Chapter 17

Kale turned around slowly, blood on his face and shirt, his gray eyes glowing.

Behind him, a line of bodies pilled up in the air.

Ari's shoulders shivered as she met those deadly eyes.

He walked toward her, taking his jacket on the way.

Ari raised her head as he stood before her.

She couldn't utter a word.

He gently held his jacket, throwing it on her shoulders, it looked like a dress on her small stature.

She nervously shook in her place.

"Let's go, this place doesn't suit you," he said in his deep cold voice.

Ari just nodded and walked to the door as soon as her eyes ran away from his gaze.

Kale followed her, slowly turning his head towards the bodies.

Ari had just walked outside the door when the bodies held by the threads disappeared leaving her unconscious sister alone in the room.

Kale's eyes briefly glowed purple looking at the hidden camera as if he could see beyond it.

Eternal suffering awaited them.

---

The camera room that monitored the boots, was also emptied out.

---

Ari was standing outside quietly, looking around here and there.

She kept thinking about what just happened.

She shouldn't be scared of him doing his job. Her uncle and his bodyguard were also growing through the same scenarios.

She shouldn't think about this too much, but his cold murderous eyes remained stuck in her mind.

Feeling Kale stand next to her she turned around to meet his eyes.

They were calm like nothing happened.

She shook her head, deciding to forget for now, when she noticed the blood on his face and clothes.

She quickly held his arm and walked him to the female bathrooms.

He was confused but he followed without saying a word.

She closed the bathroom door on them after seeing that no one was there.

"Ouf," she sighed.

Her eyes suddenly fell on her hand holding his.

She let go in a hurry.

She walked next to the sink. "I just..." unable to meet his eyes she softly said.

Remembering she brought him and closed the door on them in the female bathroom her cheeks turned red.

She shyly hid her mouth and turned her face a bit from him to see.

"You just, what?" He asked acting confused as he stood next to her.

"There is, blood on your face," she said without turning around.

But to her surprise he was quiet.

"Then why the female bathroom to clean it?"

I know so just stop talking about it! She screamed in her thoughts.

She turned her head to look at him angrily because he was acting stupid, but she was met with his tall height. She had to raise her head and eyes to see his face.

But before she could he leaned it, opening his top buttons as he turned on the sink.

"WOWOWOWO!" She explained staggering back with a red face.

He paused. "I am going to clean it..."

She looked at his confused eyes.

This... She misunderstood... She was the one standing so close to the sink.

"Did you want to help?" He continued.

Ari's face turned bright red. "Who would want to do that? Hurry and clean! I will bring you another shirt!" She stormed out and closed the door behind her.

Kale was left alone. He quietly held the water in his hands and splashed it on his face.

He raised his eyes, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

The blood just disappeared with his magic.

He suddenly couldn't stop himself from chuckling.

Ari wasn't able to see this magnificent scene.

She was outside, shaking her head while holding her pink cheeks.

She stopped a waitress on her way to the elevator.

"Hello, hey," Ari bowed slightly being apologetic.

"Oh, yes? Do you need something miss?" The waitress bowed back.

"Hmm, my friend drank a lot, and I was wondering if you have a shirt he could use?" Ari spoke politely.

"What size is he?"

"Hmm, I don't know... I think he is about 6 feet 3, and has pretty big shoulders..."

"Oh, pretty tall," said the waitress jokingly. "I will go see if we have anything for him to use, what room should I bring it to?"

Ari was happy, "Oh, it's okay I will just be waiting here."

"Okay miss."

Ari waited for a few minutes laying her back on the bathroom door. It didn't take long for the woman to come back empty-handed.

"I am sorry miss but I couldn't find anything that could match his size."

"No, no, I am sorry for troubling you. Thank you."

"You are welcome," the waitress went on her way.

Ari entered the bathroom after seeing that nobody was around.

She closed the door behind her, and turning around she found Kale standing there.

He held his right wrist, cleaning the water dripping from his chin.

Ari stood there frozen for a moment, her eyes focusing on his shirt.

He had taken off his black waistcoat, she could see how tight his shirt was on his waist compared to his broad shoulders.

He quietly walked up to her, "found nothing?"

Ari only nodded her head but snapped back. "It's okay you can hide it behind your jacket until we get to the company."

She turned around to take off his jacket.

Suddenly he held her by the waist and pinned her against the wall.

"Ah!" She let out a low surprised sound.

"What are you-"

Suddenly the door opened next to them, a woman walked in staggering.

She held her mouth afraid to let out a sound, raising her eyes to look at him.

He must have noticed this woman's presence behind the door.

His eyes were looking at the woman and attentively watching her movements.

Ari couldn't get mad, but she could still feel his strong grip on her waist. Especially, since his fingers were holding her tightly.

Her ears turned red, she tried looking away, but his perfume caught her sensitive nose. Her eyes suddenly focused on his chest and neck being so close to her, noticing his tattoo lines.

She was more nervous now than when they were in the private room.

Why did she have to deal with this? Why did this feel hard to endure? She questioned herself.

By then he had let go of her. The woman had entered one of the bathroom boots.

"Let's go," he said quietly as he took the jacket from her.

She nodded like a little girl.

He opened the door for her after he wore it.

She was shy to look at him, looking at the ground as she walked past him.

Ari was confused that they made it to their car with no one stopping them.

Did they still not notice?

Kale opened the car door for her normally.

As soon as he started the car she spoke, "It was your doing? That they didn't come to us?"

"Yes," he answered honestly.

She was quiet for a while.

"So you are an S rank?"

He technically wasn't... He sighed thinking.

He turned the wheel to hit a turn while saying, "Only your uncle, his bodyguard, and the few people you saw bowing in the training center know for now."

Hmm, does that mean he was in hiding all this time from the world?

She pondered, and while looking at him she knew that he will evade the questions if she tries to dig too deep.

I guess I need to have a talk with my uncle, she thought.

While she kept reminiscing about the events that happened today she received a text.

"Your uncle is at the company waiting for you. I left for some important matters in the capital since your grandfather's birthday is approaching. Take care of yourself" - Father.

It wouldn't be weird if her uncle showed up at the Pearl Pavilion and tore it down today, she thought.

She responded to her father, wishing him safe travels, closed the phone, and rested her head on the window.

She was tired.

This past hour weighed on her body. She didn't feel herself close her eyes, slowly falling asleep.

Kale already made the car soundproof. With his magic, even the window felt like a comfortable pillow for her.

He had parked the car under the company building, not wanting to wake her up for now he sat in the car with her, watching her silently through the rearview mirror.

She looked so in peace, beautiful, he thought as he looked away.

---

Han Yi-won and Song-ho were in the guest room having coffee.

They were waiting to speak to Ari about today's matter privately since her father was too busy to reach.

Knowing Kale's strength she was, of course, safe but as her uncle, he still had to know the details.

Suddenly Song-ho's hand holding the coffee cup shook.

"Master Han, Kale is expecting us in the parking lot under the building. It seems like Miss Soo is sleeping in the car. He doesn't wish to wake her up."

"Did he?..."

"Yes, through sound transmission," said Song-ho bowing his head down.

Han Yi-won took a deep breath and stood up.

Kale was also part of the reason they came.