Chapter 117 Cleo’s Growth
Chapter 117 Cleo’s Growth
Cleo's voice broke as she spoke.
"I can't go with you. Don't worry — I'll stay put at school from now on, I won't go anywhere. And you don't have to come see me all the time. Once a month is fine. Even once every two months is fine."
James looked into her eyes.
The usual mischief and warmth were gone. In their place was something quiet and heavy — the kind of look someone gets when they're making a decision that costs them something.
"You sure?"
James asked.
Cleo nodded.
"I'm bold, but I'm not fearless. And James — what scares me more is you getting hurt because of me. I was terrified back there."
Her voice was full of lingering fear as she said it.
Her hands weren't just cold and clammy anymore — her fingers had gone even colder.
James tightened his grip around her hand.
"Okay."
He said.
"But promise me one thing."
"What?"
"If there's ever a day you don't feel safe — no matter when — call me. I'll come get you. Every time."
Cleo held his gaze for a long moment.
Then she nodded.
"Okay."
That night, Cleo didn't stay at the villa.
James had Xavier drive her back to school.
When they reached the school gate, Cleo got out of the car, took a couple of steps, then turned and ran back. She pulled open the car door, leaned in, and kissed James on the cheek.
"James, you have to be even more careful when I'm not around. No getting hurt. You hear me?"
Then she turned and ran without looking back.
James sat in the car and watched her figure disappear through the doors of the dormitory building.
The streetlights stretched her shadow out long and thin, like a thread bent by the wind.
Just like that, Cleo had grown up.
James leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.
"Boss."
Xavier glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
"Back to base?"
"Yeah."
The car pulled away.
Novaria's winter night was dark — no stars, no moon, just the headlights cutting a narrow strip of light through the road ahead.
James tapped his fingers lightly against his knee.
The Davis family — no.
The Jace family — no.
The Emberlyn royal family — unlikely.
Then who?
Whatever.
He had more enemies than he could count.
No point overthinking it. He'd just work through them one by one.
James had never been the type to swallow his anger and move on.
"Daniel — send people back to Lumaria. Everyone in the Davis family except Max gets a beating. And the Jace family — they're banned from throwing parties, leaving the country, going to school, or going to work for one month."
"Yes, Boss."
Wesley rubbed his arm and snuck a glance at James out of the corner of his eye.
He opened his mouth to say something. Xavier smacked him on the arm.
Wesley swallowed the words before they came out.
He'd been about to ask whether, while they were at it, someone could also give Kian a beating.
Kian was hopeless. He'd been running with them as a junior for three months now, and no matter what they did, he still couldn't shake that rich-kid energy.
But clearly, James was in a bad mood right now. This wasn't the time.
---
Emberlyn · The Crest Residences
"You failed? Useless."
"I'm sorry! Master! I failed you!"
Griffin pressed one foot down on the back of the black-clad guard, then lifted his glass of red wine and took a slow, measured sip.
"Not surprising that you didn't finish the job. James has our family's blood in his veins, after all. If he went down that easily, he wouldn't be worth much."
Griffin said it more to himself than anyone else. The guard on the floor said nothing.
"Did you get a read on how capable he is?"
"Master. He moves fast — we couldn't even get close."
"That good? And you're royal guards." Griffin paused. "Doesn't matter. What matters is — did you leave the evidence for him?"
The guard froze.
Griffin's smile turned cold. He grabbed the guard by the hair and forced his head up.
"I forgot."
The guard was shaking, but didn't dare pull away. He swallowed hard.
"Master! The situation moved fast, and backup arrived quickly. We couldn't risk getting caught — we had to scatter."
"Fine. You've gone too long without a real opponent. Mistakes happen. But — I don't need to tell you what comes next, do I?"
"No, Master. They'll investigate. I'll make sure the trail leads to Rhett."
"Good. Rhett's been wanting to meet him anyway. Let him show up angry. Just make sure it doesn't turn into some tearful family reunion on me."
"Yes, Master."
---
Novaria · Apex Global Enterprises
James was planning to head to Emberlyn to meet Rhett, but he was only taking Xavier and Wesley with him. His decision was final:
Daniel would stay behind at Apex Global Enterprises and hold things together. Matthew would run the intelligence center and keep watch on everything globally.
Neither of them looked happy about it. But neither of them said a word about wanting to go.
Because they both knew — James wasn't leaving them behind because he didn't trust them. He was leaving them behind because he had something more important for them to do.
"I'm leaving Apex in your hands."
James said to Daniel.
"The three of them — their safety is on you."
Daniel nodded.
He knew exactly who James meant by "the three of them." Bianca. Cleo. Iris.
They moved back and forth between Novaria International University and Apex Global Enterprises every day. Their commute routes, housing arrangements, security coverage — Daniel would have to personally oversee all of it.
It wasn't a small job. In some ways, it was harder than going to Emberlyn — it required a different kind of patience.
Daniel would have preferred to be at the front line with a gun in his hand, not sitting in an office watching security feeds.
But he didn't say no. Because James handing him this meant that in James's mind, these three women's lives mattered more than his own.
Matthew stood nearby, laptop tucked under his arm, eyes red behind his glasses — another all-nighter.
"Boss, I've already mapped out Emberlyn's network. The royal hotel runs military-grade encryption on its communications. In theory, I can work the doors open for you from out here — but if they physically cut the connection, there's nothing I can do."
"How likely is a physical cutoff?"
James asked.
Matthew thought about it.
"Seventy percent. Rhett likes to keep control in his own hands. He'll put you in a completely sealed environment, cut off all outside contact, and then grind you down slowly."
James nodded.
"Then pack the portable signal transmitter."
Matthew blinked.
"Boss — you know how to use it?"
"You taught me."
Matthew opened his mouth, seemed to think better of whatever he was going to say, and gave a thumbs up instead.
---
The day they left, Novaria was dusted with light snow.
A Gulfstream G650 sat on the runway — silver-white body catching the cold light under a grey sky.
It was the Apex Global Enterprises private jet, custom-fitted inside. The seats had been swapped out for wide leather sofas, with a long table running down the center, topped with fruit and drinks.
A flight attendant stood at the foot of the airstairs in a deep blue uniform, skirt short, smile bright.