Desire Me If You Can Novel - Chapter 9

Coy hurriedly pressed the buttons on his phone.

In fact, in situations like this, the only person Ashley ever broke the news to was Coy. Because Coy would immediately spread it to the entire family. True to Ashley’s expectation, Coy busily made calls, relaying the news this time as well.

“…You’re not picking up. Are you in court? Grayson said he wants to be a firefighter! He’s going to find someone new and do good deeds—isn’t that wonderful? Stay healthy, and visit us sometimes to show your face. Love you.”

After leaving a voicemail on the phone of their first son, who was the spitting image of Ashley, he called Stacy, their eldest daughter and third child.

-What? A firefighter? Grayson? That idiot?

However, as soon as she heard the news, Stacy burst into loud laughter. Coy was dumbfounded and blinked. When he didn’t get the reaction he wanted, he roughly wrapped up the conversation and hung up after telling her he loved her.

And the next call. He hesitated a little on this one. Because the person was Chase. It hadn’t been long since the conflict between Chase and the family had been patched up. In truth, even though it was patched up, it wasn’t a complete recovery. They just exchanged contacts occasionally to share news, and the conversation was limited to a few awkward words. Still, for Coy, even that much was something to be grateful for.

“Phew.”

Before calling Chase, Coy took a deep breath to calm himself down, then checked the time in the West.

It’s fine. It should be okay right now.

Nodding, he steeled his heart and pressed the call button. Waiting with his ears pricked up, he almost screamed when the ringing stopped and a voice was heard.

“Uh, um, hey there. It’s me, Chase. Have you been well?”

Contrary to his happy heart, at Coy’s nervous voice, only a curt reply came from the other end.

-Yes.

“Uh…”

Coy squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, barely managing to say the next words.

“Well, Grayson said he wants to be a firefighter. So Ash decided to help him get a job…”

He managed to get the words out with difficulty, but there was no reaction from the other end. At the ominous silence for some reason, Coy spoke cautiously.

“Um, Chase…”

Before he could even finish the sentence, Chase spat out cold words mixed with a curse from the other side.

-What the hell is that crazy bastard trying to do now?

“What?”

Startled, Coy asked, but Chase had already hung up the phone abruptly. Coy stared at his phone with his mouth open in bewilderment, but nothing changed. At the call that ended in vain, he sighed and recalled a thought. Surely Chase would tell his partner, Joshua, exactly what he had heard. After all, the most precious people to him were Joshua and the children.

That’s good.

Soon, a smile appeared on Coy’s face. How fortunate it was that his child had found someone who was the only one for him in his lifetime, just like himself. In fact, the child Coy had worried about the most was Chase. But the surprising thing was that Chase was the very first to find a mate. And following that, the other children found their loves one by one, and were currently living stable lives. With the exception of only one person, Grayson.

Wasn’t it truly ironic? Grayson was the one who had spent his whole life searching for his one and only destiny, yet he was the only one still alone.

I hope a partner appears for that child soon, too.

After making a brief wish, Coy added inwardly. Even if he couldn’t find that person, it would be wonderful if Grayson could realize what ‘humanity’ was while helping others through this opportunity. Even if he wasn’t born with it, he could learn it. Just as he had finally learned ‘social skills,’ though it had been a difficult process.

Thinking that far, he soon called the remaining children in turn. Their reactions varied, but he was certain they all felt the same way he did. That they would hope Grayson meets his fated partner quickly.

Because all my children are angels.

Though a little unusual, was the thought that followed, but Coy pretended not to know. Completely unaware of the dark clouds rolling in darkly, in contrast to his sunny heart.

3

The Miller family’s rake is coming.

That news spread throughout the entire fire station in half a day. Of course, the reaction wasn’t very good. Wasn’t it obvious? Everyone gathered here had become firefighters through considerably difficult procedures after serious contemplation, yet someone was barging into the organization thanks to his family’s power, not even during the hiring season, and without even the most basic physical fitness test.

Surely, without any sense of duty or mission, it was merely because it looked cool, or he was just poking around out of interest. And if it was different from his imagination, he would just run away without a care. It was a perilous job where they worked risking their lives, but they were willingly serving the locals out of sheer pride. Who would like seeing their sacred profession tarnished by the whim of a rich young master?

Because of that, the staff in the fitness room all wore expressions filled with murderous intent. As if they wouldn’t let anyone off the hook if they crossed them. Under the fierce gazes of the staff, the fire chief broke into a cold sweat down his back as he tried to continue speaking.

“So that’s how it is, just understand the situation. It’s only a year at most. Think of this as service for the citizens, too. Miller is a citizen as well, one who pays an enormous amount of taxes. Right?”

He added the last words as if seeking agreement, but the returning reaction was chilly.

“It’s not service for a citizen, but playing playmate for a citizen. Is there really a need for us, who are busy with every dispatch, to take on such a role?”

One person raised his hand and asked, but the intent was clearly sarcastic. Knowing this, the fire chief suppressed his temper and answered in a gentle tone instead.

“Just think of it as a new volunteer firefighter coming in. Well, you can think of it as light part-time work.”

Of course, no one accepted the chief’s excuse. Just like regular firefighters, volunteer firefighters were definitely not a job one could take lightly, as fire scenes were always places where lives were at stake. They, too, went through training comparable to full-time staff and held their positions with duty and responsibility. At the chilly silence that wouldn’t break no matter what, the fire chief gave an awkward laugh and hurriedly changed the subject.

“Now, now. So, we decided to throw a fun welcome party on the day Miller arrives. Let’s all have a drink and mingle, sounds good, right? If we eat and drink to our hearts’ content, we’ll become close in no time. Ah, they say Dominant Alphas don’t get drunk… well, if we pour it in, surely something will happen, haha! Don’t miss it, everyone attend, okay? Everyone!”

Fun welcome party, my foot. No one responded, but the chief earnestly asked once more, told them the bar they usually went to, and hurriedly left the place as if fleeing.

After the door closed, a chilly air hung in the room. Among the people who were silent for a while as if gauging each other, someone couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“Does this make any sense? It’s not regular recruitment, and he’s crawling in without a single physical fitness test?”

The man sitting on the bench press bench jumped up, venting his anger. Following that, outcries erupted from here and there.

“It makes no sense! This isn’t fair, it goes against equity!”

“Arrogant bastard, surely he didn’t even take the firefighter certification exam.”

“Everyone should be given an equal opportunity. This is cheating. As expected from a family of despicable lawyers.”

“It’s already the third generation, damn Miller law firm!”

“Even if a Miller becomes President, they can’t act so willfully. This is America!”

“Miller isn’t the President, at best he’s a lawyer!”

“A Senator, though the Miller law firm is just behind him!”

The pouring resentment gradually subsided, and eventually, silence came. Yes, this was America. A country where everything was possible if you had money. On top of that, a lawyer and if they owned the Miller law firm, called the best in North America for three generations, would there be anything impossible? Furthermore, if it was the Miller family now advancing into politics, it was no different from saying America was in their hands