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Xavion was quick on the investigation. Just half an hour later, he sent over all the information about Darius, including every move he made abroad.
Then, lan said in shock, “Briar, you know what? Darius has a younger brother named Boyden Graham, and he’s a notorious arms dealer who’s always drifting along the border…”
Briar raised an eyebrow and leaned next to lan to check out the files. “An arms dealer who roams the border? Ashton, does Connor know about someone like this?”
‘Logically speaking, a guy like that should be a top priority for Connor, the head of the overseas mercenaries, right?‘ Briar thought. ‘How could Ashton have absolutely no recollection of Darius and Boyden?‘
Hearing this, even the usually unflappable Ashton was surprised. “An arms dealer working the border? How come I’ve never heard Connor mention him?”
Briar handed the files over to Ashton. “Yeah, and his arms business is no small operation! He just never dared to cross paths with Connor.”
With someone as ruthless as Connor running the border mercenaries, there was no way he’d let a rat like that stir up trouble and throw his weight around on his turf.
Ashton looked at Brandon. “Get in touch with Connor and ask him about this.”
Brandon nodded. “Got it.”
It was strange. Brandon had never heard Connor mention these guys either. It was as if Darius and Boyden had just appeared out of thin air.
Sure enough, when Brandon called Connor to ask about the arms dealer on the border, Connor was in the dark.
Now, not only was Brandon getting nervous, but even Ashton was starting to lose his cool.
He took Brandon’s phone and told Connor on the other end, “Connor, I’ve already sent you the info Xavion dug up on Darius and Boyden. You have two days to get to the bottom of this. We’re heading to the border the day after tomorrow.”
Connor replied awkwardly, “Understood, Mr. Wade. I’ll look into it right away.”
After hanging up, the lazy air around Ashton vanished completely. He turned to Brandon and said, “Get things ready. We’re heading to the border in two days.”
“Got it.” Brandon took his phone back respectfully and glanced at Briar. “Mr. Wade, when you say ‘we, do you
mean…”
“Briar’s coming with me,” Ashton said, easily catching the meaning behind Brandon’s words.
Brandon nodded. “Okay.”
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Ian raised his hand. “Mr. Wade, can I come along too? I’m Briar’s bodyguard now. If Briar’s going, I should be there, right?”
Ashton turned to Briar. “You want lan to come with us?”
Briar smiled. “I paid 15 million dollars for a bodyguard, so I surely want to put his talents to good use. Ian knows the border area like the back of his hand. Bringing him along might come in handy.”
Ashton nodded. “Alright then, lan can come with us.”
Ian grinned. “Thanks, Mr. Wade!”
Briar thought for a moment before asking, “Ashton, how long are we going to be gone? Should I ask for leave from school?”
It was only now that Briar realized she hadn’t asked for leave from school during the days she’d been off in Qathana with Ashton. She wondered if Joshua and Marvin had noticed she’d been skipping class.
Ashton pulled the suddenly guilty Briar into his arms, resting his chin on top of her head and chuckling softly. “You’re only thinking about asking for leave now? Isn’t that a bit late?”
Seeing this, everyone else immediately got up and tactfully left the living room, leaving the two lovebirds to go on with their own mushy business.
Briar, trying to sound all tough even though she was clearly in the wrong, huffed, “Hey, I just forgot, okay?”
“Relax, I already applied for leave for you,” Ashton said, his hand still resting on her waist as he gave it a gentle
squeeze.
Even with her clothes in the way, the touch was irresistible. Ashton couldn’t help but knead her waist a little more. “This trip to the border could take a while. I’ll get you another leave. How about until the end of the semester?”
Briar was speechless.
“There are still two whole months left until the end of the semester,‘ she thought. ‘Seriously, only Ashton could pull that off
Sure enough, when Briar called Joshua to say she needed leave until the end of the semester, Joshua practically hit the roof on the other end.
Just as he was about to explode, Ashton snatched the phone from Briar. “Mr. Swift, it’s me. We have to go abroad for some business, and I don’t know when we’ll be back.”
Joshua’s anger, which had shot straight to his head, got stuck in his throat. Still fuming, he grumbled, “Briar is still a student, and a gifted medical student at that. Don’t you go leading her astray.”
But Ashton just said, “Hanging up.”
Briar was laughing so hard she nearly doubled over. “Got chewed out by Joshua? Serves you right! Seriously, who else would ask for a leave the way you do?”
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Ashton took his time closing in, using his height to press her into the couch. “Baby, you get that much joy out of seeing your professor scold me?”
Briar’s smile froze on her face. “Well… Not that much.”
“Oh, is that so?” Ashton lowered his head, the space between them shrinking until his lips claimed hers. He kissed her deeply as a little “punishment” of his own…
Two days later, a private jet bearing Ashton’s exclusive logo took off from the rooftop of the Wade Group.
Jalen and Frank, their hair tousled by the wind, watched the plane fade into the distance in silence.
It wasn’t until the plane had shrunk to a tiny black dot that Frank finally spoke up, sounding all dejected. “Jalen. I get it if Ashton left you behind, but why wouldn’t he take me either? Why can’t I go to Connor’s turf?”
Jalen remained silent.
“Connor said I could come!” Frank almost burst into tears. He’d shown up all happy today, only to get left behind again.
Jalen patted Frank on the shoulder. “Ashton didn’t want to take you because this trip might be dangerous. Just be good, and I’ll ask him again in a few days.”
Frank had no clue what Ashton and the others were up to at the border, but Jalen knew all too well that there might even be a shootout this time.
“With Frank’s insatiable curiosity, if he and Miss Jennings hit it off and start stirring up trouble just for the fun of it, Ashton might not be able to resist losing his temper and smacking Frank, Jalen thought. ‘But with Connor there, Frank will be safe from a beating. In the end, the only one who’d suffer will be Connor
Hearing this, Frank immediately brightened up. “Alright, Jalen, just don’t forget to ask for me! I miss Connor.”
“Got it. Now, hurry back to school and wrap up the experiments you’ve got going. If Ashton lets you go to the border but you’re stuck with lab work, you’ll be kicking yourself,” Jalen said, trying to shoo Frank away.
That makes sense!” Frank happily trotted off to school.
On the plane, Briar was just as curious. “Ashton, why did you suddenly change your mind and not bring Frank? Didn’t you see how close he was to crying when you left him behind?”
Ashton was holding a tablet. Hearing this, he handed it over to Briar and said, “Take a look at this first…”
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