Bow Before the Warrior God

Chapter 8 Tina's Distress

The night passed quietly.

At dawn's first light, Ryan Lancaster was already awake.

Tobias, his most trusted guardian, stood waiting outside the bedroom door.

"To Tina's place," Ryan said, taking the dossier from Tobias before descending the stairs with purpose.

The file contained comprehensive intelligence on the four ruling families.

Ryan's eyes scanned the pages with military precision—absorbing layouts, analyzing connections, committing every detail to memory. A photographic memory was child's play for someone like him.

By the time he'd freshened up, Tobias had the car idling at the entrance.

Tina was the sister of Ryan's fallen battle brother. Seven years had passed—far too long without checking on her.

The unspoken truth hung heavy: The brother who should have returned home never would.

......

Celestial Wave Media occupied modest offices—a digital media agency with a solid reputation. For a young woman to build this from nothing was impressive.

Ryan arrived during the morning rush, navigating the skyscraper's current of suits and coffee cups.

"Good morning, sir! How may I help you?" The receptionist offered a polished smile.

"Inform your CEO her brother's comrade is here." Ryan's tone brooked no argument.

"Right away, sir." After a brief call, she nodded. "Ms. Aiden is ready for you."

The workspace hummed with understated elegance—every detail whispering of Tina's careful attention. A dozen employees worked quietly, though several young women stole glances.

"New client? He's gorgeous," one whispered behind her monitor.

"Don't get ideas," her friend giggled. "Men like that don't notice us."

Ryan's ear twitched almost imperceptibly. He pretended not to hear.

Tobias coughed into his fist, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

The manager's door stood slightly ajar. Angry voices spilled into the hallway.

Ryan paused just outside, catching every word.

"You can't do this! After years working together—" Tina's voice frayed at the edges.

A pause, then sharper: "I understand budgets, but those numbers are impossible! Do you even—"

"What do you think I am?!"

The argument peaked with the crash of a smartphone being slammed against the wall.

Ryan pushed inside to find Tina with her face buried in her arms, shoulders shaking.

"Out! Who—" She didn't look up, her order dissolving into hiccups. "Just... focus on your work!"

"I can help." Ryan settled onto the sofa, crossing his ankles with the calm of a battlefield veteran. His gaze never wavered.

The unfamiliar voice made Tina jerk upright. She blinked at the stranger—then froze as memory clicked into place.

Seven years ago, she'd been just a girl. Ryan's face meant little then.

But the name? That she knew.

They called him worthless.

Trash.

The sole surviving heir of the fallen Lancaster clan.

Later, he vanished without a trace—rumors even claimed he'd died in service...

These were the insults hurled at Ryan, and Tina knew them all too well.

So when she saw him again after years apart, there was no warmth in her reunion. Under different circumstances, she might have entertained him out of respect for her brother. But today? She couldn't care less.

Her company's anchor client had just invoked a contractual loophole to bail—citing cheaper bids elsewhere. No penalties, no notice, just severed ties and abandoned projects mid-stream.

If this stood, her company would collapse overnight without a lifeline.

Their demands had been outrageous, crossing every line imaginable.

Which explained why she had zero patience for visitors—especially one the rumor mill branded as deadweight.

What good could a few years in uniform possibly do?

"Ryan," she said, her tone dripping with dismissive courtesy, "Leave your number. I'll call when this mess settles." Not even a perfunctory smile.

"I keep my promises. Finn asked me to look after you." Ryan's gaze lifted, unflinching.

Tina stared at him, processing his audacity before releasing a icy laugh. "Don't make me say it twice—get out."

Even the pretense of calling him "brother" was gone now.

"Ms. Aiden! Visitor!"

The receptionist's knock punctuated the tension.

Tina hesitated, torn between the intruder lounging on her sofa and the new disruption. With a frustrated heel-click, she turned to the door.

"This gentleman represents Luminar Holdings—the Radiance family's subsidiary," the receptionist murmured awkwardly.

"Damn, the boss is a knockout!"

A red-haired thug shouldered past, planting himself before Tina with a vulgar once-over. His wolf whistle echoed through the office.

Her nose wrinkled instinctively, though she forced a porcelain smile. Luminar's CEO hailed from the Radiance bloodline—far beyond her paygrade to offend.

With her business already circling the drain, provoking them meant certain ruin.

"How may I help you?" The words tasted like ash as she ushered the leering man inside.

"Mr. Radiance wants dinner companionship. Behave, and your struggling venture might survive. Otherwise..." His smirk widened. "We'll bulldoze this place by dawn."

"Luminar..." The realization hit like a freight train. Her vanished client? Threaded with Luminar's influence.

Coincidence? She wasn't born yesterday.

"Did you sabotage my business?" Tina's voice shook with fury, her eyes brimming with angry tears as she confronted him.

"What if we did? You think I'm here to answer to you?" The red-haired thug smirked, his eyes crawling over her curves with open lust.

"At least tell me what I did wrong! You're putting dozens of my employees out of work!" Her whole body trembled, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Enough whining," the redhead sneered. "Entertain the young master tonight, and you'll get all the contracts you want. Refuse, and your company will be bankrupt by tomorrow."

He leaned in with a cold chuckle: "Let's be clear - the boss wants you... Business is war, little sweetheart. Why fight it? What's the point of resisting?"