Misty was printing a document. She grabbed the paper and put it on her desk. It was happening all under Ash's eyes, which, for some reason, were not drifting away from her. Usually, Ash didn't look her way, but now, he was.

She looked at him. "Do you want to say something?"

"Yes, actually." Ash nodded. "I was wondering... what are the odds of my date tonight being another complete kinky woman?"

"Excuse me?"

"I'm fine with some kinks – she could be a chubby chaser or wear my underwear to work – I don't mind. I probably am kinky somewhere too – I mean a woman wearing a guy's underwear is hot. But too much of something is never good."

Misty blinked. "Uh, what's kinky?"

Ash sat straight. Misty had an innocent vibe, but he had no idea she was that innocent. "You seriously don't know?"

"Never heard of the word before. Should I look it up?"

"No!" Ash got to her desk and closed her laptop. "Look, it's, uh, weird stuff. It's just this." He watched her innocent turquoise eyes. Her eyelashes looked long and nice. "That's it."

"Weird stuff?" Misty tilted her head. "My cat Yuko likes to go potty on newspaper."

"..."

"I know. It's weird, right? That's like a dog thing. If I leave newspaper hanging around, she wouldn't use the litter box – and it's a really cute one, with cat ears and everything."

"..." Ash looked down at his wristwatch. "Ahem, I should go." He got off his chair.

"You said you have a date tonight," Misty spoke when he was about to leave through the door.

"Yeah." Wait, she was really listening, wasn't she?

"Have fun." She smiled.

Ash chuckled. Fun? Nothing's been fun lately. "Thanks, I guess."

"Do they pay you well, at least?"

It was usually a bad sign when your date asked if you got 'paid well' (it was just another way of asking you about your salary), but compared to last night, this was nothing. Ash didn't mind a gold digger. He wasn't complaining. Just a dateable girl would do.

"It's... okay."

"People say you should get a job you love," Giselle said. "But I don't think that's enough. You've got to pay bills and enjoy yourself, right? It takes money to have fun."

"Sure does."

Giselle put her head on her palms. She stared deeply into Ash's eyes. "You have really gorgeous eyes, Ash."

Ash smiled uncomfortably.

"Can you write an article about me and link my Instagram?"

"She showered me with compliments," Ash said. "Literally. She complimented every little part of my body. She gave me compliments about my hands. I don't care about my hands – wait, do I make sense?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

What? Were you talking?

Ash sighed heavily. "Long story short; she was looking for someone to advertise her social media accounts."

Hey, if you get beauty, you don't get something else. You've got to sacrifice stuff here, Ashy-boy. You can't get the whole package.

"I'm not saying I want everything." Giselle was sane, at least. She grabbed takeout and made him pay for it, but again; he wasn't complaining. "I'm just saying she's not exactly looking for a long-term boyfriend."

And what do you need more? You want a woman? Giselle is a woman – and a very beautiful one. She's off charts, Ketchum. If she wants some advertising, give her some advertising. What do you have to lose?

"Uhm, my job?"

Link her in a tribune – make it look like it's a mistake. You've got to sacrifice for love.

"I just met her!"

Damn it! We're going around in circles. Are you going to call her again?

Ash slightly frowned. "No."

But I went through my WHOLE friends' list to find her! Can you imagine how much time it took me? You should pay me for this, Ashy-boy!

"First, maybe you should pay me back for those six months I was paying bills when you were unemployed and lying to Leaf about it."

I've got to go.

"Thought so."

Ash ended the call and sighed. Gary was a needle in his throat! Was getting women from his friends' list even a good idea anymore?

Ash clicked the lock button to show his lock screen and check the time. He noticed he's received a text while he was talking to Gary.

It was... Misty.

Misty: Hey, how was the date? 😺

Ash stared at the text until the lock screen turned off. He kept staring at the black screen, not sure what to do.

He picked up his phone and wrote to Misty:

Ash: It was okay thanks

Misty wrote a reply a few minutes later, but Ash didn't see it as he was already sleeping.

Misty: I'm really happy for you! Good night and sweet dreams 😻😽

And he never got to see it because Misty deleted it right after she sent it.