The Tenth Explosion

Chapter 15: where love starts.❤️

Kate had always believed that rich people were strange. Not evil. Not magical. Just strange. Because normal people solved problems with effort. Rich people solved problems with phone calls. That difference alone could make a person look supernatural. Which was exactly why she was still trying to process the fact that Mr. James, her billionaire CEO, was currently sitting inside her apartment looking completely comfortable. The same man whose company was worth more money than she could imagine. The same man who had survived assassination attempts. The same man who somehow managed to attract danger the way streetlights attract insects. And now he was sitting in her living room.

Kate folded her arms and looked at him. "You know what?"

James glanced up. "What?"

"Since you're already in my house, you're finally going to taste the beautiful food I've been eating alone all this while."

James laughed. The first genuine laugh she'd heard from him that day. "I appreciate the offer." Mr James said.

"You should." Kate replied.

Mr James, "But that's not actually why I'm here."

That got her attention immediately. Kate sat down across from him. The playful mood faded slightly. "What do you mean?"

James leaned forward. "The real reason I came is because I think I've figured out a way for you to leave the Sun Thunder gang."

Now that completely changed the conversation. Food became irrelevant. Everything became irrelevant. Kate stared at him. For a second she wasn't sure she heard correctly. "You what?"

"I think I've found a way out."

Kate sat straighter. A way out. Those three words sounded almost unreal. Because ever since her initiation, every path she imagined ended badly. Stay in the gang? Danger. Leave the gang? Danger. Tell the police? Even more danger. It felt like being trapped in a room where every door led somewhere unpleasant. Now James was talking about an exit. Naturally she wanted details. Immediately. "Start talking."

James nodded. "Recently I had indirect communication with Jackie."

Kate blinked. "The Jackie?"

"Unfortunately."

"The leader of the Sun Thunder gang?"

"That one.", Mr James confirmed.

Kate leaned back. That information alone was surprising. Most people never got close enough to communicate with Jackie. The man was practically a myth at this point. Half gang leader. Half ghost story.

James continued. "He sent me a message."

Kate frowned. "A threat?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"Honestly?" James shook his head. "It was closer to a thank-you letter."

Kate stared. Then laughed. Then stopped laughing. Then realized he wasn't joking. "What kind of criminal organization sends thank-you letters?"

"The confusing kind."

That answer somehow made perfect sense. James explained everything. The internal power struggle. The rogue members who tried forcing him into the gang. Their plan to use his influence. How they hoped to increase their own power. How Jackie saw them as a threat. How everything eventually collapsed.

Kate listened carefully. The deeper the explanation went, the more ridiculous the entire situation sounded. Finally James reached the important part. "The escape condition."

Kate immediately focused. "What condition?"

James sighed. "According to what I've learned, Jackie has a rule."

"I don't think I'm going to like this."

"You won't."

"Tell me anyway."

James nodded. "If somebody wants to leave the gang, they can."

Kate's eyes widened slightly. "Really?"

"Technically."

"That sounds suspicious."

"It is." James paused. Then continued. "The person becomes a target."

Kate's expression changed instantly. "What?"

"The gang sends people after them."

"You're joking."

"I wish."

Kate stared at him. "So that's the condition?"

James nodded. "If you survive the people sent after you..." Another pause. "...you're considered free."

For several seconds Kate said absolutely nothing. Then she laughed. Not because it was funny. Because sometimes insanity reaches a point where laughter becomes the only reasonable response. "What kind of condition is that?"

James shrugged. "The kind created by criminals."

Kate stood up. "No." She started pacing. "No, seriously." She pointed at him. "Listen to what you're saying."

"I'm listening."

"A person can leave the gang..."

"Yes."

"But first they have to survive assassins?"

"Correct."

Kate threw her hands into the air. "That is insane."

"Also correct."

"That's not freedom."

"I know."

"That's attempted murder with paperwork."

James actually laughed at that one. Because honestly? She wasn't wrong.

Kate dropped back into her chair. "This is ridiculous."

James nodded. "It is."

Silence settled briefly between them. Then James spoke again. "If there's any way I can help..." His voice became more serious. "...please let me know."

Kate looked at him. Really looked at him. Past the expensive clothes. Past the billionaire status. Past the CEO image. The man genuinely looked concerned. Not out of obligation. Not because she worked for him. Because he actually cared what happened to her. That realization softened something inside her. Still... She wasn't going to let him off easily. "You got me into this."

James sighed. "Fair."

"So you have to protect me."

That made him laugh. Not mockingly. Just honestly.

Kate pointed again. "I'm serious."

"I know."

"You owe me."

"I definitely owe you."

"Good."

James leaned back. Then folded his arms. "Since I'm no longer on the Sun Thunder target list..."

Kate immediately understood where he was going. Her eyes narrowed. "Then..."

James smiled slightly. "Then why don't I give you the best bodyguard I have?"

Kate blinked. "The best?"

"The most skilled."

"The one that saved your life?"

"Yes."

Kate's jaw nearly dropped. "You're serious?"

"Completely."

For a moment she genuinely didn't know what to say. Because bodyguards like that didn't come cheap. Especially people like Ben. The kind of person who could apparently walk into gunfire and leave with fewer problems than everybody else. James was offering her that level of protection. Just like that. No conditions. No contract. Nothing.

Kate shook her head slowly. "Wow."

James smiled. "Good wow or bad wow?"

"Definitely good wow." She laughed softly. Then looked at him. "I don't even know how I'd repay you."

James immediately looked uncomfortable. Kate noticed. And that interested her. Very much. Because throughout all their interactions, James had always seemed composed. Professional. Controlled. Now suddenly he looked like somebody walking across a frozen lake hoping it didn't crack. Interesting. Very interesting.

Kate leaned slightly forward. "Are you really going to do all this for me?"

James looked away briefly. That wasn't the reaction she expected. Actually... It told her more than an answer would have. Because if helping her was purely business, he'd answer instantly. Instead he suddenly seemed unsure.

Kate studied him carefully. The silence stretched. Then she smiled. A slow smile. The kind that made James immediately suspicious. "What?"

Kate tilted her head. "Do you like me?"

James nearly choked on absolutely nothing. Which was impressive. Because he wasn't eating. Or drinking. Or speaking.

Kate almost laughed. His reaction was answer enough. The problem was that James already knew the answer too. That was what made the situation complicated. Because yes. Somewhere during all the chaos... The meetings. The arguments. The danger. The impossible situations. He had started developing feelings for her. And honestly? That bothered him. Not because Kate wasn't wonderful. She was. Smart. Funny. Strong. Beautiful. Stubborn enough to challenge him regularly.

The problem was timing. His fiancée had died. The grief wasn't gone. It wasn't even close to gone. Some days he still expected her phone calls. Some days he still reached for memories that hurt. Part of him felt guilty for even thinking about another woman. Another part quietly reminded him that grief and affection weren't enemies. Human beings rarely move through life in neat emotional categories. James knew all of that. Yet standing here now... Looking at Kate... He suddenly found himself struggling to answer a very simple question. Do you like me?

Kate waited patiently. James looked away. Then laughed quietly. A nervous laugh. Which was unusual for him. Very unusual. "That's not a fair question."

Kate grinned. "So that's a yes."

James shook his head. "You make things difficult."

"I try."

"I noticed."

The room became quieter. Not awkward. Just honest. The kind of silence that appears when two people realize a conversation has become more important than they expected.

James stood slowly. Kate remained where she was. Watching him. Neither spoke for several seconds. Then Kate smiled softly. "You still didn't answer."

James looked at her. Really looked at her. And for the first time in a long while, he stopped overthinking. Stopped analyzing. Stopped calculating consequences. Life had nearly ended for him multiple times recently. Bullets didn't ask permission before arriving. Death didn't schedule appointments. Some truths weren't worth postponing forever.

He stepped closer. Kate's heartbeat immediately sped up. Not dramatically. Just enough for her to notice. James stopped in front of her. Close enough now that neither needed to raise their voice. Close enough that the entire atmosphere shifted. Then quietly he spoke. "I think you already know the answer."

Kate smiled. A genuine smile. The kind that reached her eyes. "I wanted to hear it."

James laughed softly. Of course she did. That was such a Kate thing to say.

For a moment neither moved. Then James gently reached for her hand. No rush. No pressure. Just a simple gesture. Kate looked down briefly before meeting his eyes again. The smile remained. James leaned in and kissed her. Warm. Gentle. Unhurried. Not dramatic. Not reckless. Just honest. The kind of kiss that says far more than a speech ever could.

When they finally pulled apart, Kate couldn't stop smiling. Honestly, she wasn't even trying. Because part of her still couldn't understand how her life had arrived here. A few months ago she was worrying about promotions. Now her billionaire CEO had just kissed her in her living room after offering her protection from a criminal organization. Life was weird. Very weird.

James rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Which made Kate laugh immediately. "What?"

"I've never seen you nervous before."

"I'm not nervous."

"You absolutely are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

James gave up arguing. Mostly because she was right.

Kate shook her head. "Do you know how crazy this sounds?"

James sighed. "Probably."

"My billionaire CEO likes me."

"When you say it like that, it sounds strange."

"It is strange."

"Fair."

They both laughed. The tension eased immediately. Then James checked the time. His expression became more professional again. Not cold. Just focused. "There's something important."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

"Tomorrow morning." He pointed toward her. "First thing."

"The office?"

Mr James, "The office."

"A meeting?"

"Yes."

Kate narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Work meeting?"

James smiled. "Partly."

"That's not reassuring."

"It wasn't supposed to be."

Kate laughed again. Then nodded. "Fine." "I'll be there."

James started toward the door. Then paused. Then turned back briefly. One final look. One final smile. And somehow that smile felt more meaningful than either of them expected. Because for the first time in a very long while... Despite the gangs. Despite the danger. Despite the grief. Despite everything waiting outside that apartment... Both of them finally had something worth looking forward to tomorrow.