C2 Chapter Two: Confrontation

Jade not recognizing him had a lot to do with the chaotic first encounter between them. The Branconi Family's hitmen launched a surprise attack the moment Andrea appeared. There was a barrage of gunfire, creating a deafening noise, and the deck was littered with bullet holes and shattered furniture.

At that moment, she was focused on ensuring Willow's safe exit from the concentrated gunfire. Her interaction with Andrea was merely a fleeting glance and left no lasting impression.

But Andrea claimed to have seen her. For some reason, Jade couldn't shake the feeling that he had more to say.

After a moment of silence, Andrea's gaze casually fell on her hands. He nonchalantly asked, "Miss Ouyang, where were you heading so late?"

"Oh! She was helping me fetch something," a clear voice echoed from the kitchen. Miss Wen, holding two glasses of whiskey, hurried over. Andrea's brow furrowed imperceptibly.

"The recent assassination attempt was terrifying. I have PTSD from gunshots, and I can't sleep without taking sleeping pills after such a scare," Willow said casually as she approached, boldly taking the paper bag from Jade.

As the heiress of the Singaporean Wings conglomerate, with her father Dexter Wen being the richest man in Lion City, controlling air and sea transport, including the rights to navigate the Malacca Strait to East and Southeast Asia, Willow was known for her arrogance. For her, the world revolved around herself, and others' feelings were never in her consideration, including Andrea.

Under Willow's interruption, whether it was to save or ruin the situation, the oppressive pressure from Andrea seemed to dissipate.

Willow sat next to Jade, pretending to offer a glass of whiskey to Andrea. Through the light of the giant chandelier in the living room, Jade clearly saw a hair floating on the surface of the whiskey.

In an instant, she almost confirmed that Willow was intentionally creating a disturbance.

Andrea didn't take the offered glass, maintaining a cold expression as he continued, "Miss Ouyang, are you from New York?"

Jade hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

"But in the security company records in New York, there's no trace of Miss Ouyang from less than two years ago. Does that mean you've been in the business for less than two years?" Andrea's question sent a shiver down Jade's spine.

Suddenly, she understood why this person, who usually didn't care about Willow's life or death, had visited today. It wasn't to console his fiancée; it was to investigate her background.

The first sentence they exchanged when they met, mentioning the engagement banquet, had a hidden agenda.

The schedule and time of the engagement banquet were strictly confidential. If Branconi Family could pinpoint it accurately, there must be a mole. Jade herself found it hard to believe.

So, Andrea...

Jade looked back at him, maintaining a calm and confident demeanor. "I've been a formal bodyguard for less than two years. Miss Wen is my first employer."

The corner of the man's lips twitched. "In less than two years, you've acquired such skills?"

"Before becoming a bodyguard, I was a combat coach at a martial arts gym in Chinatown," Jade added, "I've been practicing martial arts since I was a child."

"Since childhood?" Andrea turned his head, and his dark eyes emitted a cold light.

"Yes," Jade nodded.

"Miss Ouyang, do you have any other long-standing hobbies?" he inquired.

A sudden burst, a flash of white light in her mind. Gunshots and cries resounded like ghosts emerging from hell.

Fortunately, this momentary shock didn't make her lose composure. Jade tightened her clothes, calmly stating, "No."

"No?" Andrea raised an eyebrow, his expression now shrouded in darkness.

"No," Jade repeated, shaking her head firmly. She belonged to the Wen family, and whether for the sake of face or sentiment, she knew Andrea wouldn't openly harm her.

The vibrant rain-soaked night in Manhattan reflected in the whiskey glass.

The atmosphere became somewhat tense.

"Ah—"

At the other end of the sofa, Willow let out a long yawn, her eyes teary. Blinking, she acted surprised, offering an unapologetic smile, "I'm sorry, feeling so tired. Excuse me."

Andrea remained expressionless, his demeanor indifferent. Viktor received a call and returned, looking hesitantly at Jade and Willow, then whispered something to Andrea.

He stayed silent, his expression calm, whether he heard or not was unclear. After a moment, he stood up, grabbed his coat from the sofa, and walked straight to the elevator.

"Forget to mention," he turned around, his gaze on Willow, calmly saying, "There's been quite a stir in the Branconi Family lately. You've just arrived in New York, unfamiliar with the terrain. It's better not to wander around."

That was a warning.

Willow was stunned, immediately jumping off the sofa.

"And Miss Ouyang," Andrea added, "Stay in the apartment and watch over Miss Wen. If you need anything, inform Viktor; he'll make arrangements."

Andrea, always assertive, didn't give them a chance to retort this time.

As he finished speaking, the elevator's two doors closed.

-

From the top-floor apartment to the underground parking lot, it took a good fifty floors to traverse the distance.

Despite the Pinnacle's luxurious elevator being spacious enough, sharing it with someone like Andrea, whose presence could make the grass not grow within a two-kilometer radius, made even the roomiest space feel cramped.

Viktor tagged along with Andrea until they reached the Rolls-Royce, finally letting out a bit of tension and discreetly adjusting his tie.

Today's events weren't exactly a masterpiece. The incident on the cruise was unexpected enough, but getting kicked in the jaw by a woman in front of everyone... If it weren't for his boss personally stepping in to cover for him, Viktor wasn't sure how he would've salvaged the situation.

He couldn't just shoot Miss Wen's right-hand woman.

As he mentally replayed today's various mistakes, Viktor, lifting his eyes, secretly observed Andrea's expression in the rearview mirror.

New York nights never lacked color. Neon, accompanied by a light drizzle, fell on the car window, leaving a faint halo in those lazy pupils.

Seated sideways, hand supporting his chin, Andrea's black hair and high collar only accentuated his pale, almost lifeless face. The changing light and shadows in the car made it seem like his sharp profile was cutting through the atmosphere.

A jolt reverberated through Viktor's waist. He pulled out his phone and saw several photos sent by his subordinate.

Blurred faces, the hired hitmen on the cruise were already on their last breath.

"Did you get anything out of them?" came Andrea's unmistakable low voice from behind.

Viktor, slightly uneasy, replied, "No." After a pause, he added, "The Branconi Family is cautious; they won't let a few hired hitmen know the identity of the mole."

The atmosphere inside the car grew heavy. Andrea kept staring out the window in a trance, finally uttering a low "Hmm" after a long while.

Viktor nervously shifted his gaze away, seeing a file coming up on his phone.

"Boss," he opened a tablet and handed it to Andrea, opening the file, "We've found the information on that Jade."

Those cold eyes narrowed slightly as Andrea took the tablet.

Viktor remained silent throughout, only stealing occasional glances at his boss's face through the rearview mirror—still calm.

Just as he was silently cursing, the tablet was thrown back at him. Viktor blinked, waiting for instructions. However, Andrea reverted to his earlier indifferent expression.

"...," he could only force himself to ask, "anything off?"

Fingers unconsciously tapped on the back seat's armrest as Andrea replied calmly, "No."

Viktor breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, Jade was associated with the Wen family. If she truly had an issue, the collaboration between his boss and Wings would likely be affected.

Better to have one less problem, especially in such a sensitive time. One more friend was always better than one more enemy.

"No problem is the biggest problem," Andrea stated. "Her background is too clean. Logical, flawless, as if she knew someone would check her past. Moreover..."

He paused, remembering the firm and open gaze Jade had when she looked at him.

She claimed she had no long-standing hobbies other than combat.

"Heh..." Andrea almost laughed out loud.

Playing tricks, she was still a bit too green.

Viktor was puzzled, not given a chance to figure out what his boss's chilling laughter meant, before Andrea instructed, "I don't keep any suspicious people around me."

"But Ms. Wen would..."

The sound of leather gloves rubbing against the seat ceased, and Andrea raised his eyes. The headlights of passing cars outside sharpened his gaze.

He looked at Viktor in the rearview mirror, paused, and said in a deep voice, "Get rid of her, find a convenient excuse."

"And what about the Branconi Family's hitmen?" Viktor asked.

Andrea closed his eyes, rubbed his temples that were sore, and said coldly, "Turn it into a surprise gift, send it back to the Branconi Family."