Mr Billionaire's Regret Chasing His Irresistible Wife (Jared and Arielle) novel Chapter 168

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I felt my face heat up. Before Dwayne could notice, I quickly said, louder than necessary,

"Okay, so much for this. I really need to go, or Maverick and I will be late." I stepped forward, ready to make my escape.

Dwayne nodded, as calm as ever. "Of course."

I nodded back and started to walk away, but before I could take another step, two figures appeared, heading straight toward us.

I froze, casting a questioning look at Dwayne. I didn’t recognize them, but it was clear they were focused on him.

Dwayne was already translating my look. "They mean no harm, Arielle. They're my workers."

He turned to the two individuals who had already gotten to us. "This is Rodrigo and Claire. They're part of my team and they relocated with me."

I took a moment to glance at the newcomers without giving myself away. Claire was a tall, imposing woman with short bob-cut hair and piercing grey eyes. She had a nose piercing and a no-nonsense look about her, and I couldn't help but feel a little fazed.

Rodrigo, on the other hand, looked a bit more approachable. He was equally tall and lean, with a mane of messy brown hair and warm honey-brown eyes. He smiled at me, and I eased up a bit.

"And this is Arielle," Dwayne said, glancing at me with a faint pause before finishing. "She’s my... good friend." He stressed the words as if they carried some hidden weight, and I didn’t miss the slight hesitation.

"Rodrigo and Claire will be at your service, Arielle. If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out to them. I'll leave your number with them if you don't mind."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. More Mafia bodyguards? Seriously? Do I look like someone who needs an entourage?

But I held my tongue. Arguing with Dwayne was pointless, especially since I was already late. Besides, if I ever ended up in real danger, it’d probably be because of him or Jared anyway.

I nodded at the duo, trying to hide my unease.

"Nice to meet you two."

Dwayne handed the dog's leash to Claire"I want to say goodbye to Maverick," he said, following me to the car.

As we walked, I couldn't help the feeling of curiosity at how he referred to Maverick when he spoke to Claire like she knew him. Unable to rein in my curiosity, I asked, “You spoke about Maverick to her like she knew him."

"That's because she knows him," he said, like a stranger I knew nothing about knowing my son was the most natural thing ever.

"What do you mean?" I asked, stopping in my tracks with a huge frown.

Dwayne chuckled and stopped as well; by now, we were inches away from the car. "It's not that serious, ostrich. Those two rescued Maverick when he was kidnapped," he revealed.

I paused, the anger simmering at the surface, abating. I turned back to look at the duo, this time with a relaxed and grateful face. They were watching Dwayne and me and immediately averted their gaze when I looked back.

"You silly man!" I snarled, hitting Dwayne playfully on the arm. "Why didn't you tell me earlier so I could thank them properly?"

"There's enough time to do that, feisty cat," he responded, smiling.

I rolled my eyes and walked towards the car, and he followed suit.

I opened the door and got in, while Dwayne leaned in the window, peering in at Maverick. "Hi, man," he called, a warm smile enveloping his face.

"Hi, Uncle Dwayne," Maverick responded cheerfully.

"I came to say goodbye, champ," Dwayne said, his voice and eyes filled with affection. "You be good, okay? Listen to your mom and Aunt.”

"I will," Maverick promised, his little voice filled with sincerity. "But can I ask you something?"