His Devious Rule

Chapter 553 Burning Charcoal

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Watching Anya wordlessly recoiling the bullet, neither warning him nor sparing any word, Alaric was smart to guess either Anya was losing patience or Anya's reaction wasn't just because of his men's trail. She was probably working on some mission and he might be looking like a suspect in her eyes.

Reluctantly, he had to recount the reason behind his actions. He also answered her interrogative question before she visibly cooled down, without thirsting for his blood to spill on the expensive couch and exquisite rug on the floor. 

There are times people risk their life to treasure someone or something dearest. Anya had many questions out of curiosity but she kept them with her without meddling into his personal life. 

However, as an officer, Anya gave him a first and last warning, "Mr. Michèle, stalking me and my family is a crime." Due to her sensitive identity, she could kick the man behind bars for prying on their information and trailing her.

Alaric was aware of that and understood she wasn't taking any action against him for now. He pointed at the black folder that was still lying on the coffee table. "You may want to know the man who is digging about your team."

Anya's expression changed there. She was known to people because of her leaked identity. However, other officers' identities should be under tight wraps. She unhesitantly picked the file. 

The first flip of the page and her gray eyes turned inscrutable. The file Paxton failed to get and got caught, the file that was keeping Jason busy with numerous meetings was in her hands.

She discerned that a criminal businessman approached Alaric to find out about Paxton. She lifted her head when Alaric stood up elegantly and buttoned his blazer. He wasn't making a deal with her with the file, it was his apology. The man was too proud to utter it. 

A deep velvety tone was wrapped in a faint Italian accent, "It's an honor to meet you, Officer Owen." Alaric meant his words. He turned his heels and went towards the main door without wasting time. 

Anya pondered before giving him a heads up, "Edward Hughes and his followers are preparing for the coming presidential election."

Alaric paused in his steps and clenched his fist. His knuckles turned pale as a white sheet. His dry tone sounded as if he could predict the future, "He will lose." Then he walked out without looking back.

The point wasn't whether Edward Hughes loses or wins. Edward and his lackeys will be more dangerous and use every means to push Edward to the highest position. That meant no scandals, no negative news or publicity on him or his family. If Alaric wasn't careful enough, he would lose himself or part of him to those people.

Anya breathed a long sigh when a pair of muscular arms wrapped around her from behind. "Mr. Hughes?" Alvin asked without understanding why they were speaking of a politician.

Anya wasn't sure how to feel about the situation Alaric created for them. She wondered who ranks the chart of evilness, politician or businessman. 

"Honey!!" Alvin's ear perked at the rare endearment by his unromantic wife. Nevertheless, Anya mused, "You businessmen are all foxes in black tailored overpriced suits." 

Alvin: "…"

Did she find out something he did?

Is she in the mood to fight? 

Whereas Anya melted to the warmth of her husband's embrace and gave another careful thought if she did right by just warning Alaric.

Alaric had gone behind the scenes for two years, just handling his company. So when Senon dug up information about him, an unpredictable lady caught his attention. Atara Sullivan aka Atara Hughes had unawarely brought him out of his penthouse. 

Tilting her head to look at the gorgeous face of her husband, Anya revealed to him the case he hadn't deduced yet, "He chose you because of me." 

Alaric's maternal family would have sent him a mini army if he had said a word. Many businessmen wanted to gain his favor. But Alaric carefully rolled his dice and cautiously moved his pawn.

To hold the reins of Edward Hughes, the criminal politician who was eyeing the presidential position, Alaric wanted to acquaint with Anya Owen, the presidential awardee officer who had a connection to every higher administration. But connecting with her in such a short time wasn't possible. And she wasn't particularly sociable.

Thus Alaric alerted her first with the trail and reached Alvin. Instead of taking any action against them, she will definitely meet him. Alaric's plan succeeded. 

Alvin had an inkling of it. Anyway, Alaric was worth a bit of annoyance, unless he doesn't trouble her. He scooped her into his arms and announced, "Time to discipline you."

He was yet to take a step, he froze when Anya took his whole ear into her mouth, tempted him to take her to bed in the middle of the day.

"Anya Owen." He uttered through his teeth when her teeth grazed over his soft skin, sucking his ear, and torturously released it.

While he was thinking of every sinfulness he could do with her, she pressed her curled lips on his cheekbone and got off his arms. She informed him about the work first, "I need to meet the Chief Justice." Reminding the old man was like drowning him in the ice-cold water.

Her voice trailed meeting his dark gaze, "And… I'm asking him out on a date." A mischievous smile played on her lips, dimples threatening to make an appearance. 

Alvin learned that she won't be there for dinner. Seeing her step away, he yanked her back to him but the excited voice sounded at the stairs, "Momma…"

Meeting, and cuddling the little man, Anya stuck her tongue at her husband and fled before he could catch her.

However, her smile vanished as soon as she got into her car with the black folder in hand. She dropped her file on the shotgun seat as though she was holding a burning charcoal. 

The Team Ace was supposed to be unshakable but that file had the power to cause chaos in the team. Anya felt a twist in her stomach thinking of the worse.

Anya drove towards the Chief Justice's office, earlier than the appointment time as she connected with Jason.

...

Nodding at some people and greeting a few higher officers, Anya reached the office where Jason was discussing with the Chief Justice. Both cut short their discussion and signaled her to enter inside.

The Chief Justice took an extra second to take a good look at her. His faint sigh went unheard before he focused on her studious expression hiding the complexity behind her cool gray eyes.

He cued her to take a seat as he mused, "What caught your eye Officer Owen that you are refusing to take a break?" She was supposed to be solving the pending mission, taking her own time.

Anya glanced at Jason who busied himself in a file while hearing them. She handed the black folder to the Chief Justice before taking a seat. "I don't know how to take this forward."

Jason and Chief Justice looked at her before at each other. It was rare to see Anya being clueless and troubled. The old man took a look at the file and passed it to Jason while Anya skipped unnecessary details and briefed how she got her hands on the file. 

Jason discerned the problem. All team ace members were from similar backgrounds when they started. Unwilling to lose a capable officer, they ignored her leaked identity and her husband who was from the high socialite family.

She got the privilege to use her husband's status and his resources to solve her mission. Although the aim was solving the missions, her husband became her shortcut, irrespective of her efforts to keep him out of her work.

Now that she got the confidential file to solve Paxton's case, the latter wouldn't accept the file. He was too prideful to take credit for others' work. He will hand over the mission to Anya and non-success will appear on Paxton's profile.

Even if Paxton takes it sportively, team Ace will inevitably push Anya to a questioning position when problems arise in the long run. The disturbance causes distrust. Team Ace rapport severs and Anya wasn't ready to be that person.

Anya asked hesitantly, "Could we please hide my involvement?" She didn't want to take Paxton's mission when she didn't work on it. 

The Chief Justice signaled his assistant and whispered to him.

Jason had two minds. One, testing his team. Two, keeping the peace in the team. 

The assistant returned with an envelope. He handed her the envelope and the black folder. Meanwhile Chief Justice, "I thought to give that to you after your mission completes… Never mind."

Anya glanced at the old man and opened the white envelope. She was half curious and half confused. Her eyes widened in disbelief reading her promotion letter. Instead of getting happy, she vigorously began shaking her head, turning to Jason. 

She was promoted to deputy chief of the Secret Service department. The images of Jason arguing, and convincing other department chiefs and ministers played in her mind like a movie.

She was horrified. She was good at ignoring and avoiding people than dealing with their bullsh*t. She wanted to whine but she was sane-minded to know there wasn't Alvin or Krystle.

The Chief Justice and his assistant laughed looking at her reluctance. If this was previous Anya Owen, she would have stood up, made bullet points about why they shouldn't promote her, or she would have swallowed the hard pill.

As if Jason was waiting for the letter to reach her hands, "I will be forwarding all the cases to you, Officer Owen."

Anya: ? 

Jason lazily drawled, "I'm taking a month-long vacation."

Anya: ?

The Chief Justice continued after Jason, "Solving the tricky situation you are in is your responsibility."

Anya: ?

She didn't go there for the promotion but to solve the problem. She was hoping for them to help her out of the situation.

Is she back to zero? 

She wanted to go to her husband and get punished instead.