The Shooting Range

Miracle's POV

"Are you ready, Mira?" My Dad asked me, and I think he had been calling me how many times, but I wasn't able to answer him right away. My eyes scan the fifty remaining candidates. They are all youthful, and this is the only occasion I see so many new aspirants. From the previous months, I have been with middle-aged men. For the first time, they hired older than me, three to four years.

"Dad! Why all of them look so inexperienced? Do you guess we can rely on them?" I asked my Dad.

"Sweetheart, have faith in them, only for this season, I prefer to try younger bodyguards since they are more driven and ambitious, they all wanted to be a millionaire at a young age, I wish to give them a chance, I can see their eagerness.

"I don't think you are right about this, Dad. What if they will endanger me?" I said, the truth is I am so afraid, I don't have any concern about men before, many of my Dad's business partners sons had an interest to court me, but I turned them down. I am content being single, and I don't need a man in my life to be happy. Besides, I am not sure how my father will react if he will find out I like to have a boyfriend, not after what happened.

I experience this emotion for the first time. The moment I see the most handsome among the trainees staring at me, his hypnotic gazed made me feel excited, I needed to know him, but I am also afraid. He stands out among the fifty remaining applicants. He has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, and I want to touch his body right away. Something is wrong with me. For so many years had passed, this is the first time I wanted someone in my life.

He looks so handsome, good-looking, and all the beautiful adjectives you can describe a guy you can find in Webster's dictionary, he is that man. I am curious about his name, where he came from, his favorite color, and what I crave is to taste his full red lips. My Dad and I are assessing all of them. Mr. Roger gives us the distinguished candidates' file, and I am becoming more interested when I found out he has been among his fellow trainees since day one.

I wasted no time reading his records. Wow! He is a firefighter. No wonder he looks so confident, and the way he carries himself is exceptional. He has an impressive academic record, and I am very impressed. But I need to do something about this. I can't do this, anyway. If I asked my Dad not to hire him, I guess he will grant my request.

For how many times I caught him gazing at me, I know he can feel it too, the pull to be near to each other. I promised myself not to fall for anyone.

"Miracle? Are you alright?" I heard my Old man called me again. This time I can look at his annoyance.

"I'm sorry, Dad! I am just getting engrossed reading the documents of the new trainees, and I mean the applicants who caught Mr. Roger's interest." I replied. I can feel my face is blushing. I hate lying to my father.

"Yes! But we need to have them shoot the targets with bullseye first. Are you ready?" He said, giving me a warm smile. I nodded, and we get inside the car while all the trainees are running at a controlled pace in going to the shooting range. The facilities are complete with many amenities, and my Dad invested so much in the security training program.

It has a private pool, a gym, indoor basketball court. My Dad provided cars so that they can have fun during their rest day.

When we arrive, I asked my Dad if I can use the firing line just for a while. Since the trainees are still on their way, I am so glad that he allows me to do so. The control area is so spacious. Mr. Roger helped me get the range and equipment types that I need, and I get inside the weaponry room. I choose my gun, then I have some ammo, and I wear the most comfortable shooting gloves, shooting glasses, then I inserted earplugs first. Simultaneously I also use ear muffs. I am not pleased with the loud sound of the bullets during the launch.

My Dad asked me to train when I turned eighteen, and I have used different pistols and rifles. I can feel my adrenaline rush when I began shooting the target boards, then my Dad was amazed. I hit all the targets in the bullseye. Then, I didn't see all the trainees arrived, then one of them started clapping his hands, and all the rest of the trainees did the same except him, Jace Dylan King. Wow, he hates me. I don't know; I can feel it, that he is looking at me with hatred in his eyes mixed with admiration. My face turned red, and then Dad hugged me.

"I am so proud of you, Mira." He declared, then released me from his embrace.

"Thank you, Dad. I didn't expect it, that I can still fire Dad," I answered. It has been six months since the last time I shot.

"Are you kidding me? You are an amazing, sweetheart." He added.

"Thanks, Dad!" I responded I felt shy, knowing that I had many audiences. Usually, I go here with Mr. Roger only and with my Elite Bodyguards.

"As always, Ms. White, you are exceptional. Are you still not planning to compete, my dear?" He asked me, and he has been bugging me for how many times to engage in a shooting competition. He said I have potential.

"No! Mr. Roger, it is not for me. I am even not interested." I said, and I stand beside my father.

"All right then, but I will not get tired of asking you to compete repeatedly." He added, then give me a warm grin.

"Now, gentlemen, I would like you to be ready, five candidates per batch." Mr. Roger announced to the trainees.

It made me so excited to discover who among them is the best to contend with me, I can't hide the smile that formed in my mouth, but I scowl the moment I look at him, watching me with anger in his eyes. What is wrong with him?

For the first batch, it was Charles Green who is leading, followed by the second batch. They ended the shooting speedily. In the end, the skillful Mr. Jace Dylan King is in the lead. Then the candidates go down to fifteen. I can't eliminate him since he is so perfect, then in the second round, Jace is still number one, I hate to admit, but he is fantastic. Then Mr. Roger announces the elite ten.

"Congratulations to all of you who reached the top ten. I will dismiss you for now to take your lunch, then please move to the conference hall for the last interview at one o'clock sharp." Mr. Roger said, the remaining dominant ten, continue ahead to the luncheon in the dining area, where we will dine with them. My Dad prepared everything, and lunch is superb. The menus are exquisite, and I am shocked that most of the food is my favorite.

I realize my father is doing his best to compensate for all the time he is absent. I know he is a good father, but I needed his attention. He is very strict with me, that is why I am like this, I preferred to be free, but it shows I can never have the freedom that I wished.

"Jace King has a potential Roger, and he is my number one choice among the top ten. I guess he is also smart." My dad asked Mr. Roger. It seems my heart skip a beat the moment my father mentioned his name.

"Yes! He is my primary bet too, he is serious, driven and very disciplined, and with excellent academic records, Jace is fantastic, not only that Mr. King is good with martial arts too, his moves remind me of Johnny, even he is young I can see potential in him." Mr. Roger said, then he looked at me.

I can't hide my sadness. When I heard Johnny's name, they are so distinct. Johnny is sweet and warm, while the person they are talking about is full of hatred and anger. I don't even think he knows how to smile.

"Nobody can be like him, and he differs from anyone," I said. I don't intend to display it loud, and I don't want my father to figure out I am still mourning over him.

"Yes! Indeed, Ms. White, but upon seeing Jace King during the whole training period, they have so many things in common, he is a younger version of Johnny, I am talking about combat skills, strategies, styles, and intelligence since we cannot deny Jace is a very handsome man compared to Johnny." Mr. Roger explained, then he looked at me; I can't help myself from blushing again.