Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Kaia’s heart skipped a beat. With all those people around and reporters livestreaming, if her real face showed up, she’d be dragged into international trouble and hunted down. She’d never have a moment’s peace again.
Just as she started to panic, a jacket suddenly fell over her head. Then a calm, familiar voice spoke up. “Everyone, please make way.”
The steady tone carried a quiet authority no one could ignore. It was Joel, the king of boxing, known as Dr. Bennett’s bodyguard.
With Joel’s coat draped over her head, Kaia smiled. “When did you get back?”
“Just now,” Joel said with a frown. “Sorry, I was late.”
“It’s not your fault. You were at the International Boxing Competition. How’d it go? Did you win?” Kaia asked.
Joel pulled the champion’s medal from his pocket and put it in her hand. “For you.”
Kaia wasn’t surprised. She knew Joel would win. “Are you sure? This is your champion’s medal.”
“I still haven’t congratulated you on your success with the nanomaterial research. If you don’t mind, think of this as my gift,” Joel said.
Hearing that, Kaia slipped the medal into her pocket. “You just won a championship, and I haven’t even gotten you a gift yet. What do you want?”
“Dinner together,” Joel said without hesitation.
“Okay.” Kaia nodded.
The two of them walked away with everyone’s eyes on them.
Tobias kept staring at Kaia’s back, his brows drawn tight.
“Tobias, why are you just standing there? Dr. Bennett is leaving. Didn’t you have something to ask her?” Russell nudged him, confused.
Tobias thought for a moment. “When she almost got exposed just now, didn’t you think she looked
like someone?”
“Who?” Russell asked.
“Her,” Tobias said, his voice cold.
“Her? Which her?” Russell still didn’t get it.
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Chapter 15
Seeing Russell’s blank face, Tobias wondered if maybe he’d imagined it.
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He had checked Kaia’s background before. She’d grown up in the countryside, skipped school a lot, and even gotten zeros on tests. She was twenty and still hadn’t finished high school.
Tobias kept telling himself that someone like her couldn’t possibly be the famous Dr. Bennett. Even if they did look a little alike from the side, it was probably just that–a coincidence.
“Let’s go,” Tobias said, shaking off the thought.
He quickly caught up to Kaia. “Dr. Bennett, please wait.”
Kaia turned, frowning slightly. ‘Why’s he here? Did he see me when my hat and mask came off? Is he starting to suspect?‘ she wondered.
Still, her face stayed calm. “Mr. Moreno, what can I do for you?”
“I’m curious. We’ve never met before, so why choose to work with the Moreno family?” Tobias asked, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.
“Is it strange? Everyone has their own reasons. I’m from Morganburg, so naturally I favor my hometown. And you’re the richest man here. Choosing you isn’t all that surprising, is it?” Kaia said, leaving him with nothing to argue about.
“If there’s nothing else, I should go,” she added, her tone cool and distant.
Tobias looked like he was about to say more, but Joel stepped in front of them. “Mr. Moreno, please
leave.”
The message was clear. Russell, worried Tobias might upset Kaia, quickly stepped up.
‘Dr. Bennett’s known for being different,” he whispered. “She hates the spotlight and doesn’t talk to many people. The fact that she even stopped to answer you is already rare. We should go.”
Tobias didn’t know what was wrong with him today. Just talking to Dr. Bennett made him feel like if he could dig a little deeper, he’d figure something out.
“What is it, Mr. Moreno? Do you have more business?” Joel’s voice turned cold.
“No, no, we’re leaving,” Russell said quickly, dragging Tobias along. “Tobias, seriously, what’s gotten into you? Everyone knows Dr. Bennett’s temper. And that bodyguard of hers? He’s Joel, the king of boxing.
“I heard he just won the International Boxing Competition. We don’t have any security with us. If something happened, we’d be done for”
Tobias looked away. “Did you see Kaia just now?”
“Kaia? Why are you suddenly asking about her?” Russell asked, baffled.
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“Did you see her or not?” Tobias pressed.
Russell glanced around. “Now that you mention it, she disappeared a while ago.”
Tobias fell silent, lost in thought again.
*****
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Meanwhile, Ruth and Lincoln were looking for Kaia.
‘That’s weird. Did she get lost on her way to the bathroom?” Ruth muttered. “Well, whatever. Better she’s gone than embarrassing us at an important event like this.”
Then, they turned to Andrea. Lincoln said, “Andrea, Mr. Weaver seems to think highly of you. You’d better do your best to get into Dr. Bennett’s institute during next month’s internship selection.”
Yes, Dad. I’ll do my best and make you and Mom proud,” Andrea said, her heart swelling with excitement that the big shot Stephen had noticed her.
You always make us proud. I knew you were the sensible one. If you can get into Dr. Bennett’s institute, your dad and I will throw you the biggest, fanciest celebration and invite all the important people,” Ruth said.
Thanks, Mom,” Andrea replied with a smile.
Back at the hotel, Joel’s brows were furrowed, his face dark. “Are you really going to get engaged to Tobias? He’s not good enough for you.”
In Joel’s mind, no man was good enough for Kaia.
Kaia sipped her juice and shrugged. “You know I don’t like owing people. Keaton saved my life- and my adoptive parents. That’s a huge debt.”
“But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice yourself like this,” Joel said, worried.
“I don’t have a choice. Keaton insists I repay him this way. Besides, he promised it was just for a month. After that, Tobias and I will have nothing to do with each other,” Kaia said.
Joel still didn’t like it. “Even if it’s just a month, 1-”
Before he could finish, Kaia cut him off, “Enough. You just got back. Let’s not waste time talking about other people. Tell me about your matches. Anything interesting happened?”
Seeing how little Kaia cared about Tobias, Joel felt a bit better. He agreed–an outsider wasn’t worth
their time.
***
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The next afternoon after school, Tobias came to pick Kaia up again.
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“Tomorrow’s our engagement day. Grandfather wants you to come over and get ready,” he said flatly.
“Okay,” Kaia replied without expression.
Watching her cool face in the rearview mirror, Tobias was silent for a while before asking, “How did you know Dr. Bennett would choose to work with the Moreno family?”
Chapter 16
