Chapter 136
No matter how many times he looked at the photo again, it remained the same, and Joshua turned pale. After enlarging it to check the face once more, he pressed his forehead with one hand and muttered to himself.
"My goodness, what is this..."
"Joshua."
"Aaah!"
Suddenly being called from behind and having his waist embraced, Joshua screamed loudly and dropped his tablet. The tablet that fell to the marble floor immediately cracked on the screen and turned off. For a moment, Joshua's eyes went wide and he froze stiff.
"Joshua..."
A flustered voice came from behind him. Though not knowing what to do, Chase still didn't release the arm around his waist. Joshua looked down at the broken tablet in dismay, sighed, and turned his head to look up at the man. Only then did Chase make eye contact and apologize.
"Sorry, I didn't know you'd be this startled."
"Well... no."
At the words spoken with a completely dejected expression, Joshua's momentary irritation melted away like snow. How could he get angry looking at this face? Instead of pouring out harsh words, he grabbed the back of Chase's head, pulled him close, and kissed his lips. Chase accepted Joshua's kiss as if he had been waiting. Joshua turned his body in his arms, embraced his waist in return, tilted his head, and this time pressed their lips together on the opposite side. Haa, a satisfied sigh flowed out. When he lightly flicked the sensitive part inside his mouth with his tongue, Chase immediately reacted. Feeling their touching genitals harden, Joshua smiled silently.
"Wasn't yesterday enough?"
At the voice whispering while their lips were still touching, Chase immediately answered.
"Not enough, I held back for four months."
That's true.
Joshua lowered the hand that had been around his waist to knead Chase's buttocks and fell into thought. It had only been a week since he finished work and returned. He had also told his team leader he would rest from the next job. He was planning to spend time with his family for once...
Just as he frowned, remembering the photo he had been looking at moments before, the oven bell rang at the right time. Joshua made a cute "smack" sound as he kissed Chase's lips, then released his arms and headed to the oven.
As the smell of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen, he quickly became hungry. While preparing breakfast as the bread cooled, Chase readily followed along. Seeing him skillfully take meat from the refrigerator and prepare to grill it, he suddenly felt proud. When had this guy, who at most knew how to spread jam on toast, grown so much?
Though it was only natural considering that Chase took care of the children alone when Joshua wasn't there, he couldn't help but be amazed every time. As he watched with a pleased expression, Chase asked while sprinkling black pepper on the meat.
"What were you looking at earlier?"
"Huh, huh?"
At the sudden question, Joshua uncharacteristically stammered. Chase looked at him puzzledly.
"I mean the tablet earlier. It looked like you were reading some article, what was it? Something important?"
Joshua looked at him without saying anything. The silence lasted only 2-3 seconds, but during that time Joshua's mind worked so busily it could have produced smoke. He couldn't even imagine what reaction Chase would show if he saw that article now.
"No, nothing."
Let's hide it for now.
Joshua answered with his usual smile.
"It was just a gossip article. You don't need to worry about it."
And he turned his body, pretending to look for sauce, to hide his expression. If it were just an article about Greyson having a new lover, he would probably just get angry and curse. The problem was who that partner was.
If he remembered Dane...
Though it had become an awkward situation now, since he never dreamed such a thing would happen, Joshua had invited him to his wedding with Chase at the time. When told he could come empty-handed, Dane gladly attended and brightened the occasion. Joshua had noticed that he disappeared and reappeared with Chase's secretary in the middle, but he pretended not to know. Anyway, he thought it ended well without major trouble...
Now it's getting tangled up like this?
He couldn't understand the situation at all. How on earth did Dane and Greyson get involved? The commission from last time should have failed. What happened then? Why didn't Dane tell me? Wait, that bastard doesn't speak unless asked. Damn, what are you doing, Dane Striker...!
"I'll be right back."
Joshua pretended to go to the bathroom and quickly left the kitchen. He took out his mobile phone and called Dane, but as expected, he didn't answer.
So this is how it comes out.
He had a bad feeling about this. Even if he met with Dane to talk, he couldn't guarantee that he would properly explain the situation. In the end, was there no choice but to check directly...
After thinking for a moment, Joshua checked the time and quickly scanned through his phone's contacts. Stopping at one of them, he called without hesitation. After two or three rings, the voice he had been waiting for came through.
- Josh! How have you been? What's the occasion? To call like this...! D-don't tell me something happened to Chase...
"No, nothing's wrong."
Just as the happy voice was about to turn worried, Joshua cut him off. In a professionally kind voice, he continued.
"About that matter you mentioned last time, yes."
After a brief pause, Joshua nodded.
"You said you were looking for a team to handle security for Greyson Miller's partner, right? Is that position still open? ...Ah, I see."
Joshua glanced toward the kitchen. After confirming that Chase was still inside, he continued.
"I have one question - who is Greyson Miller's partner? It would help if I knew the information."
His eyes narrowed as he heard the answer from the other end.
"Dane Striker."
Ha, after letting out a short sigh, Joshua swept his forehead with one hand and said.
"Good, I'll do it."
His green eyes gleamed darkly.
"Since it's related to Chase's brother, I should lend a hand too."
* * *
What an occasion this is!
After hanging up the phone, Koi couldn't help but pace around the living room with a blush rising on his cheeks. The call that came while he was preparing to leave France after finishing his schedule made him very excited. What change of heart made Joshua voluntarily take on this job? Joshua was someone he could fully trust. Plus, if this opportunity could make Greyson have even a little conversation with Chase, how wonderful would that be...!
Then the door opened and Ashley came inside. Koi, who had stopped pacing, immediately brightened and approached him.
"Ash!"
"Koi."
Ashley, who had entered with a completely stiff expression, at least relaxed the corners of his mouth when he saw Koi. Had something bad happened? Koi tilted his head puzzledly, then naturally embraced Ashley and spoke.
"Do you know whose call I just received?"
"Who?"
At Ashley's question, Koi laughed "hehe" and answered.
"Joshua called me! You said before that you would get bodyguards for Dane. So I had asked Joshua if he could introduce some good people."
"Right, didn't he refuse?"
When Ashley frowned and asked, Koi's eyes sparkled as he excitedly shouted.
"He did, but he just called and said he'd do it! Personally! He said he'd personally handle Dane's security!"
He felt the arm around Koi's waist flinch. Ashley blinked in surprise, then immediately frowned.
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah, maybe he thought it would be better if he did it himself? He said since he's Chase's brother, he'd lend a hand...!"
Koi seemed to purely believe those words as they were, but Ashley was different. There must be a reason for something. What could it be? Why would he think that...
"Um, Mr. Miller."
Just as he thought that far, his secretary hurriedly entered and held something out to him. Ashley, who had extended his hand while holding Koi in his arms, froze the moment he saw the screen displayed on the tablet.
"Wh-what is this..."
At the muttering that sounded like talking to himself, Koi looked up at him puzzledly, but Ashley didn't say anything more, keeping his gaze fixed on the screen.