Josh blinked and sat up. The only reason he had been able to sleep so well, despite waking up late, was probably the cold excuse. Thanks to that, he felt more rested. He was relieved that his heat cycle hadn't fully come through. Letting out a short sigh of relief, he got up from the bed.
"Eh?"
"Uh."
As soon as he opened the door and stepped into the hallway, Josh nearly collided with Isaac, who was passing by. Isaac quickly perked up and asked with concern:
"How's your cold? Are you feeling better?"
Josh nodded, and Isaac continued:
"What happened to you yesterday? Mark was furious."
"…"
"Well… nothing. Everything's fine."
Isaac didn't push further, giving a short response himself. Josh didn't want to talk about the previous day either, so he let the subject drop. As they walked down the long hall together, Isaac finally spoke up again.
Advertisement
Privacy Settings
"…What happened with C?"
"Nothing happened."
"Okay…"
Isaac's tone was tinged with jealousy.
Josh could tell what he wanted to say but chose to ignore it. After a brief hesitation, Isaac spoke again.
"C hasn't left his room since yesterday. So… if you know anything—"
"No, I don't."
Isaac was curious about one thing: Why had Josh smelled so strongly of pheromones? But he knew he wouldn't get an answer unless he was bold enough to ask directly. And even if he did, Josh wouldn't tell him.
The conversation dwindled into silence, and the two arrived at the surveillance room.
"Then I'll go back on patrol…"
"Oh, Josh."
Josh turned. "Yeah?"
Isaac hesitated as if he had made up his mind about something, but then fell silent again. Josh waited for a moment, but Isaac gave no further sign of wanting to talk.
"If you ever feel like telling me later, go ahead. I'm heading out!"
Josh simply nodded and turned away.
Behind him, a bell rang. Isaac answered the call.
"Visitors? …Did C give permission? Alright, I'll guide them in."
Josh walked straight out of the mansion. Under the bright morning sun, he pulled his sunglasses from his pocket. Everything was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of the wind through the leaves.
Somehow, the world felt strangely peaceful.
What had happened the night before almost seemed like a dream. The fact that he had done that to Chase, that Seth had discovered he was an Omega—even what had just happened moments ago. Was it all just a ridiculous fantasy?
Lost in thought, Josh barely noticed a car crossing the garden.
Huh?
He suddenly stopped walking. It was a family car.
Blinking in confusion, he watched as the vehicle rolled to a stop in front of the mansion. The door opened, and someone stepped out from the driver's seat.
The moment he turned his head, he found himself locking eyes with a woman whose expression was just as shocked as his own.
Emma.
Unconsciously, he whispered her name under his breath.
At that moment, the front door of the mansion swung open. As Josh turned toward the noise, Isaac stepped outside and spoke:
"Hi, I got your call. Please come in."
"Thank you," Emma replied with a flawlessly professional smile.
Isaac turned first, leading her inside. Following him, Emma glanced back. Their eyes met again. This time, her expression was carefully masked with a subtle smile—one that held a clear message.
We'll talk later.
Then, as if that look had never existed, she turned back to Isaac, her face once again warm and pleasant.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
Chase had been in a foul mood since the morning.
No—if he was being honest, it had started before he even went to sleep the night before. Maybe even earlier than that.
He couldn't pinpoint one single reason. It was a mix of everything. Lack of sleep, self-loathing, frayed nerves… and worst of all, an unsatisfied desire.
He gritted his teeth.
The moment he acknowledged that last part, his anger spiked. His eyes burned red with frustration, but no matter how much he wanted to, sleep wouldn't come back to him.
After sitting still for a moment, Chase abruptly stood and headed for the bathroom.
The cabinet was stocked with an assortment of pills. He grabbed a few, shaking them into his palm before tossing them into his mouth. Two gulps of water from the sink were enough to wash them all down.
"Ah… ah…"
Chase exhaled heavily and looked at his reflection.
A pale, water-splattered face. Parted lips. Disheveled blonde hair. Tired eyes.
The sight of himself was unbearable. He lifted a fist, ready to punch the mirror—but at the last second, the sudden ring of the phone stopped him.
For a moment, he stood frozen. Then, the answering machine clicked on, and a voice filled the air.
"Mr. Miller, are you awake?"
It was one of the bodyguards.
Unfortunately, it wasn't the voice of the man who had kept Chase up last night.
"Sir, Pittman's secretary—"
Chase didn't respond.
There was silence on the line before the bodyguard hesitantly called out again.
"Mr. Miller? Are you still asleep? Should I send her away?"
If he didn't answer soon, the guard would hang up.
Just as the line was about to go dead, Chase grabbed the phone from the wall.
"Let her in."
The call cut off immediately.
Silence settled in the room again.
With a weary sigh, Chase rubbed his tired eyes.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
"Hello, Mr. Miller. Nice to meet you. Emma Bailey. Mr. Pittman's secretary."
Chase looked at the dazzling face that had just been deftly presented in a soft voice.
She was a beautiful woman who could appear on television immediately. She had a slim figure and perfect pronunciation. The prestige of being Keith Pittman's secretary seemed to shine before her eyes. However, he did not respond much. Emma's expression remained neutral, her words calm and carefully measured.
"Thanks for coming to the party. It culminated extraordinarily … What appeared in the middle of the road …"
"Did it appear in the middle of the road? What the hell are you talking about?"
Emma paused at his first words but quickly resumed speaking, maintaining a professional smile.
"I'm here because they asked me to review any issues. I heard you had a little problem before you left. It's common for guests to get into trouble at parties."
Emma purposely added significance to her words.
Chase didn't respond much. His face dry and puzzled, Emma assumed he was still half-asleep. And maybe he was, given his red eyes and fatigue-ridden face, as if he had been forced awake. Will he even understand me? I'd be in trouble if I say anything else later. Though worried, she continued speaking:
"Will you start shooting next week? I came to tell you that it would be good if you were ready for the show. Before that, I'd like you to finish all your preparations for work," she added without losing her smile. "May I inform Mr. Pittman that there are no issues? That way, filming will proceed smoothly as scheduled."
Chase raised his head and looked at her face. Emma wanted to step back, but instead, she smiled directly at him, pretending to be unaffected.
"Everyone is looking forward to Mr. Miller's work."
Suddenly, Chase threw the script he was holding. The heavy sound of the thick brochure echoed against the wall. Emma hesitated, then fixed her eyes on Chase. He opened his mouth with a clear air of annoyance.
"Just tell him to leave me alone. He knows I'll forget what happened at the party."
"Thank you."
At the unexpected comment, Emma responded with a cordial smile.
It was fortunate for Emma that the notoriously difficult Chase Miller had let her off easily. She had come here worrying about how to handle him if he found faults again, causing delays, just like during the contract negotiations. If we finish the report this way, everything will be over. She quickly concluded before he could change his mind.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll be going now."
Her pace was slightly quick, but she managed to keep her composure. Emma turned with a brief smile, just as she had when she arrived. The sound of her high heels was barely audible as she walked away.
"Is it over?" asked Seth, who was walking down the hall as he spotted her.
Emma heard his voice and realized he was the man she had asked for clearance in the monitor room.
"Yes, thanks."
"Not at all," Seth said with a smile. "I'll show you to the front door."
"Oh, that's okay. I can go alone. Thank you."
Briefly rejected, Seth smirked awkwardly and walked away. Emma nodded slightly in acknowledgment and left without hesitation, leaving behind the muscular, handsome man who was far from her ideal.
Advertisement
Privacy Settings
✤✤✤✤✤✤
"Emma."
She had just exited the mansion when she was greeted by another man—one she was equally uninterested in, unfortunately bound to her by blood. As soon as she saw Josh's face, she spoke:
"Josh, what happened? Is this your job? Are you Chase Miller's bodyguard this time?"
"That's what happened… I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but—"
"You have a professional secret, so I don't care. But it's absurd. I never thought I'd see you here."
Josh raised his hands for a moment and then lowered them. He lightly grabbed her arm.
"Let's talk for a minute. I have something to tell you."
Emma sighed and followed him. Josh led her to a secluded spot behind the mansion.
"Why? What's going on?"
Now face-to-face, Emma asked about the matter. But Josh didn't seem in much of a hurry. She was surprised when he flashed that charming smile—the one he usually used to woo women.
"I was wondering how you are. Is everything okay at home?"
"Everyone is fine, including Peter. Will you stop smiling? You're creeping me out."
"LOL."
"I'm serious."
Emma added firmly, but Josh, as usual, didn't take her too seriously.
Dropping the smile, he continued. "I went to the party yesterday, and you weren't there. I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
"The butler handles those events. I wasn't even aware of the situation until Mr. Pittman contacted me over the weekend with instructions. Good thing I didn't have a packed schedule." Then, Emma added with a smirk, "At least I'll get a generous allowance."
She tucked her thick blonde hair behind her shoulders. "What happened at the party yesterday? There was a commotion, so I was sent to check if it was serious. Josh, do you know anything?"
"I don't know." Josh only half-lied. "I was outside on patrol. By the time I noticed, the incident had already happened."
"You're really useless."
"What?"
Realizing she had spoken her thoughts aloud, Emma coughed awkwardly and changed the subject.
"Is there something special anyway?"
"I just wanted to see my sister after a long time."
Josh was about to nod and say, "Yes, sure," when he suddenly remembered: "How have you been these days? Are you dating anyone?"
"Why? If you're going to introduce me to some crazy friend again, I warn you—stop right now. I won't let it slide."
Her quick retort was familiar. But Josh's interest lay elsewhere.
"I wouldn't do that. I was just curious. Is… well, I mean, Pittman isn't your type, is he?"
"What? Mr. Pittman? My boss? Josh, are you crazy?" Emma's face contorted in disbelief. "Would you mind staying out of my love life? I'll find the man I like on my own. Stop meddling!"
"You always choose the wrong people."
"I told you—I'm not interested in athletes! I'll meet the right person when I'm ready. You never listen!"
Emma glared at Josh, another reaction he had seen many times before. He was sure of it.
"Do you work in the same department?"
Emma hesitated and fell silent. Her reaction told him everything. She tried to change tactics.
"Don't try to come near my office."
"No way. I can't go anywhere without my client." Josh grinned mischievously. "But if Mr. Miller visits, I'll have no choice but to be there. It's part of my job."
"If you do that, I'll put beans in Peter's scrambled eggs. Every day!"
"Peter will blame you, not me."
"You're evil…!"
Emma clenched her fists but managed to calm herself.
"Josh, please don't mess this up. I'm doing well."
"Really?"
"Yes. I've been on a few dates with him. We'll be seeing each other more, so be prepared. I'll introduce him when the time comes. I'm not a child anymore."
Josh held back his concerns. "Alright. But if you need anything, talk to me."
"I will."
Josh, trying to stroke her hair out of habit, adjusted her hairstyle to a graceful volume and reached down to hug her shoulder. Emma pulled away after briefly hugging Josh.
"Then I'll go. It's the weekend, so Peter and my mom should have dinner together."
"Yes, be careful."
Josh tilted his head slightly to Emma's cheek, gave her a kiss, and then withdrew. Emma went back the way she had come. Josh, who had been staring at her for a while, hesitated to turn around. He could feel a strange gaze on him. He looked around quickly, but there was no one. When he looked up, he couldn't see anything suspicious except the balcony. Josh leaned out and tried to check the balcony but stopped as soon as he remembered that it was connected to Chase's room. He frowned and carefully examined the area for any signs of people, but all he could sense was the wind blowing and the occasional sound of leaves rustling.
After a moment of nervousness, he soon relaxed and resumed his patrol. Normally, he would check the front lawn of the mansion first, but this time there was no reason to do so. Instead, he changed his route, wondering if he should start from that side today, thinking that he would like to finish his patrol and hear Peter's voice.
About an hour later, the manager arrived.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
"What are you doing here at this hour?" asked Mark, who was sitting in the living room checking Chase's schedule, surprised by the manager's sudden visit. He offered a brief greeting before addressing the subject with indifference.
"He's going to be filming soon, and there's a lot to do. In the future, you'll have to be prepared. We will all be very busy. How is Chase doing today? How does he feel?"
He looked around and fixed his eyes on Mark. Instead of inviting him to sit, Mark took a soda out of the refrigerator and, placing it on the table, began to speak:
"Mr. Pittman's secretary visited him this morning."
"Mr. Pittman's secretary? What happened?"
The manager looked at him in surprise. Isaac, who was in his seat, replied instead:
"There was a small accident at the party yesterday, and I heard that's why she came here—to investigate. I'm sure they were concerned that Mr. Miller might push back on the contract. Nothing major happened, and she left soon after."
"Glad to hear that," said the manager. "You have a tight schedule starting today. I'd rather be relieved that the RUT didn't arrive."
"Schedule?" asked Josh, who happened to be in the living room.
The manager nodded.
"Filming begins next week. I think it's already in your schedule. You know there's an interview scheduled in three hours today, right?"
Mark asked, looking at the paper he was holding, a grimace on his face.
"So what additional programs should we prepare for in the future? I think the shooting schedule is almost finalized."
He spoke sarcastically, but the manager let it slide.
"Laura will file and deliver it … So, nothing happened at the party? Did Mr. Miller do anything unusual or crazy? Laura didn't comment much."
As he opened the soda that Mark had placed in front of him, he asked in a low voice. In an atmosphere where no incident or accident seemed imaginable, Josh pretended not to know.
Mark asked sarcastically:
"Something strange or crazy?"
"Anything at all."
The manager, who had emptied half of the soda in one go, frowned. Somehow, everyone was unsettled by his sudden silence, as he hadn't stopped talking until now. Then the manager sighed, rubbed his eyebrows, and finally spoke.
"Well, I mean … It hasn't been long since the RUT ended, right? But after that, Mr. Miller really gets worse than usual."
"How can he be worse than usual?"
Seth asked, genuinely surprised. That would be typical for Chase. The manager smiled awkwardly, but then looked worried again. Why is he taking so long to get to the point? Everyone was curious, but they could only wait. The manager took a deep breath, as if finally making up his mind.
"This will be necessary for security, so I'll tell you. Anyway, it's something you should know when the filming begins … Of course, as stated in the contract, any client secrets you learn while working must remain confidential. Any breach would result in a massive penalty."
Everyone was curious about what the warning entailed and whether it was as troubling as they imagined. As bodyguards, it was natural to guarantee the client's privacy. Of course, Mark often said that those who failed to do so ruined the industry.
"No one on our team would be so indiscreet."
Mark exhaled, his expression tense. The manager smiled briefly but didn't seem entirely convinced. Regardless, with an air of relentless vigilance, he finally confessed:
"There's a pill he takes …"
"Medication? What? Oh, I'm sorry."
Isaac was startled by the revelation and quickly apologized. With all eyes on him, the manager continued carefully:
"He's an aggressive person. Also, he has insomnia and is highly sensitive … He cannot function without taking medication daily. In addition, when he's stressed, he consumes even more."
They all exchanged glances upon hearing this unexpected confession. Isaac let out a strained breath and ran his fingers through his hair.
"What … He really does that?"
"I've never heard of a dominant Alpha with a dependency on medication."
Seth, just as surprised, chimed in. Suddenly, Josh recalled the moment Chase had taken medicine from the car's refrigerator and swallowed it at Pittman's party.
"Is he taking drugs even outside of his RUT?"
When Josh asked, the manager nodded.
"Yes, whenever he finds something unbearable, he immediately takes a pill. But when the RUT comes, he consumes three times more than usual, drinks alcohol, and mixes all sorts of substances until he loses consciousness … I think most Alphas sleep deeply after the RUT, but in Mr. Miller's case, he falls asleep under the influence of medication."
He added as if to explain the reactions of the now visibly alarmed bodyguards.
"He would have died if he weren't a dominant Alpha."
They all silently agreed. Isaac opened the refrigerator and looked inside. When he returned to his seat, he realized his hands were empty and cursed under his breath. He wasn't the only one feeling uneasy. Seth looked away, frowning, while Mark pressed his lips together.
Mark turned back and asked bluntly:
"So what should we be careful about?"
The manager got straight to the point.
"Mr. Miller will be taking more medication than usual once work starts, so make sure he never runs out or skips a dose. When his supply runs low, Laura will prepare more in advance. I'll provide a list and instructions regarding his medication. Laura will handle the distribution every time, and … Mr. Miller cannot function without his medicine."
The manager, after saying all this, let out a strange laugh.
"I've never seen a RUT that requires so much medication. Well, the drugs won't work on their own, so he has to take a lot … I don't think it's easy to consume that much medicine on a regular basis. I thought Alphas were obsessed with sex, but at the rate he takes these drugs, he could have a sudden heart attack … It's bizarre."
Silence filled the room. Mark and the others exchanged uneasy glances. Seth frowned, Isaac sighed, and Josh's expression darkened. Mark, turning his head again, asked:
"Are there more secrets?"
"No."
Mark frowned at the manager's blunt response.
"Anything you hide will interfere with security."
"Not really."
"…"
"None."
He smiled confidently. Of course, there was no trust at all.
"Well, then I'll go see Mr. Miller. Again, what I just said is a security secret. I'm sure everyone remembers the terms of the contract."
After that, the manager turned around and went up the stairs.
Those who stayed alone looked at his back for a while, without saying anything. The most complicated of them was Josh. His mind was more confused than any of them.
"There will be a lot of work when the movie starts," Isaac said for the first time.
In the silence Mark spoke:
"I am worried that the fans will come to the set and approach him … I hope C hears us well."
After the incident where he left Henry, he drew up an additional contract, but no one knew how far it would go. They just looked at each other and finally dispersed in their own seats to prepare to leave.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
Toc, Toc.
But there was no response from within. As always, the manager opened the door after a short moment. The cool breeze blew strong once and stopped in a moment. When he cleared his mind and looked up, the balcony door was wide open. Sitting in a chair at the tea table, the manager saw Chase looking out into the garden and approached without hesitation.
"How was the party yesterday, Mr. Miller? Did something uncomfortable happen?"
He spoke fondly to him, but Chase didn't even move.
What are you looking at? The manager poked his head out of curiosity. All he could see was the garden hidden by the leaves. The back of the mansion didn't have much landscape. The manager cocked his head, but soon shrugged. When did this man do something understandable?
"As I told you before, I came to deliver the book. I hope you read it several times. This is the only book that has Dr. Flame as the main character. He plays a major role throughout the series, but since he is not the main character, there is only a limited amount of information that can be obtained from other books. You don't have to read anything else, this will suffice."
He spoke for a long time, but Chase still didn't answer. He didn't even try to look at the manager at all.
It wasn't a matter of a day or two to be ignored like that, but it was inevitable that he would lose his energy more and more. The manager sighed briefly before continuing with his words.
"The filming locker room is ready. I'll take a photo of the interior and send it to you. Please let me know if you need anything else. You know today's schedule, right? Security is getting ready now, so get ready to go …"
"…"
It was when Chase muttered something. The manager hesitated and listened. But he said nothing more. The manager, who hesitated, asked cautiously:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Miller?"
Chase, despite patient waiting, did not respond. The manager was both embarrassed and dejected, so he decided to give up. Then Chase opened his mouth.
"… Bodyguard."
"Oh yeah. The bodyguards?"
He spoke to the manager, who repeated urgently.
"Among the guards, the Beta."
"Oh yeah. Team Captain? Or Josh?"
"…"
Chase was silent again. Suddenly the manager realized there was a problem, although he couldn't tell which one.
"If you don't like the bodyguard, for the moment …"
"Not that," said Chase, who had immediately interrupted the manager's comment, while still staring at a corner of the garden. "Not that…"
"…"
"No thanks."
Soon it fell silent. There were no signs of speaking anymore. The manager waited a while and then changed the subject.
"So we get ready to go to the interview? I'll put away the clothes and things you need to wear while you shower. We will prepare the costumes and props there, so let's be simple here."
After that, the manager quickly left the room and headed to the dressing room.
Chase, who hadn't even moved until then, gritted his teeth and cursed. His gaze remained fixed on the place where Josh had been with Emma. Chase didn't know what Pittman's secretary and his bodyguard were doing there. What really pissed him off was the fact that he had ejaculated in the skillful hands of this promiscuous man.
"… Shit."
He rubbed his eyelids irritably.
After all, he is not different from Grayson and the other Dominant Alphas. He was mad with disgust. He wanted to run and strangle Josh right away, but he also knew it was useless. In the same situation, Chase would face the same outcome again. It didn't change who he was.
What he did, after all, was go to the bathroom, get a handful of medicine out of the cupboard, and put it in his mouth. Only after a familiar dizziness set in did he close his eyes and the anger faded a bit. He wished all the promiscuous died, he thought beyond his hazy consciousness. Of course, Josh and himself were among them.