Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 13

The conference room was silent. No one spoke. Chase, who had been escorted to the conference room after his work was finished, hadn’t uttered a single word while being briefed on the current situation. He merely sat in his seat, his face expressionless.

“So.”

Only after the manager had finished speaking and a heavy silence had fallen did Chase finally open his mouth.

“I can’t go back?”

“Yes.”

The manager continued cautiously, as if gauging his mood.

“The head of the security team is currently looking for a way. It seems difficult to return by car, like when you arrived… The outside of the building is completely surrounded…”

The manager’s voice gradually faded. Chase said nothing. His doll-like, expressionless face remained unchanged.

Everyone watched anxiously, holding their breath, when suddenly Chase moved. All he did was extend a hand to the manager, but at that moment, everyone watching held their breath simultaneously. Surely he wasn’t going to hit him. As everyone tensed up, thinking the same thing, the manager hastily pulled a black metal case from his pocket.

It was a cigarette.

Sighs of relief were heard here and there, and the tension eased. Chase silently put the cigarette to his lips and lit it. As he exhaled a long puff of smoke, people waited anxiously for Mark to arrive.

“Mr. Miller, would you like something to drink…?”

The secretary, who had been watching, spoke up. But what came back was Chase’s cynical scoff.

“What kind of trash are you trying to feed me?”

“…I’m sorry.”

The secretary quickly retreated. Silence once again descended everywhere.

Josh felt like he was suffocating. Being in such a small, enclosed space with Chase Miller, the constantly flowing scent of pheromones was already maddening, but with the added tension, it was unbearable.

Should I say I’m going to the restroom?

As he cautiously glanced over, his eyes met Chase’s without warning. Josh was startled and froze instantly.

It was then that the thought occurred to him that Chase might have been watching him the whole time. Of course, it must be his imagination. But to his dismay, Chase didn’t look away.

Josh didn’t know what to do under the persistent gaze that continued to stare at him. Chase’s tenacious gaze seemed to have been waiting for their eyes to meet.

He swallowed hard. The gulping sound of his saliva seemed abnormally loud. Chase watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down dramatically. At that moment, every nerve in his body sharpened, feeling as if they would pierce through his skin.

Just then, a knock sounded, and Mark entered. Only then did Josh feel his taut nerves loosen and relax. He let out a sigh of relief, but Mark’s expression was not good.

“The barricade has been breached.”

At those words, Henry let out a groan. Chase finally tore his gaze from Josh, but still showed no reaction. Mark continued.

“It seems impossible to move right now. The police are currently initiating dispersal procedures, so if we wait a bit…”

“How long?”

Chase’s indifferent voice cut off Mark. Mark hesitated, then Chase paused before asking again.

“How long do I have to wait?”

Mark blinked in confusion, then said, “Well…”

“At least three or four hours…”

“Ha.”

Chase let out a short sigh. At the same time, everyone fell silent. He frowned, saying nothing. The faint scent of pheromones gradually intensified. He was annoyed. Josh found it increasingly difficult to bear.

“Um.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

Seth cut him off a beat too fast. Josh missed his chance. Isaac then chimed in.

“The route we thought of should be fine, right? Can’t we just get there somehow?”

“Getting there is the problem, you idiot.”

Henry cursed, as if he had been waiting for the opportunity. Isaac glared at him, uncharacteristically annoyed, but soon looked away. Since it was a common occurrence, Josh patted Isaac’s back without much thought, then opened his mouth.

“So, Mark?”

As the atmosphere settled, Mark spoke again.

“The police are trying to disperse them, but it’s not easy. They’re saying the fastest way is for us to get out first.”

“Is there a way out?”

When Seth asked, Mark gestured with his eyes. The members followed him outside. Only then could Josh breathe freely. After gathering in a circle in the hallway, Mark finally spoke seriously.

“First, how about someone acting as bait?”

“Oh, no…”

Henry, who was about to immediately refuse, shut his mouth when everyone simultaneously glared at him. Mark continued.

“It’s a classic method, but nothing beats a classic. We’ll set another trap here. After sending out the first bait, we’ll immediately send out the second.”

“But the real one…”

“Is the third.”

Mark nodded and said.

“The first and second cars will drive in different directions. Then the fans chasing will also split. They’ll probably think one of them is bait, but they won’t think both are. Once the area is somewhat cleared, we’ll take C and escape from here. Understood?”

There was no other method that came to mind. Isaac, who had been standing by the door, silently stepped back. Mark cleared his throat, then knocked. A moment later, when the door to the waiting room opened, a sweet scent wafted out.

“Mr. Miller.”

Mark forced a smile and went inside first. Josh was the last to enter. Naturally, with a candy in his mouth.

I’m going to get diabetes at this rate.

Josh felt his mouth dry up and thought gloomily. Closing the door behind him, he turned around and saw Chase sitting alone among the tall, burly men. With a cigarette in one hand and black coffee in a paper cup in the other, his face was still as expressionless as a cold bisque doll.

Mark began to speak.

“…So, that’s the method we came up with. If you have any other ideas, please let us know.”

As Mark explained, Chase rested his chin on one hand, saying nothing. It was enough to make one wonder if he was even listening properly. Chase, who had been silently scanning the bodyguards one by one with downcast eyes, finally spoke.

“Who are you going to send out, in my place?”

At his words, delivered one by one, Mark looked at Isaac.

“First, Isaac is the member whose physique is most similar to Mr. Miller’s. And for the second, Seth…”

Chase, his gaze fixed on Isaac, following Mark’s eyes, spoke.

“No.”

As everyone looked at him in surprise, Chase said with an expressionless face.

“He’s ugly.”

A chilling silence instantly fell in the conference room. In truth, Isaac had an ordinary face for an Alpha, but he wasn’t ugly. It was just that about three out of ten faces one might see on the street were of a similar level to his.

Chase arrogantly pointed his finger back and forth between Josh and Isaac.

“You for the face, you for the body. Make it happen.”

Mark answered on behalf of Isaac, who let out a gasp of disbelief.

“I’m sorry, but face and body cannot be separated. Please choose one.”

Chase pointed at Josh and simply offered a solution.

“Then you grow taller right now.”

“That, too, I’m afraid is not possible.”

“You incompetent bastards, what can you even do?”