Desire Me If You Can [Novel] - Chapter 9

Koi hurriedly pressed the buttons on his phone.
Actually, in situations like this, the only person Ashley could inform is Koi. Then Koi would immediately spread the news to the entire family. As Ashley expected, Koi was busy making calls, relaying the information.
“…He’s not answering his phone. Is he in court? Grayson says he’s going to become a firefighter! He’s found someone new and is doing good work, isn’t it great? Stay healthy, and come visit us sometime. Love you.”
After leaving a voicemail on his eldest son’s phone, who was the spitting image of Ashley, he called his eldest daughter and third child, Stacey.
– What? A firefighter? Grayson? That idiot?
Stacey burst out laughing as soon as she heard the news. Caught off guard, Koi blinked in confusion. Not getting the reaction he’d hoped for, he quickly wrapped up the conversation, ending with an “I love you” before hanging up.
And then, the next call.
This one made him hesitate. Because the recipient was Chase. It hadn’t been long since they’d patched things up after their conflict. Even then, it wasn’t a complete reconciliation. They only occasionally contacted each other to share news, exchanging just a few awkward words, barely enough to be considered conversation. Still, Koi was grateful for even that much.
“Phew.”
Before calling Chase, Koi took a deep breath to calm himself, then quickly checked the time in the West Coast.
It’s okay, it should be alright now.
He nodded, steeled his resolve, and pressed the call button on his phone. Perking up his ears as he waited, he nearly cried out when the ringing stopped and a voice answered.
“Uh, um, hi. It’s me, Chase. How have you been?”
Despite his initial excitement, Chase’s only response from the other side of the line to Koi’s nervous greeting was a curt,
– What?
“Uh…”
Koi squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, barely managing to continue,
“Well, Grayson says he’s going to become a firefighter. So Ash’s going to help him get a job…”
He struggled to get the words out, but there was no response from the other end. An unsettling silence fell, and Koi cautiously spoke again,
“Um, Chase…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Chase cut him off with a curse and cold words.
– What the fuck is that crazy bastard trying to do now?
“What?”
Koi asked, startled, but Chase had already hung up. Flustered, Koi stared at his cell phone with his mouth agape, but nothing changed. With a sigh at the abruptly ended call, he thought that Chase would surely tell his partner, Joshua, about this. The most precious people to him were Joshua and their children.
Good.
A smile then spread across Koi’s face. It was fortunate that his child had found his lifelong partner, just like him. In fact, the one Koi worried about the most among his children was Chase. But surprisingly, Chase was the first to find his partner. And then, one by one, his other children found their love and were now living stable lives. Except for one, Grayson.
Isn’t it such an ironic thing? Grayson was the one who spent his entire life searching for his one and only destined partner, yet he was the only one still alone.
I hope that child finds someone soon, too.
Koi made a silent wish and added inwardly that even if he didn’t find that person, it would be wonderful if Grayson could learn about “humanity” by helping others through this opportunity. Even if he wasn’t born with it, he could learn. Just like he had finally learned “social skills,” although it wasn’t an easy process.
Having thought that far, he immediately started calling the rest of his children. Their reactions varied, but he was certain they all felt the same way. That they hoped Grayson would quickly find his destined partner.
Because all my children are angels.
A little unusual, perhaps, but Koi ignored the thought that followed. He remained blissfully unaware of the dark clouds looming in, starkly contrasting the bright, sunny mood in his heart.
The Miller family’s black sheep is coming.
3
The news spread throughout the fire station in half a day. Of course, the reaction wasn’t positive. It was only natural. Everyone here had become a firefighter after serious consideration and going through a rigorous process, while someone was waltzing in through family connections, outside of the recruitment period, without even taking the most basic physical test.
He clearly had no sense of duty or mission. It was probably just a whim, a fleeting interest in something that looked cool. And if reality didn’t live up to his expectations, he would simply leave without a second thought. It was a dangerous job where they risked their lives, but they willingly served the community, driven by a sense of pride. Who would be happy to have their sacred profession being tainted by the whims of a rich boy?
Because of this, the firefighters in the training room all had murderous looks on their faces. As if they were ready to pounce on anyone who dared to cross them. The fire chief, with a cold sweat running down his back under their glares, forced a smile and continued,
“Well, that’s how it is, so just accept it. It’s only for a year. Think of it as another form of service to the community. Miller’s a citizen too, a very high-tax-paying one at that. Right?”
He added the last words as if seeking for agreement, but the response he received was cold.
“This isn’t service to the community, it’s just entertaining a citizen’s whims. Do we really need to play that role when we’re always busy with emergency calls?”
One of them raised his hand and asked a question, his tone clearly laced with sarcasm. The fire chief exactly know what he was implying, but he suppressed his irritation and responded in a gentler tone,
“Just think of it as a new volunteer firefighter joining us. Well, you could also think of it as a part-time job if that makes it easier.”
Of course, no one bought the chief’s excuse. Not even for regular firefighters, but fire scenes were always life-or-death situations, so being a volunteer firefighter was also a job not to be taken lightly. They too underwent rigorous training, comparable to full-time firefighters, held positions here with a sense of duty and responsibility.
Faced with the chilling silence showing no signs of thawing no matter what he did, the fire chief gave an awkward laugh and quickly changed the subject.
“So, we’ve decided to throw a fun welcome party for Miller on the day he arrives. Let’s all have a drink and get to know each other, alright? I’m sure we’ll become friends quickly if we eat and drink together. Ah, I hear that Extreme Alphas don’t get drunk… but if we pour enough down his throat, it’ll work, haha! Make sure you all attend, understand? Everyone!”
A fun welcome party, my ass. No one responded, but the chief repeated his request, told them the name of the bar they usually went to, and quickly excused himself if fleeing the scene.
After the door closed, a chilly atmosphere settled in the room. After a period of tense silence, as if everyone was cautiously gauging each other’s reactions, someone finally spoke up, unable to hold back
any longer.
“Does this make any sense? He’s not even a regular hire, he’s just waltzing in without a single physical
test?”
The man sitting on the bench press bench sprang to his feet as he exploded in frustration. Following suit,
a chorus of complaints erupted from all directions.
“Of course it doesn’t make sense! This isn’t fair, it goes against every principle of equality!”
“That arrogant bastard, he probably hasn’t even taken the firefighter qualification exam.”
“Everyone should be given an equal opportunity, this is cheating. Just like you’d expect from a despicable
family of lawyers.”
“This is the third damn generation of them! That damn Miller Law Firm!”
“Even if a Miller becomes president, they can’t just do whatever they want. This is America!”
“A Miller isn’t president, they’re just lawyers, at best!”
“A senator, though, with the Miller Law Firm backing them!”
The outpouring of complaints gradually subsided, and silence eventually returned. Yes, this was America.
A country where everything was possible with enough money. And if you were part of a law firm that had reigned as the most powerful in North America for three generations, was there anything truly out of
reach?
Not to mention, with the Miller family now making its way into politics, America was practically in the palm of their hands.