"Take off your clothes. I want to see your body."
As soon as Cedrick heard that, his entire body stiffened. The reddish complexion from the intense sparring quickly turned pale, and his eyes widened at Lola.
She wanted... him to strip?
A part of him felt like his hope was being ripped apart. He felt like laughing, thinking how he had managed to fall for the same trick. However, looking at Lola’s face, he lowered his head and swallowed the tension building in his throat.
At least... she’s... she’s a woman. Maybe, I can...
"Relax, I need to see your improvement—that’s all," she remarked indifferently, cocking her head to one side. "You’ve been taking acting lessons and studying Ryker’s role, so you should know by now that he’s a walking thirst trap."
Cedrick’s mouth parted, now seeing the indifference in her white contact lenses. She wasn’t looking at him the same way he’d been looked at behind closed doors in the entertainment industry.
She jerked her chin. "Let me see how Haji’s work has affected you so far."
"Uh, of course!" he nodded, diligently removing the new shirt he had changed into before coming in. As soon as he stood topless before her, he lowered his head.
Lola, on the other hand, got up from her seat and approached him. She looked at his body, her arms crossed beneath her chest. She hadn’t said a word, so he peeked up at her.
To his surprise, she was looking at his body without any malice or other emotions. She was just studying him as if there were nothing to admire. Her brows crinkled, her gaze trying to spot anything amiss.
"Haji also introduced me to a nutritionist," he said just to break the silence and his growing nervousness. "I’ve been following her advice diligently, though... I don’t know if it’s working."
His diet was unlike what he thought it would be. He wasn’t told to starve; instead, his diet had been keeping him full, even though he had cut down on a few things.
"Not bad." She nodded after a moment, snapping her eyes up at him. "The audition for Ryker’s role will be in a month. However, we’ll need to send a video recording of you. Get changed. We’re leaving once you’re ready."
"Uh..."
"Now."
"Yes, ma’am!"
With that, Cedrick didn’t waste another second and ran out of the office. As he stepped out, he caught Haji teaching the twins some self-defense. He didn’t bother with them as he continued on to his room to change as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, Lola stayed in the office and gazed at the door. A moment later, she opened it and peeked at what Haji and the twins were doing. She caught him teaching them, so she didn’t come out immediately.
Going to the desk, she sat down and checked some papers. The gym was not hers, but the entire apartment complex was. A property she had bought just a year ago, before she arrived in Novera. After all, the property value of this area would soon skyrocket, considering its proximity to King’s City.
"Let’s see..." she hummed, checking the documents that she wouldn’t be able to see anywhere else.
****
In the boxing ring, Chacha and Second diligently punched the air before them with a sharp, "Hah!"
"Good, good!" Haji clapped, slumped on the surface as he watched the two. "Now, do the other one, then shout, ’Hah!’"
"Hah!"
As instructed, Chacha and Second shouted from their stomachs as they punched the air with their other fist.
"Uncle, do we have to do this before you play with us?" Second asked right after, looking at Haji curiously.
"I want to play with Uncle Smelly too!" Chacha chimed.
Smelly?
Haji’s face contorted, looking at the two of them, who didn’t seem to have meant it like that. Even so, it sort of stung.
"Kids, as you can see, this uncle here is a little old," said Haji. "I’m really not good at playing with kids."
Watching them, Haji’s face twitched. Why are they talking as if they were some sort of old souls? He shook his head, clicking his tongue. "Twins, I know you might’ve had some training, but—"
Before he could even finish his remarks, the two little children, several steps before him, disappeared! Yes, they disappeared.
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