Chapter 301 - Search Me

Katherine became impatient. With her hand still gripping around Damien's tie, she pulled him closer towards her and slid her hand down to his. It was the first time that she held him without him initiating it first and the act made him even more confused but he was not about to pull away from her touch—no way!

However, she got inside the back of his Mercedes, pulling him with her until they were seated together in the backseat with her hand still tightly holding his. Damien totally wasn't expecting this progress at all. Was that all it took for her walls to crumble? Get some bimbo and make her jealous? Not that he had planned on doing so but if he only knew…

Wondering why she entered his car with him, he spoke, "What's—"

Katherine's finger flew to his lips, stopping him from speaking further and in a really flirtatious tone, she said, "Baby, didn't you want to see my new place? Why don't we go there now? I'll give you a tour around~"

Damien's brows knitted together in confusion. He wasn't opposed to the idea at all but why so sudden? And why was she being so sweet — even calling him 'baby'? "What about your work?"

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure Grandpa wouldn't mind me skipping a few hours. What do you say?" Her voice was bright and cheery but she didn't look 'happy', a total opposite to the tone of her voice. He didn't even notice when she took out her phone and typed something to show him. Flipping her phone screen to his direction, she wiggled her hand to catch his attention.

[There might be a bug on you. Play along.]

He read it fast and his eyes shot back to her brown eyes that were looking at him—pleading that he should trust her. It was now clear to him why she was acting so suspiciously sweet and a little tense. The emotions were mixed and the situation was sudden that he didn't catch on until she told him. How did that even happen?

Damien shifted his gaze and met Markus's through the rearview mirror, nodding to give his order. And without any questions, Markus drove to join the traffic in the city. His eyes went back to Katherine who had just sent a text. He had caught a glimpse of what it was and it said:

[Possible Steward Mission. We're on our way. Don't talk.]

Katherine warned Styles. She had to move fast so that was all she could tell him, hoping that he would see the text before they got there. If she was right about her suspicion, Shadow mustn't know about Styles. Everything happened so fast. It had only been thirty seconds since they got inside the car.

After sending her text message, she quickly typed another message in a blank note and showed it to Damien.

[I need to search you]

It didn't take him long to read the message and before he could even give his response, Katherine had already placed her hands on his coat. "Aren't you hot wearing this? You look good without this coat." Her voice continued to sound coquettish as though she was trying to get her way around him. 

"You want me to take it off?" he asked, his voice firm and stern. Truthfully, he was slightly pissed that it was all an act since the beginning. When he thought that she was finally showing her possessiveness over him, he found out that she was actually only acting. It shouldn't make him angry given their current situation yet he couldn't help but feel bitter about it.

A bug? It wasn't as though there was something interesting that's happening right now for him to be wary about. So, fine. Whatever. Bug or not. He'll 'play along' just like what she told him to.

"Yeah, take it off," she said. Hoping to be able to find wherever the bug was on him.

She took a quick and careful look through the back window of the vehicle and saw a white motorcycle following them a few meters behind. The rider's blond hair was showing under the helmet.

She didn't curse but the look on her face looked like she did in her head and Damien saw her reaction. Whatever she saw behind them, he could only guess that someone must be following them.

In one swift move, he snaked his left arm around her waist and pulled her to his lap so that she was now straddling on top of him. The movement was so fast that she gasped in surprise. Her vanilla-peach-colored dress was pencil cut, so with her current position, the skirt slid up, baring her fair thighs open to him. His hands steadied her on her bottom, making her eyes go wide as she felt his warm hands, copping a feel of her ass.

"Why don't you take it off me?" he dared.

"So bossy…" she muttered and her remark made him smirk.

She slid her hands under his coat and over his chest. Her eyes caught sight of the motorcycle behind them and she wondered if Damien did what he did so she could easily observe the back in this position. 

Smartass. 

She was thankful that she was facing this direction because now she could confirm that they were indeed being followed.

"On second thought, let's keep this on you until we get there. We're not 'alone' right now… I'm a little shy." She kept her voice light but she stared at Damien as though she was trying to send the message that they weren't 'alone' because they were being followed. "But honey, I can't wait… Can we get there faster?" she asked while her hands still tried to look for the bug in him.

He arched a brow on her, trying to study her expression. He understood what she meant and was about to instruct Markus when Katherine held her hand out to him. He followed her gaze and it landed on the tip of her fingers where a tiny metallic thing sat. It was around 3mm in size, no bigger than a quarter of a fingernail. No wonder she had a hard time looking for it, the bug was extremely small.

The two of them exchanged looks. And without breaking eye contact, Damien ordered, "Hey Markus… My woman can't wait anymore. Speed up and drive just like you did in California."

Markus quickly adapted to the situation really fast, their secret code made him follow Damien's order without questions and stepped on the gas. "Yes, Boss."

Knowing that it was possible to have more than one bug placed on him or possibly on her too without her knowledge, Katherine mouthed to him: "Search me"

Damien narrowed his eyes at her when she showed him another bug that was found in his front pocket. The tiny listening device was so small that it could easily fall off, so it was possible that they placed more than one on him. However, before he could even glide his hands up on her, their car came to a stop in front of the Golden Phoenix Residences.

Damien and Markus only exchanged a brief look and the latter already knew that he had to do a security check throughout the area. So when Katherine and Damien alighted the car, he called the security team and gave them orders.

"Good morning, Mis—Sir?" The guard at the entrance got confused when he saw Damien Park shaking his head at him to stop him from mentioning his name. Katherine didn't notice it as she hastily walked across the lobby without stopping.

Wondering why Penthouse 62 and Penthouse 61A were together, the guard just looked away when they were already on their way to the elevator while holding hands. It wasn't his job to question them but it was certainly odd for Mr. Park to stop him from greeting them.