Sudden Confession

Lianne noticed that his gaze on her changed slightly.

Well, it was already disturbing enough that he seemed to peer straight into her soul or something, but now, there seemed to be something extra to it.

Just what was going on in that mind of his?

To be honest, Lianne could tell that Kai seemed to be rather interested in her for some reason and she was flattered.

What woman wouldn't be, right?

Even if the guy was a total jerk, there would be a part of you that would think, 'oh, someone finds me interesting'.

Does not mean such attention there would be welcomed, of course. One would even be repulsed by anyone who comes on too strong or forces themselves (or their feelings) on another.

Lianne had yet to decide which part Kai fell under.

Was his interest welcomed? Or not?

It had been interesting to see how he was protective of her and how he quickly acted to talk back to Irene. So far, the only ones who had stood up for her like this other than her family, was Zero.

Although Zero was not related to her by blood at all, he was as good to her as a blood brother. Acted like one, too. Oft times, more than an actual brother.

The only other person that was more protective over her than Zero was Kyle.

Kyle, who just happened to be the reincarnation of her mother - who even retained the memories of her (his) previous life. As such, Kyle had a unique relationship with Lianne, for Lianne found out about this huge secret long ago.

Her brother, Joseph, however, did not know.

Better that he didn't, considering he married Kyle's twin sister, Kay. He would probably go insane just trying to think and figure it out.

Right now, the problem was … is Kai safe?

Kyle, and Zero, were extremely overprotective.

If they ever thought that Kai was taking liberties with her, Kai would not survive another day.

Kyle would systematically ruin him financially, then get his 'brother', the King of the Underworld, Uncle Nitocris to make his life miserable - and if Kyle was feeling particularly angry, he'd personally teach him a lesson or two.

With Zero helping.

Lianne knew this sort of news would not be kept hidden for long. In fact, she suspected that at least Zero would know. With the sort of resources that he had at his fingertips, hacking into the CCTV in the airport would be child's play.

Lianne groaned.

As much as she was annoyed by this man, she had to warn him. He had, after all, apologized earlier for his actions.

"Look, I have to tell you something," Lianne began.

"Ah yes, but before that. I need to ask you something," Kai said, looking contrite, "I'm so sorry, but this is important."

Lianne tilted her head, "What is it?"

"How old are you?"

Lianne's lips quivered in her attempt at holding back her laughter as she was completely taken aback from that question.

She gave a small smile, leaned back on the chair as she gazed at him seriously and rather innocently, "What? Didn't you know that there are two questions you must never ask a lady. Her age, and her weight."

Looking at him from top to bottom, she then said, "Obviously, you thought I was still young. I didn't think you'd be a pedophile."

"I'm not!" he said quickly, his face pale.

Lianne noted that with interest.

He really did seem genuine in that reaction, which indicated that he really wasn't the type that would hit on a young girl.

So why …?

He reached out as if to grab her hand when he thought better and stopped, saying with his eyes looking rather serious, "It's … I don't know how to explain it but it's because it's you that I did."

Lianne blinked.

He wasn't saying what he was saying, was he?

With a great big sigh, the normally confident Kai looked rather vulnerable at that point as he had this rather conflicted look on his face.

"Your age doesn't matter," Kai said, after taking a deep breath, "All that matters is that it's you."

"I'm in love with you," Kai suddenly declared, "Please, let me woo you."

Lianne's mind went blank.

Wait, what?

She studied his face, and he looked serious. There was no guile nor subterfuge in them.

She noted his body language and it was taut with nervousness and fear.

She looked into his eyes, and she saw the worry and vulnerability in them.

What the actual f*ck??

In what century does a guy suddenly confess out of the blue like that? To a total stranger?

Worse …

She could see that he was sincere.

He really meant it.

It's not like she hadn't been pursued before, but this was the first time someone was so upfront about it. Byron had been the first, and certainly a few more followed after that (which Lianne found pretty weird) but she had felt nothing at all.

But when it came to this person?

This Heavenly Creature?

Damn her weakness for beautiful men.

Taking a deep breath to steady her rapidly beating heart (and inwardly cursing those beautiful grey eyes of his), Liane was about to reject him when he got a call. He rejected the call as he wanted to listen to Lianne's answer but it started ringing again.

Kai rejected it yet again and soon, it rang again.

"You better pick that up," Lianne said, "It could be important."

Kai was about to refuse when he saw that she wasn't going to back down so he picked up the phone to see who it was.

It was Zayn, his PA.

He frowned, and Lianne said again, "Go. Pick it up."

"Sorry, this won't take long. Please, I'm serious about what I said," Kai told her before he walked away to answer the call.

Lianne purses her lips and picked up her phone.

✿ Author only posts on w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l. ✿

Zero was staring intently at the computer, his face grim. The air around him wasn't pleasant and no one said a word out loud.

"What do you think happened?" Edward whispered to Akira.

Akira shrugged, "What else do you think?"

Edward rolled his eyes, "Of course I know it has something to do with Lianne. What I'm asking is, what did this Kai Sheng do to get Zero all riled up like that?"

"Are you really that dense, Edward?" sighed Lucka, "Someone must have hit on her."

Edward rolled his eyes and sighed, rubbing the space between his eyebrows, "Well, d-uh. I know that. What I mean is, how bad could it be for him to make that big an impact??"

"Seriously, are you guys really in the Diamond Team? Do I have to spell it out for you?!" Edward said in exasperation, flinging his hands in the air.

Akira and Alex, the other two in the team, were pointedly ignoring them.

The Diamond Team was the elite team of Kyle, the mysterious force. People just knew them as Kyle's Elite Team but they didn't know that they were more than what they appeared.

Lianne just happened to be their ad-hoc Leader, who came in as and when needed should there be something urgent that required her input. Other than that, she would use them should she need something to be done that couldn't be done via the normal channels.

However, there were times - like this - that they (or rather, Zero) would act on his own to do things for her.

Zero's phone rang.

He glanced at it, knowing who it was. He could clearly see her in the computer monitors, the phone at her ear.

"You'd better pick that up," Akira advised, "You know she'll be angrier if you don't."

Zero grumbled but knew Akira was right.

The moment he picked it up, Lianne's clear, crisp voice was heard, "Zero, stop it."