Chapter 4 I The Man’s Touch

Blake Hagen is the one who Lancester City fears most. He was a master in his field, and part of what he was doing was allegedly unlawful. Camellia once heard a story about the man who worked in a place he shouldn’t have.

Many individuals are wary of making Blake Hagen angry because they want to come to terms with the man who owns obsidian eyes.

That is why Camellia was unable to meet the man’s gaze after learning the name was strictly forbidden in Lancester City. Furthermore, she is currently on the man’s radar, which is bad news for Camellia’s future.

“Why don’t you accept my handshake?”

When the man asked, Camellia’s head immediately shot up. She then understood that Hagen had been expecting a handshake from her earlier, which Camellia had refused to do.

She had no option, though. Considering that rejection is the same as wanting to die.

The girl bravely held back her annoyance and faced Hagen without even a hint of fear. She must remain vigilant, particularly with men of this type who can detect fear and see weakness.

“Camellia Duncan,” Camellia said, reaching out his hand and shaking it directly.

Hagen’s eyebrows then rose to the level of his forehead as soon as he noticed Camellia’s bravery after his name was said. Anyone who had heard who he was before would not have dared turn to stare into his eyes.

Of course, it immediately caused Hagen’s lips to twist upward, creating a string of unfriendly smiles.

Hagen murmured, “Ah, Miss Duncan,” as he brought her hand to his lips, but Camellia hastily drew back so that Hagen just kissed the air.

Hagen was momentarily taken aback. The one that happened just now caught him off guard, and once his laughter died down, Camellia backed away from him without realizing it.

“What’s so funny?”

Camellia almost received a kiss from the man’s hard lips as she hugged her hand.

Hagen laughed again, this time with a low chuckle, and covered his eyes with one of his hands.

After his laughter died down, Hagen remarked, “You truly dare to have rejected me.”

Now that the man was giving Camellia a hard look, her breathing became immediately difficult due to her pounding heart.

His look didn’t even really resemble the softening that would have come from laughing.

Compared to before, his face appeared much colder, and his jaw had set.

Camellia had never before encountered somebody who gave her a stare like he did. She felt like she was being suffocated when she was around him because he was so powerful and scary, made her restless and wants to run away.

Camellia’s shoulders tensed and her hands clutched her pajamas when Blake Hagen walked up and whispered directly in her ear. “Look, I’m collecting something, which I think you already know.”

His warm breath caused an odd vibration to travel down Camellia’s spine as it drifted around her ears. The man’s breath actually smelled like mint, and Camellia’s lungs immediately became ravenous.

“I purposely waited for several days, but it appears that you and your family never intended to give me back all that was taken from me. That’s why I kindly discussed the matter right now,” he said with a faint grin on his face, which caused Camellia to flinch once more, but she swiftly edged closer.

“I’m here to take something that should be mine, Princess.”

As soon as Hagen noticed that Camellia’s cheek had turned a little pink because of their closeness, he gently stroked her face with one hand. Hagen lost a bit of himself in his interest in the girl’s skin texture.

He was stunned for a while as Camellia’s cheeks flush gradually spread from her neck to her earlobes in response to his physical contact. Hagen regained consciousness after hearing her feminine voice, which was stifled.

A curse formed in his chest at the thought that his attention had been drawn to something of her beauty.

He also caught a whiff of the peach aroma that was restraining his body from leaving the girl’s side as he was about to do so. Many times he was so captivated that he huffed loudly, which caught Camellia off guard.

It was hard for him to turn the girl’s hazel eyes so that the two of them looked at each other at the same time without bringing them back to their own world.

Hagen was the one who broke their gaze. It caused Camellia to avert the man’s sight by lowering her head.

She finally asked, “Are all my family’s debts here?”

Camellia struggled to swallow her saliva as she opened the document that had been in her hand since. She made an effort to hide the fact that her hands were slightly trembling by acting tough.

Hagen remained silent. He was observing Camellia intently, taking in every inch of her. In spite of his softening, Hagen was impressed by the girl’s poise.

Camellia too took a deep breath after finishing the document.

She said, looking him in the eyes, “I can’t pay for all of this in just over a year.”

Hagen’s eyebrows rose to his forehead as his head tipped slightly to the left. He also gave Camellia an arrogant expression.

“I don’t care how you did it, but I expect you to repay all the money specified in the document by the due date.”

Camellia grew agitated when she noticed Hagen’s expressionless, cold face. She now felt lightheaded as well, till she stroked her temples unconsciously.

“Give me five years, Mr. Hagen,” Camellia replied, moaning and slumping her shoulders.

Her father is still receiving treatment. She needs cash to cover the hospital bills that her insurance does not cover. Not to mention the debts owed to banks and certain other creditors. How was Camellia still rational enough to pay off all at once?

But suddenly Blake Hagen said, “Blake,” which is drawing Camellia’s attention right away. Camellia looked like she was about to ask what the man’s words meant when she face him again and looked confused.

He just smile, and then leaned in closer, saying, “Blake, call me Blake.”

It only takes a small, careless movement for the two to accidentally kiss. Their closeness halted Camellia breath.

When she realized that, she attempted to wriggle free, but Hagen pulled her head back in such a way that his powerful hold made it difficult for her to swivel her head, even for a brief period of time. And, with a possessive manner, he held her close to his body.