Until then that one man used to be her beloved little brother Liam but now it became two men. Second man being the only person she was willing spend her life with.The only person who made her feel she still had the heart of a soft women who wanted to chase him.
Their first meeting was quite unusual and in no way romantic.
Rather it was a life or death situation for Ari.
****Flashback****
One late winter evening Ari had just finished her work at the King's office and headed out.
When her car stopped at the red light she saw him.....she didn't knew who he was, he wore a white doctor's coat but was too far away to clearly see his face. Something felt different, maybe it was the way he walked so confidentiality or his smile? What about him glued her eyes?
He was helping an old lady cross the street while having a small chat with the lady. Then his melodic laugh fell on Ari's ears and she was instantly mesmerized... something she never felt before. She was never attracted to opposite sex this way. Because she came to hate all the men during her struggle to raise in power and she thought they were all useless. But not this man he seemed different somehow although she saw him for just a few seconds.
Ari did not know what she was doing but she stepped out of her car and started following this mystery man. Her bodyguards were baffled by their cold boss's unusual behavior. She was someone who wouldnt even breath if it's not absolute necessity. But what could they do so they quietly followed behind her.
The man had already finished helping old lady and had started walking on the sidewalk along his way. It did not take long for him to notice 4 heavily built men following him but he failed to notice Ari. He never had any conflicts so far and to have someone follow him was a bit unusual. To check his suspicions he took 3 consecutive rights and realized they were indeed following him. Unfortunately these 3 rights had now brought him into a quite and secluded ally which made him even more afraid. He once won black belt in Karate but men that followed seems much more powerful.
Ari was busy chasing the man and admiring his physique and the way he walked that she failed to notice the vicious eyes following her. Even the bodyguards were too engrossed seeing Ari grin like a madman that they didn't noticed that they were getting surrounded by armed assassins.
Soon the man turned around and faced the bodyguards but he was shocked to see a young lady standing right in front of him.
Ari was finally able to read his name on his coat. ....."Ray Qin" Ah.... what a beautiful name just like his face. That man was rather eye-candy.
As she was busy fantasying when a bullet hit one of her bodyguard straight in the head and he fell lifeless on the ground with a big thud. Ari was finally brought to her senses and soon became aware that she was surrounded by assassins. She was angry at herself because she had put her bodyguards and Ray's life in danger just because she acted stupid out of impulse. Each person that worked for Ari was cherished by her especially her bodyguards were quite close to her. Her dazed eyes turned sharp like a feline and snapping out of her trance and guilt she fetched two guns from the back, pushing Ray behind the dumpster. Before Ray could even react she tossed a gun at him and said " shoot if you feel threatened " and with a swift movement she waked towards center of ally. All the assassins finally came into vision.The three remaining bodyguards surrounded Ari.
Soon the armed fight broke out the sound of guns began to fill the surrounding. One by one the assassin's dropped dead after about 5 mins all of Ari's bodyguards were heavily injured and Ari was covered in sweat and blood of her bodyguards who protected her with their own body as shield.. She killed the last few remaining attackers with Knife. She seemed to have several cuts on her body but none so serious. After finishing the work Ari started to walk towards the dumpster where she pushed Ray. During whole gun fight with 30 some assassins she did not let anyone even look in that direction. The number of assassins were less comparatively. This situation was unexpected chance for them as Ari was always vigilant and tight on security. Soon the backup may arrive so Ari have to immediately leave the place or call her own backup.
All this while Ray was terrified and couldn't even move his eyelids, this being the first time he heard guns so up close.From where Ray was hidden he could not see the fight but could smell the blood in the air and hear the people agonising in pain.
Ari's steps felt heavy with fatigue as she walked towards Ray. At the same time she took her phone out and called her right hand man Xie Xuan. As Xie picked the call at the first ring Ari just mentioned two words "assassin attacked" and he immediately understood she needed backup. The fight was over and during fight she did not get chance to call backup.
When Ari came in Ray's vision he was even more terrified to see her covered in blood while holding a knife. She was about to give him a hand to help him get up when suddenly a bullet came from the back and pierced her left shoulder and another one piercing her left thigh. Ari lost her balance and fell hard on ground. Ray was still frozen in his place tightly clutching gun in his two hands that Ari had given him prior to fight.
The man who had shot the bullets came into view. He was a middle aged man wearing a business suit. He was about to shoot Ari in the head but was shot in the arm by Ray.
Panicked Ray did not know how he fired the bullet but he did and it landed right in the arm which was holding gun as a result man lost the gun. Ari heard the sound and mustered all her strength to get up. Ray saw her struggle and helped her up. With one swift move Ari grabbed the gun Ray was holding and shot the man attacking right in middle of his brows like a trained assassin.
She knew this man he was the head of rival gang that were at constant fight with them.But finally it's all over at the cost of her bodyguard's lives. A wicked smile crept on Ari's lips. And a thought of wiping out the gang entirely came to her mind.
Ray was beyond shocked at her sight. He stared unbelievably at all the dead bodies and then at Ari who was still holding onto his arm.
He said stuttering " How did you... how did this....what just happened?"
Ari could not help but smile looking at this huge man being scared like a puppy. His face looked too cute like a rain drenched puppy.
Ari wanted to say something but her consciousness betrayed her.
Ray prevented her from falling and was about to call the police when he heard a man shout out
"Boss"
Ray turned towards the direction of the sound and saw a tall muscular heavily armed man with army of bodyguards standing at the end of the ally. But before Ray could even mutter a word the man pointed gun to his head and asked threateningly.
"why do you want to kill boss? Who sent you?"
Ray was dumbfounded "....."
Finally mustered up enough courage and tried to reply as calmly as possible.
"Sorry sir I don't know anything that happened, I was caught in middle of this incident just like this lady or was she the target of the attack?" he wondered tilting his head like lost puppy, looking at Ari he continued. " I have no intention of killing your boss, the lady is injured and I suggest you to call ambulance immediately. " By now Ari was already snatched away from Ray's arms by the man who held Ari gently as if afraid of breaking her.
The man questionings Ray was Xie Xuan and he seemed to not be convinced by Ray's words. He ordered his men to take Ari to hospital and take Ray to their underground base.