Chapter 02

Heat, Waves, and Axel Frost

“Valeria Elodie Lincoln! I told you a thousand times to stay put! All you do is give me a headache!”

The moment I arrived home, I received scolding from dad. I crossed my arms looking at my feet as I listened to his words… repeated words every time I get involved in this kind of mess.

“I’m not even involved, I just happen to be there when it happened.” Why am I even explaining? He doesn’t even listen nor believe me.

“They were after you, you almost got killed!” That’s what I don’t understand, why are they after me of all people in the family? I’m no one in this family.

“That’s because the body guards you hired are inefficient.” I glare at them who’s standing in the corner, stoic and unbothered.

“Get your things, we’re leaving.” He said with finality that made my brows creased.

“What are you even talking about?! I’m not going anywhere.” Heat rushed through my face, I can feel it in my ears, my cheeks, like I’m burning from inside out.

“We need to lie low, don’t ask question and just follow, Val. I’m tired of this bullshit, if you just married James as planned, you would have been protected, and his family would open doors for our business.”

“Yeah… that not gonna happen.” I said walking out.

I was promised to James at a young age, it was my purpose, to marry a family that can help expand our empire and most especially carry the next heir of the family.

My life has been planned like that since I don’t have any role in our business, my role was to marry but I refuse to take that role. I tried many times to convinced dad to take me as his student and work at the company but I was rejected every fucking time… so I rebel instead, I lived life according to my own rules… and I’ve never felt free.

I stormed off, trying to shake the sting his words left. But before I could take a deep breath, my brothers - my personal headache appeared, grinning like they were waiting for the drama.

“What did you do again to upset dad?” Vaniel said, my brother who’s born after me.

I just know that dad is disappointed that his first born was a woman… which is annoying and feminist and I hate him for that.

“Yeah, he’s pissed and is searching for new body guards for you.” Asher smirked, he’s next to Vaniel.

“You seriously need to be grounded, sis.” Pierce joked which made me pissed, he smiled sweetly, he’s the youngest.

We’re in hiding due to my last recklessness but it felt more of a vacation, since were here in a private resort where elites of the elites are gathered every summer. Boasting their achievements of the year and building connections.

My brothers were trained by my dad at a young age and they act older than me.. which is really annoying but they are also very protective. We have a love and hate relationship and among my three brothers I’m closest with Asher… and even though dad played favorite among my siblings I never once I hated them… I was jealous but not enough to despise them.

“How many times do I have to tell you that it was just a coincidence that I’m there?”

I needed air, lost of it. Since they obviously don’t believe me I walked out shaking my head and decided to just have fun and the best way to do that is to stay away with my family.

Nothing clears my head like speed. So, I grabbed a jet ski, ignoring the calls from behind. I close my eyes feeling the breeze hitting my face and smirk as I opened it, the view of the sun setting as I ride on the jet ski made me forgot about how pissed I was earlier.

“Aren’t you riding too fast?” I open my eyes and it widen when I saw him… there’s this strange flutter in my chest, like tiny wings flapping just beneath my ribs.

I never expect to see him again after that night… and he’s here, riding his jet ski and matching my speed. I was taken aback which made me slowed down, he did the same. “Are you following me?”

“Maybe fate keeps pulling me back to you.” My face remain stoic but my mind searching for the right words to say.

“You’re a stalker.” He seems different that night… and right now. He seems lighter right now.

He smirk. “You think you’re worth stalking? Hm… tempting.” I choke with his words that made him laugh… his laugh that makes me fold.

“Are you making fun of me? After that life and death situation I just survived?”

“Let’s just say you’re alive because I was paying attention.” Boastful… very unlike him, but do I really know him? I don’t.

“I had it handled, you know. I had a gun and I almost shot you.”

“You pointed an empty gun at me. Pretty bold and I would’ve shot you… if you weren’t pretty. You also don’t look like the shooters on the loose.”

My mouth dropped with that. I have no words. My mind was spinning. “You are so full of yourself.” I shook my head.

“What? Now you finally realize how I saved you that night?”

What the? He’s impossible and infuriating. And yet somehow addicting. The longer I talk to him the more I want to get to know him more. He’s mysterious but also an open book… somehow, it confuses me.

I diverted my attention to the setting sun but stealing glances on his side, he smirked as we locked eyes. My heart hammered so loud I could barely hear the waves. I wanted to ask him if he likes me… but at the same time I’m scared to what he would say… but I’m the person that doesn't hesitate nor back down.

“Admit it. You like me.” I couldn’t stop myself… I just had to say it.

“Dangerous question. You might not like the answer.” His answer pissed me off but I shrugged my shoulder instead, waiting for his answer. “Would I risk getting shot if I didn’t?”

Before I could complain he left smirking as he drive away… leaving me smitten. I couldn’t help but bite my lips, the way his hair dance with the wind, the way his eyes disappear when he smiles, and the way I couldn’t hear anything else when he laughs…. it all sound simple but so grand for me… I’ve never felt anything like this before… and it’s starting to scare me… because I know I’m down bad and this could be bad for me cause I still don’t know who the fuck he is… God, I don’t even know his name.

Maybe, just maybe he does like me. My lips curved into a stupid grin like a freaking teenage girl as I steered towards the shore.

“Who was that?” I jumped out from the jet ski smiling ear to ear when Asher appeared out of nowhere.

“Huh?” I bit my lips trying to hide my grin but he already caught me… and is laughing crazy. “Shut the fuck up.” I said walking out.

When the smile disappear when I saw him again, I want to slap myself for smiling again… I was about to go to him and ask about his name when a girl suddenly appear and hugged him from behind.

I choked, my stomach twisting looking at the scene in front of me. I felt my heart tightening, hurting and that hurt slowly turning into an aggravating feeling… angry towards him who just flirted with me a while ago… and is now hugging the girl tightly acting like some loyal boyfriend who’d never hurt he’s girl.

I would have gone to them and slap the hell out of him but I’m not in the place to do that… he’s not my boyfriend, he’s a random guy I met days ago and nothing more… so instead I walked out… not looking back, hands clenched into fists and forcing myself not to shed tears to an asshole. I’m not like this. I don’t fall for someone I barely know, this is wrong. This isn’t me.

**

By the time dinner rolled around, I was still simmering under my skin… a perfect mood for another family lecture.

“You just won’t listen do you?”

We’re having a family dinner and as usual dad is scolding me again cause the moment we arrived after hiding, I went out and had some fun. While my brothers silently eat their dinner and my mom is looking at me with concern, I can’t help but look away.

“What did I do wrong again?”

“Just because I remove your body guards, doesn’t mean you can freely do whatever you want, and you didn’t even went to the date that I set you up… Kyle is a good man and his family has great influence.”

“We’ve talked about this dad… stop setting me up. I will marry the man I wish to marry… please give me that freedom.” I may be cold-hearted but I believe in love… and I want to fall in love.

“I’ve given you more freedom than you deserve… and all you do is make my blood pressure rise.” I sigh. “I hired you a new body guard. More efficient and this time, he will follow you everywhere you go… in a close distance.”

“What?!”

“You almost got killed last time when your body guards are nowhere near you. I don’t want to risk that… and you are to marry the man that I will choose, you don’t have a say of this anymore.”

“Dad!”

“Oh, here’s the body guard.” He cut me off and stood up at the dinning table to greet the guard.

“Meet Axel Frost, he’s a special agent of the NBI and I asked him a favor to be your body guard on his vacation until I find a permanent replacement.”

I was only half-listening, I don’t even care anymore cause I’ll just drive the body guard away, like I always do. I grin upon thinking of my plan but that was washed away when I turn my head to look at my newly hired body guard… when my eyes widened with shock, frustration, and anger when I saw who the person is.

Of all people in the word.. Him? Really? How small is the world for me to see him again? My breath caught, blood boiling under my skin. Of all people… not him.