Chapter 9
“Kingsley, I’ve told you a hundred times–it was an emergency situation. I’m not interested in bag of bones like you!” I shot back.[]
Kingsley rolled his eyes again.[]
I secretly investigated the name.
The results were shocking: Kingsley Ash, sole heir to “Blackstone,” an international arms empire.]
Three years ago, he mysteriously disappeared at an engagement party his family threw for him. The Ash family had put up a fortune in reward money to find him.]
The photo showed a young man with sinister eyes–the same face as the arrogant bag of bones lying sick in front of me.[]
“Call the Ash family.” I slapped a piece of paper with a phone number on Kingsley’s bedside table. “I’m done babysitting your skeleton ass.“[]
The Ash family swept in like a black tide that very
The
afternoon.
I didn’t hesitate to extract myself and head back to New Zealand where my parents were.
But three days later, several black armored SUVs silently surrounded the villa.[]
Kingsley stepped out of the car in a perfectly tailored black suit, leaning on a walking stick.
His face was still pale, but his posture was straight and his eyes sharp as a hawk’s–not a trace of sickness left.]
“Lynn. Leaving without saying goodbye is very rude.” His voice was ice–cold.
My mother looked at me with confusion.[]
“Mining rights documents for three major underground diamond veins in Canada.”
Kingsley tossed a thick file folder onto the table. His butler immediately stepped forward to spread it open. “Just sign here and they’re yours. One condition: be my ‘girlfriend‘ for a year, climb mountains with me. After a year, whether I’m dead or alive, the agreement stands permanently.”
I saw the spark of hope in my mother’s eyes–the Sterling family needed this kind of blood–soaked foundation to establish themselves overseas.
“Fine. I’ll sign.” I didn’t hesitate.]
Deep in the primeval jungle.
I stumbled along behind Kingsley, cursing myself for getting on this pirate ship.[]
“Keep up. You signed the contract, now deal with it.” Kingsley didn’t look back, his voice carrying a hint of cruel mockery. “The raw diamonds have already been delivered to your family’s vault.“]
“You’re such a bastard!” I gritted my teeth.]
Crisis struck suddenly.
A lurking king cobra struck like lightning, both of us getting fanged at the same time}]
The venom spread quickly, our vision blurred, and we collapsed weakly against a massive banyan tree, waiting for death.[]
Before death’s icy touch could claim us, the roar of a helicopter echoed overhead.[]
The Ash family’s people landed precisely, bringing targeted antiserum.
“You knew there was antiserum all along?!” As I injected him, I “accidentally” missed the vein several times.
“Lynn! Are you trying to kill me?!” Kingsley gasped in pain.
“Crack!” I “accidentally” broke the syringe, leaving half of it stuck in Kingsley’s leg!]
I turned and ran!]
Kingsley grabbed my ponytail and yanked me back hard!]
Caught off guard, I tumbled into his arms, my elbow accidentally hitting a rather awkward area.
Kingsley’s pale face instantly flushed pink.
“Young master!” The butler rushed over in panic. “Are you poisoned? Doctor! Hurry!”
After the chaos settled, Kingsley was forced back to the city to recover from the snake venom and exhaustion, and I was “escorted” to the Ash family’s heavily fortified castle in southern France.
A gathering bringing together underground world titans from around the globe was about to be held here.[]
the guest list, Marcus Black’s name stood out prominently.[]
