An Ex-Thug Chased by Enchanting Billionaire Women

Chapter 6: The Dinner of Disdain

"They aren't bad people, Imel. They are my new bodyguards," Rose answered, rubbing her temple as she felt a headache coming on.

Unfortunately, the young girl didn't take Rose’s word for it. Instead, she paced around the men, circling the line of guards with a scrutinizing gaze. She stopped right in front of Gopar and sniffed the air with an expression of pure disgust.

"Eww, what's that smell? It's so pungent!" Imel blurted out, pinching her nose.

Gopar could only swallow hard, trying to stay upright even though his face was flushed with embarrassment. He held his breath as hard as he could, terrified his suit button might explode right in front of the young lady.

Imel’s gaze then shifted to Ucok. She scanned him from head to toe. "Do you need to pee?" she guessed.

"No, young lady," Ucok replied, trying to stay calm while offering a stiff, awkward smile.

"Then why are you holding your junk? Eww, pervert!" she shrieked, covering her eyes with her palms.

"Oh my God! Sorry, habit," Ucok chuckled, immediately moving his hands away.

"Ms. Imel, let me introduce them. This is Samson, this is Bejo, this is Gopar, and this is Ucok. They are starting today as Ms. Rose’s bodyguards," Indah explained, stepping in to mediate.

"Hmm..." Imel crossed her arms, studying the four of them. "Rose, aren't you scared of them?" Imel looked toward her sister.

"Of course not. Why would I be?" Rose answered calmly.

"Fine then! I want him to pick me up and drop me off at school. I don't want to be driven by Mr. Karim anymore. He’s no fun and always tells Mommy about my mischief," Imel declared, pointing at Bejo.

"Eh? M-me, Miss?" Bejo stammered, pointing at his own nose as his face turned pale. His dream of being a cool secret agent vanished in an instant, replaced by the mental image of himself carrying a cartoon-themed schoolbag.

Rose narrowed her eyes, weighing her sister’s request. "Imel, they are my security team. I need them here."

"Ugh, you're so stingy! You said they're new. Can't I just have one? Besides, Uncle Bejo here has the perfect face for it; he looks just like the drivers in comedy movies. My friends won't be scared if they see him," Imel insisted, tugging at the edge of poor Bejo’s jacket.

Samson cleared his throat, attempting to intervene before the brat officially kidnapped Bejo. "Forgive me, Ms. Imel. Our primary duty is to ensure Ms. Rose’s safety. But if Ms. Rose allows it..." Samson glanced at Rose, signaling that splitting the team might not be the best idea for security coordination.

"We’ll discuss it later, Imel. Right now, we have to eat dinner. Mommy Soraya is waiting inside," Rose said firmly, cutting off the debate.

"Fine. But as long as you say yes, I want Uncle Bejo." Imel giggled with a deceptively innocent expression.

They stepped into the magnificent dining room. The long table was already occupied. Soraya sat perfectly upright, holding a crystal glass of grape juice. As Samson’s group entered, her sharp gaze immediately locked onto the line of men behind Rose.

"Rose, I didn't know the criteria for your bodyguards were now measured by how much lemongrass they could carry," Soraya remarked cuttingly. Her nose flared slightly as she caught the lingering scent of Gopar’s liniment oil drifting through the air-conditioned room.

Gopar froze, trying to suck in his stomach even further. Creak, the seams of his jacket began to groan under the extreme pressure of him holding his breath.

"Sit down, Imel," Soraya commanded coldly, not sparing another glance at Samson’s crew.

Samson immediately signaled his men with his eyes. He stood tall directly behind Rose’s chair, while Bejo, Gopar, and Ucok dispersed to the corners of the room, standing as stiff as museum statues.

The dinner was silent, save for the clinking of silver against porcelain. However, Itari broke the silence as she entered the room with a relaxed stride, donning a formal yet provocative outfit.

"Oh, sorry I'm late," Itari said sweetly. She took her seat, her eyes immediately darting to Samson. "My, Samson, you look even more impressive in a suit."

"Itari! Watch your mouth in front of the children!" Soraya snapped.

Samson stared straight ahead, trying his best to ignore Itari’s flirting and Soraya’s murderous glares. Meanwhile, in the corners, Bejo was fighting off sleep, Ucok was trying to keep his hands away from his "assets," and Gopar was breaking into a cold sweat as the aroma of roasted chicken began to test his willpower.

Suddenly, Gopar’s stomach let out a thunderous growl.

ROOOOOOARRRR...

The sound echoed through the silent room. Soraya slammed her fork down. Rose closed her eyes in shame.

Damn it, Gopar! Bejo thought, glaring at his friend, who could only hang his head. Samson sighed inwardly. Mom, if I get fired today, it's all because of Gopar’s stomach.

"I-I’m sorry," Gopar muttered, looking down.

"Fat Uncle, are you hungry?" Imel asked. Gopar could only respond with a small nod.

Imel rested her chin on her hands, looking at Gopar with a truly annoying, mischievous smirk. She picked up a piece of roasted chicken, steam still rising from the hot meat. The aroma filled the room, making Gopar’s stomach churn even more.

"Fat Uncle is hungry? Poor you," Imel said with a little laugh. "I actually want to give you some, but if I do, you’ll look even more like a balloon about to pop. Look, your buttons are already screaming for help. So, you can just watch me eat, okay? Think of it as a diet. Just look at the seasoning soaking in and imagine the taste. It's so delicious, but you aren't allowed to have any. Your jacket might actually explode!"

Hearing that, Gopar bowed his head even lower. He felt small amidst the luxury of the room, not because he was poor, but because his body was being treated as a joke by a child who had never known the hardship of earning a living.

Bejo and Ucok clenched their fists in their respective corners. They sensed the trampling of their comrade's dignity.

"Imel, stop. That is incredibly rude," Rose scolded in a piercing, cold tone.

"What? I'm just being caring, Rose! I don't want this uncle to get obese and pass out while he's supposed to be guarding you," Imel replied casually, taking a noisy bite of the chicken leg right in front of Gopar. "Mmm... so good! Sorry, Uncle, you can look, but you can't touch, and you definitely can't eat!"

Samson, who had been standing motionless behind Rose, took a deep breath. The aura around him suddenly turned heavy. He took a single step forward, standing right beside the still-bowed Gopar.

"Ms. Imel," Samson’s bass voice was calm, yet there was a restrained tremor of anger beneath it. "The size of my man’s body is proof of his strength to protect others. He may be large, but he has a heart far bigger than the dinner plate in front of you."

Samson locked eyes with Imel, his gaze so sharp that the girl suddenly choked on her chicken.

"Insolent!" Soraya barked.

Soraya slammed her palm onto the table, making the silverware rattle against the porcelain plates. Her eyes flashed with fury as she glared at Samson as if he were a stain that needed to be erased.

"You are nothing but a servant! How dare you stare at and lecture my daughter in this house!" Soraya stood up, projecting a powerful aura of intimidation. She then turned her sharp gaze to Rose.

"Rose! Look at the mess you've made!" Soraya pointed a manicured, diamond-clad finger at the group. "I’ve told you time and again: if you need security, use the Vanguard Agency or a certified professional provider. They have ethics, physical standards, and most importantly, they know their place!"

Soraya let out a contemptuous huff while glancing between Gopar and Ucok. "Instead, you bring in these nobodies with strange smells and no manners. They are an embarrassment! What if your father’s business colleagues come by and see this pack of peasants in our home?"

Rose took a deep breath, trying to stay calm even though her grip on the napkin beneath the table was white-knuckled. "They are my choice because I need people who are loyal and competent."

"Loyalty doesn't fill a hungry stomach, Rose!" Soraya snapped. "Look at that guard of yours—he’s only been standing for a moment, and his stomach is already as loud as a street market. No manners at all. Simply shameful!"

Imel, having recovered from her coughing fit, started giggling again as she watched Samson get cornered by her mother. She picked up a tissue with an exaggeratedly graceful air. "She’s right, Rose. If they’re so 'competent,' why does that Uncle over there walk like he’s about to wet himself?" she asked, pointing at Ucok, who froze instantly.

Samson remained standing tall beside Gopar. He didn't look down, nor did he return Soraya’s shouting with a yell of his own. His voice actually dropped lower yet carried immense weight.

"Madam Soraya," Samson said calmly. "A professional agency might give you men who know how to tie a perfect knot in their ties. But I guarantee you, the moment Ms. Rose’s life is in danger, they will hide behind their employment contracts. But us? We don't need a certificate to know how to die to protect the person who treated us like human beings."

The dining room fell abruptly silent. The word "die," spoken in a voice as cold as ice, made the hair on Imel’s neck stand up and left Soraya momentarily speechless, shocked by the man's audacity.

"Rose, I am reporting all of this to your father and my son!" Soraya slammed her napkin down and stormed out, followed by Imel. Only Itari remained, eating calmly as if the chaos meant nothing to her.

***