?Chapter 590:


    Freya’s hands froze mid-motion. “Retired?”


    “Yeah.”


    “Why?”


    Ellis had always been one of the top operatives, leading elite teams, pulling off impossible missions, and racking up medals like they were nothing. More than that, his future had looked bright. So why walk away?


    “A year ago, I got seriously injured on a mission. Doctor said I shouldn’t be doing high-intensity training every day.” Ellis didn’t sugarcoat it. “My recement’s been prepped, so I called it quits.”


    Freya’s chest tightened. She wanted to ask why he’d kept it quiet, but remembered some missions were ssified. Maybe he hadn’t had a choice. So she just asked, “How’s the injury now?”


    “All healed, just can’t push it too hard every day,” Ellis said, sensing her concern.


    Freya let out a small breath of relief and asked another question. “Did the organization agree to let you go?”


    Ellis was nothing short of exceptional. Even if he couldn’t push himself with grueling daily training anymore, staying on would’ve been a breeze. The organization would’ve bent over backward to hold onto him—unless, of course, Ellis had made up his mind to walk away.


    Ellis smiled then, his tone casual as ever. “I told them I’d transfer to their division, and they all freaked out.”


    Freya wisely held her tongue. Of course they did. They were scared of being toyed with. Ellis was friendly off the field, but he had a talent for setting traps like it was second nature. Even Trent had picked up a few of his tricks and turned into a real handful.


    “So now you’re…” Freya started.


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    “Between jobs,” he said.


    Freya stared at him. If he wanted to, the world was practically throwing job offers at his feet. Yet here he was, saying he was between jobs.


    “Yourpany hiring?” Ellis’s mind always ran a little deeper than she could follow. “What if I became your bodyguard? Or maybe your secretary?”


    Freya nearly choked on her water. Ellis’s retirement perks were probably outrageous, and she had a feeling his family wasn’t hurting for cash either. She didn’t know the full scope of his family business, but Josiah had hinted before that they were far from broke.


    “Scared I won’t be able to protect you?” Ellis’s voice stayed cool, his thoughts impossible to read.


    Freya didn’t know how much longer she could keep it together. She needed to get serious. “Captain.”


    “I’m not a captain anymore. Call me by my name,” he said.


    “Huh?”


    “Call me Ellis.”


    Freya took a sip of coffee. Right now, she desperately wished someone else was around to bail her out. She was almost certain Ellis hadn’t forgotten what she’d done thest time—using him to calm down.


    “If you won’t agree, I might just show up at Anita International on the eighth and submit an application,” Ellis said as he casually picked up a chess piece, his every move full of poise. “With my skillset, I shouldnd the job easily.”


    Freya went quiet. Not only would he get the job—HR would probably promote him to head of security on the spot. He could crush both Melvin and her in one go.


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