Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“OUCH! WHAT THE HELL?!” Ace creamed deafeningly after I kicked his stomach.

I was covered with sweat under the rays of the sun from above, chasing my breath. We are in the garden, doing training. I have to work myself out with the upcoming Mask Battle.

“I am your brother!” He exclaimed again, still lying down on the ground, with his hand placed on his stomach. His face was crumpled, greeting his teeth simultaneously.

“I got carried away,” I replied as I grabbed the bottled water on the table. I sat there for a while and hid from the sun.

“Really? Look at Nathan,” Louis commented and showed me Nathan's face.

I bit my lower lip and shrugged. “I was sure that my fist landed gently.”

“It surely didn't,” Nathan uttered.

“I have to train myself harder. As you said, that battle is not easy. Whoever would be my opponent, I have to win no matter what if I still want to live.” That battle should never be my death.

“I give up. I don't want to be your punching bag for your preparation,” Ace glared at me and shook his head.

“I know someone who can train you,” Louis muttered.

The moment I saw how his eyes twinkled, I knew that I would not like his idea. For so many years that I have been with Louis, I know how his mind runs every time.

“I don't like that look,” I was already warning him.

“Spill it!” Ace pushed.

“Him,” our eyes shifted to whom he was talking about. My lips parted when I saw the naive man standing a bit far from us in the garden.

He's really doing his job well. That uniform isn't enough to hide those mad biceps and his broad chest. From here, I could vividly see his well-shaped jawline and his pointed nose.

Damn, he really has the looks— not for a bodyguard, but for a model rather. This guy looks expensive.

I shut my eyes firmly when I realized what I was thinking. What the hell? Am I praising his looks right now? Hell, no, Adira.

“No,” I turned it down immediately.

“What? But he's good!” Louis pouted in front of me, trying to convince me.

“I agree. He defeated you once. He's perfect for the job,” Ace was on the same page, which pissed me off.

“Don't tell me you agree, too?” I raised my brows at Nathan, but he still nodded at me.

“It's still a no,” I said firmly, too hard to be persuaded by them.

“Chase, come here!”

“Hey, what are you doing?!” I panicked when I saw him walking towards us now. Why am I even panicking? My damn chest suddenly began to throb.

“Yes? Do you need anything?” He politely asked.

When that amusing smile flashed upon his lips, Louis almost lost his balance as he trembled in one snap. I smirked and shook my head when his lips parted as if he fell with one smile from Chase.

“You're really a gay,” I heard Ace mumble.

“My sister needs someone to train with her. There's this thing coming, a battle, you know? She has to win. I believe that you are perfect for the job,” Ace explained furtherly.

“No need. I can handle it myself.” I remained firm, sticking with my decision.

Damn. I still can't accept that this guy defeated me. I feel like he's trampling on my pride and belittling me.

“Adira, seriously?” Louis rolled his eyes at me.

“I can do that if Adira will agree,” now, his eyes turned at me, still wearing that damn amusing smile.

I looked away immediately. Something inside my chest began to drum all of a sudden. Fuck. Why am I loving that smile?

“Hey, that's not a bad idea. You said you're willing to do everything to win the battle, then why not agree with this one?” Ace whispered beside me, trying his best to lower his voice so Chase wouldn't hear him.

“I know enough to win the Mask Battle, Ace. I don't need him,” I replied sharply.

“This is for your own sake. If you cannot defeat him, that would be the same for the other Mafias, Adira. They can eat you alive,” I turned silent because of that. I glanced at Chase and he kept that amusing smile.

“Please?” Ace gave me his puppy eyes.

“Fine,”

“Yes! Finally!” Louis.

“Thank God,” Nathan mumbled.

“When do we start?” Chase asked. I don't know if that smile was still genuine or if he is trying to play with me.

“Tomorrow,” I replied shortly. “Be ready, I won't be easy on you this time.” I left him with my sharp stares before I walked away from there.

In the afternoon, we had lunch together with my Dad, Louis, and Ace. I couldn't help but stare where my mother used to sit. I still long for her. I remember how he always sat there and flash us her lovely smile that could surely calm the table’s storm.

“So, did Otis sign the papers?” My Dad asked. I was dozing off. Ace had to pinch me beside him for me to wake up from my senses.

“Yeah,” I replied. “He will go to the company next week.”

“Good. I think you should get close to him. Who knows? You two can end up being together,”

Before I could even react, Louis and Ace coughed while eating. Ace even slammed his chest a bit, and wasn't expecting what my father said.

“Dad, that's not gonna happen. Stop that dream,” I could not hide my irritation anymore.

“I said who knows, Adira. You cannot say that. If you always work together, perhaps you can fall for him,” I shook my head immediately.

“No way, I hate him.”

We all stopped when I heard Chase chuckled a bit near me. When he realized that we were staring at him, he quickly stopped and cleared his throat.

“What's the problem? Why do you hate him?”

“He is annoying and arrogant,” I replied. “I hate men like him.”

“I agree, Dad.” Ace winked at me as he helped me.

“Still…it would be good to tie the knot with the Oliveros,” he chuckled.

“Well, it's never gonna happen.”

“Perhaps Otis’ twin, Dad.” I glared at Ace when he suggested that. What the hell? Why are they pushing me to that clan? They haven't even gained my trust yet.

“Stop it. I will not marry any of them,” I stopped from eating. This topic is making me lose my appetite.

“Fine, fine.” Ace chuckled.

“Besides, I still don't trust him. That smile was deceiving,” I mentioned. I don't feel good about his vibe. It's telling me something that is dangerous about him.

“He will soon gain your trust, dear.” I lost my hope to my father. He won't really stop pushing me to that Otis guy.

“Dad, I only agree to this because we are in this situation. If not, I will never agree to join hands with him,” I only had no choice.

“But he's handsome,” Louis commented.

“Every man is handsome in your eyes,” Ace shook her head.

“I'm telling the truth!” He exclaimed, defending Otis.

“Then marry him, Louis.”

“Girl, if I have a vagina, I will marry him immediately.”

“Louis!” Ace shouted unbelievably. I was not surprised anymore. Louis always talks like that.

“What? It's not like you're a kid, Ace!” He acted like flipping his hair even though he has a manly haircut.

The next morning, I woke up at 4 am. I have to go workout and do stretching before I proceed with the training with Chase. I was expecting that he is not yet awake as I remember not telling him what time we will start.

“Yes, that room, Ms. Adira.” One of my men said.

They have schedules to make sure that the entire base is still guarded 24 hours. I walked towards the room where he told me Chase room is. I had to breathe heavily before I decided to knock.

“Chase,” I called when no one responded.

“Hey! Wake up! The training starts now,” I slammed the door a bit to wake him up, but no one opened the door.

“Chase!” I heaved a heavy sigh. I hate waiting the most. I'm losing my patience in this kind of situation swiftly.

“I'm coming in,” I muttered before I quickly opened the door, barging in.

My brows crossed when I didn't find him on the bed. The bed was clean, there's no sign of someone who slept here.

“Chase?” I called again. The deafening silence inside is eating me.

“I should have not really agreed with this,” I said to myself and was about to turn my back.

“Adira?”

I froze like damn ice when I finally found the person that I was looking for. I felt like a statue, glued in that position. All of a sudden, my cheeks began to burn as my eyes traveled down on his body.

Those abs sparkled right through my eyes, as if they were trying to captivate me.

Chase is half-naked in front of me. In one snap, I feel like I'm losing my strength early in the morning.

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