Rich man

Tyler's POV

A sharp pain lanced through my ribs as I slowly drifted back to consciousness. My eyelids fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was a pair of whiskey-brown eyes staring directly into mine. My breath hitched.

Then it hit me...I was half-naked.

Shirtless. Only in my boxers. And this man this dangerously beautiful man was scanning every inch of my body like he was assessing something far beyond my comprehension.

Heat surged to my face. I bolted upright and yanked the blanket over me, my heart hammering wildly against my ribs.

"W-what? Why?" I stammered, my brain struggling to function.

His expression remained unreadable, his voice laced with a thick Korean accent as he finally spoke. "Why did you take the bullet?"

Cold. Dangerous. A shiver ran down my spine.

"I… I…" Words failed me as I continued to stare at his almost surreal features. Damn. He looked like a demigod.

His jaw tightened. "I asked you a question."

And then he moved.

Leaning in, his presence completely eclipsed mine, his body so close I could feel the heat radiating from him. My breath caught in my throat.

"Is that something you should ask the person who just saved your life?" I shot back, gripping the blanket tighter.

A flicker of frustration crossed his face before he leaned in even closer. My body shuddered involuntarily. He smelled like expensive cologne and something else—something intoxicating.

I turned my face away, desperate to break free from the intensity of his gaze, but then—his fingers.

Soft yet firm, they touched my jaw and tilted my face back toward him.

I gasped, my heart slamming against my ribs as my entire body went rigid. His eyes bore into mine, dark and unreadable, stripping me down to nothing but raw nerves.

"I won't ask again. Why did you do it?"

"Why would I intentionally take a bullet for you?" My voice came out rougher than I intended, frustration simmering beneath my skin.

His gaze darkened. "Because you're a Lau. Here to play your little tricks, gain my trust. Maybe you even planned this with the assassin—why else would the bullet miss any fatal spots?"

I clenched my jaw. So that's what he thought? That I had staged the whole thing?

"Look, I don't know who the hell wants you dead, and frankly, I don't care. I acted on impulse. I saw your guard acting suspicious, I followed him, and now" I huffed, gripping the blanket tighter, "I wish I hadn't."

His lips twitched slightly. "So… you acted on impulse?"

"Stupid, right?"

And then he smirked.

A slow, devilish smirk that sent a fresh wave of heat rolling through my body. He shouldn't look this good being this insufferable.

Before I could say anything else, he leaned in, his breath ghosting over my ear.

"Thanks."

His voice was smooth, dangerously low, and entirely too close. My stomach flipped, my grip on the blanket tightening until my knuckles turned white. I had to be redder than a damn tomato.

Then, just as quickly, he straightened, turned, and walked toward the door.

But he paused, glancing over his shoulder. "I'll be back later. You have visitors."

And with that, he was gone,leaving me a blushing, frustrated mess in a hospital bed.

"Why did it not hit any fatal spot?" I muttered, my brain stuck on that man's dumbass words.

I glared at the fresh stitches on my ribs.

My fucking ribs.

I could have died. I could have died. And all that tall, mysterious bastard had to say was thanks? Not even a full "Thank you, Tyler, for saving my billionaire ass"? Just thanks?

Some people were actual demons.

The door slammed open, and before I could react, a human missile launched itself at me.

"Darling!"

Anne flung herself at me, arms wrapping around my neck so tightly I choked. I gasped for air, but at least I finally let go of the blanket.

"Oh my God, how are you? I thought you died!" she wailed, pulling back just enough to scan my face like she was checking for signs of life. "Some lady called us saying you were in the hospital,I almost lost my mind!"

Her eyes glistened. Her lower lip quivered. Anne. Was. Crying.

Oh hell, I actually almost died.

Then her sadness snapped into full-blown murder mode.

"Who shot you?" she demanded, voice dripping with murderous rage. "Tell me, and I will personally hunt them down."

"He ran away," I muttered.

"I'll find him," she promised. Terrifyingly.

The door swung open again, and Eric strolled in, looking way too casual for someone visiting a half-dead friend.

He took one look at me, sighed, and crossed his arms. "Dude. Again?"

I groaned. "Eric, I did not plan to get shot, okay?"

Anne whirled around to face him. "And you! Why were you so slow?!"

Eric blinked. "What?"

"You took forever to get here! Tyler was bleeding out! "

Eric threw his arms in the air. "I was speeding! You want me to fly next time?!"

"Yes!"

Eric groaned. "Anne, I swear, if I had broken one more traffic law, I'd be in jail right now."

"Oh, boohoo, Eric. Maybe next time just drive like you actually care about our friend's life!"

"I WAS LITERALLY BREAKING THE LAW FOR YOU PEOPLE!"

I sighed and rubbed my temple. These two.

Anne snapped her fingers. "How did it happen?"

I took a deep breath. "Okay, so picture this: I was just walking, minding my business"

"Lies," Anne muttered.

"when I saw some guy's security acting weird. So obviously, I followed him"

"Obviously," Eric said, deadpan.

"and I him pull a gun on this man. And I don't think. I just jump. Next thing I know? Boom. I'm the one bleeding."

Anne gasped dramatically. "You jumped in front of a bullet for a total stranger?!"

I cleared my throat. "Not a total stranger…"

Eric narrowed his eyes. "Who was it?"

I rubbed the back of my head. "Uh. Some tall guy. Korean-looking. Kinda expensive."

Eric suddenly froze. "Wait. Tall? Korean?"

Anne's eyes widened. "Oh my God. Was he stupidly attractive?"

I squinted. "I mean, I was bleeding out, Anne, so I wasn't exactly checking his cheekbone structure."

Eric let out a low whistle. "Dude. Do you have any idea who you just saved?"

"…A very ungrateful rich guy?"

Eric looked genuinely pained. "That was Mr. Han Sora. CEO of Han Tech."

Silence.

Then

Anne and I screamed at the same time.

"WHAT?!"

Anne slapped my arm. Hard.

"Ow!"

"You mean to tell me you risked your entire life for a man who could literally buy a hospital?"

Eric sighed. "That's my boss."

Anne screamed again. "Are you telling me THE Han Sora, billionaire tech genius, only said 'thanks' when Tyler saved his million-dollar life?!"

"He said he'd be back," I defended.

Anne huffed. "Oh wow, how generous. Maybe next time he'll say 'thanks, bro' and give you a pat on the back."

Eric snorted. "Yeah, probably to bury the evidence."

Anne groaned. "No, no, this is insane. Tyler, listen to me." She grabbed my shoulders, shaking me a little. "If he comes back, do not ask for just money."

I blinked. "Wait. What?"

"This is a tech company," she said, eyes gleaming with diabolical brilliance. "Ask for a high-level job. CEO's assistant. Head of something. A permanent paycheck. That's better than a one-time check."

Eric pointed at her. "For once, I agree with Anne."

"Excuse me, for once?" Anne snapped, rounding on him. "For once?!"

Eric groaned. "Anne, can we not do this here?"

"No, we can, because guess what, Eric?" She jabbed a vicious finger at him. "You could have driven faster and I would have meet this man and make him regret.

Eric threw his arms in the air. "Anne, I was already speeding!"

"Not fast enough!"

"Okay, next time I'll break the sound barrier, Anne!"

I ignored their ongoing war and leaned back against the pillows, a slow, evil grin stretching across my face.

Han Sora, the billionaire CEO, was in my debt.

Oh. Oh.

This was about to get interesting.