Chapter 4: Behind the frozen heart

Brielle's POV

“I haven't published them, have I?” I asked him. 

“It doesn't matter. I just want it off your camera.”

“I'm sorry, I cannot do that.”

With that, I turned to walk away, but his teammates showed up. 

“She's the photographer,” a blonde dude asked. 

When Chase didn't respond, they figured it was me. 

“He has offered to pay you, right?” One of them asked. 

I recognized him as Nate Bryant. He was the second best.

“So why not delete it off your system and get the money?” Nate asked.

“Because I am with the press. I will not collect money just for you all to have your way.”

I walked away from there quickly before they could see how badly I was shaking. I knew I seemed haughty, but I just couldn't help it. I thought about leaving, but I could not let everything be in vain. This was my highest-paying contract so far, and it was something that excited my parents when I told them about it. 

So, I decided that for the next few days, I was going to spend my time studying Chase Kensington rather than staying away from him. And I did just that. I came to realize that even though he was a cold man, he was also disciplined. 

He gave out donations to his fans and people who needed it. He also taught honesty, telling his teammates not to make any foul play during the game. This man was just a big bag of surprise. I kept seeing so many sides of him that I never thought I could. 

On the other hand, Chase seemed to keep me even closer. I knew he got me into this job because he wanted to keep a close eye on me, but I didn't expect it to be that particular. Everywhere he went, he made sure I went with him. 

As long as it was during practice hours, if he wanted to grab a cup of coffee, he took me along with him. If he wanted lunch, he took me with him. Even if he was training at the back alone, he always made sure that I was within his sight. 

It seemed like he was hiding something because he didn't want to be caught unaware by my lens. In short, I had turned into his personal assistant without even knowing it. One would think that he talked to me during the times that I was with him, but he just completely ignored me like I was invincible, no matter how hard I tried to talk to him. 

So I concluded that he must really hate me. Today, he didn't come for practice and I searched frantically for him. When I went to the back of the room where they changed, I saw Nate. He squinted when he saw me. 

“What are you doing here?” he asked. 

“Do you know where Mr. Kensington is.”

“No. Why?”

“He has practice today.”

“What are you? His personal assistant?”

“No, I just wanted to make sure…”

“You wanted to make sure you blackmail him even more?”

Blood drained from my face. “I am not blackmailing him! I never did that.”

 He nodded. “All right, if you say so. Besides, he can choose to skip practice if he wants to. After all, his father owns the team.”

I gasped. That was a new knowledge. Not everyone knew about that. In fact, my press agency surely didn't know about that.

“Did you know why he cried after the game?”

Nate shrugged. “He hates his father, and he hates the fact that he has to make the old man proud all the time. Dude's a lucky bastard who doesn't know it yet.”

Nate looked at me suspiciously like he had said too much and walked away. I went to sit for a while, thinking about it. Later that night, I did some research on my computer and asked my other friends for reliable information. 

It was then I realized that his father was truly the owner of the team. His billionaire father always put pressure on him and made sure that he was the best wherever he went. That was contradictory to what Nate said, so I didn't know what to believe. But I decided that I would continue to study this man.

I turned off my computer and decided to go back to the arena to study every angle that would be best for a shot. Since the place was always crowded, this was the perfect time when no one was there. However, when I got there, Chase was sitting on the cold ice, his helmet off, applying a pack of ice to his bruises. 

He had been training for a while. I noticed that from the lines that his shoes made on the ice. That was when I realized that he was surely under pressure from someone to train here all alone. I decided to give him a space, but before I could leave, he called my name. 

“Come here, Miss Hopkins.”

I gasped and turned to him. When I got there, he had already stood up, walking around with agility, like he wasn't just nursing his wound a few seconds ago. 

“What are you doing here?” he asked. 

“I wanted to inspect the area for tomorrow's game. I have to get the perfect shot for the headlines.”

“That's fine. I love how dedicated you are to your work.”

I looked at him with surprise. Did he just compliment me? 

“Thank you,” I stammered. 

He waved a dismissive hand and went to sit on the bench. Hesitantly, I followed him and sat there too. 

“Your father owns the club,” I said. 

He didn't say anything, but I saw his jaw clench. And then I realized that I had said too much. But the curiosity in me pushed further. 

“Not many people know that. Why?”

“It's not your business,” he said coldly. 

“Are you under pressure?”

He turned to me abruptly. “No.”

“I just want to help. If you need someone to talk to, you can talk to me.”

 He scoffed. “As if.”

“No, I mean it.”

“Says someone who has my picture ready for blackmail anytime.”

“I’m not going to blackmail you. I'll delete the pictures tonight. I promise you.”

 I saw surprise in his eyes. “You will?”

“Yes.”

“Well, thanks, I guess.”

“You're welcome.” 

For the first time ever, I saw Chase Kensington smile. I liked what I saw. And at that moment, I decided that I should really delete the picture.