Samantha arrived at the Skydiving Center at around 9 in the morning and there were already a lot of people there. It was more crowded than usual. She went up to her friends who were sitting in the lobby.
"What's up with the crowd? There are a lot of people in here today.", Samantha asked.
"Yeah, I heard they're all tourists from Country K."
"Really?", Samantha looked around, although the odds that someone might recognize her is low, she still wondered.
She went to the locker and changing area to store her things and change into her diving jumpsuit. She wasn't able to dive yesterday so she was itching to do it today. Usually, she would be very cheery and excited to skydive. But now… well, especially now that Daniel is here. Her feelings are all over the place. She came here to stay away from him but now, what was she supposed to do? She actually didn't think that Daniel would come and look for her so she didn't have a plan. 'Ugh, whatever. I'll just handle it as I go. Come what may.'
Samantha came out of the changing room looking absent-minded.
"Kira."
Samantha turned around and saw Kai. "Oh, hello Kai."
"I called you like 4 times but you were in deep thoughts. Are you still sick?"
"Ah, I was just thinking about something."
"Hmm… You're looking better, but are you sure you're okay to jump?"
Samantha smiled brightly, "Yup."
While Kai and Samantha were walking towards the preparation area, Samantha noticed a young woman standing awkwardly on the side. Samantha noticed that the woman was nervous so she went up to her and tried to make a conversation as she felt the urge to make her feel comfortable.
<Loyal Reader Cameo>
"Hi~", Samantha said with a smile.
The woman looked at her and smiled shyly, "Hello."
"What's your name?"
"Ah… Um… I'm Dangkinga."
"I'm Kira.", Samantha shook her hands.
"Are you a skydiver?" Dangkinga looked at Samantha up and down. "You have a very nice suit."
"Really? Thanks... I love this suit. And yes, I skydive… I have jumped for… hmmm more than 60 times? I think..", Samantha laughed cheerfully and it made the woman feel calm.
"Wow! You're so brave! It's my first time today. I'm quite nervous."
"That's normal. I was also very nervous when I first tried it. But you'll be okay, I'm sure you're going to love it!"
"Kira! Let's go!", Kai called for her from afar.
"Oh, it was nice meeting you. Enjoy flying! Bye!", Samantha waved goodbye and jogged towards Kai and the other skydivers.
Dangkinga smiled and waved back at Samantha. She felt better afterward so she went up to her friends who were very excited to go skydiving.
…
Samantha just landed her 3rd jump and she decided that she's done for the day; she didn't really feel like doing more dives. She and her friends just finished changing clothes and were walking out of the center to have lunch when Samantha noticed Daniel by the door.
Daniel was wearing a white dress shirt with the top button undone and dark denim; his outfit was really simple but Daniel wore it like a model. When Samantha saw him, her heart began to race again. She mostly saw him in a business suit or tux before but ever since he appeared in front of her in Country D, he's been looking very laid back. He actually looked really good in the casual and comfortable vibe and Samantha can't deny that seeing this side of him made her like him more.
Samantha sighed when she got nearer to him, "You're here again, what do you want?"
"I want to have lunch with you."
Samantha tilted her head, "I already made plans with my friends."
Daniel glanced at the people behind her and saw Kai but he didn't mind them and he looked at Samantha again. "You can't keep ignoring me. I thought we were already making progress yesterday."
"Well, you don't have to appear in front of me, that way I don't have to keep ignoring you.", Samantha looked away, "And I already told you, we have nothing to talk about. I'm sorry."
Samantha started to walk away but she stopped when Daniel blocked her.
Daniel refused to admit defeat, he put his hands in his pockets and gave her a smile, "Okay, what do I have to do so that you'll give me your time.?"
"Kira, are you bothered by this man?", asked Kai.
Samantha shook her head, "No, it's okay, Kai."
Daniel sneered in his thoughts, 'How could she call this man so casually? Are they very close?'
"You should leave, Mr. Cho.", Samantha said as she looked into his eyes.
'She calls him by his first name but she calls me Mr. Cho?', he thought. Daniel reached out his hand and held Samantha's, "Please?".
His touch sent an electrifying signal to Samantha's insides. She looked at her hand that was being held by Daniel very tenderly and she fought so hard not to give it a squeeze. She composed herself and pulled her hand away.
Kai stepped forward, "How about this, Kira? He actually looks sincere to me, why don't you ask him to do some things for you before you give him your time?"
"That's right... if he really wants to earn your time… he has to work hard for it, right? Why not give him a challenge?", said one of their friends.
Daniel Cho came to Country D as Daniel, as Samantha's Daniel… and not as the CEO of Cho Corp. He usually doesn't do negotiations like this but the Daniel that Samantha is looking at right now is just a man who's trying to win her back.
"I'll just have to prove myself huh?", said Daniel with a smirk.
Samantha didn't actually approve of what her friends are trying to do. Daniel doesn't need to prove himself! What nonsense! But it seems that Daniel wouldn't stop trying. So she decided to play along and thought that she would just have to make him surrender. He'll back out once he fails, right?
"Fine. Let's do what they say.", Samantha said with an emotionless expression.
Daniel just grinned and said, "Deal.", he winked at her before he put on his wayfarers and left. "Catch you later, honey."
Samantha thought that although she felt positive, she couldn't help but feel nervous. The way that Daniel acted confident just now had actually scared her. 'No… there's no way he'd have his way. I'll make him surrender and leave the country. For his own sake.'
What she didn't know was that Daniel never planned on failing. If he fails, he's not Daniel Cho.
...
Late in the afternoon, Samantha received a call from Quinn.
"Hey, Quinn."
"Hi Kira, where are you?"
"Just arrived home from the gym. Why?"
"Charlie said someone's coming tonight who wants to have a race with you."
Samantha was sorting out clothes and preparing to take a bath while she talked on the phone, "Really? Why do I have a lot of those recently?"
"You can't blame them, your car and your skills are awesome. How can they not? If only I was as good as you, I'd also challenge you myself."
"Pfft.. fine. I'll come tonight."
A car race challenge? It's just what she needs to take her mind off Daniel.
At 10 in the evening, Samantha arrived at the race track. Sometimes, they race out on the road where there's no traffic; and other times, they race at the track.
Samantha noticed familiar people who were present but the crowd is bigger tonight. It seemed like the challenger brought some people over. 'Is he that stupid to lose in front of his friends tonight?', Samantha scoffed.
She parked on the starting line and walked out of her car. Just as she walked towards Quinn, a Hennessey Venom GT arrived and parked beside hers. It had a really cool dark knight gray color but Samantha wasn't fazed upon seeing the car. Samantha thought that the Venom GT is presumably faster than her Bugatti Chiron but it will still depend on the driver's skill.
Samantha watched as the door of the car opened and a man in a white dress shirt came out looking so fresh like he came straight out of a magazine.
"What the hell?", Samantha cursed and her brows furrowed.
Quinn turned to see what Samantha was looking at, "Oooh, that is one gorgeous man. *whistle*"
Quinn complimented the man as he walked towards them. The other ladies in the area ogled and drooled over the handsome creature.
He had a smile on his face when he approached Samantha, "Are you ready, honey?"
Samantha glared at the man in front of her. How does he keep appearing wherever I go?
"Uhh... did he just call you 'honey?'", Quinn was confused.
"Mr. Cho, what the hell are you doing here?", she spoke as she stared daggers at Daniel.
He casually placed his hands on his pockets and gave a devilish smirk, "Honey... why so formal? I came to have a race with you... didn't you want me to prove it?"
"You want to have a race with me?", Samantha raised an eyebrow.
Daniel shrugged, "You said you'd give me a challenge... you're good at racing right? I want to race you."
Samantha scoffed, "You really think you'd win against me?"
"The only way to find out is if you try. Unless you're.... scared to lose?", Daniel spoke with a mischievous expression.