Chapter 8
2229 Words
ANDI
I lost track of time last time. I was so keen on reading Olivia's journal. Somehow, I felt like I already know too much about the Grand Duke through her eyes. There are times that I can't help but frown when she wrote things about the Grand Duke that I can hardly believe that he was capable of.
I can still feel the butterflies in my stomach when I read about the first time that the Grand Duke brought Olivia to the vineyard after their marriage. The love between them clearly blossoms after the marriage. As I continue to read every chapter of her journal, I can tell why she fell in love with him.
The Grand Duke is a maze. A puzzle that you need to solve before you can finally claim the fruit of your labor. According to Olivia, he has the sweetest smile and the most adoring gesture. It was like the Grand Duke was ripped straight from my favorite romance novel.
Though I slept late last night, I still woke up early. It's either because of my body adjusting to the time difference, or I'm just excited to see the man I keep on reading about.
It's still early, and I seldom see people when I went out of my room. Maybe it was because they are busy preparing the meal for the Grand Duke. I stretched my arms before yawning, but I felt a huge arm wrapped around my waist before I even finished stretching. The next thing I knew, my feet were already floating from the ground.
I panicked. I don't have any idea who it might be. I used my head to bump it against him, making him loosen his grip around me. I took that chance to grab his arms and used all my force to flip him over to the ground.
"Argh, f*ck!" he growls in pain.
I raised my eyebrows when I heard a familiar voice.
"What a great way to greet me, Love," Brandon commented while wincing in pain.
"What were you thinking grabbing me like that?" I scowl at him before offering my hand to help him got up.
"I was trying to surprise you. Apparently, I was the one who was surprised," he said before grabbing my hand and stand up. "But I'm glad that you're always ready. Do that again when the Grand Duke tries to grab you," he joked.
"Shut up! The Grand Duke would never do such things. Stop assuming that all men are like you," I told him before rolling my eyes at him.
"Excuse me, for your information, he's worse than me. Trust me," he said firmly.
"Is that what you're telling other people about me? And here I thought you were my friend," said the baritone voice. "I'm glad that she already throw you on the ground for me."
Brandon and I turned our gaze at once. I saw the Grand Duke leaning on the hem of his door while both of his hands were crossed against his chest.
"Well, I'm just giving her a fair warning, Your Grace. We both know that you're a rake. I don't want my princess to fall for your charm," Brandon said.
"You do know that you're standing in my land and that I can bury without a wink, and no one would ever bat an eye," he said, giving Brandon a deathly glare.
"You don't scare me, Your Grace. Besides, I know my princess would never allow that" Brandon confidently said before walking to my side and wrapping his arms on top of my shoulder.
"Get your filthy hand off her!" he shouted.
Brandon and I were shocked by his sudden outburst. I didn't have enough time to process his reaction before he walked briskly towards me and abruptly grabbed my hand, and pulled me to his side.
"What the hell are you doing here, by the way?" he asked Brandon, still holding my hand.
I was starting to feel awkward, so I tried to get my hand from his grasp, but he clenched his hand even harder, making it impossible for me to get my hand from him without making a scene.
"Well, you didn't quit complaining to our company about sending a woman for the job. So, here I am. I'm here to help Andi solve your case," Brandon explained. He was part owner of the Titan Empire Security Agency. That explains why he has a say on who will be sent out for the mission.
But he seldom joined any mission. He prefers to train the agents in the Headquarters, but that doesn't make him less competent. Everything I knew about combat, I learned it from him.
"I don't need you here. You can leave now," he said with a straight face.
"Hmm...Nah! I choose to stay," he said before grinning. After that, he moved beside me and grabbed my hand before pulling me harder.
It agitates the Grand Duke even more. I can see how hard he clenched his jaw while glaring at him. Brandon really knows how to piss off a person. It is his expertise, among other things.
The Grand Duke didn't let Brandon get a chance to pull me away from him. He pulled me towards him even harder.
"That's enough!" I shouted before I pulled my hands away from both of them. "Quit acting like a child," I told them.
"You heard that, Brandon—"
"Both of you!" I quickly cut him off before the Grand Duke can even finish his sentence.
He quickly pressed his mouth together when he looked at me and notice that I am dead serious. I rolled my eyes before turning my back on them and head downstairs. I can still hear their faint argument, but I choose to ignore them.
I went directly to the dining area. I was amazed by how grandiose the table setting was. I blinked my eyes twice just to check that I wasn't dreaming. My jaw dropped as my eyes widen while looking at the food for breakfast that resembles a feast.
"Are we on death row?" Brandon commented when he entered the dining area and saw the food on the table.
"You will be if you don't shut your mouth," the Grand Duke immediately answered before he proceeds to sit on the power seat.
I shrugged my shoulder before I followed him and sit on his right side. Brandon went ahead and sat on the chair opposite mine.
It was quiet for a couple of minutes before the Grand Duke broke the silence.
"I don't think we need you here, Brandon. You can go back now. Andi already proved herself that she's capable of handling the job," he said.
"With all due respect, Your Grace, I'd prefer to stay," he said before giving him a playful smile. It was as if he is deliberately trying his best to annoy the Grand Duke.
"I think Andi wants me here. Right, Andi?" he said before turning his gaze on me.
I was caught off guard. I don't know why Brandon is suddenly using me as an excuse to stay. Actually, I don't really understand the reason why he wanted to stay. They were both staring at me, waiting for me to answer.
I squinted my eyes at Brandon. It serves as a warning that he owes me this time, and I'm going to collect the due in no time.
"It would be really helpful if we work together on this, Your Grace. As they always say, two heads are better than one," I said, using a lame excuse.
The Grand Duke's face immediately turned dark when I said that. It feels like I accidentally touched a grizzly bear and that he's going to devour any time soon.
"I agreed. But only in one condition," he said.
We both looked at him, waiting for his condition. "You're not going to stay here," he said blandly.
"What? Your castle can literally host hundred of guests, and yet, you're not going to let me stay here?" Brandon complained.
"That's my condition. It's your choice whether you'll accept it or not," the Grand Duke said, shrugging his shoulder.
"You are horrible!" Brandon said. "Since you won't let me stay here, I might as well tell a story about the Grand Duke and I's escapade in Tahiti, Your Grace," Brandon said, following it with an annoying grin.
"Don't you dare!" the Grand Duke warned.
"You see, Love," Brandon said, turning his eyes on me. "The Grand Duke and I..."
"Stop calling me Love!"
"Stop calling here Love!"
We both shouted at once. We both turned to each other at the same time. Both our eyes widen in shock.
"This seems juicy. Hmm..." Brandon teased once more.
"Stop it, or I will be the one who's going to kick your b*tt out of here," I warned him.
"Ha, you like it rough, Love, don't you?"
I kicked him under the table as hard as I could before glaring at him, warning him to stop annoying me. He likes teasing me, but he's extra annoying this time, and I can't pinpoint the reason behind it.
"Ouch! Motherf*cker!" he screamed in pain.
I just gave him a fake smile. I was about to banter with him again when we heard a loud sound, the chair scraping on the floor. Brandon and I both turned at once in his direction. The Grand Duke threw the table napkin on the table before turning around and leaving the dining hall without a word.
"Look what you did!" I blamed him.
"What did I do?" he asked, acting innocent as if he doesn't know what he did.
"Why do you have a habit of pissing off the Grand Duke? Do you realize that he's our client, and he can kick our asses here if he wants to?"
"I know, but I'm also sure that His Grace won't do that," he confidently said.
"And why is that?"
"I just know," he answered, shrugging his shoulder.
I blew a loud breath in annoyance. "Why on earth did you come here, Brandon? Do you know how hard I tried to that arrogant Duke that I'm more than capable of doing this job? And yet, you made me tell him that I need your help to solve this case," I told him, frowning.
I think Brandon notice the serious look on my face. He finally figures out how important this case was to me.
"I'm sorry if I made you do that. I'm just worried about you. I'll promise to look after you. I know you're a great tactician, but that is when you know who you're dealing with. You already studied the enemy even before you plan your attack. But this case is different. It was like we're fighting a shadow. We don't know what we're dealing with. And that's the most dangerous enemy, Andi. You can't blame me if I wanted to come here and look after you," he explained.
Somehow, I felt the sincerity in his words. Brandon had always been overprotected over me. He always has this unexplainable urge to keep me safe. At first, I thought that he's interested in me, but along the way, I figured out that it wasn't the case. I tried to ask him why he was doing that, but he's not giving me any answer. Eventually, I decided to give my quest of finding what's the reason behind his attitude towards me.
"Until now, I'm still puzzled why you're always acting this way towards me."
"It's because I love you, princess. I'll die if something happened to you," he said while reaching for my hand.
I felt comfort when he said those words. Brandon is one of the people who make me feel loved regardless of everything. I was constantly craving the same love from my family, but I never get a chance to experience it. Running away from my family was the best decision I've ever made.
I gave him a faint smile.
We were startled when we heard a loud sound of glass breaking outside the dining hall. I quickly got up and ran towards where the sound is coming from. My eyes widen when I saw the Grand Duke standing near the dining entrance with a bleeding hand. Pieces of broken glass were scattered on the floor.
"Your hand is bleeding, Your Grace!" I exclaimed in horror. I'm used to seeing blood, but I can't explain why I suddenly got scared when I saw his hand dripping in blood. I quickly run towards him to attend to his wound.
"Go and check His Grace's wound, princess. I'll go fetch someone to clean up this mess," Brandon said.
I nodded in response. I quickly fetched a clean towel before wrapping it around his wounded hand. "Where's your first aid kit?"
"I have one in my room," he answered.
I didn't waste any second. I pulled his other hand and briskly walked toward his room.
"Is this the way to get your attention? I might as well buy a lot of first aid kits," he said.
"What?" I turned my gaze at him. I was a little shocked when I found him with a playful smirk on his face.
What is wrong with this guy?
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- Writer
