Chereads / The Peony and the Rose / Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Thorns of the Rose

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Thorns of the Rose

Hien tapped her recovered right foot absently on the ground to the pulsing rhythm of her new ballad with a popular boy band—a rock and roll tune composed initially for her. She wore a pair of headset, scanned the score again, humming softly under her breath. She was going to work with her juniors from the company. This would be her stepping stone to branch out in exploration for her own sound.

The company seemed to be encouraging the members of Asteroid in their personal interests, exposing them to a variety of work within the entertainment industry such as acting in drama, hosting a variety show, song-writing and releasing an individual album. Recently, she was assigned a personal manager, Ah Cheng to assist her with her new schedule and work.

The singer sighed aloud, distracted from her solo practice. Her long conversation with the other members of Asteroid over supper to celebrate the conclusion of the end of their world tour made her realise that she ought to step out of her comfort zone to pursue her own music.

She loved singing, far more than the other members. To be on stage set her on fire, belting out ballads after ballads with all her heart and soul. There was a freedom on stage that she loved that kissed her soul. Music also helped her to express herself better, a solace in the time of uncertainty.

However, she was always in the shadow of the sweet and beautiful Susie and the charming and exuberant Ellen. Knowing that she was not fond of interacting in public, the other members often represented the band to interact with the media and the public, creating the impression that she was very aloof. Besides, she appreciated performing with her members on stage. The company often gave her difficult parts to sing, often leading to her losing her voice after a few songs. However, her members would attempt to help her sing those parts that she struggled with, easing her burden. Her nervousness about not being able to manage the hustle and bustle as an individual singer delayed her from making the decision to commit to releasing an album as a solo artist.

She removed her headphone from her ears, combing her hand through her long straight hair absently to uncurl them. Her hair fell cascaded like a waterfall down her small shoulders. She had chosen to let it grow out instead and it reached her shoulders. Hien propped her chin up with a hand, turning her head so that she could look out of the small window at the busy city streets below.

It was very warm and sunny outside. It was the perfect weather to be out. She rather chose to walk Bon, a stray that she had chosen to adopt, than to be stuck indoors rehearsing her parts.

Hien only had her thoughts for the company. Her other members were busy with hosting and acting. The singer sighed again, her brows furrowed. Her mind wandered to the same subject as it often did when she was bored which was Sir An. She could picture him clearly in her mind despite the brief meeting: his low, slopped brows were furrowed, running an unbroken line down his aristocratic nose; his chiselled and high cheekbones, the twinkle in his baby blue eyes, the dimples when he smiled, the intriguing cleft on his pointed chin.

She swallowed visibly, picturing the prince looking at her attentively just like how he did in the pub. That meeting concluded with an unpleasant note five months and thirty days ago. It had been long enough for the beautiful flowers he had given her to wither. All she could do was to dry it up and keep them in a picture frame.

Hien snorted in an unladylike fashion when she recalled that Charles was certain that El would look for her when he heard of the message that she wanted to meet him in person. That thought always placed her in this emotive cycle of rinse and repeat—the anticipation that he would somehow reunite with her again so that she could properly explain herself, apologise to him and thanked him for his care, the disappointment when there was no news of him and finally the anger that she was too optimistic—then the cycle began again.

At times, Hien worried about him knowing how dangerous his work was. Then, she would worry if she were the only one who felt so passionately about their friendship. Did he not want to continue being in touch with her? He was a nasty blip that she could not remove even with the toughest cleaning agents.

Hien fished a small, sparkling tie bar from her pocket carefully. She was astonished to learn that it was made completely out of white gold. The design of that tie bar was simple and elegant with a single sapphire on it. His crest was next to that sapphire: two majestic and fierce lions bearing a shield with a five-pointed crown on it. Despite the small design, she could make out an entwined thorn rose and a peony on that shield.

It was the same design on his signet ring.

"Ik Bescherm," muttered Hien to herself, tracing the nicely-etched words on the banner with the tip of her index finger contemplatively. She stared at her black painted nail, as she traced those familiar indents, memorising each stoke and curve. The singer knew what that meant: I protect. Hien had to search it online to understand the meaning of that phrase.

Strangely, it was in Dutch. A tip of a head to his mother who was born in the Netherlands. His family was steepled with a rich culture and timeless traditions that she did not understand, which sparked her unwavering interest in him and his unique world.

There was so little about the man she had met in the pub, yet so much on him: his achievements, his duties, the speculation of his dates, his style of dressing. He was a celebrity in his own right. However, she never caught a glance of that helpful yet brooding man she had met in the pub in those photographs, only that aloof, polished prince who did not seem like he belonged in the world that she lived in.

Hien learnt subsequently when she returned home that the crude bandage cost more than two grand because it was from the luxurious and bold line of Christian Lacroix Fantasy Pattern Tie. It boggled her mind that Emmanuel would use a two-thousand-dollar tie and a priceless tie bar to form a makeshift bandage for her. She frowned. She could not decided if he was too careless with his money or too generous with her. She did not dare to find out the price of the handkerchief he had given to her when she had cried. She ran her finger along the embellished tie bar absently, feeling the heavy weight of his careless gesture anchor her conscience.

"Seriously, An. Maybe you need to learn a lesson on being less of a spendthrift," sighed Hien, spinning the gleaming tie bar absently with a hand expertly. It fell on the palm of her hand. "Well, that's another flaw. You're not as perfect as the media portray you to be." One of the corners of her lips lifted in a lop-sided smile. She slid that expensive tie bar back into the side pocket of her tapered stripped trousers carefully, making sure that she did not lose it. Since that meeting, she brought his tie bar around with her to reassure her that this surreal meeting took place months ago.

There was a polite knock on the door.

"Please come in," invited Hien absently, twirling her long and straight hair with a finger. "Little Wu, I think we can try our hands at rehearsing together because I remembered my parts." Her eyes were fixed on the score on the desk, searching for the parts that they needed to harmonise. She was waiting for him to make fun of her, but she did not receive a reply.

Confused, Hien lifted her head and met the familiar curious gaze of the prince.

Her heart stopped.

His eyes were the shade of the sparkling waters of the ocean during summer and he towered over her, unlike the chilly cold sapphire in the photographs she saw. The top of his hair was longer, the fringe curled around his broad and smooth forehead. She ached to run her hand through his hair, wondering if it was as soft as it seemed to be. The sides of his head were cropped short neatly, maintaining that polished masculine look that reminded her of the 80s. Hien had to admit that he looked good in such a style.

Emmanuel was cleanly-shaved, giving him a youthful look. The deft on his chin looked more prominent, capturing her attention.

A smirk soon played on his lips, sending her heart racing.

Hien rose to her feet mechanically, blinking owlishly.

"An?" She covered her mouth with a hand, staring at him in disbelief. Why was he here?

His thick brows contracted as he echoed her. "An?" His nose twitched.

"I…I mean El. I…" Hien's cheeks pinked. Was she stupid? How could she address him by her informal nickname? She lowered her head, leaning against the table. She realised that she barely reached his chest when he closed the distance between them. All she could see was his carved torso. Her heart raced violently at his closeness, threatening to leap out of her chest.

His musky forest scent enveloped her like a glove, calming her down. She recognised that scent as wholly his.

"Who is this An or Little Wu?" pursued Emmanuel, his forehead creased. His tone was mildly cold. He spoke in her tongue fluently, but the London accent was thick.

Hien averted her gaze, hiding her face behind her hair. "Why are you here, El?" She dropped her gaze to his feet and absently noticed that he was wearing a pair of oxford leather shoes.

The prince cleared his voice nervously, earning her full attention. For once, she noticed that he was shifting his weight between his feet. That was great. She was soothed by the fact that he was as nervous as her and studied his appearance carefully.

The singer had to admit that he was dressed meticulously. He was less formal this time: he had decided to wear a coal-black leather jacket that emphasised his broad and bulky shoulders. A pair of large Aviator shades hung from the breast pocket of that jacket. He wore a black-hue V-neck cotton shirt under that jacket which clung to his body, showing hints of his defined pectorals and his abdominal muscles. He had completed the outfit with a pair of tapered black jeans which highlighted his long and toned legs.

She blinked owlishly, appreciating every line and plane of his body.

Her eyes gleamed with interest, studying every minute detail of his clothes. They were tailored to his build, the sleeves of his jacket reaching his wrist neatly. His trousers were slightly tapered to reveal his long and muscular legs. She must admit that he had a very alluring physique.

"I'm…" Emmanuel opened his mouth but could not complete his sentence. Finally, he withdrew his hand from his back, presenting to her a small bouquet of flowers. He offered to her coyly. "Hien, I'm really sorry about the way we parted the last time. I was mean to you and hurt you with my actions." He swallowed visibly. "I should not have left you alone in my residence or behave so childishly. I hope you could accept this as a sincere gesture of my contrite." His trembling voice held a hint of hope as he looked at her anxiously.

Her eyes widened as she stared at the small bouquet of champagne colour roses. The flowers were beautiful and fresh. Her eyes returned to the prince and she saw that he was indeed sincere about apologising to her. She repressed her laughter when she noted his anxiety. Was the prince so ill-practised with apology? She took a deep breath to calm down, her eyes glinting with amusement.

It was all water under the bridge for her. After a month, she was no longer angry with him, seeing that she did not give him a chance to explain himself before leaping to a conclusion.

Her lack of answer furthered his anxiety. Fearfully, he met her gaze and saw that impish gleam of mirth. His brows contracted slightly when he realised that she was amused. Amused? He was sincere about his apology! Irritation welled in him.

The gleam in her eyes faded away.

"Why did you take so long? It's nearly half a year," whined the singer, pouting. If it meant so much to him, Emmanuel would have chosen to see her sooner. She averted her gaze, upset.

The irritation in him faded away, seeing that the singer was hurt by his silence. He lowered the bouquet to his side. "I'm sorry. I completed my duty last night and could only depart Chad then. I'm…I'm sorry." He lowered his gaze, stepping back, not certain how he could make things better.

She closed the distance between them, grasping his hand. "You were away for half a year?" She studied his face closely. Now that she was really looking at him, she realised that he was slightly tanned, no doubt from the relentless sun.

The prince nodded hesitantly. "Since I have submitted my report, the case is open to the public. It took us longer than usual to restore peace to the country due to the intervention of other countries."

Hien nodded absently.

"Did you rest? It must be tiring for you." She squeezed his hand before letting him go.

Emmanuel lifted his head, shocked at the change of topic. Was she worried about him? "I slept on my way here," returned the prince softly. "I wanted to apologise to you first." He shifted his weight between the balls of his feet once again.

The corners of Hien's lips curled into a smile, seeing how uncomfortable he was. "I can have those flowers, right?"

His eyes widened. "Of course. Yes, yes. Of course, you may." There was no smoothness as he presented the flowers to her again with trembling hands. Her heart swelled with amusement at the sight of him trying to please her anxiously. She took the bouquet and took a whiff of it.

"It's genuinely nice. I like it, El," thanked Hien. It filled her heart with warmth at how much this apology meant to him. This was the second bouquet that she received from another man. She smiled when he relaxed visibly. Was he so afraid that she would reject his apology? "You don't have to get this for me because I owe you an apology too. I'm sorry for not giving you a chance to explain then. Do you remember your conversation with the manager of the pub?"

"The manager of the pub?" The prince arched a brow. "What was the conversation about?" The only thing worth remembering, in his opinion, was his first meeting with her.

Hien shook her head, incredulous, noting that he was clueless. Wow, the prince was really conceited. The singer sighed aloud, rubbing the back of her head. "An, you really have to learn to pay more attention to others." She hugged the bouquet to her chest, trying to make sense of the strange sensation in her chest.

Emmanuel scratched the side of his nose. "What of the conversation between me and the manager of the pub that made you upset?"

"You commanded him to stop insisting on footing the hospital bill for me. You cowered him into submission." There was heat in her voice. Her brown eyes gleamed with frustration.

Emmanuel blinked owlishly. He stowed his hands into the pockets of his trousers. "OK. It is something I will do. It's a lot more efficient—"

"And humiliating. I do not like it. It makes me uncomfortable, especially when you did it for me," interjected Hien, a hand on her chest. "I think everyone should be treated with respect." Her eyes glowed with determination.

Emmanuel studied her exasperated expression closely, noting that she was truly upset with his highhanded methods. Emmanuel turned around, glancing out of the window. "You were upset with me because I cowered the person into accepting a decision you wanted? Were you unhappy with the outcome?" He was genuinely confused with her frustration. " I seriously doubt that the manager would relent to your request because you were my guest." He stowed his hands into his pockets carelessly.

Hien simply held his gaze, her expression carefully neutral. When she did not see any flicker of doubt in Emmanuel's eyes, she questioned. "You don't think it's wrong?" She set the bouquet on the desk , careful not to squash the beautiful roses.

"I'm sorry that my actions made you uncomfortable," relented Emmanuel finally, adjusting his jacket absently. "Was that why you were upset when my subordinates kneeled before me?" Emmanuel determined, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

She nodded attentively, an encouragement for him to go on.

Emmanuel started pacing up and down the changing room, looking like a caged panther. Finally, he dropped his hands to his sides, repressing his irritation. He ought to be glad that she was willing to hear him out. "Hien, I am a prince."

The singer lifted a brow, unimpressed. "It doesn't mean that you could intimidate others into submitting to your will," protested Hien indignantly, her eyes flashing with determination.

Emmanuel's jaws clenched, sensing her resolve in this matter. His irritation rose. "I am also the commander of the special forces. Have you seen a subordinate in the army protesting the decision of his superior? Those men were my subordinates. Yes, I should not have brought unfamiliar people into my official residence without conducting background checks and security checks, but they disrespected my office by openly challenging me," countered the prince firmly.

Hien looked away, unable to see his reasons although he was so stubborn about it. "I know there is a hierarchy in the army. You could do it in a less humiliating way, El."

He paused, staring at her openly.

Did the prince never consider that there were other ways to discipline his subordinates? Her eyes widened at once. Did Emmanuel even know how to discipline his subordinates with respect? Her anger faded immediately, replaced by a soft kindness for the man before her.

"How?" asked Emmanuel finally, realising that she was right. Of course, she had to be correct. Did Charles not remind him that he ought to be more respectful? No wonder, Charles reminded him to apologise to her.

She spun around when his tone softened. It seemed like he genuinely did not know how to treat his men with respect, and he was earnest in learning so that they could resolve this conflict. Her heart swelled with joy that he would swallow his pride that back down, seeing things in her perspective.

Her eyes curved with pleasure.

"Certainly not by ordering the men to be fired when I was pleading for a less cruel way of handling them," quipped Hien playfully, twirling her hair with a finger. "You could have taken them aside to reprimand them." She jangled her legs nervously.

"Like how you reprimanded me in the lift?" teased Emmanuel, quirking a brow. His shoulders relaxed as he leaned on the side of the table. There was a careless beauty in the way he carried himself. "I was…I was upset that you took their side while I was embarrassed by the lack of order in my residence." He cleared his voice. "Hienie, I'm a military man and I take pride in order." He did not want to share how he wanted to look good in front of her.

"Oh." She was starting to understand why he behaved so imperiously in public. It seemed like his work advocated such aggression to take charge of men in a male-dominated world. He was moulded by his experiences in conflict, his classroom of the world.

"Hienie?" echoed Hien. She mentally backpedalled, realising that he had addressed her as such.

"Well, I noticed your bandmates call you Hienie in private," explained Emmanuel, rubbing his nape. "You can't be opposed to it since you gave me a nickname without my knowledge," accused the prince at once, his eyes gleaming with mirth.

Her cheeks pinked as she held up her hands in surrender. "My fault. Yes, my fault. Hienie is fine. My friends address me as such," smiled the beautiful singer, lifting her head to look at him.

"Friends huh," quipped Emmanuel smoothly, meeting her gaze with sparkling eyes. He waggled his head in a so-so manner. Then, the prince cocked his head slightly and studied her with an intensity that made her heart race.

She swallowed visibly. Why did he question if they were friends?

"An. Why An?"

She blinked owlishly, barely registering his question. The singer could only look away, embarrassed. "Uh…" She coughed into her hand.

"Hienie…" There was a soft warning in his tone. It was not a threat but a promise that he would pursue this line of questioning until he received an answer.

Her finely-trimmed brows narrowed slightly, knowing how gritty he could be at times. Of all times the prince had to be determined.

"It's actually Sir An," squeaked Hien. "Peace. 'An' means peace. Y-your presence comforts me," admitted the singer quietly, her face burning. She broke their eye contact, choosing instead to stare at her shoes, burying her face behind her hair.

A large smile broke out on his face, pleased. "An huh. I'm your peace," crooned Emmanuel, savouring every word. His eyes twinkled, closing the distance between them. "I like the nickname. I shall approve of it. We'll need one more ritual since I'm Sir An."

He handed her a pen gravely, wearing a sombre face.

Her eyes lighted up with excitement when she got his meaning. "An. I'll knight you as An." She tapped it on his left shoulder than his right shoulder, barely suppressing her laughter.

"Wait."

He sank on a knee in front of her, as if he were going to propose to her.

Her cheeks became flustered at that flicker of thought. Did she really want that? It would be nice for such a good-looking man to express his interest in courting her.

"I'll need to swear first, then do that again," smiled Emmanuel encouragingly. He lowered his head respectfully. "I swear that I'll always defend the lady when the need arises. I'll speak the truth and only the truth. I'll devote myself to defend the poor and the helpless. I'll always be brave, never avoiding dangerous paths out of fear. I'll always be loyal to my lady."

Her gaze was solemn, moved by his heartfelt promise of loyalty.

She tapped him on his left shoulder then his right shoulder. "I'll knight you as An. Rise as my beloved knight, Sir An."

His lips curled into an indulgent smile. "Sir An shall it be, milady." Slowly, he climbed to his feet. He rubbed the back of his head, his eyes crinkled with mirth.

Hien, unable to resist, threw her head backwards and burst out in bellyful laughter.

They shared a laugh together at their silly antics.

Her heart fluttered at that alluring and rare smile. His entire face lighted up with that boyish grin and her stomach somersaulted. She found herself mesmerised, taking in every inch of his countenance: his soft fringe fell over his broad forehead, the way his thick brows curved, the gold flickered in his cerulean eyes, the adorable dimples adoring both sides of his lips and his regular, white teeth. Hien blinked owlishly before she remembered to breathe again. She hid her face behind her hair. "Isn't your motto 'Ik Bescherm'? There was no need to knight you."

Emmanuel grinned wildly when she pronounced his motto correctly. "Wow, you have a gift for languages." There was a gleam of admiration in his eyes. "That is a perfectly accurate pronunciation. I took a long time to master the pronunciation of the language," admitted the prince, revealing a nugget from his childhood.

The prince was impressed with her since Dutch was a difficult language to acquire. He remembered spending hours every day learning at the knee of his beautiful mother. It was the only familiar bonding session he had with her while he was growing up. There were always classes with various tutors to ensure that he would be a competent member of the royalty. She would tie up her long, copper and soft hair into a fancy ponytail, taking him by hand so that he would sit next to her in the small alcove of their summer house. She would speak to him in Dutch. The way every sound ,soft, rolling off her tongue smoothly as she beheld him with pride and love. She always looked so gentle and slow to anger. She would smile at him when he mastered the pronunciation after a few tries, a reason that drove him to master the language quickly.

She read the nostalgia in his soft cerulean eyes and wondered at the reason he would have such affection for this language that he would choose a motto in this tongue. "Your mother is the Princess of the Netherlands." Her eyes sparkled with interest as she studied his faraway expression. "You must share a close relationship with her," inferred Hien thoughtfully.

His long eyelashes fluttered, brushing against his tanned and flawless skin.

"As close as a member of the royalty may be," returned Emmanuel, stroking his smooth chin absently. He walked to the window, gazing out to the busy streets of the city below. He found himself attracted to this city even though this was his first visit. The old lady had character; unlike the various cities he had visited as a dignity. It was the alchemy of age-worn, faint glimpses of foreign influences in the sunken lines of the buildings. Her skyscape was not as organised as his home country since there was a ministry tasked to plan the city. The people on the street were not living a life as fast-paced as some of the metropolitan cities he had seen. He could not help comparing to his hometown, with the hustle and bustle of the city. There was a kind of nostalgia hanging in the air. "You live in a beautiful city."

She snorted, shrugging. "Not as beautiful as Paris or even my hometown, Hsinchu." Her gaze softened at the thought of home.

Emmanuel drew himself away from the window to study her closely. She had been staying in this capital for more than a decade alone because she pursued her interest in music. It was nice that she had somewhere to call home.

He studied her waiting room. He nodded approvingly as he examined the long white table for her to work on, the comfortable sofa seats and a large walk-in wardrobe and her make-up table. An upright piano stood at the side of the room.

He knew that she was an important asset to the company, but he did not realise how much the company was willing to spend to groom and keep her.

He folded his arms behind his back, his muscles flexing with that simple action. "I heard that you were in a fix? There was a woman with short-spiky hair talking about a pervasive problem you had." He turned to regard her contemplatively.

She walked to his side so that she stood shoulder to shoulder with him, gazing out of the same window. "Security," prompted Hien, staring at the busy streets below, wondering what had caught his attention. She sighed aloud at the thought of the problem. "You probably met my manager, Ah Cheng. The company is considering giving me the opportunity to be a solo artist." She shrugged absently as if she was not too keen on the idea.

He turned to glance at her thoughtfully, noting the dampening of her mood. "That sounds wonderful. How bad is this problem?"

She shrugged idly, brushing the long and wavy hair away from her eyes. "My fans are kind and considerate. I never had any issues with them. However, Ah Cheng said that the security team had issues with the paparazzi and the occasional obsessed fan."

His thick brows furrowed, his eyes were hard. "I can tell. I sneaked up here," admitted Emmanuel finally, brushing his hand through his short and cropped hair. "It's not very difficult to break through the security here," added the prince. "It's not too much trouble, you know, for me." He shifted his weight between the balls of his feet.

Her brows shot upwards, studying his arrogant countenance carefully. Did she hear him correctly? "Are you…" She turned to face him fully, sceptical. She cocked her hip slightly. "Are you offering to be my security expert?" She was flabbergasted—a prince would willingly offer to work for her?

A faint smile appeared on his attractive face. His eyes gleamed with bright mirth. "I swear I'll always defend my lady, didn't I? Would you like to look at my credentials, Ms Hien? I don't ask for much, just lodging and food." He grinned wildly. "I won't have access to my accounts, so I would have to depend solely on you." He stowed his hands into his pockets absently.

Hien pointed to herself, shocked. "Me? An, I can't afford your fancy suits and drinks." The singer shook her head, leaning against the warm windowsill, heated by the sun. It reminded her that they were indeed having this conversation here in her changing room.

He inclined his head regally. "I can whip your security team into shape within a few months," promised Emmanuel. "I do not know the city well to find lodging by myself. All I ask is room and food. I'll watch over you in these few months and ensure your safety." He patted his chest with a fist reassuringly, as if he were submitting fealty.

"A bodyguard. A full-time bodyguard?" clarified Fuzhen, gaping at him. "You want to live with me?" She arched a brow, waiting for his response.

He shrugged, staring at his polished and new oxford shoes. He lifted his head to meet her curious gaze. "It is a part of my duty," explained Emmanuel smoothly, clasping his hands before him politely.

Hien staggered backwards. What? Although she would love to spend more time with him, it sounded like an awkward living arrangement. Did he not know that she lived by herself in an apartment in the city? What would her family say if they knew that she allowed a man to live with her?

She frowned, staring into space.

"Hienie, I don't wish for it to be known that I'm here now. I'm on a sabbath," smiled Emmanuel faintly, scratching the side of his nose. His thick brows contracted slightly. "Uh…I don't want the dignities to track me down and be engaged in a round of politics." He winced openly. The politics in this region was complex if anyone realised that he was here, the consequences could be too severe for him to bear alone. "The only way I can stay out of this mess is to be incognito. I wish to spend some time exploring this beautiful country." He wiggled his brows playfully at her, insinuating it was more than the landscape he was interested in.

She smacked him on his chest, earning a loud guffaw from him. His eyes curved with pleasure as his dimples deepened adorably. The mirth in his eyes wrung a genuine lop-sided smile from her. Hien stared at him idly, twirling a lock of hair with a finger. "You have an incognito identity?" asked the singer, curious.

"Ah huh. Manny Holmes," re-joined Emmanuel, folding his arms. His biceps clenched from that simple action. There were no fancy manners like their first meeting. He took out an American passport from his pocket and handed it to her politely.

She blinked owlishly when she saw his identification papers. "Wait. You worked in the CIA in the past?" Her stunned gaze cut to him.

Emmanuel inclined his head politely. "Yes, I occasionally dabble in this identity to get the weight of fame away from my chest," teased the young prince. He scratched the side of his nose again. Then, he cleared his voice and straightened himself. "I used this identity to enter this country too." Gold flickered in his eyes as he peered at her, his head lowered.

It was then that she realised that the young prince towered over her since she had only reached his broad chest. "I don't handle these matters. Ah Cheng does. If she approves of you, then I will offer you board and food," decided Hien finally. "I'll check my schedule. I might have time to show you around. I will probably help you to arrange for an account if you are staying for more than a month. Don't expect it to be like your opulent residence." She remembered the lavishness of his residence and she sighed.

Emmanuel grinned broadly, dropping his hands to his sides. "I'll thank you in advance. I am not very picky after staying in tents for half a year. In any case, I am sure that Ah Cheng would not reject my offer," grinned Emmanuel arrogantly, taking his documents from her when she handed them back to him.

She rolled her eyes at his arrogance. She could see the reason for his conceit since his extensive experience in this field would check him out with Ah Cheng.

"Where are your bodyguards?"

"On leave," concluded Emmanuel idly. "What were you doing before I came?" He walked over to her table, where the music sheets lay. He picked it up absently, reading the lines. His signet ring caught the sunlight. He hummed the tune under his breath absently, tracing the line with his index finger.

Her eyes flickered with interest. "You're musically trained?" She leaned over to share the score with him.

Emmanuel lifted his head to meet her enquiring gaze. He nodded hesitantly, wondering where this question would lead to.

Her eyes glowed with excitement. The singer grabbed him by his large hand, thrilled. "I need someone to practice this part with me." She pointed to the second line, a part that she needed to harmonise with one of the singers from the band. She did not notice his curious gaze falling on their joined hand.

Relenting, he practised the line to himself a few times so that he was familiar with the part. Hien released his hand, choosing to lean close to him so that they could look at the same score.

It felt so comfortable that she did not realise that they were touching each other.

He hummed while she sang the part as she absently twirling her long hair. Somehow, it sounded out of tune. He pointed upwards when his brows scrunched, cueing her to sing a pitch higher. The singer nodded at him and sang at a higher pitch until his brows relaxed and he smiled encouraging at her.

"That was good. Again, Hienie?" He smiled encouragingly at her, flashing a thumbs-up.

She nudged him playfully on his firm chest as she leaned close to him. "An, you're quite talented huh. You might be more suitable for my line of work." She waggled her brows at him playfully. "You'll be a hit." Her eyes sparkled playfully. "Or I'll make you a hit." She thumped her chest. "Trust your senior."

Dimples deepened as the prince laughed brightly.

Hien could not help but smile at him because he was so attractive when he was not sullen. She had to admit that the brooding look was also appealing since he appeared to have a commanding gravitas. However, she preferred this human side of him. "My senior?" shot back Emmanuel. "Even if I do not join the entertainment scene, you'll always be my senior."

She swatted him on his bicep again, snorting. "So much for being a prince. Didn't you know that it is plain rude to make fun of a lady's age?" She glared at him and folded her arms.

He held up his hands in surrender, knowing that it was prudent to cut his losses. "I'll be serious. Do you still need my help with this part?" He redirected her attention to the score, hoping to distract her.

Hien held his gaze for a moment, giving him a silent warning that she would be the bigger person and forgive him for that social gaffe. Then, she glanced at the score and hummed to herself. It sounded that she had gotten the part correct. The singer brushed the fly-aways from her face and shook her head.

"I think I am ready for a recording."

The singer turned around to look at the digital clock above the door. She had about half an hour before she needed to meet the band for a studio recording of the song. "Make yourself feel comfortable," offered the vocalist finally, sweeping her hand awkwardly around the waiting room she had. There were several stools littered around the space. A couch took one side of the wall should she need to catch forty winks, next to the upright piano.

He shrugged out of the leather jacket easily and grabbed a stool.

"You're nervous," commented Emmanuel, contemplatively, stretching his long and toned legs.

Hien blinked owlishly. How would he know? He was able to look past her glamourous façade as a celebrity and see her.

"I…"

"We develop facades to ease ourselves into accepting not ideal circumstances.," began Emmanuel idly, shrugging. "You're nervous because you barely know me, yet we'll see each other a lot, so you put on a façade that is most natural with that circumstance: the public one."

She felt a bit exposed with his matter-of-fact analysis.

"Are you putting on one too?" questioned Hien sharply, frowning. Her gaze settled on the ground impetuously.

A tense silence filled the changing room.

The singer wanted to smack herself on her head for concluding the conversation again.

"I thought I would, but I don't think so," admitted Emmanuel quietly. He sounded contemplative and uncertain. He raked his hand through his hair absently, wondering about that sense of strange sense of familiarity.

Hien lifted her face to meet his eyes, stunned by the open and amicable gaze.

"It helps that you're a familiar image," returned Emmanuel, his curious gaze lingering on her.

His honest answer comforted her and gave her a sense of reassurance that she could not put her finger on. "You're not entirely right, Emmanuel. Even though I do not really know you, yet you give me a sense of security. I can be who I am when I am with you."

The gleam in her eyes intensified and Emmanuel drew a sharp breath.

He wanted to retort with a tease, but he knew that her statement was a declaration of love from other women. He was very moved by her admission that she trusted him unreservedly. The corners of his lips lifted in an honest and gentle smile, one so tender that it caressed her very soul.

Then, it was her turn to be spellbound. The beautiful singer was struck by how beautiful he was when he smiled without reservation. The prince was not hiding behind his usual mask of cool indifference, allowing his contentment and joy that she trusted him to bloom like blood-red poppies during spring. That radiant smile drew her in and she realised that she was simply hooked on him as if he was a drug. A blush rose from her chest to colour her cheeks.

Like a hurricane, a woman with short spiky hair entered the changing room. She wore a tailored business suit that clung to her lithe and sleek figure. "I…" Her eyes fell on the foreign man sitting on the stool in the room, staring deeply into the eyes of her charge. The manager lost her ability to speak.

Emmanuel cleared his voice when he noticed that they were no longer alone. Unhurriedly, he rose to his feet, to greet the other woman politely. This must be her manager.

This energetic woman studied him closely as if she was trying to weight his potential as a star. Emmanuel hid his amusement, waiting for Hien to ease the awkwardness of this moment. The singer, after getting over the embarrassment of staring at Emmanuel, shook her head in amusement. She rose to her feet and introduced them. Absently, she gestured to An. "Ah Cheng, this is my friend, Manny."

Ah Cheng cleared her voice finally as her gaze sharpened. The older woman smoothened her hands down her jacket, ignoring the fact that she had committed a faux pas. She tipped her black-rimmed spectacles upwards with a finger and turned to look at her charge regally. "You did not say anything about a friend visiting you at work." Her friendly manner bellied a chiding tone.

Emmanuel stepped forward, shielding her partly, a gesture that earned a raised brow from the manager. "That's because Hienie was not aware of my arrival," replied Emmanuel with a faint smile in fluent Mandarin. He glanced at the singer briefly. "We had a standing appointment for months."

Ah Cheng gawked at him.

Emmanuel wanted to roll his eyes. Just because he was a foreigner, they assumed that he could not speak Mandarin? "My great-grandfather was Chinese by ethnicity," stated Emmanuel as a way of explanation.

Ah Cheng lowered her gaze, scratching the back of her neck. "Sorry about that. I do not mean to suggest anything. I-I-I was just surprised that you could speak our language well."

He dipped his head regally.

"Wait, you said you had a standing appointment with Hien for months? Why didn't Hien mention a thing?" She snapped her glance at her charge.

"Well, I wasn't—"

"Hien wasn't sure," defended Emmanuel smoothly. "We had this appointment for exactly half a year. I'm a military man and I was out for a mission so I could not be contacted."

"Oh." Ah Cheng studied his rather formal body stance with greater attention. She could not see this regal man as a foot-solider since he had far better manners and cultivation to be one. Her first impression of him was that he was a man used to command. There was an authoritative way that he carried himself which captured the interest of the audience in the room. His manners were so impeccable that she suspected that he was from the upper echelons of society.

"A soldier?" A gleam entered her eyes.

Hien hummed and hawed. She raked her hand through her hair. She could not tell her that he was no ordinary soldier.

Ah Cheng's voice became sanguine sweet. "So, how long will you be here, Manny?"

Emmanuel would have shivered in fear if he did not know the reason for her change of attitude. His eyes gleamed with mirth. "Well M'dm, indefinite. I am on a Sabbath for at least half a year."

Ah Cheng grinned.

"I understand that you are in need of a security expert?" Emmanuel kept a straight face.

"Do you have your papers?"

He extracted the papers and handed them to her for her perusal. She was surprised that he was overqualified for the job. Manny did security for the White House and the Pentagon! Her eyes widened when she realised that he had conducted rescue missions too. Her gaze cut to him again, incredulous. This man was too young to have accomplished that many feats.

"I was in the army since I was ten," elaborated the prince, knowing the reason for her shock. "I can beef up security and train up the security team so that they can adapt to Hien's new workload. All I ask is lodging and food, which my pal has kindly promised."

"No remunerations?"

He arched a brow dubiously. "Could you actually afford my fees?"

Ah Cheng shook her head violently. "No, of course not! Based on your experience, we don't have the finances to hire you."

A faint smile stretched across his chiselled face. He was not arrogant. An observance that improved his standings in her eyes. "Mdm, I'm doing this as a favour to Hien. However, I need to be considered as a properly contracted bodyguard to her so that I have access to her," explained Emmanuel calmly. He folded his arms before his chest and his biceps swelled from that simple action.

"So, you want to live off her?" clarified Ah Cheng, her gaze swept across the room, falling on her charge doubtfully. Based on his threads, she was not too sure if the singer could support him for months. Besides, she did not know this foreigner well to make that call. If Hien had agreed to his proposal, her actions indicated that she trusted this man. In any case, he had, by his merit, conducted himself as an honourable gentleman so far.

"I'm not that picky," shrugged Emmanuel carelessly. "I've just returned from spending six months in a tent in a sweltering desert. Hien will be able to support me." He smiled weakly at the singer, hoping that she would persuade her cautious manager.

The singer grabbed her arm playfully. "I'm OK with the arrangement." Her eyes held a hint of plea as she looked at the older woman hopefully. She shook her arm when the older woman remained silent, staring at the foreigner with pursed lips as she whined. "It will be but for a short period of time, Ah Cheng." Finally, unable to resist that plea gleaming in her eyes, Ah Cheng reluctantly agreed to the request.

Hien squealed loudly, throwing her arms around the petite woman happily.

"You sound like you are anxious in trying to tie him to you," coughed Ah Cheng. "You should show some restraint when it comes to such matters—"

"It's not what it seems!" interrupted the singer hotly, her cheeks red. She punched her on her arm. "Don't tell me you picked up this habit of bullying me," chided the singer, with a downtrodden look.

She put her arms around the upset vocalist placatingly. "I must warn you that it would be troublesome if you dated your subordinate who is living with you." The manager tipped her spectacles, shooting a glare at Emmanuel. "That's a reminder for you too. It will ruin the reputation she had sought awfully hard to maintain if you want to pursue a relationship with her."

Hien frowned, folding her arms. "I just like to keep private matters private," complained the beautiful singer.

"Be realistic, Hienie. Manny is a very good-looking man. The media will have a field day," pointed out Ah Cheng rationally.

He swept his hair back arrogantly. "What can I do about it? I have good genes," mock-scoffed Emmanuel vainly.

Hien's eyes curved with pleasure. "Vain," teased the singer openly, nudging him with her hip.

His eyes gleamed with mirth. "I have every right to be. Look at all these." He gestured to all of him as he straightened himself for them to admire him.

"Oh," gushed the singer, clutching on his arm painfully. "What am I going to do with all this hotness." She fanned herself exaggeratedly, as if unable to take his allure.

He grinned wildly at her before striking up poses to flex his well-developed muscles.

Immediately, the two women burst into laughter. Neither of them could believe their eyes that this dignified man would sink into this vapid, vain muscle head.

Ah Cheng shook her head when she finally recuperated. Her stomach hurt from all the laughing, but her opinion of the man grew. "Little children. My fault. I should not say that. You have got a recording to go to, Miss." She put her hands on Hien's shoulders and pushed her out of the room.

She stalled, grabbing her score and her water flask from her table. "Yes, Boss. I'll get to work." She gave her a sloppy salute which elicited a warm smile from Emmanuel. The prince admired this playful side of her. Soon, he made a move to follow her, grabbing the leather jacket from the table.

"Wait for a second, Mister Universe—"

"That's too formal, Manny will do, Mdm." corrected Emmanuel with a playful smile, turning back to regard the manager. She was slightly taller than the singer, reaching his collarbone.

Ah Cheng mock-scowled at him. "You're not in the army, so stop mdm-ing me! You better be nice to me. I am taking you to settle the papers now. I could ask the administrative staff to issue a formal pass to you with the name 'Mr Universe'."

Emmanuel shuddered violently at the threat. "I'm sorry, Boss. I'll be good." He knew that she could do it since they would not think that it was an unusual surname for a foreigner. "I have met a pitiful man by the last name of Universe," sighed the prince. "I don't wish to suffer his poor fate."

"Really?" Hien lifted her brows archly, her eyes twinkling. "I hope he's really good looking."

He waggled his hand in a so-so gesture. "He's this pale, undernourished, common-looking man. I did advise him to get an alias."

Ah Cheng rolled her eyes and folded her arms, noting that he was trying to flirt with the beautiful singer again.

"Enough stalling. Hien, I am going to borrow Mister Universe for a while. I'll see you at the studio after I bring him around the building to familiarise with the area and his work scope."

Hien considered her words. "Hopefully, I'll be done. He's new to the country so please watch over him." The singer wanted to caution him against the other female artists, knowing that they would be very attracted to his looks, but she decided against it. She smirked to herself. It would be nice to see him flustered with dealing with the more open women.

"Try not to bully your juniors too much," advised Ah Cheng finally. Even if she did not remind her to take care of Emmanuel, she would have done so as her manager. "Their manager had complained that you harassed Wu Chun a bit too much—"

Hien lifted her hands in surrender. "I swear that wasn't me. That was Ellen," complained the singer, reminding them of a three-year-old child.

"Nonetheless, we don't want a delay in recording."

"I'll be professional. I am their senior after all." The singer slapped herself on her chest proudly, reassuring her manager. "Have a little faith in me, Boss." She waved at them before heading out of the changing room for her recording. "I'll see you later, An."

It was until the door was shut that Ah Cheng broke the silence. The laughter from her eyes disappeared.

"An?"

He cleared his voice. "It's from my name. Well, I was thinking of a Chinese alias although my name is not difficult to pronounce. Would 'Yi Manan' be fine?" Emmanuel recalled his personal name and translated it to Chinese, although he had a Chinese name due to his heritage.

She nodded absently. Ah Cheng stuck out her hand officially. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Yi Manan."

The prince took her hand formally, squeezing it once. "Manny will be fine. I'll be in your care, Boss." He sank into an elegant bow.

Ah Cheng rolled her eyes at the way he broke the solemnity of the moment with his teasing but accepted it anyway. Somehow her charge and he were very similar. Even though he was a contract staff, he had to report to her too. Ah Cheng took him to sign the papers so that he was officially a bodyguard of Hien. The manager worked out an acceptable token sum for his labour and credited it to Hien's account since he would be living with her.

Why would a man willingly credit all his pay to another woman? She would not believe Hien if she told her that there was nothing going on between them.

After his papers were processed and he was giving an official tag, Ah Cheng took him around the large building. There was a staff lounge, a large media room and a security centre.

"We don't always stay here. Since Hien is starting her solo career, we should expect that we'll be usually out."

Emmanuel nodded, his arms folded behind his back. "I am to always accompany her even in her private time."

Ah Cheng chuckled warmly. "Yes, I am sure Hienie won't mind taking you out. I will need you to be mindful of your actions in public. She has a sterling reputation to maintain."

Emmanuel took the caution well since he had no intention of jeopardising her career. The thought that he was a protector of her virtue gave him a strange and odd feeling. He rubbed his chest contemplatively. He was always fond of the fluttery feeling he associated with pursuing lovers. However, he had to admit that this was not his intention for being with her since all he wanted to do was to know her better.

What would Wombat say if he had known this innocent desire?

Emmanuel cast the feeling aside, focusing on his job.

Ah Cheng stopped suddenly, glancing around before settling her penetrating gaze on him.

"Manny, I want to know what your intentions towards Hien are. Are you here because you want to romance her?"

Emmanuel blinked owlishly, struck by the blunt honesty.

Ah Cheng advanced closer to him in a bid to force an answer out of him.

I…" He held up both of his hands in surrender. "I-I really don't expect a grilling from her manager instead of her parents." He coughed into his hand.

"What am I supposed to think?" The manager whispered harshly, glaring fiercely at him. "A man always prefers to have his freedom. Yet, you willingly give that up. For goodness sake, you are handing her your wallet, you are living off her and you'll be spending twenty-four hours with her until you leave. How supposed should I think?"

Emmanuel rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, you're thinking too much. I barely know Hien personally. I have a good reason for my actions. However, my intentions towards her are honourable." He sighed aloud. "That's weird coming from my mouth." He scrubbed his face absently.

"I should think so. Objectively, you're very attractive. I won't be surprised if you like the game."

Emmanuel cleared his voice uncomfortably. That was a backhanded compliment. "I do," admitted he freely, frowning. He felt a flicker of vulnerability being so earnest with her. However, he knew that it was wiser to be honest since she would not believe him. "Boss, her security is in shambles and it is something I can freely help." His thick brows furrowed morosely. "All I want is for her to be safe. Romance is not on the cards. Not for Hien. I can swear on my name that we will not be anything but friends."

Ah Cheng blinked in surprised, astonished by his sullen honesty. He did not seem like a man who accounted for his actions spontaneously. She took a deep breath. "I appreciate it, Manny. I must emphasise that it would ruin her if she were dating with a subordinate living with her. It is well-known that she lives alone in Taipei."

"Her reputation is as important as my honour," answered Emmanuel gallantly, a hand on his heart.

Emmanuel dipped his head, before continue walking along the corridor to their next destination, the security centre. It was manned by a team of dedicated staff all day long in shifts, with the main purpose of ensuring that it was a sanctuary for the employees. He learnt that artists engaged their team of security to watch over them all the time and to deal with paparazzi.

When she began introducing the places in the building to him, Ah Cheng understood her charge's parting words about watching over him. She frowned; she never knew that he could be so troublesome. Emmanuel attracted the curious gazes of others like a magnet because of his appeal and his heritage.

If she were earnest with herself, she could understand the reason they were drawn to him. She was not blind, he carried himself in a manner so imposing that he was the focus of any room. He had an elegance to match his looks. The manager had to beat off some of the more open and aggressive female artists who tried to hook up with him. They wrote their personal numbers on his arm with a sharpie, much to the disapproval of their own managers.

"You should clean that off before Hien sees it," commented Ah Cheng wistfully as she glared at those numbers drawn on his skin, marking him as theirs. How boorish.

Emmanuel threw back his head and chuckled warmly.

Ah Cheng, befuddled, looked at him for clarification.

"What made you think that Hien did not expect this? If you remembered her parting remarks. She hesitated to say more, didn't she?" His eyes gleamed with mirth as he shook his head. He pressed his hand to his forehead, barely believing that Hien would prank her manager by not warning her.

Ah Cheng glared at him. "It's you. You are a bad influence on her. Never has she done this to me," grumbled the manager fiercely. "If I had known, I would not agree to your request."

Emmanuel chuckled, amused by the disgruntled look on her face. "You'll not regret your decision, Boss."

"You better, Manny," threatened the bespectacled woman hotly. She smoothed her dress shirt with her hand, straightening herself to assume hauteur.

"I have a question, Boss. Does Hien have a security team?"

"That's where I'm leading you. It is a manageable team of ten, with Ah Zheng as the leader of that team. He's not as experienced as you though."

Emmanuel wondered how many men were as experienced as him when it came to security. However, he did not express that thought aloud, just nodding to show that he was listening. "Are they bodyguards?"

Ah Cheng shook her head. "No, Hien employs them at work. She does not like them intruding in her personal life no matter how comfortable she is with them. That's why you're special. You're a part of her private life trying to intrude into her public life. This creates this special position that you're in." She gestured absently to him.

Emmanuel nodded in understanding. "It's a position that will disappear when I leave this country too," added the prince softly to himself.

The manager inclined her head in agreement. "However, she is a beloved public figure. I'll probably need your expertise in certifying that her security is air-tight too."

He understood his responsibilities better. These duties were nothing foreign to him since ensuring the security of an important figure was sometimes his duty. That gave him more confidence in performing these duties excellently. Emmanuel paid close attention to his surroundings as he followed the manager. Soon, she led him to the same corridor in which Hien's waiting room was. She guided him to the room at the end of that corridor. "This is where her security team rests and works. In fact, this is the security room to host all the security teams of Asteriod. The other security teams are out because Susie and Ellen are on set. They are busy with hosting and acting, respectively."

Ah Cheng opened the door to the room and led him inside. The chatter in the room silenced when they entered. Sitting around the room were a few men and two women.

A quick glance revealed ten people. This was the full team.

A man rose to his feet, agile, despite his heavy-set body. That man had a clean-shaved look, dressed in a typical business suit that would not draw attention to himself. He looked like a bouncer since he was big and powerful for an Asian man. Somehow, the way he had carried himself remind him of Alec, one of his third-in-command. The older man studied Emmanuel fleetingly before looking at Ah Cheng for a proper introduction. His gaze showed confusion, not comprehending the reason for such a young man to be in this room.

"Ah Zheng, meet Mr Yi Manan Manny, an ad-hoc security expert attached to our team." She gestured to Emmanuel with a hand briefly, scanning the reactions around the room.

Ah Zheng stuck out his hand politely in which Emmanuel took and gave a firm squeeze.

Ah Zheng lifted a brow.

"Welcome, Mr Yi?" offered Ah Zheng in broken English.

"Manny will be fine," corrected Emmanuel smoothly in his tongue instead, helping him to feel more comfortable.

"Ah." Ah Zheng scratched the side of his head. "So, you speak our language. That makes communication easier," chuckled the older man, his eyes curved like crescents. "I don't mean to doubt your credentials, aren't you a bit too young to be a security expert?" He rubbed his smooth chin, scrutinising the foreigner in front of him. Besides, the younger man looked too pretty to be in this line of work for long.

Emmanuel shrugged carelessly, trailing around the room. "It's all I do. I am here as a favour to Hienie." He could read his doubt in his eyes.

Ah Zheng arched a brow at his arrogance. "Hienie Do you mean our charge, Ms Hien? You know her personally?"

The prince nodded hesitantly. "We hit off after meeting briefly after her tour. I'm here for a sabbath, so I decided to work for her as a favour." He stowed his hand into his pocket absently, presenting a nonchalant front.

A collective resounding of 'Oh's filled the room.

Ah Cheng frowned, not liking how this conversation was heading. She stepped in, tipping her spectacles up her bridge. "He was a bodyguard for important men in his former missions."

Ah Zheng whistled at some of his stellar achievements. "How long have you been in this line?" He folded his arms before his broad chest.

"The commission as a bodyguard? About five years," shrugged the younger man, clasping his hands politely in front of him. He tried to downplay his achievements so that he would not be too outstanding.

"How about other aspects of security?" asked a woman dressed in a suit thoughtfully, picking up on his nuances.

Emmanuel looked decidedly uncomfortable. "More than a decade." He served the army since the tender age of ten and participated in a war formally at the age of eleven.

Some of them shared looks with one another, uncomfortable.

"Is…is that even legal, Manny?" asked Ah Cheng finally, breaking the tensed silence. She had no idea that he was such an experienced security expert since he only stated his experiences in being a bodyguard. "You must have been a child? Why would your parents let you do that? In our country, you would be still in school!"

"So that I would be a useful person," smiled Emmanuel warmly, opening his arms like an embrace. "They had high hopes for me, Boss." Ah Cheng was the only person in the room who knew his age. "I had personal tutors." As a high-ranking member of the royalty, he had many personal tutors to ensure that he was a suitable heir to the throne. It was not wrong to explain that his parents had high hopes for him and therefore wanted him to rough out as a soldier from a tender age. Moreover, he needed to learn how to navigate political waters when he was older, so it made sense for him to be a soldier at that age. He thought of his brothers who merely needed to focus on courtly etiquette and soldiering and a sense of unjust rose in him.

One of the ladies whistled. "They really do have very high hopes." She eyed him a bit differently, reflecting a hint of pity.

"Or maybe they wanted to save money on your tutors? Your family would save a lot of money since you would have a steady and high income as a soldier," suggested another man, folding his arms, stepping forward.

Were they insinuating that he merely had brawns and no brains? Emmanuel resisted a snort, choosing to fold his arms before his toned chest. He mirrored his aggressive body stance in a bid to show that he was someone that the pompous Chinese man could not look down. "I completed all the national exams by then and my tutors deemed to be suitable to graduate from their classes."

Ah Cheng nodded. "Yeah, he was the valedictorian for his year. First class honours. A degree from Cambridge." She checked her papers briefly to ensure that her information was correct.

"Man, we're speaking to a genius," complained another man playfully. He jabbed another man on his shoulder. "What a waste to waste your talent on such menial labour."

Emmanuel shrugged, "In the scheme of things, it really does not matter." He did not want them to know that he was offered many opportunities to receive an honorary doctorate from renowned universities for his peacekeeping work. "In death, all men are equal. These accolades are unnecessary."

"What an unworldly attitude," scoffed a burly man who looked unimpressed. "I will take instructions from you if you can prove that you're better than me, pretty boy."

"Ah Feng!"

Ah Cheng stepped forward to defend Emmanuel.

"Ah Feng—" Ah Zheng glared at the brawny man, irritated.

The prince held up his hand, silencing them. "An aptitude test? That's a brilliant idea." His London brogue was thicker. His wide smile had a lethal edge, sending shivers down their spine. His gaze swept across the whole room slowly and provocatively. "Will you like to be a part of my test?"

Ah Zheng's eyes widened. "All of us?" He gestured to all the members in the room, astonished.

Emmanuel's counteroffer had enraged some of the more arrogant men. The other older man merely frowned at his hauteur.

"Manny…"

Emmanuel studied the room carefully before he lifted a finger to his chin. "A different location? A tavern brawl would wreck the room. Do you have a gym?" He turned to look at Ah Cheng for an answer.

She grabbed him by his long sleeve roughly, yanking him close to her. "Are you certain of your decision? What will this test serve to accomplish besides satisfying your huge ego?"

She did not under the point of this fruitless exercise.

Emmanuel sighed aloud, rubbing the back of his head boyishly. "Uh…It's part of my duty, Boss. It's the fastest way to see if they need more training," explained the prince coyly, giving her a deer-in-the-headlight look. He scratched the side of his head again, a break in his nonchalant veneer. Hien would house and feed him so that he could beef up her security, right? "We could do it here if you don't mind. I am sure some of the equipment would be spoilt." Although he was having a hushed conversation with Ah Cheng, the arrogant berk picked up his answer.

He rolled his shoulders, loosening his body up for a fight.

"Arrogant prick," chided Ah Feng, smirking wildly. He tilted his head and pointed north. "There is a gym in this building. Let's see if you can train us." He cracked his knuckles menacingly, trying to scare him.

Ah Cheng looked at Ah Zheng helplessly, hoping that he could help to manage his team. The other man looked at Emmanuel sceptically, knowing that he had intentionally intensified the row, forcing all of them to participate in this fight for the sake of their pride. He studied his teammates and found most of them rising to the bait easily.

He must admit that this young man before him was good at playing others, encouraging them to tango to the little melody that he was composing.

"Enough about us. What would you do if you do not pass this aptitude test, Manny?" goaded Ah Feng cheekily, folding his arms so that his muscles would bulge. His eyes, however, were cold and unfriendly.

"That's quite enough from you, Ah Feng—"

Emmanuel held up his hand slowly to silence Ah Cheng. He took a step forward, rolling his shoulders as if he were preparing for combat. He stared down at the older and arrogant man, an easy feat since he towered over the older man. "I will not take the position of Ms Hien's bodyguard. However, should you," he paused, looking around the room for emphasis, "not pass the aptitude test, then you will have to listen to all my orders while I am still in this position. Any issues?"