Chapter 2

As soon as the words left my mouth, the surrounding onlookers gasped. "Damn, this girl has some guts! She actually dared to mouth off at Ms. Wallace. Does she have a death wish?" "Most people would do everything to avoid hitting Mr. Grant's car, but she actually dared crash into it? She's way too ballsy." "She only has her own luck to blame. Of all the people to offend, she just had to go and piss off Ms. Wallace, who Mr. Grant favors a lot!" As the whispers around us grew louder, Cece Wallace became even more smug. "You actually dared to insult me, bitch? It sounds like you've got a death wish!" she said haughtily. Her threat didn't faze me in the slightest. In fact, I found it almost laughable. "Ms. Wallace, was it? I suggest you watch your mouth. If you really piss me off, not even your boss will be able to handle the consequences," I warned. "Fuck off!" she shot back. She hurled a few more curses at me, but she still didn't seem satisfied. Rolling up her sleeves, she charged at me. "Seriously? Is this how people in Seacrest handle losing arguments? They start throwing hands?" I stated in an unimpressed tone. Cece swung slap after slap at me, but she didn't even graze the hem of my clothes. "You little bitch! Dodge me again and see what happens! You think I won't call Mr. Grant right now?" she yelled shrilly. Despite her continued attempts to provoke me, I didn't retaliate and simply endured them. It wasn't because I was afraid of her. Instead, it was because of the warning Commander Bayer had drilled into me before I left my station. "Your every word and action represent the image of the unit. Once you're outside, absolutely do not get into any conflict with civilian personnel." Besides, I also didn't know how to fight. So, it was either I took no action, or I ended things in one decisive move. Cece thought I had chickened out because I was silent. Raising her fist, she charged at me again. But at the critical moment, a furious voice roared from behind me. "Stop! Cece Wallace, you're my personal secretary! How could you brawl with someone on the street like this?" Surrounded by a group of bodyguards, Miles Grant walked quickly toward me. "Are you Evie Jackman?" he questioned. I took a good look at the man in front of me. I had to admit—Dad actually had pretty good taste. Miles stood at about 6 feet tall. Dressed in a custom-tailored suit, he looked elegant and refined. If I had to point out a flaw, it would be that his gaze was far too cold when he looked at me. "Mr. Grant, it's our first time meeting. Please allow me to introduce myself briefly. My name is Evie Jackman. I'm from—" "There's no need!" Miles snapped. Before I could finish my introduction, he impatiently raised his hand and cut me off. "You're not right for me. Go back to wherever you came from," he ordered. For a moment, I seriously thought I had misheard Miles. It was a 10-hour drive from where I was stationed to Seacrest. I had driven all the way here without making a single stop. I hadn't even had a sip of water yet. Now, I had finally met him. And without so much as a proper conversation, he told me to leave? Was I some kind of joke to him? This thought made my temper flare instantly. "You're Miles Grant, correct? The man my father has picked to be his future son-in-law? You won't even let me finish my sentence before telling me to leave. Isn't that just a little rude?" I pointed out. Miles' expression immediately darkened at my words. "Rude? Ms. Jackman, why don't you turn around and take a good look at the building behind you? Do you really think you're worthy of someone like me?" he retorted. Out of the corner of his eye, he gave me a once-over as he spoke. "I honestly don't know what my father is thinking. He's trying to marry me off to someone who has nothing but a pretty face like you," he added. As soon as those words left Miles' mouth, the crowd erupted in whispers again. "What? That woman is actually Mr. Grant's fiancée? That's unbelievable!" "She's a backwater hick who's clearly never experienced much. Yet, someone like her thinks she can land a man like Miles Grant, who is way out of her league? She really needs to know her place." "Mr. Grant is the publicly recognized dream guy for all women in Seacrest! I, Misty Lyle, am the first to stand up and oppose this marriage!"