Chapter 34: Chance Encounter

Jay

"Can't you just do it on your own? Why do I have to be there too?" I groan.

Anon wants me to choose a new bodyguard, but I don't have any desire to replace Rin. I only hired him because I was curious about him. I don't want a bodyguard.

"If you don't come with me, you will complain about it later, and I will have to deal with the aftermath of your temper tantrum," Anon says as he glances through the employee applications.

"You make it sound like I am a toddler," I say.

"You are a toddler. A toddler with a title. Now quit complaining and let's go to the conference room. They will start arriving in half an hour." Anon picks up a stack of paperwork and heads toward the door.

I jumped up and helped him. I guess I have no choice.

"Well, that was the last applicant. Does anybody stand out to you?" Anon asks.

"Eh, maybe the big fella with the scar on his face. He would scare people off just by his looks alone. Plus, he was funny. Though I don't think he was trying to be." I chuckle.

Anon looks annoyed. He can tell I'm not taking this seriously. I don't care enough.

"Why don't you just pick? They all seem fine to me." I say as I stand to leave.

"I'm going back to my office." I stepped into the hall and saw a woman standing in front of my office.

OH! It's Melony!

"Hey, Mel. What brings you here? Anon is in the conference room. Do you want me to get him?" I say as I walk towards her.

She grins from ear to ear.

"Prince Jay! It's been too long since I last saw you. How are you?" Melony says, completely ignoring I said anything about her brother.

"I'm doing ok. How have you been? Come in, let's sit in my office." I say as I open the door.

"Not as good as I should be. Father won't let me renovate my room this year. He keeps telling me I need to learn restraint. He doesn't get me at all. My room is out of date. I need new windows, and my closet is far too small for my things." Melony whines.

Yup, she hasn't changed at all. She is spoiled. The only person who doesn't spoil her is Anon. That's why they constantly bicker. I find it amusing.

"Your father has a point. You can't always get what you want." I say without thinking.

Oops, I hope I didn't set her off. Whenever Anon argues with her, she snaps.

"Hmm, you're right, Jay. Maybe I should listen to my father," Melony says with a smile.

It looks fake. She is just sucking up to me. I have known Anon and Melony since we were kids, and I can tell that she has a crush on me. I tried several times to get her to back off, but nothing I did put her off. I think it's all about my title. She doesn't like me. She wants Prince Jay. Before I can respond to her, Anon walks in.

"Eh, what the fuck are you doing here?" Anon says without any restraint.

"Can't you be a little more polite to your only sister? Geez, I came to ask if you and Jay wanted to go to dinner tonight. It's been a while since the three of us did anything together." Melony glances over at me with these sad puppy dog eyes.

Ahh, fuck. It looks like we will be going to dinner with Melony.

"Where's the restaurant you are taking us to?" Anon asks.

"It's by the city hall. It's a 5-star hotel, and the restaurant in the lobby is amazing. You can see the city hall fountain from the window. It's beautiful at night." Melony raves.

"Oh, that sounds nice," I say in a monotone.

I honestly don't want to be here. I don't know why, but I feel down. It's been a day since Rin left, but I got used to him being around.

"We are here. You made a reservation, right?" Anon asks Melony.

"Of course. It's not my first time eating at a 5-star restaurant." Melony scoffs.

We get out, and the valet takes our car. I am recognized right away. Before I walk into the hotel, I spot Rin across the street. What is he doing coming out of city hall?

"Hey, I'll be right back. I want to say Hi to someone." I say as I run off.

"HEY! Wait!! JAY!!!" Anon shouts after me.

I ignore him.

"RIN!" I shout.

Rin jolts and turns towards me.

"Hey, Prince Jay. What are you doing here? And why are you alone? Did you forget that you are a target for assassination?" Rin says with a hint of worry in his voice.

I look Rin up and down and notice he is carrying a folder with papers.

"I'm fine. Anon and his sister are with me. They are waiting across the street. What are you doing here? What's in the folder?" I can't help but be nosy.

Yesterday, we were working together to find out anything about Rin.

"Oh, then how come you are here chasing after me?" Rin says, evading my question.

"I didn't get a chance to talk to you before you left. I heard Anon's side of things. I wanted to hear yours." I do want to know why he told Anon he was an assassin.

He seems smart. So why did he give away such vital information about himself?

"Anon's side and mine are the same. There isn't anything that needs to be explained. I don't think it's very polite to leave your friends waiting. I need to get back to Parker. He is waiting at the gym for me. Have a good evening, Your Highness." Rin forces a smile and bows before he walks away.

Why was he so eager to push me away? He seemed so…sad. I don't want things to end like this. I still want to help him. I will still support him. I don't need him to be my bodyguard to do that. I will find out what lies in Rin's past. I will.