Chapter 4 - The Problem

C H A P T E R  4 : T H E  P R O B L E M

Crazy man. They had to make an emergency landing, but all he could think about was that ugly cat?! Crystal grumbled in her heart.

Crystal snorted, averted her eyes from him annoyedly, and returned her focus back to the helicopter. She was reluctant to respond to this annoying man. There was still a few minutes before the helicopter's fuel ran out. She rushed to send an SOS signal, hoping that someone, especially Quinn, picked it up, then prepared for an emergency landing in the water. Should not there be a buoy to keep the helicopter afloat?

However, the increasingly loud alarm caused her to panic. She could not think properly. The thought of this helicopter exploding flashed in her mind. It was true that she had intended to avoid that damn contest, but not by going to heaven!

"Oh, Jesus! If you save me now, I will consider becoming a nun!"

Xander looked at her. "What? Are you serious? Then how about your stupid contest?"

Crystal glared at him fiercely. "How could I think of a competition when I could potentially die—"

"Get out of the way," he instructed then chuckled, signaling her to switch their positions. "Leonidas has always been a big talker."

Crystal gave him a disdainful look. It was not a car that everyone could simply drive, but the constant ringing of alarms and his impatient stare had left her with no other option. Immediately, she swapped positions, hoping that entrusting her life to this damn man would not be a bad decision.

She remained silent, her eyes filled with admiration as she watched him. Not only that he could, but Xander was also even very agile. This guy controlled the helicopter with ease, even manually activating the buoys and landing their helicopter smoothly above sea level before the engine shut down.

A sense of relief hit her and she slumped against the back of the chair, inhaling and exhaling roughly. She found the sea to be calm. It was as calm as the situation inside the helicopter once the alarm had gone off.

"There is a reply for the SOS. Help will come soon, but for the time being, we are stuck here," he informed her.

She turned, looking at this man's serious face and frowning at something unusual. He was too good at controlling the helicopter. He must have learned it previously. But how? “Aren't you just a servant? How can you pilot a helicopter—”

"Why? Do you want to admit that Leonidas is nothing?”

She pursed her lips. “Can you not piss me off just once?!”

"Can not." A glint of amusement filled his eyes, causing her heart to beat quicker than usual. Especially when he brought their faces closer, too close for her that she could feel his warm breath. "Usually the one that irritates you gets remembered."

"So you want me to remember you?" She rolled her eyes lazily, trying hard to look unfazed, let alone show her nervousness.

Xander was getting closer. "What do you think?"

She panicked. Just a little more till their lips touched. Her entire body stiffened. "It feels scorching hot. It looks like the AC is off," she said nervously. Without pausing for a moment, she shifted his position and opened the helicopter door at her side to avoid this man.

"Do not open!"

It was too late. His scream was heard at the same time as Princessa jumped into the sea.

Crystal was shocked, she did not even think it through as she followed suit and jumped into the ocean to save the damn cat.

* * *

Cold. It was still summer, but why was the ocean so damn cold?

Crystal repeatedly pushed her face to the surface, sighed, and then went back into the water — looking for Princessa who was declared not being able to swim. Her dress, which was heavy because it was completely soaked by the water, made it even more difficult for her. But, just as she was about to dive for the third time, two sturdy arms wrapped around his waist.

"Come on."

Crystal found his wet face. "But the ugly cat—"

"You will freeze to death!" he said. Before she could respond, this man had already pulled her out of the water, then forced her to sit on the helicopter. She coughed, realizing how much seawater she had swallowed. The wind that blew made her shiver even more.

A slight warmth came over her when all of the sudden he put his arm around her and rubbed her fingers lightly. She turned to face him who was sitting closely next to her. This man frowned, then took a deep breath. It was as if the only thing that needed warmth was Crystal, ignoring the fact that he too was drenched. Unconsciously she watched him, admiring each strand of his long eyelashes.

"I did not think you would worry about Princessa," he muttered in a low voice yet enough to wake her up.

She hastily pulled her finger. She cast her glance, looking at her surroundings and searching for the ugly cat who turned out to be ... swimming.

Crystal gaped, surprised. At that very moment, she heard his chuckle.

"She is a rather strange cat. She likes to bathe, let alone swim. Later she will want to come here once she is satisfied."

"You tricked me! You said she could not swim!" Her clenched fist pressed against his face.

"No. But Princessa said that it is a matter of privacy." Xander smiled amusedly, then hit her forehead with his. Crystal groaned, glaring at him in annoyance.

Then she turned around, showing the zipper on the back of her dress to him. "Take off my dress!"

"What?! Do you want to striptease here on the water?”

“This dress is wet! I can not stand it. You have to take responsibility! It is your fault, William!" mumbled Crystal.

If her hands were able to unzip themselves, she would not bother asking this annoying man. She turned around again, ready to throw a tirade, but seeing his nervous expression and the red rim of his ears provoked her amusement.

"Why William? Are you tempted to see my sexy body?"

"Tempt—" Xander shook his head haughtily, then laughed loudly. "Me? Seduced by a kid like you? Is your brain filled with seawater that you could no longer think?"

Crystal raised an eyebrow as she leaned forward until their chests met. Then, she turned her back to him again. "If you are not interested, then there should be no problem. Never mind, William, quickly take off this damn dress so that this innocent child's body—"

"Oh, be quiet!" Xander grumbled as he moved his hands. She unconsciously held her breath, as his warm fingers began to touch her back. Her breath released as the dress slid from her body, leaving her strapless bra and black panties. She was almost naked.

Hiding her slowly frantic nervousness, she threw a seductive glance at Xander. "Are you still not tempted?"

Even though the edges of both ears were red, he scowled and shook his head. “Aspiring nuns are not my type.” Then, looking away as if she did not have any female charm at all.

Crystal snorted. Just as he was ready to protest, they heard the sound of helicopters approaching. Automatically, she looked up, then pulled her dress up again casually—while he gave her a mocking laugh.

A few people were coming down to pick up Princessa, while others stood by the helicopter door lowering the ropes to help Crystal and Xander up.

"Ladies first," he said with a small smile.

Crystal looked at the rope and then at him. “How?"

* * *

Without replying to her, he grabbed her waist and put a harness on her first, then quickly put one on his own body before they boarded together.

The wet and sticky state of their bodies against each other provoked her heart to flutter uncontrollably. Not to mention his embrace felt tighter as the tug of the rope caused them to swing left and right. His harsh breath caught behind her ear. His response was the opposite of the disinterested speech he had given earlier. Crystal secretly devised a plan to taunt him, but Quinn's appearance, looking annoyed, ruined everything.

"I have called you so many times, but you were not answering!" scolded Quinn, once Crystal managed to stand upright in the black Helicopter bearing the L E O N I D A S logo; either Xavier's or Javier's. Christian, who was no doubt had received an order from one of the two Leonidas, hastily handed her a kimono. "Look what you did to Heli—"

"Old-fueled helicopter?"

"It was just the fuel that ran out. It is still very good!"

“Geez, do not act like you do not have the money to fix that damn thing!” she snapped. "I can buy a new Eurocopter for that old man!"

"What did you say?! That is the first helicopter—" Quinn's words trailed off as her brows furrowed as she noticed Xander's presence. "William?" growled Quinn lowly. "Why are you here?!"

"Just ask Meng," Xander said reluctantly as he dried his hair.

"Meng?" Quinn looked around every corner of the helicopter, then met Crystal's gaze again.

"Quinn, you know this maid?" That was the only sentence Crystal managed to get out with Quinn glaring directly at her.

"Waiter? Who? He?" Quinn pointed at Xander without shifting her gaze from Crystal. "This is Xander, your brother's enemy."

Crystal gaped. "Is he that Xander?"

"Yes. That one."

One of Xander's eyebrows rose. "That one? You mean that handsome, rich, and awesome one?" Xander intercepted Crystal and Quinn's conversation in a lazy tone.

Crystal growled. "Just throw this guy out, Quinn!"

"I have been pondering about it ever since I noticed his presence," Quinn replied vehemently.

However, it was all just a mere thought. Crystal and Quinn compactly ignored Xander during the flight. Crystal told Quinn that Xander had suddenly gotten on the helicopter and since Crystal had been in a hurry, she had chosen to bring him along.

Xander did not fret with Crystal's words, nor Quinn's scornful glances. The man chose to close his eyes while holding the cat. Crystal glanced at Xander several times, both observing and wondering. So, this man was not a servant? This man was Xander, her brother's enemy?

Back then, when Xander was still a part of her brother's gang during SHS; Red Devil, Crystal had never met him, not even once. He had always left before she came, or he hadn't come to Leonidas' parties. It was almost as if the universe had not allowed her to meet him, the arrogant man that Xavier often talked about.

However, why was this Xander who had been talking with her so different compared to what Xavier had always talked about? He did not sound arrogant.

She was supposed to hate this man. Xander was his brother's enemy. A traitor. Yet, why didn't she hate him?

Crystal took a deep breath, looking at Quinn with an annoyed expression once she realized that the destination of this Helicopter was none other than the helipad on the cruise ship. Very nice.

"Why on Earth did you bring me back here?!" snapped Crystal. "I brought your helicopter because I wanted to escape from the competition—"

"This is your brother's helicopter."

"Not a problem. We can still go!"

"Xavier threatened me, he could blow this helicopter up remotely if I don't bring you back."

Crystal grimaced. She knew Xavier wouldn't have the heart to do it, but still, she felt horrified to even imagine the helicopter they were in right now exploded in the sky. She hated fire.

"Never mind, Crys. Just accept it. Besides, I'm sure you'll like the winner," said Quinn with a wink.

Crystal snorted, glaring at the man annoyedly. "I don't like Elias. Even if he's Leonard. I'm already rich!"

Quinn smiled lopsidedly. "If the winner is... Aiden?"

There was a moment of silence as the helicopter prepared to land. "What do you mean?"

"Xavier told Elias to withdraw from the competition, now it's Aiden who occupies the top position," Quinn said quickly. "There's only one contest left, and he'll win. Don't worry, the last contest is his specialty."

"Are you serious?" A bright smile appeared on Crystal's face. "If I had known like this, I wouldn't have bothered to jump into the sea!"

"Or, promise God that you would become a nun." Xander, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, rushing down first while carrying Princessa once the helicopter landed.

Surprisingly, Crystal automatically went down—ignoring Quinn's screams. "Correction. I said I would consider it, I did not make any promise!" Crystal explained, trying to match Xander's long strides.

"Excuses."

Crystal stopped chasing after him and simply watched his sturdy back slowly moved further away from her. "Why? You don't want me to marry the winner of the competition? Ah! Are you still imagining my body wearing nothing but underwear, Willi—"

"Crystal Princessa Leonidas." A low baritone voice that she knew all too well stopped their strides and both of them hastily turned to where the voice had come from. Javier Leonidas wearing a black suit looking like a god of death, accompanied by Anggy, and several bodyguards behind them were staring intently at her and Xander in turn. His brow furrowed even deeper.

"Daddy ..," said Crystal in a squeaky voice. She knew Javier was really mad at her the second she had heard him calling her by her full name.

"Change your clothes," Javier growled, his gaze implying that he didn't like seeing her wrapped in a kimono towel. "After that, come and meet me. Don't forget to bring the man you were running away with!"

Crystal grimaced, trying to explain that she wasn't taking him to run away together, but Javier had already turned and left, followed by Anggy — who had bothered to look at Crystal — she shook her head slowly. Another alarm went off in her head, causing her to bite her lower lip hard.

"Come on, let's go in pretty. Your hair must be dried immediately."

Xander's relaxed voice interrupted her thoughts. She hastily straightened his gaze again at him. Did the man not know how serious their situation was? Why was he still worried about that damn cat? "Didn't you hear what my dad said?" Crystal asked, taking wide strides toward him.

Without a word, he moved away from her. "None of my business."

"Damn! Are you deaf? Daddy thinks you were running away with me!"

Those words stopped Xander on the edge of the door where Javier had disappeared, then turned to face Crystal with a big, annoying smile. "Isn't that the truth anyway, weren't you the one who kidnapped me?"

"You beast!"

"I am." Then, Xander glanced up, walked away from there, leaving her with her feet stomping in annoyance.