Chapter 15.3

"What, no thank you? You're welcome," Jason said sarcastically as he drank the whiskey straight from the bottle.

"You kept this from me. Me. Did you ever tru -" Selena stopped abruptly and turned her head away, looking past a guilty Jason while Alina raised her eyebrows.

"How did you even know about her?" Selena took a moment to clear her throat before she finally asked. "You also bought all the available stocks three years ago. Did you know what would happen to her family?"

"The answer to both your questions is quite simple," Jason sighed. "I accidentally met Alina years ago when she was a kid and I was hired to protect her by Mrs. Sage. Then I was … pretend-adopted into the family.

"Mrs. Sage knew about her heritage and was worried that Alina would be targeted, and rightly so. Luckily, I was there to save them that night but Mrs. Sage refused medical treatment,"

Alina turned to look at Jason with tears in her eyes; Jason had never told her about this, he was constantly avoiding the topic every time she asked. He turned to look at her and continued gently. "I could only save one, and she chose you. She loved you very much, Alle."

Alina closed her eyes and turned her head while Selena sighed.

"It's providence that you were there, thank God," Selena muttered. "So I'm assuming Mrs. Sage asked you to buy the majority of RogueTech?"

"Nah, that was me," Jason said. "I needed your R&D Department so I poured my entire life savings into buying it out. It was pure luck that I found out that Alina was to inherit it."

"But you just said … ?" Selena began but Jason interrupted her.

"Did I not say she's my sister? 'Course she'd inherit it," Jason snorted as he talked. "Besides, I'm not into business. It's why I ditched everything to you and ran away. You need someone shot dead? Call me up. You need someone to crunch numbers? Kill me instead."

"Hm, good point," Selena said. "But now that I know, I'll have to tell the boss. You know that, right?"

"Katherine? The party girl?" Jason scoffed. "Isn't she in Egypt right now? Why would she care about a distant cousin?"

"She really wanted to see Alina for some reason," Selena frowned as she answered. "It was almost as though she felt guilty or something."

"Uh, is no one gonna take my opinion?" Alina asked after being lost for a while.

"What do you mean?" Selena asked.

"As in, what if I'm not interested in running a company?"

Both Jason and Selena were silent as they exchanged incredulous looks.

"You sure, kid? It's your legacy," Jason said.

"No, it's not. It's the Rogue's legacy and I'm a Sage just like my mom," Alina answered. "You once told me that you would never force anything on me, that you'll let me be free. Then why are you deciding my future?!"

Jason remained silent, surprised at her outburst. He slowly began speaking after careful consideration.

"Alle, I only wanted what was best for. But - but," Jason stopped Alina from interrupting as he continued. "If you don't like this, then I won't force it. I'm only asking that you give it a chance. Just a chance, kid. That's all I'm asking."

Alina nodded sulkily as Jason patted her head to soothe her. Selena cleared her throat to get their attention and Alina looked at her.

"I'm curious Ms. Alina, which career are you interested in?" Selena asked.

" … Being a bounty hunter doesn't sound bad," Alina hesitated and looked at Jason for a moment before answering in a careful voice.

Jason's eyebrow shot up as anger clouded his face. He turned his head to Alina abruptly as he jutted his lower mouth out while his jaw tensed.

"No," he said forcefully with a half-snarling sneer. "Absolutely not, Alina. Never."

"But-"

"I SAID NO!" Jason slammed his fist on the desk shattering a chunk of it while Alina finched and Selena jumped back.

Jason, upon seeing their reaction, calmed down. He then stood up and began pacing, while steadying breathing. Finally, when he cooled down, he looked back at them.

"I'm sorry," he said to both before fixing his eyes on Alina. "But no, Alina. I can't - I won't - let you become a bounty hunter or … or a mercenary. I won't put you through the pain and suffering that I had to go through."

"You taught me!" Alina stood up in anger as well. "You taught me how to fight, how to kill! Why would you do that if you won't let me -"

"I taught you how to defend yourself! To protect yourself and the people around you! Not to become a - a glorified butcher!" Jason replied in equal rage.

"Enough, you two!" Selena stood up and said. Though her voice was lower than theirs, her authority was prominent, forcing them into silence. "Jason, no offence, but don't preach what you can't follow. It's obvious that she would follow your footsteps and considering how you raised her, it shouldn't come as a surprise. And Ms. Alina, please reconsider. Killing is not as exciting as it sounds. And make no mistake, should you choose that profession, you will have to kill."

Jason turned away while placing both his hands on his head while Alina looked the opposite direction, both had literal steam coming out of their heads.

"There's no point in arguing," Selena continued in a neutral voice. "Jason, she won't make an immediate decision. Isn't that right, Ms. Alina?"

"It's just Alina," Alina said while nodding and Jason gave a noncommittal grunt. "And you're right I won't make a decision until I turn eighteen."

"There. That settles it," Selena said while clapping her hands. "So, back to the matter at hand. Why did you come here, Jason?"

Jason hesitated for a moment. He looked at Alina cautiously before biting his lower lips.

"I need a new suit," he finally said through gritted teeth.

"Ah," Selena realized why Jason didn't want to discuss this. Right after denying Alina's dream to become like him, Jason was asking for armour and equipment which was blatantly hypocritical, to say the least.

"Do as I say, not as I do," muttered Alina scathingly.

Jason who heard her looked as though he was constipated. He scrunched his face as he raised a finger before putting it down; he was defeated, unable to say anything in response to her comment.

"Right. Well then, follow me," Selena said while gesturing at them with a finger.

The two followed her to the private elevator that they entered from previously. Jason raised a hand and was about to tell Alina to wait but both the latter and Selena glared at him, causing him to fall silent.