Never Too Far Novel

“Do you need something?” Angela self-consciously crossed her arms after realizing she was not wearing a bra.

Richard gave her a withering look as he ordered, “You are not allowed to use the public bathroom for your night showers.”

She narrowed her eyes and asked, “Why not?”

He met her incredulous gaze steadily and said, “Because it causes inconvenience.”

Frustration welled up in her. She had already gone out of her way to not make trouble for him, and she could not understand why he was nitpicking on her still.

He did not turn away and leave. Instead, he paused for a few seconds before saying, “I’m sorry I was harsh with you today.”

Angela blinked, clearly caught off-guard by his out-of-the-blue apology. When she recomposed herself, she looked away from him and muttered, “Apology not accepted.”

“You wanted to hike, right? Be up at 6.00AM sharp tomorrow and I’ll take you there,” Richard said.

Her competitive side came out as she retorted, “As if I’d back down from that.”

“We’ll meet at the entrance. Don’t be late.”

“I won’t,” she bit out.

Richard spun on his heels and walked away just as Angela closed the door. She glanced at the time and saw that it was drawing near to 11.00PM. I have to sleep now, or I won’t be able to wake up in time and I’d never hear the end of it!

She burrowed into bed, but her mind kept replaying his apology and the events from earlier. In hindsight, it appeared that she was the one in the wrong. After all, she was the one who got mad and started the whole conflict in the first place.

And the only reason why she was mad was that she found out Richard was only here to protect her at her parent’s behest. In other words, she was just another job.

A bitter laugh then escaped Angela as she realized she was more upset about this than she should be. What am I getting so worked up for anyway?

She tried to analyze her own feelings, but she ended up boring herself to sleep instead.

The next day, Angela’s alarm rang at precisely 5.50AM. She bolted upright in bed and threw the covers off, then hurried into the adjoining bathroom to wash up. To call it a bathroom was an exaggeration though, as it was more of a washroom with a small showering space.

It was 5.59AM by the time she was done putting on her clothes. She hurtled out of her room toward the entrance of the base, whereupon she saw Richard’s tall and straight silhouette standing there.

She walked up to him, and he made it a point to glance at the watch on his wrist. “You’re late by a minute.”

Defiance colored her delicate features as she glowered at him and said, “Okay, fine, I’m late. Are you going to punish me? Go on, tell me what you want me to do to make up for my tardiness.”

Richard gazed down at the girl who was openly challenging him, and his eyes lingered briefly on her shell-pink lips. He swallowed, and there was a steely edge to his expression as he barked, “Let’s go.”

Angela had been waiting for him to mete out punishment, but when he did not, she couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

Presently, he carried a backpack full of everything he thought they would need for a hike. Angela, on the other hand, was wearing a cap and sunblock, knowing that UV rays were the most vicious foes she could meet on this hike other than the mountainous terrain.

Just like that, the both of them hiked up along the groove through which the mountain spring water flowed. There were no steps here or mapped-out trails for novice hikers, making the hike a tough exercise—albeit, an authentic one.

Angela kept up her pace with Richard, but halfway through, she was starting to regret her decision to agree to the hike. Goodness, this trail is hard. It was no wonder he had forbidden her from going hiking on her own last night; she would have lost her way or tripped several times in a row.

However, she was not a quitter, and pride had more to do with that than ambition. She didn’t want Richard to laugh at her after all the big talk she had given him last night.

When it came to slopes or uneven ground, Richard would hike up first, then turn and offer her a hand so that he could help her up.

Thankfully, it did not take long for them to reach the rocky terrain where the trees were not quite as tall, and the shrubbery was not quite as dense. The ground here was rife with wildflowers, and Angela exclaimed in awe, “This is amazing!” She picked a couple of flowers and formed a bouquet, then sniffed its sweet fragrance as she tried to keep up with the man in front of her.

Richard walked ahead for a few minutes before turning around to see if Angela had followed him. When he saw that she had fallen behind by a dozen feet, he stopped and planted his hands on his hips to wait for her. She’s not here to hike, he decided grimly. This is just a field trip to her.

“I’m thirsty,” she said when she reached him, panting. “Did you bring water?”

He unzipped his backpack and took out the standard-issue canteen, which he handed to her. She twisted open the cap and gulped down a few mouthfuls of water, then passed the canteen back to him.

Angela had been wiping the corners of her mouth when Richard took the canteen wordlessly and gulped down some water.

She paused and gaped at him incredulously as a fleeting thought crossed her mind, Does that mean we indirectly kissed? A pink flush crept over her cheeks, and she wondered how he could so readily drink from the same canteen she had used mere seconds ago.

Oblivious to her thoughts, Richard shrugged on his backpack and pointed to the tallest summit in the distance. “That will be our destination, so let’s move!”

Her eyes widened at the sight of the summit, which looked grayish-blue under the thin layer of mist that shrouded it. “I’m sorry. Are you suggesting we climb all the way up there?”

“Yes, how astute of you,” Richard drawled sarcastically. He raised a brow at her and asked snidely, “You’re not scared, are you?”

Falling for his trap, Angela snapped, “Of course I’m not scared! I’ll climb that mountain without a problem!”

He smirked. “Then, shall we go?”

She watched him turn and memorized the silhouette of his back as he trekked forward. Though her legs were already wobbly and her clothes soaked through with sweat, Richard did not look the slightest bit out of breath. If one didn’t know better, they would think he had been walking on flat ground all this time.

“Richard, wait up!” Angela cried out as she tossed aside the wildflower bouquet and ran up to him.

Hiking was, she decided, absolute torture at this point. But she refused to give up; her pride and determination did not allow her to even though she was on the brink of collapsing.

Before long, they reached a slope that inclined at a sixty-degree angle. Just looking at it made her weak.

As though sensing her reluctance, Richard threw an amused look over his shoulder at her, taking in her defeated expression.

“Captain Lloyd, pull me up,” Angela said, reaching out her arm toward him

He looked at her hand and naturally gripped it. For some reason, this gesture warmed her. At least he’s not leaving me out here to perish on my own, she thought, cheering up considerably. “You know, you didn’t have to apologize to me last night,” she began hesitantly, her exhaustion compelling her to re-evaluate her conscience. “I should be the one to say sorry instead.”

Richard stared at her in surprise, only to see her grinning sweetly back at him. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were twinkling with mischief. She looked so bright and beautiful at that moment that even the wildflower field around them could not compete with her smile.

Just as Richard was lost in her eyes, she playfully tugged on his arm and pulled him close to her. The poor man was already in a daze, and the sudden pull made him take one step closer to her.

They ended up standing so close together that the tip of Angela’s nose nearly pressed up against his chest. She had only wanted to tease him for fun; this proximity was not what she had planned for at all.

Her breath hitched, and she narrowed her pretty doe-eyes for a second before looking up to see the perfect, sumptuous curve of his lips. Abruptly, she found herself thinking audaciously, What if I kissed him?

Mind and body coordinated, Angela rose on the tip of her toes, and before Richard could react, she gave him a quick peck on his lips.

Startled by the unexpected kiss, Richard looked at the girl incredulously, but she had already pulled away from him and ran away like a kitten that got caught scratching up the furniture.

Meanwhile, Angela was blushing madly as well. She couldn’t believe she had kissed him. Of all the ways she thought this hike would go, this was not one of them!

As for the man who had just gotten a peck on his lips, he stood frozen in place and did not try to go after her. The soft touch of her lips on his earlier had stunned him, and he was having a hard time recollecting his thoughts.

After a while of running, Angela slowed to a stop and panted as she turned to look at him. When she realized that he did not catch up to her, she winced and decidedly waited for him to come over to give her a harsh talking-down.

Richard straightened his backpack and tightened his grip on the straps as he trudged over to her. Blood rushed to her face when she registered his approaching figure. To hide her embarrassment, she looked down and picked up a random blade of grass, then toyed with it to look busy as she sneaked a glance at the man’s expression.

If he looked furious, then she would apologize immediately.

Much to her astonishment, however, he looked as stoic as ever when he came to a stop next to her. Upon seeing that she was running the flat of her thumb along the length of the grass, he pointed out, “Don’t play with the grass, not this one, at least.”

“Huh? Why not—” She did not get to hear his answer before she broke off in a hiss. The tough and sharp edge of the grass had cut her finger while she was distracted, drawing blood.

She tossed the offending blade of grass aside exasperatedly and frowned at the blood beading from the cut on her finger. Without a second word, Richard unzipped his backpack and produced a band-aid. He then cleaned her small wound with a piece of tissue before taping the band-aid on it.

Angela was standing on higher ground, making her half a head taller than Richard and allowing her to look at him from an angle she never had seen before. She took in his defined brow bone and the straight line of his nose. He had his gaze down as he helped put a band-aid over her finger, and his dark eyelashes hid the steely look in his eyes. He looked almost… gentle, the most tender she had ever seen him.

Startled by the contrast between his present demeanor and his usual stoic self, Angela could only gape at him speechlessly. After a while, she blushed and said apologetically, “I’m sorry for what I did earlier. I hope I didn’t offend you.” She was filled with regret over how forthright she had been.

“Just don’t do it again,” Richard said as he looked up at her, his eyes like two clear pools. He seemed unaffected by the kiss as if it meant nothing to him, like a piece of lint on his coat.

Disappointment flashed in her eyes as she pulled her finger away from him. Then, she took a breath and promised, “I won’t do it again.”

He eyed her darkly for a second, then slung his backpack over his shoulders as he declared, “Let’s call it a day and go back to base.”

so prideful as to have no self-awareness, and she knew she could never make it to the summit.

she took the first step to dismount from higher ground, but her foot landed on a wobbly rock that

she could fall, a large hand gripped

looked up at the man who kept her from stumbling and falling down the slope, but she felt defeated. Did the kiss mean nothing to him? Doesn’t he feel anything at

go of her shoulder, but offered her his hand as he said, “Come on, I’ll

get hurt. He didn’t look like he knew how his

turning him down with a smile as she took on a

the back, her

retreating figure for a beat or two before he followed her,

down it. At any given moment, Angela could very well step on a loosened

was uneven terrain or steep slopes, he would stand close to her, ready

the smaller trees, hoping that it could hold her weight until her foot found a solid rock to stand on below the slope. However, the

a shriek just as Richard reached out to catch her, keeping her from hitting the earth. He pulled her against him and held her

still dazed from the fall as her heart beat frantically under her rib cage. Tired from the hike,

there were beads of

his relaxed

down on the

steady heartbeat. Inexplicably, her own heartbeat quickened as well, as if trying to match up

I guess what I’m trying to say is, if I were any other

met her eyes, his gaze

she likes? Piggyback her when

she spoke. Flustered, she looked down and broke away from his intense

by all the questions she threw at him. He wasn’t sure where to

a bitter smile curled on her lips as she asked challengingly, “It’s not rocket science. All you have to do

answer,” he said monotonously as he let her go and

nothing more than a job and that he would have shown the same level of dedication even if she

delude herself into thinking she was different,

She quickly

her for a while and

told herself as she watched his retreating figure, but for some reason, tears sprang up to her eyes once more. She sniffed to ease the prickling sensation in her nose. Crap, what’s wrong with me? Pull yourself together, Angela. You were the one who asked him to leave, and

out of it. Back in the day, she had been so duped by Dexter’s occasional kindness that she was blind to

hated that she was

When she opened her eyes once more, there were none of the

fell onto her bed and slept. She had woken up at

did she know that Richard had received bad news

phone tightly, then turned to look at his subordinates. “Angela’s mother just met with an accident. She’s badly injured and she’s been

unexpected; the criminals who had recently crossed the international borders were ruthless, and instigating the accident to hurt Angela’s mother was undoubtedly their plan to lure

we tell Miss Meyers about

insist on going

she has the right to know,”

Miss Meyers. She’ll be heartbroken!” Trevor said

He had no right keeping this from Angela, which meant he was duty-bound

the scene on the hiking trail where she had kissed Richard. It had only been a fleeting moment, but it had left a tingling sensation in the pit

time she had kissed a man on her own initiative, but

as she was drowning in her own embarrassment, a

as handsome as he was impassive.

in a low voice, then left in the direction of his

door and hurried out of her room to follow him. Judging by the look on his face earlier, he had something

her darkly. He did not speak right away, and she felt the need to blink to alleviate the strange

got a call ten minutes ago. It’s about your family,” Richard

her heart constricted, and her hand darted out to grab his arm as she urged, “What

accident an hour ago, and she’s now in the hospital emergency room,” he

was anguished, and her lips trembled as all colors drained from her face. She didn’t even know she was about to cry until Richard reached to pull her into his

hot tears spilled down her cheeks as she hastily shoved him away, then threw the door

returned to her own room and left the door ajar. She

at the doorway, frowning as he

as she stared at him with red-rimmed eyes and said, “I have to go. I need to see my mom. I don’t even know if she’s going to make it.” She refused to stay here safe

to leave the base,” Richard said authoritatively as he put his arm out and

aside, Richard,”

your mother, okay?” he suggested, taking on a soothing tone

her mother. “I said,” she bit out forcefully. “Step. Aside.” This time, there was a look

family wouldn’t want you to end up the same way,” he argued, sounding even more insistent than he had moments ago. He knew what fate would await her if he let her leave the base and those men

closed her eyes and let her tears fall. She was a mad woman at this point, a mad woman who only wanted to see her grievously injured mother. It was her duty as a daughter, and she couldn’t bear to see anyone in her family get hurt because of her even though she knew she would die

did not come out of hiding, these criminals would start targeting her father, her grandfather, and

hate you forever if you don’t let me go right now!” she warned as she tried to push him out of the way, but he was like a mountain that would not budge no matter how hard she shoved. “Move!” She glowered at him, the hatred in her eyes as clear as day. She truly hated him. She hated

promised your parents to protect you. This is

protect me! This is my life, and I get the final say in what to do with it! Let me go! I promise I won’t blame

let you die,” he said solemnly, his shoulders squared as he

than death. She broke down, crying out loud as she crouched on the

he saw her tremble with the force of heaving out the next round of anguished sobs. He had no idea how badly injured her mother was. All he knew from the photos that were sent to him was that the other driver in the collision had died on the spot and that Angela’s mom had been unconscious

mother could survive remained a

man in front of her, then said, “Could you at least let me call my dad and let him tell me how my

that she was settling for a call instead

when her legs caved under her weight and made her stagger. Sensing this, Richard quickly reached out to hold her, his arms wrapped securely around her frame as he steadied her. He assessed her pale face and how feeble she was, then asked

her back stiffened, she walked toward the conference room

arrived in the conference room, the four men working in front of their computers glanced up at her worriedly. They could tell she had been crying just from looking at her red and puffy eyes, and they grew even

your mother will be fine,”

video of the car crash?” Angela asked hoarsely. “I want

his laptop and peered at Richard, who stood at the door with his arms crossed. When Richard shot him a hard look, he stammered a little awkwardly, “N-No, we only got a call about it.

gaze fell on his laptop, and she rounded the long table to where he sat. Then, she shoved him aside and opened up his laptop, thereafter, searching through the documents in it. “Pull up the video for me right now,” she ordered icily, tears glistening in

break-down earlier, Richard walked up to her and closed the laptop, then said, “We

down her cheeks once more as she pondered on the meaning behind his words. If he so stubbornly refused to let her see the video, then it could only mean that the accident

all-consuming that she could not register anything else going on around her. She hyperventilated as

she

as he hurried across the room and carried her into his arms,

was pale as she lay in the bed in the infirmary, completely out cold. The doctor had examined her and concluded, “Miss Meyers fainted because

have to face reality when she wakes up!” Trevor argued with

only hope that her mother will make it, otherwise,

sat at the foot of the bed with his brows knitted together. His piercing gaze lingered on Angela, and

to his subordinates. “Let

Meyers to you then, Richie,” Trevor replied,

down the corridor, Trevor sighed again and said, “I bet Richie’s really beating himself up over this. He did promise Miss Meyers that he’d keep her family safe, but now, her mother’s lying in the hospital after a

at him earlier, and I swear she hates his guts. If anything were to happen to her mother, she might just

hoping that whatever they guessed would not come true. The last thing they wanted was for Angela to

the infirmary, the doctor had put Angela on an IV, and the catheter had been inserted into her arm through a needle. Richard sat next to the bed, his silhouette straight and stiff as his dark gaze locked on the unconscious girl under the covers. It was hard to tell what was on his mind, but anyone could see

minutes when her eyes suddenly flew open. The first thing that came to her mind was her mother struggling for her

low male voice sounded next to her, followed by a hand pressing down firmly on her left arm so that she wouldn’t pull

looked down at the needle pushed under her skin and demanded in a watery

to stop the bleeding the moment the needle was out, but Angela was in such a rush that she lifted the covers and tried to get down from the bed. At once, the blood trickled down the

held her arm in place and grabbed a cotton ball from the bedside table, then pressed it down on the back of her hand

bleeding as

her, paying particular attention to the task at

could clearly make out the hard set of his

grip and looked up at her,

There was a chill in

of resignation in his eyes. He knew that he could not stop her if

only thing she cared about was going home to see her mother for the last time. She had to go back even if she couldn’t make it in time, otherwise, the guilt and

her out of the infirmary and into her bedroom. She picked up her bag once more, and she turned

were to hand her the car keys, he would be watching her walk right into the trap set up by those evil men, which was the same as delivering her to death’s doorstep. On the other

could cope with that, but he really didn’t want

so delicate, but for some reason, she gave him immense pressure. It was as if she held some inexplicable power over him, and he could not keep a firm stance whenever she was

go with her, Trevor burst out of the conference room and came running in their direction excitedly. “Miss Meyers!”

fell to the side when she heard this. She tossed her bag onto the floor and ran to meet Trevor halfway. When she came up to him, she clutched his shoulders and urged, “Really? Is my mom

just called, and he said your mom is fine save for the broken femur and a mild concussion. The doctor told him she’ll be fine after half a month’s

him tight as she muttered, “Thank

stumped by how overwhelmed

he narrowed his eyes dangerously as he watched the woman

immediately realized that he was overstepping his boundaries by letting Angela hug him. Gently pushing her away, he cleared his throat and said, “Miss Meyers, your dad also

on

to talk to him.” Before he could say anything, Angela took him by the hand and pulled him alongside her as she ran toward the conference

relief, secretly thanking Trevor for the timely interruption that saved him from betraying his own work principles. Had the news not come in time, he would have risked everything just to personally drive Angela home to

as she listened to her parents’ voices on the phone, and she couldn’t

stay at the base where they can keep you safe, okay? We don’t want you getting hurt again,” Gilbert said on the other line, sounding serious—more serious than ever