If a camera started recording this scene, it would surely make for a romantic love story!
After enjoying a mouthful herself, Angela thought about Richard. He carried her on his back, plucked white olives for her, and was even obliging enough to wash them for her. It would be far too selfish of her if she did not offer him one of the white olives.
âDo you want one?â Angela tilted her head to the side and asked.
âNoâ¦â Richard was about to reject her offer when he found a white olive stuffed into his mouth.
âHave one. Donât be shy. It tastes great!â Angela chuckled right beside his ear.
Her clear, melodious voice echoed in Richardâs ears. It sounded so mesmerizing that his mind went blank for a few seconds. He forgot all about his initial rejection and began chewing instead.
Heâs eating it!
Angela felt a peculiar sense of achievement, like she attained some kind of victory by breaking down Richardâs cold and aloof exterior.
She also had a roguish sense of amusement as she made up her mind to tease him whenever she felt bored in this place. It seemed like something fun that would keep her in a good mood.
Richard piggybacked Angela back to the baseâs main entrance. When Angela noticed the suggestive gazes that everyone else was throwing at them, she began to feel a little embarrassed, but Richard continued to carry her all the way to the infirmary.
The doctor checked Angelaâs foot and concluded that she had twisted her ankle and sprained her muscles. She would need to rest for a few days and stay lying down whenever she could.
Angela had no choice but to follow the doctorâs orders. It could not be helped.
After applying medication to Angelaâs ankle, the doctor said, âPlease wait here for a moment while I find a wheelchair to take you back to your room.â
âOh, donât trouble yourself with that.â Angela waved him down and turned her eyes toward the man who was currently standing on the side flipping through a medical book. âCaptain Lloyd, could you carry me back to my room?â
The doctor agreed with a smile. âThatâs a good idea. Itâd save me a trip to the warehouse. It wouldâve taken me quite a while to find a wheelchair there too.â
Richard snapped the book shut and placed it back on the shelf. His handsome face was neutral; there were no signs of annoyance or reluctance. After bending down, his strong, muscular arms reached under Angelaâs knees and arms and he hoisted her up like she weighed nothing. Just like that, she was safely tucked into his arms.
Angela instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Right at that moment, she could sense that this man was a hundred percent boyfriend material.
For some reason, whenever she stood beside him, she felt like she had the courage to stand against the world.
Angela was in the right position to observe his features up close, and from her viewing angle, his sharp, chiseled jaw looked particularly attractive.
She felt very secure in his arms too, with no shaking or wobbling at all. It was quite a comfortable ride.
Itâs so boring to just lie in bed all day, she thought to herself, so she decided to make a request.
âCaptain Lloyd, could I borrow your couch for a while? I want to lie in your room and read a book or two instead. My roomâs too small. Iâd feel claustrophobic.â
Richard frowned and said, âNo.â
âWhy not? I promise that Iâll just lie on the couch and read a book. I wonât touch anything else. I promise!â Angela raised her hand in all seriousness and beseeched him with pleading eyes.
Richard narrowed his eyes and fell silent for two seconds before turning down a different corridor that led to his room instead.
Angela smirked. He looks all cold and stern, but he is quite agreeable after all!
In the end, Angela got what she wanted. She lay down on Richardâs couch and got him to bring the book she was reading the last time over to her. After flipping through a few pages, Trevor and Jared came over.
They quickly checked in on her condition, and she brushed it off with a smile, saying that she had slipped out of carelessness.
âMiss Meyers, you should bring us along with you if you ever want to go somewhere next time. Weâll protect you,â Trevor said.
âSure.â Angela smiled gratefully.
âWhy did I call you two over?â A deep voice could be heard all of a sudden.
Immediately, Jared turned serious. âMiss Meyers, weâve decided to record a video of you and upload it to your social media accounts. Itâll serve as a distraction and youâd be in less danger as a result. Itâll also buy us some time to find the lipstick.â
âOh, of course. Iâll do whatever you need me to.â Angela ran her fingers through her hair and pressed her lips together before asking the two men in front of her, âCould I have a moment to put on some makeup?â
âYou look very beautiful even without makeup, Miss Meyers. I think you look great,â Trevor praised at once.
Jared quickly followed suit. âYes, you look great. You donât need to put on any makeup at all.â
Angela laughed a little shyly. âReally? Okay then. How should I pose?â
âYou can just sit on the couch with a book, and weâll take a few photos of you. Itâd be good if itâs a simple post sharing your daily life.â
Angela picked her book up and struck a natural-looking pose before flashing a serene smile at the camera. Then, she took the cup from the table beside her and began to pose with it. Soon enough, she was engrossed in an adorable, though slightly self-absorbed photoshoot.
In the midst of it all, Angela could sense that Richard, who was sitting at his desk opposite her, was staring at her too. Her face grew a little pink, which added a kittenish air to her.
Soon enough, Trevor and Jared were satisfied with the photos they had taken. Trevor was about to stand up when he suddenly bent forward and said quietly, âMiss Meyers, if you need any sort of medication and donât feel like asking the infirmary for it, feel free to come and ask us for help!â
Angela squinted in confusion. She did not know what he was talking about.
âMedication? What medication?â
âUmm⦠just the⦠the one to treat thatâ¦â Trevor spluttered for a bit before shoving Jared. âYou say it.â
Jaredâs face was red as well. After looking into Angelaâs curious eyes, he took a deep breath and explained, âHereâs the thing, Miss Meyers. Weâve looked into Dexter Kavinskyâs medical records and found out that he has a very critical sexually-transmitted disease. If you need that sort of medication, feel free to come to us for help.â
âYes, exactly. Donât feel shy about approaching us. Your healthâs more important,â Trevor quickly added.
Angela had turned scarlet by now. Was Dexterâs medical condition the reason why he never tried to sleep with her? He pretended to be someone innocent in love and even swore that she was his first love, and that he had never liked anyone before her.
A piercing gaze landed on her as well. It came from the man behind the desk.
The very thought of that b*stard Dexter made Angela radiate pure hatred. When she felt the gaze that came from the person at the desk, she instinctively looked over.
Richard swiftly averted his eyes, and his expression made it seem like he couldnât care less about this.
He took his cup and sipped at his tea ever so elegantly.
Angela took a deep breath. âI donât need any medication, but thank you both for your concern. Dexter and I never went that far in our relationship.â
Both Trevor and Jared were completely red in the face. They had asked out of concern for her, but right now, they felt like they had encroached on her personal space instead.
âThatâs good to hear,â Trevor said with a smile as he tugged Jared by the arm. âCome, letâs get back to work.â
Jared and Trevor dashed out of the room as quickly as possible and wisely closed the door behind them.
The atmosphere in the room was a little awkward. Angela bit her lip and her senses seemed to have momentarily taken leave of her as she asked Richard, âDo you believe what I just said?â
Richard glanced at her. âIt has nothing to do with me.â
Angela got a little frantic for some reason. âYou donât believe what I said?â She raised her hand to swear, âI swear on my life that what I said earlier was completely true. Iâm in excellent health with no sexually-transmitted diseases at all. Please believe me.â
Richard frowned. âYou should be swearing about this to your future husband instead. Why are you swearing it to me?â
Angela turned bright red yet again as she explained in embarrassment, âIâm worried you wonât let me use your bathroom. Thatâs why I have to explain myself clearly to you.â
Richard checked his watch. âStay here and donât run around.â
He walked out of the room without further ado.
Angela hid her face in embarrassment. Why did I swear to him? How conceited of me!
That night, Angela could not head over for dinner herself, but someone was kind and thoughtful enough to deliver her food to Richardâs room for her.
Although Angela had only stayed there for a day, she could already feel how genuine and sincere everyone was, unlike the unforgiving people with a hidden agenda who used to surround her. Because of that, she started to fall in love with the relaxing environment.
While having her meal, she proceeded to read a book but soon felt sleepy while doing so. Thus, she covered her face with it and unknowingly dozed off shortly after.
When it was 9.30PM at night, Richard opened the door and entered the room, thinking Angela must have already returned to her room by then, only to see her sleeping on his couch. At the sight of that, he couldnât help but feel annoyed, finding the lady troublesome. The next second, he walked closer to her and lifted the book that was covering her face, revealing her good looks in the illuminating light.
With her long hair right behind her head, her beautiful appearance, coupled with her smooth skin, accentuated her elegance.
Richard squinted, realizing it was his first time ever looking and admiring a ladyâs good looks so closely;
it was as if Angelaâs face was a portrait on display for his personal enjoyment. In the meantime, the rosy cheeks and her thick eyelashes, along with her high nasal bridge and full red lips, were especially some of the most notable facial features on Angelaâs face.
As Richard continued to keep his eyes on the ladyâs face, he somehow began to feel suffocated, his body tensing, especially at the sight of her red lips. Feeling a strange urge that was surging through him on the inside, he then stood up and left the room immediately, as if Angela was some sort of disease that was attacking his heart.
On the other hand, she remained asleep until a loud bang on the door woke her up. She then opened her eyes and sat bolt upright irritably shortly before she wondered why she fell asleep in Richardâs room. After that, she took a look at the time and realized it was almost 10.00PM, feeling bewildered that he was still not back in his room at that hour.
Then, Angela stood up from the couch, feeling better in her ankle because it was now less painful, much to her relief. So, she limped out of Richardâs room and made her way back to hers.
On the other hand, Richard was covered in sweat from head to toe, as he was playing basketball alone on the court, putting more effort than usual into every shot without giving himself a break. As he managed to score a three-point goal in several consecutive shots, his subordinate happened to run into him.
âWhy are you still, Richie?â Sean asked.
âI canât sleep.â Richard aimed at the basket and took his shot accurately, looking very much like a professional basketball player.
âLetâs play together.â Sean suggested that they played a basketball match.
The same night, Angela was sound asleep, as she could finally have some peace of mind, thanks to the forgiving people and environment there. However, she quickly sensed something strange in the next three days when she noticed Richardâs absence both in the canteen, the field, and even his room.
Since his room wasnât locked, she could go in and out of it freely but failed to find any signs of the man.
When she finally ran into Trevor, she asked, âTrevor, where is Richard?â
âHe is away for the next few days.â
âWhen will he be back?â
âHe didnât mention that.â
After hearing that, Angela was annoyed with the fact that Richard didnât tell her head before he left.
Without Richard around, she felt as if something was missing in her life, with less joy and more boredom. Because of that, she would carry a book with her to the canteen every day and spend the entire afternoon there. Soon, a week passed by without Angela realizing it by herself as she began to get used to Richardâs absence, but even so, she would still occasionally wonder when he would be back.
One evening, she was strolling around the compound when her ankle was finally feeling a lot better. As she sat at the parterre and read her book, she suddenly heard the sound of a helicopter and looked up out of curiosity. The next moment, she noticed a chopper flying over her head toward the field, which made her wonder whether it was the man who was back. Thrilled and excited, she carried her book tightly in her arms and scurried toward the field.
As Angelaâs hair was billowing in the strong wind and covering her face, she had to block the breeze with her hand and squinted to see what was up ahead. When the wind finally stopped blowing, Richard opened the door and stepped out of the cockpit, entering the ladyâs view. Wearing a camo t-shirt, he seemed even more like a strong, tough guy due to his intimidating aura.
With a bright smile on her face, Angela looked at Richard just as he gazed back at her with his luggage in his hand. At that moment, the helicopterâs main rotor began to spin rapidly as it slowly levitated into the air, generating a strong twirl of wind that blew at Angelaâs hair and messed it up. However, she quickly tried to fix her hair, tilting her head slightly to the side as she scampered toward the man with a smile. âYouâre finally back!â
Meanwhile, Richard felt his heart skipping a beat, staring at Angelaâs smile in the illuminating evening hue. Has she been waiting for my return all this while? As the lady was holding a book in her hand, the evening sun was shining on her face, her long hair running all the way down to her waist. At the same time, her smooth fair skin only served to make her look even more gorgeous and pretty.
The next moment, Richard nodded at her in response and directly moved on with his luggage in his hand, as if he was reluctant to even greet her. Noticing the manâs indifferent reaction, Angela was stunned to find how nonchalant he could be. I came all the way to receive him, but he didnât seem to have a problem leaving me here. Does he really hate me so much? At the thought of that, Angela was reminded of the time she threw her lipsticks away not long before she imposed on him to bring her to the place she was now to take care of her. Considering the trouble she was putting him through, she started to see the reason he hated her, which she no longer found surprising. Nevertheless, a thought to sound Richard out crossed her mind as she fixed her gaze upon the man who was walking away.
Soon, she let out a painful moan. âOuch!â She rubbed her ankle, pretending to look like she had just sprained it.
Upon hearing her moan, Richard, who had already taken a dozen steps ahead, looked back at Angela and noticed her crouching down on the ground. He then dropped his luggage and approached her, standing before her while showing his concern. âAre you alright?â
âMy ankle still hasnât recovered⦠And I accidentally hurt it again when I stepped on a stone.â Angela bit her lip, gazing at the man in a sympathetic manner. âCan you carry me back?â
As Richard stared at Angela for a few seconds, the ladyâs face blushed bashfully. At the same time, she was wondering whether the man had seen through her for her lie. Oops! I guess my acting was terrible.
He isnât going to believe in me, is he? However, just when she was about to get up, the man suddenly extended his arm and reached out to her, carrying her in his arms in the next second. At that moment, Angela was seen with a pair of smiling eyes, surprised by Richardâs reaction to carry her because she thought he had always hated her.
Leaving his luggage behind, Richard carried Angela all the way to her room while drawing the attention of many others along the way. Although Angela hid her face in the manâs embrace in an embarrassed manner, the man ignored her expression and continued to carry her to the door before he finally put her down. âGo back into your room.â The man told her and turned around, walking away.
âThank you!â Angela said. Upon opening the door, she entered her room complacently, her face blushing as she could only hear the buzzing in her head. She then looked down and thought about her acting. Damn. Did I just nail it, or was I just lucky? It was my left ankle that was injured last time, but I was rubbing my right ankle when I was acting just now. How could Richard not notice that? If he had, he would have seen through my acting. In that instant, a strong sense of embarrassment surged through her because she believed Richard should have been able to notice what was wrong, considering how shrewd he was. Why was he still willing to entertain me? He even agreed to carry me.
She buried her face in the blanket while feeling an urge to confront Richard in his room about her question, wanting to find out whether he saw through her acting.
Having contained her curiosity until after her dinner, Angela took advantage of the opportunity to return Richard his book and knocked on his door. As soon as the door was open, the man was seen wearing a casual outfit, his laptop on his desk, which indicated that he was in the middle of his work.
âHi⦠Iâm here to return the book.â Angela was a little too embarrassed to look Richard in the eye, even struggling to speak in full sentences.
Richard stood aside and let Angela enter his room. She then walked to his shelf and put the book back to where it was, only to take another book away. She then peeked at the man who was working in front of his laptop for a few moments and took a deep breath, deciding to find out the answer to her question. âUm. Richard, there is something I want to ask you. Why were you willing to carry me this afternoon?â Angela asked, her eyes wide open.
âI thought you said your ankle was injured, didnât you?â the man replied without even looking at her.
âYeah, I did, but donât you remember which of my ankles was hurt last time?â Angela asked guiltily.
Upon hearing the ladyâs question, Richard curled his lips upward, his eyes filled with mischief and playfulness. When Angela saw his ambiguous smile, she could only hear buzzing in her head. Just as I expected, he knew I was just pretending. âIf you knew I was pretending, why did you still go ahead and carry me?â Angela decided that she might as well reveal everything, abandoning her pride.
âConsider this the last time of your mischief,â Richard replied calmly, implying that he didnât want her to pull a prank on him ever again.
Angela grunted and said, âYou didnât bother to talk to me this afternoon. Iâd been waiting for you for a week, but when I showed up to receive you, you didnât bother to say anything to me.â
Richard, who was typing at that moment, paused and asked with a deep voice, âWhy were you waiting for me?â
âI was worried about you. After all, Iâm wanted by many international crime syndicates, and I was afraid for your safety.â Angela spoke her mind, revealing the moments in the past few days when she was troubled by those disturbing thoughts. In fact, she even woke up to a nightmare in which Richard was running amidst a shootout before an explosion happened. When she woke up from her sleep, she found herself covered in cold sweats.
Soon, Richard closed his laptop and calmly said, âI am and will be fine, so you should worry about yourself more instead.â
âI know Iâve been imposing on you lately, so I guess itâs not surprising for you to hate me.â Angela resented herself out of nowhere.
As soon as Richard heard that, he turned his attention to Angela and wondered when he had ever said that to her. âYou should return to your room now,â he said, thinking it wasnât appropriate for both of them to stay in the room because it was getting late. In the meantime, Angela had no choice but to leave the man to it as she reluctantly embraced the plausibly unpleasant truth that the man hated her.
The next morning, Angela tidied her room and went for a walk just when she ran into a man with an approachable and cheerful auraâSean. âGood morning, Miss Meyers!â
âGood morning!â
âHave you had your breakfast?â Sean asked.
âNope, I havenât.â
âWould you like to join me then?â
Angela pondered for a while, thinking it wasnât that bad to have some company since she found it boring to have her breakfast alone. âSure.â She smiled and walked to the canteen with the man.
As a man who was over six feet tall, Sean made a perfect match with Angela, thanks to his good looks.
Because of that, both of them turned many heads wherever they walked past. They look like a lovely couple, donât they?
After sitting down opposite Sean, Angela didnât seem to have a good appetite when the food was served because of her bad mood. Noticing how she was picking at her food, Sean said in surprise, âYou need to eat something, Miss Meyers. You need to get your strength up!â
âLetâs just drop the miss. Call me Angela instead. Itâs not like Iâm a daughter from some rich family,â
Angela said.
âSure thing. Iâm one year older than you are anyway, so Angela it is then! Come on! Have some eggs.
They are a perfect choice for a healthy breakfast.â Sean proceeded to peel off the shell before giving her the eggs.
Although Angela shook her head in refusal, Sean cordially went on to peel off half of the eggâs shell before he gave the egg to her. âCome on. I peeled off the shell for you, so youâre going to have to eat it now.â
Thinking it wasnât appropriate for her to turn Sean down, Angela took the eggs in her hand and said, âThank you, Sean.â
Meanwhile, Jared and Trevor happened to see the intimate interaction between Angela and Sean, thinking they would make a perfect couple. After their breakfast, Sean left for his work while Angela decided to take a stroll outside to admire natureâs beauty. Having arrived in the meeting room, Sean was seen humming with his laptop in his hand just when Trevor and Jared playfully winked at him.
âLook who it is! Sean seems to be in a good mood.â Jared pulled his friendâs leg.
âWell, he just had a sweet moment during breakfast with Miss Meyers. So, how did that not lift his mood?â
âWhat are you guys talking about?!â Sean was annoyed.
âYou two were chatting and laughing with each other. Besides, you also peeled off the eggshell for Miss Meyers, didnât you? But donât worry, we, as your friends, will be sure to help you win her heart,â Trevor announced confidently.
âExactly! Weâll be sure to offer you all the help you need, no matter what it takes.â Jared promised, clenching his fists.
âCome on. Stop making fun of me!â Sean tried to dismiss his friendsâ encouragement with a bashful look on his face. âMiss Meyers isnât going to even look at me.â
âBut I saw the affectionate look on her face this morning when she looked at you.â Trevor expressed his envy toward Sean.
On the other hand, Richard was standing at the door outside the meeting room, quietly listening to the conversation among his subordinates, until he heard a curious voice from behind him. âWhy didnât you go inside, Richard?â Willy asked.
It was then that Richard finally opened the door and startled the three of them, making them feel annoyed about the unpredictable appearances that their superior always made.
âWhat were you guys talking about?â Willy asked out of curiosity. âIs there anything new about our assignment?â
âOh, nothing. We were just talking about Miss Meyers and Sean,â Jared blurted out.
It was then that Trevor quickly shifted his gaze to their boss as he noticed the nonchalant expression on his face. Then, Richard turned around and wrote something on the whiteboard, revealing his muscular back as he faced away from them. âYou are only allowed to talk about work here. Nothing else more, including personal matters.â The man wrote on the whiteboard and made his order heard.
In that instant, all four men kept their mouths shut, feeling helpless yet surprised that their boss demanded them to keep their light-mindedness in check, even though that was what they had been doing all the while. For that, they all proceeded to focus on their job without saying a single word more.
When it was Seanâs turn to present his job, he made a trivial mistake but was treated harshly by Richard with some mean criticisms. Although Sean was upset about that, he kept his feelings to himself, thinking his mistake wasnât so severe that he deserved to be meanly criticized.
On the other hand, Angela was sitting beside a fountain while fiddling with the grass in a bored manner.
At the same time, she shifted her gaze everywhere, from the sky to the grass, until her eyes fell upon the water where a little fish was swimming around her feet. At that instant, she was tempted to catch it out of a whim, so she extended her arm to reach it. However, the fish looked as if it was trying to toy with her, dodging Angelaâs catch and forcing her to bend over for better reach.
Nevertheless, she suddenly lost her footing and accidentally plunged into the depths of the pond.
âAhâ¦â The lady found herself drenched from head to toe in a disheveled manner. At the same time, she lost interest in catching the fish, but when she looked back at it in the water, she felt as if she had been tricked by the animal. This fish was trying to fool me. âJust wait and see. Iâll be back with a net next time,â Angela said in frustration and made her way toward the baseâs entrance.
Since Angela was wet, she was desperate to get a shower. Nonetheless, when everyone saw her state, they all asked her what had happened in a concerned manner, to which she explained that she had just fallen into the water. While Angela later returned to her room to get changed, one of Richardâs subordinates entered the meeting room to deliver some documents and casually told the five men about what he had just heard. âMiss Meyers fell into the water just now,â he stated casually.
âWhat? Is she hurt?â
âIâm not too sure, but she definitely looks wet from head to toe.â
The next second, Richard sprang up from his seat and opened the door, leaving the meeting room in a hurry. In the meantime, his subordinates were left wondering where he was going as they exchanged gazes with each other.
Angela went into Richardâs room with her clothes in her arms. She hurriedly turned on the shower because she felt extremely cold as it was fall now.
Richard pushed the door to his room and heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom. He didnât have to ask to guess who was inside, so he exited the room and continued back in the direction of the conference room.
After Angela showered, she felt that her whole body was warm, and she simply sat in Richardâs room and read a book as if his room was hers.
At noon, she went to the dining hall. After she had prepared her meal, she sat down at the table where Trevor and the others were sitting. Richard also sat down right across from Angela.
âMiss Angela, I heard that you fell into the water this morning. What happened?â Trevor asked curiously.
âUgh, letâs not talk about it. I fell into the spring behind the mountain.â After Angela finished speaking, she glanced at the man sitting directly opposite her.
âHow did you fall? Did you slip?â
âNo, there was such a big fish in that spring. I wanted to catch it, but I slipped and fell instead. Boohoo!â
Angela recounted the events with a depressed expression.
Jared almost burst into laughter from the side, but fortunately, he controlled it.
âSean, do you have time in the afternoon? Letâs find a fishing net. Weâll go and get that fish back, shall we?â Angela asked Sean.
Sean nodded almost without hesitation. âOkay! Letâs do it.â
Seeing that he readily agreed, Angela smiled happily. âWell, itâs settled.â
Trevor and Jared looked at each other. Sure enough, Angela was interested in Sean. At this moment, the man opposite Angela said, âMy subordinates donât have time to accompany you to fool around.â
âBoss, I doââ Before Sean finished speaking, he met a pair of seriously cold eyes, and his words were forced back into his throat.
Angela blinked. âI am only borrowing them for half an hour.â
âItâs not a matter of time; they canât lose their discipline, and they shouldnât spend their time on things outside of work.â Richardâs eyes were cold; he looked like he would not be easy to deal with.
The other three felt that there was something wrong with the bossâ emotions.
Angela couldnât help but choke, after which she had no choice but to turn to Sean. âSean, can you find me a fishing net after this? Iâll go by myself.â
âNo problem. I remember there is one in the tool room.â Sean was very happy to help her.
âAngela, is it fine for you to go alone?â
âOf course, thereâs no problem! Donât underestimate me. I swear to bring that fish back to make soup.â
Angela was determined to get the fish.
This time, Jared couldnât hold back his laughter. Trevor quickly tugged on Jaredâs clothes to stop him.
Angela also laughed. âJust wait and see! I will definitely get it back.â
âMiss Angela, we believe in your ability,â Trevor hurriedly chimed in.
After the meal, Sean found her a light and functioning fishing net in no time. Angela decided to set off after taking a break.
After the meal, everyone on the base performed their duties. Angela was the most leisurely person among them. She changed into sports attire, picked up the fishing net, and went out. The scenery along the way was picturesque, with gold and orange leaves carpeting the ground. Fall was, beyond a doubt, a perfect time for outdoor activities.
In the conference room, there were four people who were working obediently.
Trevor suddenly had a whim and glanced at Jared and Sean. âThe boss isnât here, so should we sneak out to help her with the fish?â
Jared was the most playful and was the first to raise his hand in approval. âOkay, okay! I like doing this kind of thing the most.â
Sean also felt that he could be lazy today. âOkay, letâs go!â
Only Willy was sticking to his post. He told them, âMake it quick, alright? Iâll cover for you all in the meantime.â
âOkay, Willy. Youâre my best pal!â Trevor patted Willy on the shoulder, and the three of them hurriedly opened the door of the conference room.
Next to the small mountain spring, the water was clean and clear. There was a fish the size of oneâs palm swimming there. It was very eye-catching as it turned over and rolled leisurely in the spring.
Angela squatted down with a smug smile like a hidden hunter. âYou canât run away now!â
After speaking, Angela stretched out her hand and put the fish net into the water, and then stared at the fish so intently that she didnât notice when someone approached her from behind.
The man wrapped his arms around himself and quietly watched her clumsily fishing for the fish. Angela had gotten a lot of leaves in her net. When she was about to stand up to clear it, a male voice suddenly came from behind. âDo you need help?â
âAh!â Angela turned around in fright. There was a lot of moss under her feet, so her body lost balance, and she suddenly lurched toward the spring.
Before it was too late, a long arm grabbed one of her arms and pulled her up quickly.
Angelaâs whole body slammed into the manâs well-built chest. Other than the pain in her nose, her head was dizzy from the impact, so she raised her head suddenly in anger.
The man was worried about whether he had hit her with too much force, so he lowered his head.
Their two faces were almost pressed together as their noses tips faced each other. Moreover, their breathing came close together, and their eyes were looking at each other.
It was as if the air had frozen at this moment.
Angelaâs face flushed red to the roots of her ears. She was about to take a step back, but her feet were still slippery. Hence, she hurriedly grabbed the shirt on the manâs chest as her body leaned into his.
âCanât you make some noise next time? Youâll scare me to death,â Angela said angrily.
Richard took her hand, and they came to the flatter ground on the side. âFishing is not suitable for girls.â
âThen you help me! Say that earlier next time!â Angela smiled happily.
At this moment, hiding behind a big tree 30 feet away were the three others. Their three pairs of eyes widened in disbelief as they exchanged glances.
The suggestive scene just now naturally did not escape them. It seemed that their presence was pointless; their boss had taken the lead in helping the damsel in distress. Moreover, just now, they had hugged each other so tightly.
âLetâs leave.â Trevor waved his hand, and the other two walked away in the direction of the way they came.
Sean asked, âDoes the boss like Angela?â
âDuh! Anyone who can see knows that,â Trevor said with some annoyance. âThe boss is too selfish. He doesnât allow us to help because he is saving the chance for himself!â
Sean suddenly understood the scolding he got in the conference room in the morning. Sigh! I canât be too enthusiastic about Angela in the future, or Iâll be taught a lesson.
âThe boss has good taste, and Miss Angela is a good match for him.â Jared was happy he witnessed what happened.
âTo be honest, itâs time for the boss to get married at his age. I used to worry that he wouldnât pursue any woman at all, but now it seems that Iâm worrying too much! The boss is full of skills!â Trevor said with admiration.
âThen we can assist him well in the future and let them be together. This way, we can make Miss Angela our comrade.â Jared smiled.
âThat is a must.â
The three of them went back while chatting, and next to the spring, Angela looked at the man squatting there fishing for fish. He looked like he had removed his cold and inhuman side for the time being and became a little warmer.
Her heart fluttered for no reason.
She didnât care about the fish that caused her to fall into the water at the moment but began to think about why Richard suddenly appeared there.
Did he come for me? Was he worried about me?
At this moment, the fishing net appeared before her, and the fish that was caught in the net jumped around, looking panicked.
âWow! You caught it.â Angela was overjoyed and then looked at the fish. She thought that it looked rather pitiful out of the water, so she put the net into the water.
The fish wanted to break through the net several times, so Angela sighed and said to it, âSince you look so pitiful, Iâll let you go!â
After speaking, Angela turned the fishing net over and let the fish go directly while the man beside her looked at her speechlessly. Soon, she fluffed her long hair as she explained, âI forgive it. I wonât catch it and make soup with it.â
Richardâs gaze deepened a little; a girl exuding kindness was the most mesmerizing.
Angela stood up, and suddenly there was a flash of light in her eyes. She hurriedly looked over at what was shining in the middle of the spring.
âWhat is that?â Angela asked, pointing to the shiny object.
Richard turned his head to look at it. Inside a gray-white stone, there was a translucent, shiny object, but it was stuck in the rock and only revealed a small edge.
âWait here.â After Richard finished speaking, he took off his shoes and socks and went into the water to get it for her. Angela couldnât help but be moved. Is he retrieving the shiny thing for me?
Richard took the object out of the water, and it turned out to be a small, natural white crystal.
âWow! Itâs a crystal!â Angela happily took it over, blinking her beautiful and brilliant eyes.
The manâs gaze was directly attracted to her. In his eyes, this womanâs eyes were clearer and more beautiful than the crystal.
âI got something good!â Angela happily held the crystal but was quickly reminded of something. âIf we can turn it into necklaces, how about we make one for each of us?â she asked the man.
âI donât wear things like that.â Richard refused.
âBut you got it out of there!â Angela was looking forward to sharing it with him.
âKeep it for yourself.â After Richard finished speaking, he sat aside and put on his shoes and socks.
Angela looked at him, her gaze shining. The more he didnât want it, the more she wanted to give it to him.
Iâll see if he dares to throw it away! She couldnât help but feel a sense of dominance in her heart.
âCaptain Lloyd, why are you suddenly kind enough to come to help me?â Angela sat on a rock, holding the crystal in her hand.
âI promised your parents to protect you,â Richard explained lightly.
Angelaâs eyes flashed with disappointment. It turned out that he didnât come because of her at all!
Moreover, everything he did for her now was just his duty.
âIâm not that pampered. You donât need to protect me in everything.â Angela resisted him like a rebellious child, and after she finished speaking, she stood up and pointed to the mountain road before them. âIâm going to climb the mountain. You donât need to come with me. â
âDonât be ridiculous. Letâs go back.â Richard stood up and ordered.
âIâm not your subordinate, and Iâm not required to listen to your orders.â Angela finished speaking and decided to climb the mountain.
Richardâs patience was limited, and he didnât like others disobeying his orders. He stepped forward, and when Angela had just walked forward a few steps, he grabbed her hand and led her down the mountain.
âHey! Richard, let me go! You canât be so bossy.â Resentment welled up in Angela as she pushed away his hand.
Seeing that she was about to get away, in the next second, the man lifted her legs and carried her on his shoulder. Angela felt that she was turned upside down and was taken aback.
âRichard, let me go!â Angela was so angry that she kicked her legs, but the man ignored her struggle and carried her to the gate of the base, attracting everyoneâs attention.
At this moment, the three people who were standing nearby drinking water looked at this scene in shock.
Jared patted Trevor on the shoulder. âYou said what you said just now a little too early. The captain doesnât know how to pursue girls properly.â
âHow can the captain treat Angela like this? Heâs not being gentle!â Sean also sighed.
Angela was carried by Richard all the way to the door of her room before he put her down. She flushed with anger, but the man turned and left as if nothing had happened.
âHey, Richard! I hate you,â Angela blurted out angrily.
Richardâs footsteps stopped suddenly. He paused in place for a few seconds, and then he turned his head slightly. âI donât need you to like me.â
Angela had just regretted her impulsive words, but seeing the manâs reaction, she suddenly became angry again. âDonât worry. I will never like you in this life.â
Richard frowned and walked away.
Angela took a few deep breaths as she was so angry. Iâve never met a man as difficult as him.
At this time, Trevor and Jared came over and saw Angela standing at the door, holding it with her face flushed and resentful. So, they smiled and came to comfort her.
âMiss Angela, are you alright?â
âDid our captain hurt you?â
Angela smiled gratefully at them. âIâm okay, but thank you.â
âOur captain is usually a very nice guy. Heâs like a brother to us. Maybe heâs been among men for too long, so he doesnât know how to be gentle with girls. Donât blame him.â Trevor tried to say good things about Richard.
Angela waved her hand generously. âI didnât take it to heart; Iâll just have to see him less in the future.â
At 9.00PM, Angela felt a little itchy, so she wanted to take a bath. But thinking of her relationship with Richard, she didnât want to go to his room to shower. She would rather go to the public bathroom.
Hence, Angela took her pajamas and towel, then went to the public bathroom. She found one that was empty and started to shower.
When she came out wearing her conservative pajamas after showering, she suddenly bumped into Jared and Trevor ahead. They were only wearing bath towels around their waists.
Oh my God!
Instead, it was the two of them who were shocked. They hurriedly tried to cover themselves.
âMiss Angela, why are you taking a shower here?â Trevor asked in surprise with his back turned.
âYeah! A lady like you shouldnât be here.â
Angela looked at them openly. She was not embarrassed at all. âWhat do you mean? I can shower anywhere. Now, if youâll excuse me, Iâll get some rest.â
After speaking, Angela left, leaving Trevor and Jared blushing.
After the two showered, they went straight to Richardâs room. Having knocked on the door, Trevor instantly reported to Richard.
âCaptain, we saw Miss Angela taking a bath in the public bathroom just nowâ¦â
After Trevor finished speaking, he immediately covered his mouth and corrected himself. âNo, no. We saw Miss Angela going there to take a bath, and she ran into us.â
âYes, we almost came out in our underwear,â Jared added.
âFortunately, we wrapped ourselves in bath towels; otherwise, we would be embarrassed to death.â
Richard calmly listened to their explanation, but his face was still a little ugly.
What the hell is this woman angry about? I only disallowed her to climb the mountain! With her physique, even if she can climb up, she definitely wonât be able to come down.
Now, at this time, she went to the public bathroom to take a bath. There were so many men there, yet she was not afraid at all.
âCaptain, go and admit your mistake to Miss Angela and let her go back to your room to take a shower!
She really scared us to death,â Trevor said.
âGo back to your room and rest,â Richard said to them, turning around and closing the door.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds but had no choice but to go back to the room. It seemed that they had thought too much. The captain doesnât care about Miss Angela at all!
Richard returned to the sofa and picked up the book he was reading just now, but he suddenly had no interest. He took a deep breath and dropped the book. Angelaâs appearance after her bath involuntarily appeared in his mind. He had to admit that her flushed face had a special kind of charm.
Does she want all the men in the base to appreciate her freshly showered appearance?
Richard let out an irritated sigh, got up, and pushed the door to go out.
Angela had just taken a shower and was about to go to bed when there was a knock on her door.
She felt a little odd. It was so late, so who was looking for her? She got up and opened the door, only to see a tall figure with an oppressive aura outside the door, blocking the light outside.