Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 331: The Territorial Claim

"Barry!" Jacob’s voice arrived before he did, his annoying tone echoing through the entire training area.

"I thought we were supposed to be inspecting the racing base. How did we end up conducting a site visit at a stakeout?"

He jogged over to Barry’s side and followed his gaze to Perry. Jacob clicked his tongue with exaggerated interest. "Wow, that coach looks like a solid guy. Exactly the type a parent would love."

Seeing no reaction from Barry, Jacob nudged him with his elbow. "Look how close they're standing..."

Barry shot him a look so cold it could have drawn blood. Jacob immediately made a zipping motion over his mouth, pretending to shut up while his eyes danced with mischief.

The introductory session finally came to an end.

Perry started to hand Nancy a bottle of water, but Jacob moved faster. He snatched the water and towel Jorgan had prepared and shoved them into Nancy’s hands, his green eyes bright with a grin. "Great job, Nancy! Here, wipe your face."

Perry looked at the handsome man who had suddenly appeared, then glanced at Barry, whose suffocating presence filled the room. He felt a massive wave of pressure. It seemed like both of these men were here specifically for Nancy.

Perry pulled back his own water bottle and turned toward the equipment room to find a pair of wrist wraps for her.

Nancy stood there, dazed by Jacob’s sudden arrival. Before she could process it, Jacob leaned in and lowered his voice. "Nancy, look at Barry. He’s been sitting there so long he’s turned this place into a walk-in freezer. Why don't you do us all a favor and make things official with him? It’ll stop him from haunting you like a ghost every day."

The second the words left his mouth, he felt Barry’s icy stare piercing through his back.

Jacob raised his hands in surrender, backing away with a smirk. "Fine, fine, I’m shutting up. But Nancy, if you really like the solid, dependable type..." He glanced from Perry to Barry. "I can play that part pretty well myself."

The comment hit Nancy like a lightning bolt. Her entire face flushed deep red, the heat spreading all the way to her ears. "What are you talking about? I’m here to learn self-defense!"

She looked at Jacob, then at Barry, her expression earnest. "Perry is helping me because my brother asked him to. We only met for the first time today."

Barry’s collar loosened slightly, and his expression softened.

Jacob, seeing the shift, pushed even harder. "Oh, so Simon set this up? Well, that basically makes this a blind date."

"A blind date?" Nancy’s eyes widened. "Who goes on a blind date at a training gym? Don't people usually go to restaurants for that?"

"They just didn't have time to move to the second location before Barry intercepted the play," Jacob joked.

Barry stood up and placed a hand on Jacob’s shoulder. "That’s enough. Stop teasing her."

He turned to Nancy, his gaze lingering on her flushed cheeks. "Training is over. Let’s go. I’m taking you to dinner."

Nancy was still trying to figure out why Barry had shown up in the first place, let alone why he was taking her to dinner. Just then, Perry walked back over with a new pair of wrist wraps. "Nancy, take these. You can use them for your next session."

Jacob was quick, snatching the wraps out of the air before Nancy could touch them. He gave Perry a plastic smile. "Thanks for the thought! But Barry will handle all her equipment from now on. No need to trouble yourself. I’ll take these, though. Maybe I’ll join Nancy for a workout next time."

He put extra emphasis on Barry’s name, shooting Barry a look that clearly said, I’ve done all I can for you, man.

Barry took a step forward, his frame physically cutting off Perry’s line of sight. He shielded Nancy behind his shadow, silently drawing a boundary and claiming his territory.

He gave Perry a slight, distant nod. "Perry, thanks for the lesson. I’ll have Jorgan send the investment proposal to your father."

With that, Barry took Nancy by the wrist and led her toward the exit.

Nancy followed closely, looking up at him as they walked. "Where are we going?"

Barry didn't slow down, his profile looking sharp under the gym lights. "To a restaurant."

Jacob watched them leave without another word. "Barry! What about me?"

Perry watched Nancy’s retreating back, a sense of frustration bubbling up inside him. As he stood there, Jorgan stepped forward and handed him a document.

"Is this the investment letter?" Perry asked, confused. "He was only here for an hour. He’s already decided to invest?"

He looked troubled. "Look, investment is a big deal. I need to talk to my father. I can’t give an answer this quickly."

Jorgan smiled and shook his head. "You’ve misunderstood, Perry. This isn't an investment file."