Jared’s hatred for Oliver was understandable, considering how it was he who had destroyed his plan and years of hard work. Who knew that a re journalist with no backing or power could make him run for his life and hide from everyone’s eyes?
But Preston could not decipher what information the man before him was speaking about. He had no idea what more Oliver knew and how much more he could ruin Jared. But seeing Jared fuming in rage, he did not doubt the man at all and lowered his eyes slightly.
’How many more people?’ He wondered and sighed lightly, gaining Jared’s attention on him.
"What’s wrong? What got you all thinking?" Jared’s expression eased a little, and he clasped his hands underneath his chin while glancing at Preston curiously.
"I was just wondering what reason I will tell Valerie and the others when I return. You do know it’s not easy to fool them. If I slip up, I will be dood."
Preston felt vexed when he thought about facing his team mbers, especially Valerie, who was incredible at reading body language and expressions. She had not beco the Deputy Chief of the Intelligence just like that, without any skills.
"Haven’t we gone through this already? Why are you still worried?" Jared frowned in dismay. ’Why is Preston this concerned about this matter? Isn’t it easy for him?’
"I just hope no one is doubting my absence. You do know that going missing all of a sudden from a ruined port when it is practically impossible will surely raise suspicions, don’t you?" Preston was still annoyed that the man before him had acted without thinking and had him put in deep waters. His thoughtless actions had brought him great trouble and he just hoped that his teammates believed his cooked up story.
"Why are you this scared about them? Isn’t it as easy as taking a stroll in the garden for you? You have been fooling them for years. You can do it again and in the future too. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine." Jared assured with a smile and his confident words made Preston scoff lightly.
"Easy for you to say. You are not in my predicant. So, you can comnt all you want."
"I am thankful I am not in your predicant. Otherwise, I would have killed your teammates in a blink."
Preston’s heart skipped a beat at his words and he felt cold sweat trickling down his spine at the thought of Jared killing his teammates. Although he did not show it on his face, his heart was pounding madly and he clenched his fists to control his agitation and nervousness.
"How can I return all of a sudden and show myself before them like this?" Preston changed the topic to ease his mind.
"Like what?" Jared’s frown deepened and he gave Preston a thorough look, trying to find out if anything was wrong with him. But he couldn’t discover anything worthwhile.
"Jared," Preston smiled in ridicule. "You rescued from a ruined port, the one which exploded thanks to your brilliant plan last minute."
"Yes." Jared nodded in pride and Preston almost rolled his eyes in dismay.
"Moreover, I was beside Valerie and one of the last ones to exit the building before it exploded."
"So?"
"So, would not raise suspicions if I were to return unscathed?" Preston stood up and turned around to show Jared what he was referring to. "I am completely fine unlike how I should be. It’s making ..."
Preston did not even have the ti to complete his words when Jared stood up in a flash and smacked his head hard against the wall until he started bleeding profusely from his forehead.
"Fuck!! Jared." Preston yelled in disbelief as blood trickled down his cheeks while an intense pain shot through his head, making him feel dizzy and nauseous.
Jared had not been careful and gentle at all when smacking his head against the wall and imparted more damage than he had expected.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Preston covered his bleeding forehead and glared at Jared who was smiling at him cheekily, his expression devoid of any regret or guilt.
"Oops, I went a little too hard on you. I am sorry." He shrugged lightly and Preston had sudden impulse to put a bullet through his head.
"You are super annoying. If I was not working with you, you would be dead by now."
Jared did not doubt him at all. The man before him was capable of many things, one which even he could not accomplish and if he wanted, he could kill him right away.
Jared trusted Preston more than anyone and always had his guard lowered with him. So, if the man wanted, he could kill him easily and he would not even know how he died.
"But you won’t. I know you."
"You are taking my tolerance towards you for granted. Don’t you dare irk more than you should. Otherwise, don’t bla for harming you." Preston warned and Jared realized that the man was serious this ti. He had pissed him off big ti and if he crossed his line anymore, he might really face Preston’s wrath.
"Look, I’m sorry alright. I was just helping you with your plight. Weren’t you the one complaining that you could not et your teammates this way?"
"So, was this your way of helping? By harming ?" Preston felt incredulous and he stared at the man as though he was a monster. His actions were unexpected and had truly stunned him. But he could do nothing about it. How infuriating!!
"Yes. Although we could fake an injury," Jared held Preston’s hand and pushed him towards the couch, forcing him to sit down before he retrieved a first aid kit. "It will not be as impactful as an actual injury. Nobody will suspect you at all and you can be at ease."
"At least you could have given a heads up before you acted on your own. I would have prepared myself." Preston agreed with Jared’s thoughts. It was easier to deceive his teammates if he had any significant wounds on his body and he too had thought of inflicting so visible wounds.
But he had never expected Jared to act first, which annoyed him more than he could believe.
"Knowing you, if I were to alert you before I attacked you, you would have defended yourself and I would have been the one to be injured. I did what I ought to. So, don’t bla for it." Jared started cleaning the blood while Preston just gritted his teeth and endured the pain.
He did not make a sound the whole ti and only grunted when Jared was done wrapping his forehead with gauze.
"This will do for now. You can get better treatnt from the doctor downstairs later."
Preston just gritted his teeth and turned his head away, still annoyed by Jared. Although his bleeding had stopped, he still felt frustrated whenever he thought that the man beside him would act before consulting or even informing him and he would only know about it only after the deed was done.
"What are you thinking?" Jared noticed Preston was lost in his thoughts and he quirked his brows in wonder.
"I am thinking of ways to silence you forever. Your voice is annoying the hell out of and my head is throbbing." Preston was not joking. His head was throbbing mildly and he still felt light-headed. He leaned against the couch and closed his eyes as he tried to soothe the uneasiness.
"Looks like I was too harsh on you," Jared mumbled to himself and even if Preston heard it, he did not argue with him, giving him a silent treatnt.
"I am sorry once again. I couldn’t control my strength. But on the brighter side, you got a reason for your long absence and nobody will doubt you too." Jared pointed out and Preston scooted further away from him and stretched his legs.
Jared was unfazed by Preston’s indifferent attitude and he kept talking. "Now, all you need to do is go back and convince your teammates while at the sa ti and see what’s happening in Noah and his friends’ lives."
Preston blinked slightly and focused his gaze on Jared, who was already looking at him with a small smile on his face.
"I just have this one question though. Would you mind answering this for ?"
"Sure. Ask ." Jared nodded with his brows raised as he waited for the man to put forth his question.
"How long will you be staying here?"
"Why are you asking this?" Jared narrowed his eyes dangerously. But Preston did not react at all, unaffected by his venomous gaze. He was accustod to it by now.
"I was just wondering when you will co out of your hiding." Preston shrugged as though it was no big deal and Jared kept staring at him for a long ti as of he was trying to read him and his mind.
"I am unsure if you are genuine with or just playing around and fooling ." Jared did not avert his gaze, forcing Preston too to look at him.
"And I don’t know how many more tis I will have to prove myself before you start trusting ." Preston only smiled in return. "It’s fine to be suspicious in life. I don’t mind."
"It’s just I am forced to suspect everything and everyone around . I am sorry if my words offended you." Jared’s lips arched up on one side as he avoided Preston’s serious and honest eyes.
"I understand, Jared. You do not have to justify yourself. I get it all."
"You should rest for so ti. You are injured." Jared stood up all of a sudden and pushed away his mories that were slowly trying to invade his ti and a large part of his mind.
"Yes, I will rest for so ti. I feel woozy."
"I will prepare for your return by then. I still need to give out a few orders."
A tacit and silent conversation ensued between the two n before Preston departed from the study, leaving Jared to battle with his mories alone.
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