Chapter 12
“Jonford’s Drake Group?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s the new energy car company my grandfather invested in and founded years ago. He grew tired of it, so he handed it over to my father-in-law. If you’re interested, I can have him give it to you!”
“No. I just need Drake to support Baroque Group,” Nash replied flatly.
“Understood.”
With that, Nash hung up the phone and returned to the meeting room, where Hera and Skadi were just coming back in.
Noticing the new band-aids on Skadi’s face, Nash couldn’t hold back. “I think you should go home and rest for a while,” he suggested.
Skadi had Stage Four power, which was simply too weak to stand against someone like Albino, who was likely a Stage Nine expert. With Albino dead, the Watsons would surely retaliate. The top wealthiest family in Jonford wouldn’t let it slide. They might even send grandmasters after them. With Skadi’s current abilities, she wouldn’t stand a chance, let alone protect Hera.
Skadi shot him a wary glance. “What? You’re sending me away so soon? You don’t trust me to protect Hera?”
“If I had acted earlier, you wouldn’t have ended up like this,” she added with a sharp tone.
Nash smiled nonchalantly. “From now on, I’ll be responsible for Hera’s safety.”
Skadi eyed him skeptically. “You?” She raised an eyebrow. “I don’t believe you’d—”
“Suit yourself. You’ve seen it for yourself. The assassins who attacked Hera yesterday were professionals. The bodyguards around Helena are all Stage Nines. With your strength, you can’t protect Hera at all,” Nash said, his hands casually tucked in his pockets.
“Don’t underestimate me… The Martial Arts Association has Stage Nine grandmasters too,” Skadi retorted stubbornly.
“Skadi, why don’t you go home and rest for a few days? When your injuries heal, come back and protect me,” Hera chimed in, gently straightening Skadi’s disheveled hair as she spoke.
“Boo-hoo… Are you ditching me now?” Skadi feigned a pout, dramatically wiping away imaginary tears.
“I don’t dislike you at all. When I saw you get hurt, I felt it too!” Hera explained, holding Skadi’s hand reassuringly.
“Fine!” Skadi finally relented, wiping her “tears” away. Then she turned to Nash, giving him a serious look. “Take good care of Hera. If I find out she’s lost weight in a few days, I’ll bring the entire Martial Arts Association down on you!”
Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office of Watson Group, Helena was seated on the sofa, her face streaked with tears as she sobbed in frustration.
The young man sitting across from her was on a call, his voice calm and collected.
Upon hearing the news of Albino’s death, he simply frowned slightly. “I see. A large number of secret guards from the Northern territory have recently entered Jonford. It seems important figures are arriving. Be careful and don’t act recklessly.”
“Understood, Mr. Kai,” the voice on the other end responded.
After hanging up the phone, Kai pinched the bridge of his nose. A moment later, he turned to Helena, his expression unreadable. “Are you sure Albino didn’t even have a chance to fight back?”
Helena nodded vigorously, her voice trembling with fear. “I’m sure. Albino didn’t have a chance at all. Nash twisted his arm, pierced his shoulder with a strike, and then threw him out the window. It all happened in less than ten seconds!”
Her eyes reflected deep dread as she spoke.
Standing up, she walked over to Kai, wrapping her arms around his neck in a subtle plea. “Darling, you must do something about Nash. I want him to suffer.”
Kai’s brows furrowed as he regarded her with a serious expression. “What’s the background of this Nash guy?”
Helena shook her head, trying to ease his suspicions. “He’s just a country bumpkin from the countryside. He came to my house yesterday, looking like a beggar!”
Kai’s gaze hardened. “There are talents in the common folk. Don’t underestimate people so easily.”
“Fine, fine! I get it!” Helena pouted before wrapping her arms around him again, her voice lowering seductively. “Darling, Drake Group wants to cooperate with Baroque. You must help me stop them!”
Kai’s lips curled into a smile as he pulled her closer. “You’re my woman. Of course, I’ll help you. But first, you have to give me a kiss.”
Helena blushed, her lips meeting his in a kiss that was more demanding than tender.
Back at Baroque’s subsidiary, Hera was having a hard time deciding what role to assign Nash. With Yates Group out of the picture and any hope of collaboration with Drake Group nearly gone, layoffs were imminent.
Nash, lounging lazily on the sofa, glanced at Hera’s troubled face. “Didn’t a few security system maintenance engineers just resign? I think I could handle that role,” he said, his tone almost teasing as he half-lidded his eyes.
“What?” Hera blinked, taken aback. Then, realizing what he meant, she furrowed her brows. “You mean as a security guard?”
She hadn’t expected Nash to be so playful. But the more she thought about it, she knew it was a ridiculous suggestion.
“But you’re my fiancé. If I make you a security guard, what would people think of me?” she said helplessly. “Plus, you’re skilled in martial arts and even have medical expertise. It would be a waste to make you a security guard.”
Nash chuckled, his smile widening. “It’s settled then. I’ll be your driver and part-time security guard. Consider my salary repayment for all those clothes you bought for me.”
Hera rolled her eyes at him but couldn’t suppress a small smile. She picked up the resignation application forms from the HR department and paused when she saw the title: ‘Security Manager.’
“The position of security manager is vacant. You can take that role. You’ll be responsible for the company’s security projects. The monthly salary is $1,200,” she said, almost jokingly. “And… the clothes money? That was from my mom. Don’t bring it up again.”
Shortly after, the former security manager came in to sign his resignation letter. Hera insisted that the manager hand over his responsibilities to Nash before she would sign. Reluctantly, the manager showed Nash around the office.
As they walked off, Hera’s concern deepened. She couldn’t help but worry about everything that had been happening.
At that moment, her phone rang.
It was a call from her mother.
Her stomach dropped, and she answered it with unease. “Mom… Has Grandpa’s condition improved?”
“Is Nash there?” came Lauren’s voice, heavy with worry.
“He just went out. What’s wrong?” Hera asked, her nerves rising.
“Your grandfather has been unconscious since last night. He was rushed to the hospital this morning and diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. He kept calling Nash’s name while unconscious. You need to bring Nash to the city hospital immediately!” Lauren’s voice quivered with urgency.
“Stomach cancer? Advanced stage?” Hera’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Weren’t his previous hospital visits just for regular stomach issues? How did it suddenly turn into advanced stomach cancer?”
Lauren sighed deeply. “Mr. Dean was your grandfather’s comrade when they were young. He told us your grandfather hid his condition to avoid worrying us.”
The weight of the news hit Hera like a ton of bricks. Her phone slipped from her hand onto the desk.
Her grandfather had always been there for her, and even though he favored Helena, he was still her family. But now, advanced stomach cancer was a death sentence.
Gathering her composure, Hera rushed to find Nash. Together, they hurried to the city hospital.
As they sped through the traffic, Hera’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. She floored the accelerator, her heart racing.
Nash, equally tense, held onto the seatbelt with a rare look of panic in his eyes. “Hera… don’t worry. I can treat advanced stomach cancer.”