Is this destiny?

"Do you have lawyers to handle Miss Long?" Merve asked Corey in a half-whisper while they walked down the hallway toward the parking lot where Corey's limousine was waiting.

Corey shrugged. "I will talk to Cousin Charlie. He will know how to deal with this. I will make sure Samantha does not go unpunished."

"She is a Long. Aren't Charlie and Steve on good terms? I will talk to Sophia, she will know what to do."

"Isn't Sophia closer to Longs than Charlie? Did you forget that Felix's sister is Madam Long?" Corey chuckled when Merve made an 'a-ha' face.

Corey wanted to handle Samantha. "Don't worry about it. Every family has internal battles for power, and Samantha is not in Steve's faction."

Merve had to agree that Corey knows more about it than she does but… "I still think that Sophia should know about this."

Corey had no objections. "As you wish." He gave her a side-glance. "Thank you for defending my honor."

Merve was embarrassed and flattered at the same time. "I didn't plan for it, but when she called you trash, I snapped. You are a wonderful person and definitely not trash. Sarah told me not to allow anyone to bully me and if someone bullies my boyfriend, that is the same as bullying me. And besides… I know that you would never hit a girl, so I had to do it for you. I'm just sorry for the dress and now probably the inside of your jacket is ruined as well."

Corey pulled Merve closer. "Don't worry about it. Those are just things. Maybe we can add my jacket to the amount Samantha needs to compensate us."

"Don't! I don't think I can slap her more than this!" Merve said while shaking her hand which is throbbing.

Corey was glad that she can joke about it. What would happen if Samantha fake-slipped with a knife in her hand? Corey does not want to think about it. They need to be more vigilant.

Corey reached for Merve's hand and examined it. It looks fine, but just in case… "We should put some ice on it. There is ice in the car."

Merve didn't object. She remembered his words about different factions within families, and she wanted to know more. "Internal battles in families… Are you caught in that?"

Corey sighed. "I am still young, but… since Cousin Charlie is taking care of me, some of the other family members are seeing me as a threat. Even if I'm not the next patriarch, I will be someone close to Charlie. That is why there is a need for bodyguards. While on the topic of bodyguards…"

Corey got his phone and texted the bodyguards to meet them at the parking lot. The personal staff could not enter the venue, and Corey's bodyguards lingered in the area with an agreement that Corey will contact them before he heads out.

Merve frowned. "I am sorry to hear that you are forced to participate in your family's battle for power."

Corey chuckled. "Don't feel sorry for me because Charlie gave me more than one choice and I decided after weighing my options carefully. This allows me many other opportunities I didn't have before. I made a choice and I stick by it gladly. And also, if I didn't accept Charlie's offer, I would not meet you."

Corey saw that Merve looked at him with pity. "Don't act like you are above this drama. If you pay attention, you will see many who suck up to you because of your relationship with Jeffrey White and they will not hesitate to kick you if you find yourself in a disadvantageous situation."

Merve exhaled and voiced her thoughts: "I prefer staying at the Cliffside Villa. Things there are much… simpler."

Corey opened the back door and they stepped onto the parking lot. "True. That is a unique place where everyone is treated equally. That is why I like coming there. It's a place where I'm not Corey Smith. There I am Corey, your boyfriend."

"You are Corey, my boyfriend no matter where we are."

"And that is why you are Merve, my girlfriend. You can see beyond the last name, beyond status, and beyond everything… you see me for who I am."

"And I love what I see." Merve said dreamily.

Corey made one swift step and stood in front of Merve. He grinned while observing her face. "Are you saying that you love me?"

Merve blushed fiercely, and Corey burst into a laugh. He was happy.

"What a good mood you have here…" Nate's taunting voice came from the side.

Corey rolled his eyes. Why are these troublemakers set on spoiling his evening? And where are the bodyguards? So many cars, and it seems that it's only the four of them on the parking lot.

Corey cursed internally and looked at Nate and Kevin. "What do you want?"

"We were asking for an introduction nicely, but you refused." Kevin said.

Corey sensed that something is off. Kevin and Nate were never friendly, but this is the first time that Corey felt danger. He reminded himself to stay cool. Merve is right by his side and he needs to protect her. "Are you lingering here and waiting for me?"

Nate denied it. "Who would wait for you? We came for a smoke and you being here with this fine lady is our luck."

"Continue that act and you will find out that your luck is running out." Corey warned two troublemakers while hoping that his tough façade will not crack. But no matter how scared Corey is, he will give his all to protect the girl by his side.

Corey put his hand in front of Merve and shielded her with his body while his eyes didn't leave Nate and Kevin who were approaching them slowly. "What do you want?"

"From you, nothing." Nate said.

"Actually, you could move away, or suffer the consequences." Kevin added while flexing his fingers.

Corey realized that their target is Merve. "Over my dead body…"

Kevin snickered. "We can arrange for that. You brought this fresh flower to the event. She is the prettiest girl at the prom, and her body is amazing. Don't blame us for wanting a taste."

Corey saw that Charlie's bodyguards and the driver are approaching them, but they were far away, and Nate and Kevin already made their move.

Corey clenched his fists and assumed a fighting stance, ready to confront Nate who was closer, and he jumped toward Corey.

Nate and Corey extended their arms to deliver a punch at the same time.

Corey's right fist connected with Nate's face first, because Corey's arms are longer. At the same time, Merve moved like a flash.

Nate felt the initial sting of Corey's fist which rapidly morphed into pain and he closed his eyes while expecting to feel his fist connecting with Corey's face but instead, he was violently kicked backward.

Kevin paused mid-step. He didn't expect Merve to participate in the fight. And she is vicious!

Corey used the moment of confusion and dived at Kevin.

After a few swift kicks directed at Nate, Merve joined Corey in beating Kevin.

By the time bodyguards reached them, Nate and Kevin were on the ground whimpering and moaning.

"Bastards." Merve squeezed through her teeth. "You disgust me. Try coveting me again, and you will get to meet my lawyers!"

Corey looked at Merve in disbelief and then stifled a laugh. They are training together occasionally when he comes to the Cliffside Villa. He knows that she trains daily, but he never saw her do anything like this. Slapping Samantha is one thing, but these were some ninja moves, directed mostly at Kevin's and Nate's groin area.

And did she just bring up the lawyers AFTER she beat them up?

Corey pulled Merve into his embrace. "This is my queen. She can stand up for herself and me."

Merve inhaled Corey's scent and relaxed. "Can we go now? Please?" She had enough of this prom thing.

Corey glanced over Merve's shoulder at the bodyguards who were observing the scene.

"You are slow." Corey said in a warning voice. "If my girlfriend is not this talented, we would be hurt, and you would suffer the consequences."

Bodyguards lowered their heads. They saw that there is an argument, but those are just kids bickering and they didn't think that there is a pressing urgency, and by the time they realized what is going on, it was too late to react because Merve and Corey handled it.

Corey told bodyguards to take Nate and Kevin to their homes and to report to their families what happened with a notice that someone from the Smith family will visit them tomorrow to demand an explanation.

Merve watched Corey as he came up with plans on spot and how he issued orders to the bodyguards, and she admired him immensely. He is a born leader. She wished that Charlie can see Corey now, because Charlie would be proud.

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