DMYC Chapter 38

Beyond that, Grayson was a pretty decent partner. He knew how to say the right things at the right time, and he was perceptive enough not to upset her. She had maintained a friendly relationship with him, thinking he was a good guy even though he wasn’t a serious prospect, until one day, her illusions were shattered.

“My co-star is Chase Miller. Can I eat him alive?”

When she was cast in the same movie as Grayson’s younger brother, Chase, Naomi had jokingly asked Grayson.

“Please do.”

Grayson had replied, laughing genuinely with amusement. “It’s a good thing you’re a Beta,” he added, explaining that it would be problematic if she left a mark.

“Why’s that?”

She shouldn’t have asked. Back then, Naomi was so overflowing with affection for that trash that she’d let her guard down. She knew all too well that men always looked for opportunities to stab you in the back.

Bursting into loud laughter, Grayson had said,

“You have to differentiate between someone you sleep with and someone you marry.”

She still vividly remembered the chilling sensation of her blood running cold. The meaning behind Grayson’s words was crystal clear: Naomi was just someone he slept with, not someone he would ever seriously consider marrying. 

What an arrogant bastard. 

Whether his confidence stemmed from his lofty Extreme Alpha bloodline or his impressive family background, she didn’t care. Naomi never forgave anyone who deeply wounded her pride.

I’ll make damn sure I see that bastard crying and suffering.

How many years had passed since she’d gritted her teeth with that vow? Then Grayson started searching for his soulmate again. It was news as thrilling and exhilarating as when she’d been nominated for Best Actress. And she’d gone on to win that award. This time would be no different.

Could there be a prize more satisfying than seeing Grayson Miller utterly broken?

A thrill of excitement coursed through her. She clenched her fists, trembling slightly, then hurriedly rummaged for her phone again. Now it was time to track down where Grayson was wasting his time. She pressed the speed dial, and after a few rings, her assistant answered with a sleepy voice.

“It’s me. Sorry to call so late. There’s someone I need you to find urgently. He’s supposedly become a firefighter, but I don’t know which station he’s at. Can you find out for me first thing in the morning?”

Naomi waited patiently while her assistant grabbed a pen and paper. Once her assistant was ready, she took a deep breath and finally said the name,

“Grayson Miller.”

She could sense her assistant freeze upon hearing it. Naomi smiled brightly and added,

“Yes, that’s right. The second son of the Miller family, that Grayson Miller.”

Nodding to herself, the assistant asked,

“You just need me to find him?”

“Yes, I’ll take care of the rest.”

Naomi added a warm farewell.

“Sorry for always being so demanding. Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll be charging overtime.” 

Her assistant tossed out a half-joking, half-serious remark, then hung up.

Naomi smiled and pulled out her checkbook, writing a check for her assistant. As she scrawled her signature, her face glowed brighter than ever with anticipation for what lay ahead.

* * *

At the same time, in another place, another Miller was discussing this very incident.

“A firefighter? Grayson? Your brother, Grayson Miller? He became a firefighter?”

It was around that time that Joshua Bailey received a call from his partner, Chase Miller. Since Joshua was working in another state, they frequently called each other to reaffirm their affection. But this time, there was another reason for the call: news about Chase’s brother, Grayson Miller.

He had gotten a job, as a firefighter, no less.

As soon as Chase told him, Joshua, unable to believe it, repeated the question several times, his voice rising in disbelief. From the other end of the line, Chase responded in a thoroughly exasperated tone.

-Yeah, that bastard. What the hell is he thinking? The most selfish person on Earth becoming a firefighter, the most selfless profession? He must be crazy. Right, his pheromones must’ve finally driven him nuts. I’m sure of it.

Listening to Chase pour out his curses with full emotion, Joshua was thinking something completely different. 

A firefighter, of all things? Could this be destiny?

“Do you know which fire station he’s at?”

At Joshua’s question, Chase racked his brain, trying to remember what Koi had said. Joshua’s conviction grew stronger after hearing the answer. This had to be a sign.

“Chase,”

He called out, seizing a pause in Chase’s rant, his voice low and meaningful,

“I have an interesting idea, what do you think? Want to hear it?”

-What idea?

Chase’s voice was still sullen, and Joshua continued,

“Remember what I promised you before? That I would kidnap that bastard for you if you ever wanted.”

A sudden silence fell. Joshua could easily picture Chase frowning and holding his breath, and he smiled to himself.

“Yeah, that’s right. The time has come.”

Joshua deliberately paused for dramatic effect, then added,

“Time to pay back all those debts.”

A sharp intake of breath came from the other end of the line. Another tense silence followed, and then Chase finally spoke,

-So, what’s the first step?

His voice was filled with anticipation, a slight tremor of excitement. Joshua smiled, satisfied, and replied,

“The first thing we need to do is find an accomplice.”

-An accomplice?

“That’s right.”

Joshua nodded at Chase’s question.

“I know a firefighter.”

* * *

The branch of a tall tree swayed slightly. Dane Striker, slowly making his way up a ladder, immediately paused and assessed the situation. After confirming that the branch was stable again, he resumed moving upward. 

At the precarious end of a branch that looked like it might snap any moment, a battered and bruised cat crouched, glaring at him with its fur standing on end.

“It’s okay, good kitty. Come here.”

Dane’s voice was very gentle as he tried to coax the cat, which, for some reason, had climbed up high but couldn’t get back down. He clicked his tongue soothingly as he approached the cat, and the firefighters watching from below the tree commented,

“It’s really amazing. That cynical bastard is so gentle with animals.”

Someone nodded in agreement.

“He’d beat a person to a pulp, but he wouldn’t hurt an animal.”

“Not only that, remember that time he almost beat a guy to death for leaving his dog inside a burning house? He almost went to jail.”

“It’s a good thing he only had to pay a fine. I don’t think he would have reacted that violently if it had been a person inside that fire.”

“You don’t know that. He might have beaten him up just for being annoying. He’s capable of that.”

“Who knows? …But I doubt he’d want to go to jail. He has his cat to take care of.”

Grayson, standing some distance away from his chattering colleagues, frowned as he watched Dane.

What’s that guy up to now?