wrong?"

Shay sighed and crossed his arms. "A lot of things. You’re a good fighter, don’t get me wrong. You’ve got speed, you’ve got instincts. But you’re sloppy too."

"Like what?"

"Like your punches are terrible," Shay said bluntly. "And your technique? Amateur."

Liam felt a flash of irritation.

"I still beat you"

Shay stared at him for a moment, then turned like he was about to walk away. "Alright. I’m leaving."

"Wait, wait," Liam said quickly. "I’m sorry. You’re right. I need to fix it."

Shay stopped and looked back at him with a grin. "That’s what I thought." He walked back over. "Alright. Let’s get to work."

He pulled a pair of beat-up boxing gloves out of his bag and tossed them to Liam.

"Put those on."

Liam pulled on the gloves while Shay grabbed a pair of focus mitts and slipped them onto his hands.

"Throw some punches," Shay said. "Let me see what you’re working with."

Liam stepped back and started throwing punches into the air. Jabs, crosses, hooks. He moved through the combinations, focusing on his form.

Shay watched with his arms crossed, his eyes sharp.

After about thirty seconds, Shay held up a hand. "Alright, stop."

Liam lowered his fists, breathing slightly harder.

"Your punches are still terrible," Shay said, repeating what he’d said earlier.

Liam frowned but didn’t say anything this time.

"You’re not rotating your hips," Shay continued. "You’re not stepping into it. You’re just throwing your arm out and hoping it connects. That won’t work against someone who actually knows what they’re doing."

Shay held up the focus mitts. "Hit me."

Liam stepped forward and threw a jab at the mitt.

*Thwack.*

Shay barely moved. "Again."

Liam threw another jab.

*Thwack.*

"Still terrible," Shay said flatly.

Liam clenched his jaw.

’I could just use Point Bound Might.’

But he stopped himself.

He reset and tried again.

*Thwack.*

"Better," Shay said. "But you’re still not rotating. Watch."

Shay demonstrated, showing how to pivot from the hips and drive the punch forward with his whole body.

"Now you try."

Liam mimicked the motion and threw another punch.

*Thwack.*

"There you go," Shay said, nodding. "That’s better. Do it again. A hundred more times."

Liam groaned but didn’t argue.

They went through it over and over—jabs, crosses, hooks—until Liam’s arms felt like lead and sweat was dripping down his face.

By the time they finished, Liam could barely lift his arms.

He collapsed onto the ground, leaning back against the fence with his chest heaving.

Shay sat down next to him and tossed him a water bottle.

"Not bad for your first real session," Shay said.

"Feels bad," Liam muttered.

Shay chuckled. "You’ll get used to it."

Liam’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

A notification.

His lips curled into a wide grin.

Shay leaned over. "What’s that? One of your girls?"

"Something like that," Liam said, still grinning.

Shay stood up and brushed off his pants. "Alright. Rest is over."

Liam looked up at him. "What?"

"You heard me." Shay picked up the focus mitts. "Get up. We’re not done yet."

Liam groaned but pushed himself to his feet.

His arms felt like dead weight, but he raised his fists anyway.