NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Unfair terms
Starley was still confused about what was happening here. Everything was happening so fast. A few days ago, Starley was living peacefully as an unemployed person. Her life had been dull, with nothing challenging.
Today, suddenly, the man she hated was going to guard her from some danger, but she didn't even know what.
"Wait, I don't understand why I need someone to guard me," Starley exclaimed.
"You must realize that your reckless behavior yesterday put your safety at risk," Nathan replied.
"The threat hasn't even come yet, Nathan."
"But it will come, you've already received many offers," Nathan said.
Starley furrowed her brows and asked, "What offers?" Nathan handed her a stack of unopened letters. Starley took the letters and read a few to see who they were from. They were letters from large companies that wanted Starley's services.
"This isn't a threat," Starley said.
"This is just the beginning, there will be more," Nathan replied.
"If it's about wanting my services, reject them all. I don't want to work with anyone. Working in an office is boring," Starley said, placing the letters on the dining table.
Nathan looked at Starley seriously, saying, "And I will still hire someone to guard you." This time, Starley glanced at Raul again, and their gazes met for a few seconds. But quickly, Starley looked back at her brother.
"Hire Raul?" Starley asked, still confused about how to react. But Nathan seemed just as confused as Starley, glancing at Raul.
"I'm sure Raul was just joking earlier. I'll hire one of his subordinates," Nathan said. Oh, Starley hoped so, too.
"What's wrong with hiring me? My subordinates' skills are still far below mine," Raul suddenly replied, as if he were offended. Nathan blinked for a moment after hearing Raul's response.
"Why do you sound like you want to be hired?" Nathan asked.
Raul cleared his throat and said, "It's not like that, it just happens that my mission is related to Hatstone."
"So, if you want to hire my services, you don't need to pay me with money," Raul added. Starley squinted her eyes, suspicious when she heard Raul's words. He couldn't possibly be asking Starley to be his "friends with benefits" again, could he?
"Then with what?" Nathan asked.
"With Starley's hacking skills," Raul said, sounding serious again.
"You already heard, I don't want to work with anyone," Starley replied. And nothing in this world could change that.
Raul stared at Starley intensely, but she met his gaze. 'But, oh my god, why does this guy have to be so handsome?' Focus, Starley, focus.
"You can get me if you pay with your hacking skills," Raul said. His words made Starley blink momentarily—did she hear that correctly? Get Raul? It seemed Raul noticed the change in Starley's expression. Starley could see the corners of his mouth curl slightly, and he flashed a smirk.
"You mean get me to be your bodyguard, right?" Raul added. Starley could hear a mischievous tone in his voice. Her face felt so hot now—oh my god, how could Raul tease her like that when her brother was right there? Was her face turning red? She hoped not, but one thing was for sure: Starley was embarrassed now.
Starley broke eye contact first and then said, "I refuse."
"Why refuse right away?" Raul asked. Starley stood up from the dining table and turned back to face Raul.
"It's not a fair deal. You'll be my bodyguard for just a few days, but I'm sure you want my skills for more than just a few days."
"Plus, from the start, I didn't want a bodyguard. My brother wanted it. So, why should I pay? That doesn't make sense to me," Starley replied firmly. Starley could hear Nathan sighing. Her words were correct so that Nathan couldn't argue with her.
"If there's nothing else to discuss, I'll leave," Starley said. She then turned to leave, but soon, she heard Nathan's voice behind her.
"Where are you going?"
"Let me find trouble in peace, Nathan," Starley replied without turning to look at her brother. Nathan sighed, genuinely unsure of what to do with his troublesome sister.
"Raul, I'll pay whatever it takes. It doesn't have to be you, but one of your skilled subordinates will do. Just keep Starley safe so I can be a little at ease," Nathan said.
Raul wanted to tell Nathan that Starley could shoot and was quite skilled at it. But it seemed better not to mention that. Because if Nathan asked, Raul knew where it came from. Raul couldn't possibly answer that he had taught Starley how to shoot. So, it was better for him to remain silent.
"This isn't just about money, Nathan. Actually, with Starley working with me, I can also protect her. The safety of my employees is number one. And she'll have a reason to reject all those offers," Raul explained.
"I'll try to convince Starley," Nathan replied.
"But before that, can I make a request? Can you send one of your subordinates to follow Starley today?" Nathan added.
"Sure," Raul answered casually. But unbeknownst to Nathan, Raul's subordinates had already been following Starley since earlier.
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In residence far from the busy city of Chicago, a skinny man entered the room where his Boss was having a luxurious lunch alone.
"Boss, have you read the news?"
"Get to the point, what's it about?" asked the middle-aged man, known as Boss.
"It's about the Bellamy family having a daughter who is very skilled in hacking, Starley Bellamy. She managed to defeat the famous hacker group,Hatstone," the skinny man explained.
"Hmm, interesting," the Boss said, sipping his red wine.
"She seems like she could be useful to us, Boss."
The middle-aged man paused momentarily before saying, "Find out more about her and offer her a deal nicely."
"What if she refuses the nice way?" asked the skinny man.
"Then we'll use our usual methods," the Boss said casually.
The skinny man smirked, knowing exactly what his Boss meant. Their usual method wasn't a pleasant one—it involved coercion.
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