Chapter 272   - Biting Remark Strikes

A beautiful smile lit up her face at his words. "Does that really happen?"

"Don't go on the internet and search for it!" he growled in warning.

"Everyone is banning me from the internet today. I feel like a teenager being scolded by my parents," she groaned.

"Despite your fantasies, I want nothing s.e.x.u.a.l to do with your parents." He made a cross and looked at the ceiling as if asking the higher being to forgive his indiscretions.

"Thank goodness for that!" she remarked. "I'll be marking the days until we meet, then. I'll have to bounce that coin off your ass. Don't forget to work them out for me!" If she had a handkerchief, she would flail it in support.

"I have an ass of steel!" he remarked humorously. She snickered, imagining him clenching his ass just as he said that. Feeling utterly delighted she added, "I have been crossing of days. I have a personal calendar for it, too. I cross off each day." The fact that she hadn't blushed was a great deal.

"What is this mysterious calendar?" he asked, unbearably curious. The look on her face told him that it was something embarrassing. Knowing her, it would also be extremely cute.

"Why does it have to be special? It just has babies on it." Cage gave her a weird look.

"Is this a calendar to track your cycle?" he asked, amused. Katherine shook her head vehemently. "Don't be so quick to say no. My s.p.e.r.m is highly sought after!"

"As much as I want your little monkeys, I will have to pass on the ovulation charts." She rolled her eyes. "It has ill.u.s.trations of you… Drawn by me." She looked at him expectantly.

"A personalized calendar with ill.u.s.trations of me. Makes perfect sense that you count down your days on that." He couldn't hide his smirk. "I'm a little upset I don't have a personalized calendar like yours. I'll have to compile nice pictures of you and make one for myself." He planned on hogging it and making sure no one else got their hands on it.

"You're actually thinking of making one…" she trailed off, flabbergasted.

"Can't have you fangirling all alone. This relationship has two fans. Come to think of it, want to make a couples calendar?"

"Don't tell me, are we going to be n.a.k.e.d in the pictures?" She screwed her eyes shut, trying not to burst out into laughter.

"You recommended that. Take your mind out of the gutter, Kitty. I never mentioned the clothes coming off!" He had the audacity to act all innocent. As if that wasn't what he was insinuating in the first place. Cheeky bastard.

"I know how your mind works," she denied instantly.

"Great minds think alike. Happy to know that we'll be staying in the gutter together." Cage, oh, Cage. How right you are.

"Let's do that," she conceded without protest. "Thank you for making me laugh," she remarked after a short silence.

"It's my pleasure. I take my duties as a boyfriend seriously. And I love you hear your laughter." It lit up his existence.

"I love to hear you laugh too," she sighed. "I love you."

The world was going to know it soon, too. "I love you, too, Katherine. With all my heart."

- - -

Katherine could see that the sponsors and people at CoG were not playing around when she got to the hotel. It was a five star hotel, for one, and it looked like she was entering paradise. Though the event didn't start until afternoon, the participants had to come in earlier to be briefed on the programme, schedule and other procedures.

The event coordinator led Katherine to a room where all the other competitors were gathered. She was a little nervous because it was a group of unknown people. Moreover, these people were all creators at this point. Meeting more online acquaintances had never been on her bucket list.

For some reason, Laurence and Ian were also at the hotel, waiting for everyone. Laurence came up to Katherine and greeted her personally before going to the others. There was clearly a level of favoritism there and it made Katherine mildly uncomfortable. Laurence had posted the video of her denying the relationship but the shippers seemed oblivious.

'Thou dost protest too much,' they said. She shrugged it off because she had done her part. They couldn't hold her accountable for not believing what she said.

"You're going to be fine," Laurence reassured her as they sat at the lobby. With the big cameras around, the other guests peeked at the scene with unrestrained curiosity. Ian had gone off to talking to some of the other contestants who had taken to daily vlogging about their lives. "You have a lovely personality. They will love you."

There was that word again. She shifted, giving Laurence an awkward smile. It was a good thing that a couple of familiar looking men approached them.

"Hey guys, this is Katherine," Laurence introduced, a hint of pride in his voice. "Katherine, meet Tom, Liam, and Jake. They will be competing against you as amateur players."

Katherine bowed in greeting. "It's nice to meet all of you," she told them sincerely. She extended her hand to them, shaking them one by one. "It feels surreal to be here, seeing all of you in person and not through a computer screen."

"Exactly!" Jake exclaimed, taking her side and pushing his long hair behind his ear. "You look lovelier in reality. And I do want to taste your food, as well." He smacked his lips together, showing some greed. Katherine felt herself lighten as she spoke. Jake seemed to be one of those people who could put you at ease.

"Are you insinuating that I don't look nice in my videos?" she asked with a raise of her brows.

"As usual, the queen of sarcasm and biting remarks strikes!" Liam chuckled.

"The title is too long. I need something catchier to be satisfied." Katherine shrugged. "You guys are smooth talkers…" she remarked with the casual glance around the group.