Chapter 2:She Thought He Was a Threat

Caesar shook his head in resignation.

The next second, he launched himself like a human cannonball, arcing through the air in an impossible trajectory before landing precisely in the passenger seat, shoving the woman aside in one fluid motion.

He yanked the steering wheel hard to one side while simultaneously slamming on the brakes. The sports car's front end skidded to a stop, missing a massive oak tree by inches.

"Hey," Caesar said calmly. "You're okay now."

The woman opened her eyes in shock, realizing she was still alive.

She hadn't hit anyone. No accident.

The overwhelming rush of relief and terror made her break down instantly. She threw her arms around Caesar, crying and laughing at the same time. "Oh! Thank God! Thank you, really, thank you!"

Caesar enjoyed the warmth in his arms for a moment before extending his hand. "Name's Caesar."

The woman's voice was soft and melodious. "I'm Susan."

Caesar looked down at the sexy, shaken woman clinging to him and couldn't resist teasing her a little. A playful smile spread across his face. "I just saved your life. How are you planning to repay me?"

Susan looked up, her big eyes filled with sincerity. "How... how do you want me to repay you?"

Caesar pretended to think it over, his gaze openly appreciating her figure before he lowered his voice into a magnetic whisper. "How about... you repay me with yourself?"

Susan froze.

Then her face turned visibly red.

"You, you—"

Caesar watched Susan struggle to form words, his mischievous side thoroughly satisfied.

Nothing beat teasing a beautiful woman to brighten the mood.

"I'm kidding," he said with a grin. "I'm also heading into the city. How about you give me a ride? Consider it payment."

Susan's expression twisted with conflicted hesitation.

Caesar pressed a hand to his forehead in disbelief.

"Come on. I saved your life. You can't even do me this one small favor?"

Susan shook her head quickly. "No, no, of course that's fine."

She glanced at Caesar from the corner of her eye. "I just want to know... how are you so amazing?"

To Susan, Caesar might as well have been a god.

He'd actually stopped a runaway car.

Snatched her back from death itself.

Caesar smiled. "Don't you know you should never get curious about a man?"

He leaned in with exaggerated mystery. "Actually, I'm a secret agent. I'm here on a classified mission."

Susan's eyes went wide. "Really?"

Caesar tilted his head back slightly. "Naturally."

As they were talking, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Get your hands off her!"

A black BMW screeched to a halt.

The door opened.

One leg wrapped in flesh-colored stockings emerged first. Then the other—slender, perfectly proportioned.

Looking up, a dignified, striking face came into view.

Her golden hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail. A black women's suit jacket draped over her arm, exuding elegance and nobility.

Everything about her radiated the aura of a queen—commanding, untouchable.

Elizabeth's eyes locked onto Caesar's actions.

Fury ignited inside her instantly.

She closed the distance in three quick strides, positioning herself between Caesar and Susan.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Elizabeth couldn't believe it.

One moment of carelessness, and her sister had nearly fallen into this man's clutches.

She immediately pulled Susan into her arms.

Then swung her hand back for a slap.

"You bastard."

Caesar's eyes flashed with icy light.

He caught her wrist mid-swing.

His voice turned cold. "What do you think you're doing?"

Elizabeth's eyes blazed.

"What am I doing? You people will stop at nothing to get your hands on that thing. And now you dare go after my family? I'd be justified beating you to death right here."

As she spat the words, Elizabeth drove her knee upward toward Caesar's groin.

Caesar wasn't about to tolerate some spoiled brat's tantrum.

He kicked out.

His strike landed first.

Elizabeth barely managed to block, but the force sent her stumbling back three steps.

Susan finally snapped out of her shock.

She stepped between them, arms spread wide.

"You've got it all wrong! Caesar isn't a bad guy—he saved me!"

Susan explained frantically, terrified that Elizabeth would take out her anger on Caesar.

But instead of believing her, Elizabeth only grew more suspicious.

Her gaze locked onto Caesar, filled with distrust.

"Who sent you?"

Caesar actually laughed. "Do you have paranoid delusions or something?"

Elizabeth looked at him like she'd seen right through him.

"You can fool Susan, but you can't fool me. You went to all this trouble to get close to me and steal what I have. Even pulled off a pathetic 'hero saves the girl' stunt."

Her tone dripped with disdain.

Caesar recognized her instantly—the woman from the profile photo. Elizabeth Williams. His assignment.

But the moment she opened her mouth with that condescending attitude, any thought of a polite introduction went straight out the window.

So this is the genius researcher I'm supposed to babysit? Caesar thought, amused. Arrogant. Paranoid. And apparently thinks the entire world revolves around whatever 'thing' she's protecting.

Fine. If she wanted to play it this way, he'd let her stew in her own suspicions for a while. Might even be more effective to protect her from the shadows until she learned some manners.

Elizabeth pulled a check from her suit jacket and held it out to Caesar.

"This is one million dollars. Consider it thanks for saving my sister."

Her condescending attitude made Caesar's lips curl into a faint smirk.

"Rich people."

Caesar looked her up and down.

His flippant gaze made Elizabeth's blood boil.

She forced herself to stay calm.

"What do you want?"

Caesar said flatly, "Money? Don't need it."

"Right now, all I want is a sincere thank-you from you."

Elizabeth's expression shifted to shock, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"What did you just say?"

Elizabeth was used to dealing with polished, well-mannered people.

A guy like Caesar—who didn't follow a single rule of high-society etiquette—was a first for her.

His behavior only confirmed her suspicions.

Caesar continued. "How does someone who claims to love her sister so much not even have the decency to say thank you?"

He shook his head.

"Forget it. I guess this is what they call upper-class arrogance."

Elizabeth's face flushed red, rendered speechless by his words.

If Caesar hadn't saved her sister, she would've made him regret ever crossing her path.

Elizabeth took several deep breaths, steeling herself.

"Th-thank you."

Before she could even finish, Caesar turned and started walking away.

He waved dismissively over his shoulder.

"You're welcome."

Elizabeth stared at his retreating back.

She wanted to bite him.

How could someone like this even exist?

Elizabeth grabbed Susan's hand.

"Susan, we're leaving."

She led Susan to the car and drove off toward Manhattan.

As they passed Caesar, Elizabeth shot him a glance.

Then she floored the gas pedal.

Black smoke billowed.

Dust kicked up everywhere.

Caesar stood there, fury written all over his face, shouting after her.

"Damn woman! Don't let me catch you again!"