When Malayah Smith discovered Adan Bradley’s real reason for summoning her and her sister, she was thrilled. The mission was to protect a certain Ricardo Patterson. She clapped her hands in excitement, "So that's why you brought us back, Adan. Seriously, this is something Selena could handle alone. I'd rather skip out, haha."
Selena Stewart, noticing Malayah trying to bow out, looked displeased. She playfully flicked Malayah's forehead with a slender finger and chuckled, "You rookie. Didn't you hear that your big sister just finished a major mission and hurt her arm? I think this job suits you perfectly. Isn't this client exactly your type?"
Malayah quickly defended her capabilities, "Selena, that's not fair. Even a weakling is stronger when still standing, and I'm just a little kitten. Even with your injury, you're leaps and bounds ahead of me."
Adan gazed between his two beloved students. He had expected them to compete for the assignment and was surprised to see them trying to pass it off to each other. His initial enthusiasm turned into frustration as he worked to suppress his irritation.
"Enough, both of you! Stop trying to wiggle out of it," Adan finally cut in, his kind eyes turning serious. He scanned Malayah and Selena, stating in a tone that left no room for negotiation, "Listen up, you can't decline. Let me finish. Ricardo Patterson is the son of the man who saved my life. One of you must take this case and ensure his safety."
Then, with a mischievous grin, Adan added, "And this job isn't for free. The Patterson family is offering a check for a million dollars. Whoever successfully protects Ricardo will earn that."
The mention of a million dollars immediately captured Malayah's interest. A million! Her mind was flooded with visions of endless zeros. "Alright, Adan, no need to talk it over further. I’ll do it!" Malayah eagerly volunteered, drawn more by the lucrative reward than the assignment itself. After all, she'd never see this kind of money otherwise.
Although Adan left the decision up to his students, he knew that Malayah, despite his fondness for her, wasn’t the most skilled. Her nickname, "the rookie," was well-earned despite years of training. This task was no small feat and not something she could handle easily.
"What about you, Selena? Really not interested?" Adan asked his top student, who had mastered nearly everything he had taught.
Reclining on the couch, Selena waved dismissively, "Adan, you know my terms. I won't accept less than a ten million deposit. Besides, this client isn't my type."
"Ten million?!" Malayah's jaw dropped at Selena's words. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her.
Seeing Malayah's shock, Selena gently flicked her forehead again, smiling, "What's so surprising about that?"
"No, nothing at all!" Malayah quickly reassured, waving her hand to dismiss any disagreement.
Known as the star pupil of Adan Bradley, once the world’s leading ultimate bodyguard, Selena Stewart had mastered everything and even surpassed her teacher. Her quick and decisive skills, combined with her youthful beauty and cool demeanor, meant her rate was ten million—especially for those seemingly impossible missions. Despite her steep charges, clients who valued absolute reliability over cost were happy to pay.
Meanwhile, Malayah, having trained alongside Selena, had the skills of a rookie due to her laziness and lack of discipline. She grasped little of the other techniques Adan taught, her knowledge shaky at best. She hadn’t even undertaken a real case before, meaning her value was extremely low—merely a few hundred dollars, more as a gesture of respect for Adan than anything else. This chance at a million-dollar case had her grinning from ear to ear.
"Alright, it’s decided. Malayah, you’ll take this case. Starting tomorrow, go to the Patterson Corporation to locate Ricardo. Per the contract, you’ll protect him for one month. After that, you can cash that million-dollar check," Adan said, waving the check teasingly, "Looking forward to a month from now?"
Seeing Adan's mischievous smile, Malayah frowned slightly, asking cautiously, "Adan, is it really that straightforward? Just keep him safe for a month?"
Hearing this, Adan's expression became intensely serious. He locked eyes with Malayah and stated firmly, "Malayah, before you proceed, heed this warning: Your mission involves more than ensuring Ricardo Patterson's safety. You must also identify the mastermind behind any threats. If anyone attempts to harm him, you must neutralize them—all of them!"
Malayah turned pale at Adan's words. She gasped, dropping her file and photos with a clatter. Staring at Adan in shock, she exclaimed, "Adan, you can't be serious! Neutralizing threats? That's terrifying!"
