Loving The Temperamental Adonis
Chapter 33: Few hours ago

Chapter 33: Few hours ago

Few hours ago...

After Neil left the rooftop where he had been interrupted by that damned Jason’s sister, Rayne, he had left the university immediately to go and prepare for the meeting. He drove his black Ferrari straight to his condo and took a quick shower and dressed into a more casual black trouser and shirt. Pulling on his black leather jacket, he took his motorcycle keys from the table. Though Neil hadn’t eaten since morning, he didn’t bother to stay back to eat anything.

He was already used to forgetting about his meal time. Ever since he’d taken it upon himself to be a soldier, Neil had little to no regards for his own personal life and health. He could have one meal a day and be fine for the whole day. Furthermore, he always had his Nutrifill capsules with him. They are capsules that when taken, ensures the person received essential nutrients without the need for meals.

Neil always carried it with him, despite being aware of the potential side effects that could arise from taking it regularly. However, he didn’t care. As per his usual routine, he retrieved it from his kitchen cabinets and swallowed a pill before leaving his condo. Walking down the elegant hallway of his complex apartment building, he entered the elevator accompanied by two women. Throughout the elevator ride, they giggled and whispered to each other while stealing glances at him. Their mere presence was already irritating, and their giggling made him want to kick them out of the elevator. To him, women were creatures that would forever cause the downfall of a man if given the chance, and they annoyed him to no end.

Finally stepping out of the elevator, he made his way through the lobby where all heads turned to get a glimpse of him as if it were the first time they had seen him in the building.

The people in the lobby couldn’t help but admire the sight of the handsome man walking out. Though a few knew that he resided in the luxurious skyscraper apartment, they rarely witnessed him engaging or acknowledging anyone in the building. The only time he had spoken was when a wealthy young heiress attempted to buy her way into his condo. She ended up being humiliated in the lobby when he threatened to cut off the limbs of anyone who trespassed on his property.

Neil disregarded all the stares directed at him and rode his motorcycle out of the bustling city towards the deserted mansion where their military meetings usually took place. As he entered the gate, the rows of cars and motorcycles parked outside the mansion came into view. The last place he wanted to be in at this moment, was in the same room as Jason. However, he had no choice.

Neil swiftly flung his legs off the bike, the roar of the engine lingering in the air as he removed his helmet with a practiced motion. His chiseled features and imposing stature commanded attention as he confidently strode towards the mansion’s door. The few new recruits soldiers milling around the entrance immediately halted their conversations.

"Major General!" They all saluted him to show respect as he passed into the mansion.

Even before he entered the dinning hall where the meeting took place, Neil could already hear the loud laughter and chattering of the soldiers. How could men talk and laugh this loud like they were women in a gossip room? He thought to himself with a shake of his head. Pathetic.

Entering the huge dinnig hall, the atmosphere immediately shifted. The laughter and chatter ceased as Neil’s presence demanded respect. A sudden hush fell upon the room as if the king of hell had just stepped in and sealed their mouths. The soldiers who were lower than Neil in rank, all stood up to show respect. However, Jason, didn’t. Even though Neil was higher than him in the military rank. His gaze locked onto Neil, his hazel eyes narrowing with disdain.

Jason muttered, "Well, well, the country’s favorite soldier has finally decided to grace us with his presence."

Since General David, Neil’s uncle hadn’t arrived, the soldiers could do as they pleased.

Ignoring Jason’s mockery, Neil continued toward the table where Liam had reserved a seat for him. The soldiers’ eyes tracked him as he walked towards his friend, curiosity and tension lingering in the air. As Neil took his seat beside Liam, he offered a curt nod of acknowledgement to him.

Liam patted Neil’s back, saying, "We were waiting for you to arrive. General David said he wouldn’t make it here, but he would call when we are all present and talk on the phone."

Hearing that his uncle wouldn’t come here in person, Neil couldn’t help but slightly sigh in relief.

As everyone settled on their seats, Jason couldn’t resist needling Neil again. "What have you been doing in Ivy Grove Institute for so long? Haven’t discovered the rat in the University yet? Or have you finally decided to have some fun with the female students?"

Neil maintained his composure, staring ahead. "I’m here for the meeting, not to have an idle banter with a loser." He remarked nonchalantly as he leaned his back comfortably against his chair. Jason was just an idiot who failed to make himself known in the military, and believed anyone who came before him and got a higher rank, was because of a connection. However, his long time resentment with Neil had way passed just the rank issue, because the unfortunate incident that took place two years ago had caused them to hate each other beyond words.

Before Jason could open his mouth and retort to Neil, the intercom on the dinning table buzzed and everyone’s attention turned to it knowing that General David was on the line. Jason was the one to press the answer button and pick the call. And when the man’s stern voice rang from the intercom, they all greeted him in unison.

"Is everyone of you present?" General David questioned, and they all replied with a, "Yes, sir!"

General David’s stern voice cut through the air, "Wayner, update us on your progress at Ivy Grove."

Neil clenched his fists to mask his emotions, he replied to his uncle blankly, "I’ve investigated most professors and they are all clean of any connections with the Da kroll gangs. But I haven’t gotten to investigate the university counselor."

An angry roar erupted from the intercom, "What’s holding you back from investigating him, Wayner? We need that information!"

Neil recalled the only day he’d finally gotten the chance to enter the counselor’s office, was the day he had tumbled across the hallway where Mia was being hit by that damn boy, Alaric. For days, he had tried to get into the man’s office and get access to his computer, but the counselor rarely stepped out of his office without locking it with special keys, only that day did Neil have the chance to get in as he’d gotten to trick the man out, only to fall upon that scene where he’d seen Mia get hit.

Neil wasn’t the kind to neglect the importance of his mission, but he also couldn’t walk away from the scene without doing anything. And he had been looking forward to beat some sense into that boy. However, Neil dared not let General David know that he had let such opportunity slide because of some girl. Thus, he said, "The counselor’s office is difficult to penetrate. He rarely leaves, and I need a strategic moment."

Before Neil could explain further, Jason interjected, "Maybe we shouldn’t have given Wayner this mission. Just like two years ago, he’s proving to be unfit."

Neil felt his blood boil at the fact that Jason kept bringing up the past incident that had been long buried away. Neil had gone through so much therapy just to let go of that incident, but no matter what, whenever he was being reminded of it, he wanted to die and end his own life as a punishment for his mistake two years ago, which he also blamed Jason for it as much as he blamed himself.

"You son of bitch!" Seething with anger, Neil stood up to get to Jason but was quickly held back by Liam, who held his hand and pushed him back down on the chair.

General David’s voice thundered from the intercom, "Wallace, how many times did I have to tell you never to bring up that incident! Another word of it from you, you will face the consequences!" He reprimanded Jason before he addressed his nephew, "Wayner, what about the girl who gave that information to the news agencies about the first shipment, have you gotten her to tell you how she got the information?" He asked.

"Yes," Neil replied curtly as he was trying his best to hold himself from slamming his fists against Jason’s smuge face.

"Then what was the outcome? Have you gotten her to take you to the place where she’d found the information?"

"No."

"You need to get all those done before I tell you to do it. Get someone to draw the description of the men she’d seen. And you have three weeks to get the information about the Da Kroll gang operative in that university, no matter what it takes!" Then the intercom went silent as the General had ended the call.

Neil didn’t wait to talk to anyone of the soldiers in the room, he stood up and stormed out of the mansion with his friend following closely behind him. When they walked towards Neil’s motorcycle, Liam stopped him.

"Neil, I know how you feel about your uncle after what he did for you two years ago. But trust me, he did it for your own good. Do you think you’d still be here with us if General David hadn’t interfered with the incident’s investigation report? No. So please don’t let Jason or anybody’s words get to you and focus on bringing down da kroll gang." Liam patted his friend’s back as he could feel the rage emitting from him.

Deciding to change the topic as he could feel Neil’s anger, Liam said, "I got you the guitar you asked for, a brand new one from Harmony Luxe Virtuoso, the world’s most expensive guitar brand. However, you better refund my money because I spent a huge sum to get my hands on one of those darn guitars."

When Neil had asked him to get the guitar, he had first been surprised. But then knowing his friend’s taste in good quality things, Liam had gone out of his way to get the guitar from the world’s most expensive brand, and when he said he wanted a refund, he wasn’t joking because he had spent a fortune on just the guitar. Though, the money Liam spent was nothing to his bank account, he just couldn’t let go of the sum he’d spent to buy something he was sure his friend would end up destroying because of his strong dislike for music.

Neil didn’t argue with Liam for the refund, he swiftly took out his phone and tapped on the keyboard before handing it to Liam, "Transfer the money to your account. Where is the guitar?" He asked as Liam shamelessly took the phone and began to tap in serveral numbers.

"It’s in my car." He handed Neil back the phone after making sure he’d received the alert from his own bank. Then, they walked back to Liam’s white car parked at the side, "Have fun destroying the guitar." He remarked while handing the brand new instrument to Neil.