Chapter 5 Quiet Delight

Cold, gentle breezes whispered through the air, delicately tousling Rosaline's

hair as she allowed the strands to twirl near her face. Though it was dark, her silver hair shimmered like dim street lights atop the rooftop of her room. Maverick approached her, observing the serene emptiness in her eyes.

"Rose," he called out softly as he stepped closer to where she sat.

"Yes, Dad."

She shifted to make room for him to sit alongside her, resting her head on his shoulder. Amidst her rebellious life, this was the only place where she truly felt secure. The warmth emitting from her father meant everything to her, despite the spoiled behaviour she had exhibited.

"You're going away again, aren't you?" she inquired.

"Yes, just for a week. Would you like to come?" he asked, draping a shawl over her body and patiently awaiting her response.

"Not this time. I have plans for the week," she replied.

"Right," Maverick nodded in acknowledgment of her words. He wanted to ask about it but refrained, aware that Rosaline was not one to freely share her concerns. This was also why a barrier existed between her and Maverick.

"I'll leave Bianca here. Don't do anything-" Maverick began, but Rosaline cut him off with a mischievous smirk. "Dangerous? Yeah, 'sure' Dad. Don't worry about those."

She rose to her feet and took a deep breath before starting to descend down the roof, with Maverick trailing behind. However, her steps came to an abrupt halt when she caught sight of Shaan's face. In an instant, her smile vanished as if wiped away by the wind as if she saw a fly.

Shaan spared only a brief glance at Rosaline and then ignored her, addressing Maverick instead.

"Boss, you called?"

"Stay by her side every second. If a single scratch appears on my daughter, I will personally deal with the three of you," Maverick commanded firmly.

"I understand, Boss!" Shaan responded dutifully.

"Dad! You're acting like I'm some kind of cringe princess! I'm an adult, Please for heaven's sake!" Rosaline protested, her frustration evident in her voice.

"Ah, Boss, regarding today's incident in the West te-" Shaan began to speak, but Rosaline swiftly caught on and interrupted him with a wide grin.

"It's just for a week, haha. Let's get along!" she exclaimed, extending her hand for a handshake. She squeezed his hand tightly, but Shaan's large and firm grip remained unscathed at her weak pressure. Determined to make her point, she dug her nails into his skin, silently urging him to keep quiet. Shaan observed her actions with a faint smile as his hand collided with her small hand.

Let's go down." She said, pulling him along with her. She almost panicked despite knowing Shaan was playing with her. If Maverick found out she went to another territory and caused trouble, her freedom would be interrupted once again. What's more was she would have to go there again later.

"You like holding hands, Princess?" He said as she kept on walking. She hastily withdrew her hands and gritted her teeth, "Don't call me that name!"

"Sure, P.r.i.n.c.e.s.s!" He spelled it out instead.

Rosaline reached her limit, refusing to tolerate any more of his nonsense. She seized his collar, forcefully pinning him against the wall with a resounding thud, and wrapped his tie tightly around her hand, using it to exert pressure and choke him.

"For now, you may have the upper hand. But mark my words, I will ensure you're fired," she threatened.

"Go ahead. Until then, you're stuck with me," He remained unfazed and responded calmly while Rosaline's glare turned intense. However, their little fight was interrupted when Benjamin called out for him,

"Shaan Sinclair! Get to the base. You're needed there."

"Yeah, sure."

Rosaline watched as he yanked his suit back to its neat self and walked away being unaffected. It was about time she went back for the night too.

When Rosaline woke up in the morning, she discovered that Maverick was already gone. This was nothing new, so she didn't think much of it. The sensation of warm water splashing against her face brought a sense of calmness to the chilly morning. At least she didn't have to face her so-called glued bodyguards the moment she woke up.

As she heard a knock at the door, she peeked out from behind the towel that she was using to wipe her face, only to find Ace standing there.

"Please come down for breakfast," he declared.

During these times, Rosaline would have breakfast alone at fancy restaurants since no one dared to ask or suggest anything to her in her father's absence. She pushed aside those thoughts and made her way down the hallway to find breakfast already laid out on the table. Not to mention the smell and they were steaming hot.

"Ah! Good morning, Princess," Shaan emerged, wearing an apron that covered his front as he placed a plate of toast on the table.

Frozen on the stairs, Rosaline fought the urge to burst out laughing at the sight of him in that attire. "You cooked? What, trying to kill me?" she said.

"I anticipated you'd say that. That's why I'll join you," he replied, removing his apron. Suddenly, Ryder appeared with a plate in hand.

"It's totally fine. Our brother's a good cook." He winked as he consumed the soft toast in front of Rosaline who silently growled at the sight.

Gradually giving in to her appetite, Rosaline took a seat facing Shaan. Her eyes flickered between him and her plate as he began eating before her. The fork effortlessly pierced through the milky toast, and when she took a bite, it melted away like cotton candy. The three of them watched intently, waiting to see her reaction. Surprisingly, no matter how she behaved, her fondness for the sweet toast couldn't be concealed.

"I'm glad it suits your taste," Shaan smiled.

"It's merely because the brand of the bread was good." She said without looking up.

Surprisingly, Rosaline found herself enjoying the moment with these three arrogant bodyguards. But that didn't mean she'd forgotten what she had to do that day.

"We're going to the West today. I can't let that woman stop me again." She began,

"If they make chaos, take them down without letting them know we're from the North."

Hearing Rosaline's serious confession, Ace asked, "So you're asking for our help, aren't you?"

"Surely you're tagging along even if I forbid you, right? Then better if you guard me properly." She responded and switched her eyes towards Shaan who was observing her eating in silence. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth,

"Ask nicely," He blinked softly, revealing the coy look in his eyes,

"Say, please keep this a secret from Dad and help me, brothers."