Strong For Too Long Trilogy ✔️

03. Priorities

CHAPTER 3: Priorities

My hair floats in around me as I stare out at the strange forest set up. The walk-in bridge just above a smooth lake below. I could feel the damp breeze against my cheekbones, smelling the cold, freshly anew air around me was a soothing moment, "What's our first destination?" He asks beside me, studying me in his long coat, not leaning on the railing like I am.

I blink slowly, "It was your company. Phoenix. I need to know if you've removed all affiliations and if not, get onto them because the next closest organisation is Vector in Paris, and Colton Manufacturing in Moscow." I say to him, his eyes study me intensely from where he stands, like manoeuvring around some sort of artwork, complicated and yet he wants to learn every inch of me.

"Aaron."

"I am listening, but I'm admiring too." He gestures to me.

I blink at him, "I'm not interested. Can we talk business?" I ask him.

He raises an eyebrow, "You're not interested? Oh, I find that hard to believe." He says, staring down at me with intense amusement, looking flirtatious and just as I expected, he moves in closer to slide his arms around me, lowering his head in next to mine as he slides his hands over mine and cages me in against the railing.

I stare out into the water, "What are you doing?" I ask in a murmur.

"We have a tail." He murmurs low against my ear.

I raise an eyebrow, "Yes, it's Branson with a camera." I say to him.

He stills behind me, "Wait a second, what?" He blurts out, snapping his eyes over to Branson wearing a masculine beret, holding a camera in his hands, Aaron struts over to him, "Give me that, you freaking idiot." He says to him, lowly. Branson sniggers and rips off the moustache as Madison steps forward, removing her hood and gesturing to both Samsara and Reynolds who step up into the bridge.

I lean my back against the railing and watch as Aaron gives all of them dry looks, "What the hell are you all doing here?" I study his annoyance and wonder why almost instantly. He turns to me in a full spin and gives me a deadpanned look, strutting back to me.

"You knew?" He says, accusingly.

I stare at him, "You do realise what I am, do you not? I could detect a scent of a tail at least a mile away, even a whiff of a target on a shot. That is not the point here. I messaged all of them to do just that, disguise. You need to be taught how to defeat a candidate, Aaron, if you want to stick to my hip and sleep in my bed. We'll go easy with test one, and that's ensuring you are alert in your surroundings, knowing friend from foe, and not distracting your own mind with me." I say to him, Samsara giggles as she slides her hands in her pockets and watches Aaron narrow his eyes down to me.

I gesture with my hand, "Shall we walk?" I ask him.

He huffs and offers me his arm like a gentleman, "Of course you would be the one to trick me in going on a romantic outing." He mumbles under his breath, sliding me closer against me, or as close as I could be when I only curl my arm through his.

"What part of this outing did you think was romantic? You checking me out instead of saying 'Olive, love. You're the most beautiful sight my eyes have ever had the privilege of laying upon.' All you came up with is, 'oh, she's talking, but look at those boobs'." Branson chokes on a laugh behind me as Madison and Samsara giggles too. Reynolds, Tobias and Harrison just chuckle at Aaron's gobsmacked expression as he stares down at me.

"OLIVE!" He whisper yells.

I pat his shoulder, "It's okay, we can work on that too. Oh, and if you use the word 'sexy' with me, or anything remotely body related, I'll cut off your so-called balls and feed them to you. Now, which tail is the real tail? This particular Candidate has been watching me since we left the restaurant, only he's more interested in studying me than attacking me, only because they know I'm different, and that makes me dangerous." I say to him, stepping towards one of the stalls and ordering a tea.