Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 10

Breakfast must be brought to Chase Miller’s room every morning after calling to confirm he’s awake. Other meals should also be provided upon request.

Except for the case in 1, never enter Chase Miller’s room. If necessary, request permission by phone.

Do not speak to him first. Do not answer if he asks something.

Do not enter within a 5-yard radius, except in special situations absolutely necessary for security.

Do not walk behind him.

Do not walk in front of him.

Other detailed instructions are attached separately.

Josh held a fork in one hand and casually flipped through the paper with the other. There were nearly five pages of detailed instructions. He was told to read and familiarize himself with them whenever he had a moment, but even Mark, their boss, probably hadn’t memorized all of it.

“Fuck, are you crazy? I didn’t even go to college because I hate reading letters.”

Everyone remained silent when Henry, grinding his teeth, threw the handed-out documents away. However, the next day, after Chase unexpectedly threw a phone at him and split his forehead, Henry memorized all the precautions overnight. Now, no member knew the contract details better than Henry. The precaution he had violated was ‘do not block Chase Miller’s path.’

“I was just walking!”

Henry complained, feeling wronged and bursting with indignation, but it was also true that the path he crossed included the ‘5-yard radius.’ Everyone had to endure stress with their nerves on edge. The contract was, quite literally, full of absurd clauses.

“Are we housekeepers? Why do we have to bring him meals every time?”

To Isaac, who was fuming, Mark replied with a troubled expression.

“We can’t just let him starve. Look at the house, there’s not a single maid or anything. They say everyone quit because they couldn’t handle his temper, so how are we going to find new people? We’re here because we’re short-staffed too, aren’t we?”

They were angry, but had no counter-argument. As the team members fell silent, Mark added,

“At least we don’t have to cook his meals, so that’s a relief. He gets deliveries every other day, so let’s just make sure he gets them on time. We can do at least this much, can’t we…?”

The clause about meals was preposterous, but at least that was on the cuter side. Chase Miller’s very existence was nothing short of a disaster for them. In just one week, Seth complained of hair loss, Isaac lost 7 pounds, and Henry had his forehead stitched.

Josh, thanks to his best efforts to avoid him, had fortunately not experienced any particular incidents yet, but he never knew when an unexpected situation might arise. After all, Josh was the first to be beaten. He diligently read the documents and memorized the precautions.

Was it like this before?

Suddenly, Josh frowned. It felt as if there were more precautions than a few years ago. He couldn’t remember exactly, but it wasn’t so densely packed over several pages.

He’s a world-famous star who’s constantly pampered, so his personality must be getting more demanding.

He scoffed inwardly. All he wanted was for this job to be over. But in reality, not even a month had passed.

“Ugh.”

Josh groaned and slumped onto the table. Suddenly, he missed Pete. Maybe he was taking a nap. Should he ask to wake him up? No, that wouldn’t do, would it?

Already feeling anxious, he pressed the button on his phone. When he finally heard Pete’s voice after the connection tone, Josh couldn’t help but call out the child’s name loudly.

“Pete!”

[Daddy?]

The child soon recognized his voice and shouted. Josh desperately suppressed the urge to go home and hug his child, and quickly continued.

“Yes, Pete. Have you been well?”

[Daddy, yes, Daddy.]

The child couldn’t hide his excitement and stammered.

[Daddy, when are you coming to see me?]

At Pete’s urgent question, Josh repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to suppress his emotions.

“Well, I don’t know. Is Grandma doing well?”

When he subtly changed the subject, the child’s voice sank, as if disappointed.

[Yeah… This morning, I had scrambled eggs, but Grandma put beans in them.]

“Oh dear.”

Josh comforted the child with a sympathetic heart.

“You have to eat everything well to be a good boy. And grow this tall.”

[As tall as Daddy?]

“Taller than Daddy.”

The child exclaimed, “Wow.”

[Then will I be as tall as Uncle Mark?]

“Taller than that.”

The child again shouted, “Wow,” but then became sullen.

[I hate beans.]

“Daddy will go and defeat them all for you.”

[You have to get rid of them all.]

“Of course, I’ll get rid of all of them.”

Listening to the child’s babbling made all his stress fly away. Josh listened to the child’s rambling words for a while, interjecting here and there.

“Josh.”

Just then, Seth came in. When Josh looked up, Seth pointed behind his shoulder with his thumb and said,

“It’s your turn.”

It was time for patrol. He had no choice but to hang up the phone. Josh suppressed his regret and said goodbye.

“Pete, say hi to Grandma for me…”

[Daddy, when are you coming?]

Before he hung up, the child asked again. Josh had no choice but to lie.

“If Pete eats everything well, whether it’s beans or carrots, we can meet soon.”

[Really?]

“Really.”

[Then I’ll eat everything. I’ll be a good boy.]

“Okay, Pete. Daddy will come to see you soon.”

Josh promised and then kissed the child. After a smacking sound, he hung up the phone and met Seth’s eyes, who had been standing there until then.

“Why?”

When Josh asked, puzzled, Seth tilted his head and said, “Well,”

“Do you like kids that much?”

Seth had a live-in girlfriend for several years but wasn’t yet married. Therefore, he had no plans to have children. Josh smiled and patted his shoulder.

“You’ll know when you have a child too.”

Seth still shrugged with a look of incomprehension. As Seth walked towards the empty plate on the cupboard where pancakes for breakfast were stacked, Josh headed outside. He planned to make a round of the mansion, including the annex and surrounding area.

This kind of security was half-formal. Even if someone somehow managed to get past the main gate with its automatic security system, it would be impossible to go unnoticed while crossing the vast garden to the mansion. Assuming Chase didn’t go out, there was no easier job than security at the mansion. Plus, the pay was exceptionally good.

Still, the problem was that it was hard to find people willing to do it.

Josh felt a bitter gratitude for being able to take the job, and meticulously surveyed the surroundings of the enormous mansion.

Behind the grand mansion with its twelve bedrooms, the private beach unfolded, accessible directly by an elegant spiral staircase leading down to the sand, but it was always empty. This time too, Josh scanned the deserted area where not a single human shadow was visible, then turned and headed towards the garden.

Unlike the well-maintained front of the mansion, the back garden had little to see. The large helipad had a helicopter sitting idly, but he had never seen it used. He also checked the fitness room and basketball court, where he rarely saw anyone exercising, and even the arcade, but no human presence was anywhere to be seen. Only a deathly silence lingered.

…Huh.

He found Chase in the large pool at the back. Lying stretched out on a beach chair, sunbathing, he looked more peaceful than ever. His gently rising and falling chest made it seem as if he had dozed off.

But when Josh saw him, his eyes widened. All Chase was wearing was sunglasses and a palm-sized swimming brief.

Suddenly, one side of his head throbbed. Josh instinctively stepped backward. Chase didn’t seem to have noticed anyone else’s presence yet. Only after hiding behind a tree did Josh realize he had hidden himself.

Now there was only one option left. To leave this place without being noticed by him. He absolutely refused to be beaten again.

Josh cautiously peeked his head out. He was still there. Unfortunately.

The moment he confirmed Chase’s presence, he despaired.

Why, of all things, did that man’s appearance so perfectly match my taste?

The ideal type in the world was, quite literally, just an ideal and could not become reality. Chase Miller also didn’t perfectly match Josh’s ideal type. There was a bigger problem than the fact that the other person was a man.

He wanted at least a human temper. Not a mad dog.

Just as he was seriously wondering how much it would cost to make a wax figure exactly like that man, Chase suddenly sprang up. Josh was startled and quickly hid himself. As he held his breath and lay in ambush, he was reminded of his time in the military. And his comrade with whom he had faced death together.

Ah, come to think of it, that guy is in the same state.

Just as he realized it had been several years since he last saw Dane’s face, a loud splashing sound suddenly came from behind him. He instinctively flinched but didn’t stand up. He remained still, scanning his surroundings out of ingrained habit. It was obvious who was about to jump into the water. He planned to make his escape while the other person was swimming.

But unexpectedly, silence followed. Josh remained rigid for a moment, listening intently. He was concentrating all his senses, but he couldn’t feel any presence.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, he cautiously poked his head out. He had a bad feeling.

Huh?

He paused for a moment, then involuntarily sprang to his feet. Chase was nowhere to be seen.

What happened?

Josh held his breath and quickly scanned the pool. He heard nothing but the sound of someone jumping in. Wasn’t that the sound of a dive?

He quickly turned his gaze to the beach chair where Chase had been lying, but it was empty. When he turned his gaze back to the pool, Josh found him.

Chase was completely submerged in the water.

One might have thought he was diving, but he showed no movement whatsoever. Lying face down, he looked like something Josh had seen when he briefly worked as a lifeguard. It was the exact posture of someone on the verge of drowning.

“Mr. Miller!”

Josh urgently rushed out from his hiding spot. He shouted, but there was no response. After shouting his name loudly once more, Josh was certain that Chase had lost consciousness.

There was no time to recall the prohibited clauses written in the contract. If he made a mistake, he would die. His body moved before he could think. Without time to take off his shoes, he plunged into the water, creating a loud splash.

With just a few strokes, Josh reached the middle of the pool where Chase was submerged. Until then, Chase remained motionless.

Perhaps he hit his head on the bottom when he dived. Thinking of all sorts of scenarios, Josh first grabbed him and pulled him. It was just as he was about to cradle his head and pull him out of the water.

Suddenly, Chase opened his eyes. Their gazes met unexpectedly, without any preparation. For a moment, Josh blinked in confusion.

Wasn’t he drowning?