Roundhouse Kick: I agree that it is extremely difficult to attempt a roundhouse kick and be able to execute it properly (with no experience). However, Rose being Rose, she thinks she knows how to fight and attempts anything from a punch to a roundhouse kick, thus getting her ass kicked.

Disclaimer: Richelle Mead owns VA series and all its characters. No copyright infringement intended. This story is just an idea that wouldn't leave me alone, so I put it to paper. It's an All Human (AH) and Alternative Universe (AU) story so please don't take any of this content seriously.

Chapter Four: Job Offer

My summer vacation had started to drag, it was only Monday, and already I was bored. Figuring I better not waste the day, I took to sunbathing by the backyard pool.

Lucky I remembered to pack my favorite bikini in time. It was the color of maroon, which complimented nicely with my tan, and the two piece fabric had a black tinge to it.

I settled on one of the recliners, lying comfortably on my back, sighing in relief. I admit, Montana's sun wasn't anything like Pennsylvania's, but I took any chance I could get just to catch my vitamin D intake.

It was damn day well spent if I don't say so myself, much better than having to spend my time getting my ass kicked in the gym I assure. Even if said ass-kicker was, hot.

Despite, having enjoyed myself yesterday in defense training, I decided I enjoyed the sun more. Plus, I was really sick and tired of my father scolding me about how discipline and self respect was something I should be learning, and how it would make me a better person and blah blah blah. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Besides, he always did remind me that I was only a seventeen year old child. So, this was me being a seventeen year old. I plugged my earphones in and started bobbing my head, and singing along to Ke$ha.

"-Coming out your mouth with your blah blah blah. Zip your lip like a padlock!" I shouted, having no clue or care in the world how I sounded.

The song blaring in my ears, and I started humming the rest of the song because I didn't know the lyrics.

I frowned when a shadow casted over me, completely oblivious to someone approaching me. The shadow came with a faint smell of aftershave and I instantly knew who it was.

"Hey! What's your deal?" I looked up, craning my neck when my eyes met deep brown ones. Dimitri; all in his six foot six glory, and an irresistible smirk on his face.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked warily. His smile tugged again.

"Long enough to think a cat got caught under a wheel." I rolled my eyes.

He wore his hair loose today, clad in his workout sweats and muscle tee. He cocked an eyebrow.

"You're supposed to be in training…" He looked at his watch and frowned. "-twenty minutes ago." His tone was accusing. What was with this guy and time? I scowled, hating the fact that his frame was blocking the sun.

"Yeah well, change of plans. I thought I might as well make use of this beautiful day. Now get out of my sun." I retorted waving my hand for emphasis. He sighed.

"Catching some sun is more important than learning how to protect yourself?" I shrugged.

"If you have a point Comrade, I suggest you make one." Quite frankly, I didn't know what the big deal was with these defense classes. I mean, I was currently living on a short leash always having a guard within a miles radius. Besides, did I mention this was my summer vacation? I did not intend on spending my entire summer vacation working out a sweat just use it on a fake dummy.

Sometimes, I wondered why he even bothered. I'm sure he had better things to do than teach a teenager basic fighting skills…like fix my dads SUV, or something. Not badger me about my punctuality. Ugh! The guy had to live a little.

"You can leave now, you're blocking my sun." I repeated. He just scowled, and stepped to the side.

Feeling a little smug that he actually moved, I was silently doing a happy dance. Closing my eyes, I let my head fall back, relishing in the warm light. I stuck my earphones back into my ears and pushed play.

And that's when I felt two strong hands scoop me up off the recliner. My eyes shot open, iPod discarded to the ground like trash, as he hovered me over the pool.

"What are you doing? Put me down!" He shook his head.

"You sure about that?" I screamed when he attempted to drop me, but caught me in midair.

"Oh my god, don't you dare!" I warned, clinging on to his neck in protest. He shrugged, and before I knew what was happening, I was unceremoniously dumped into the pool making one big splash. I had little time to hold my breath before I hit the water, but I managed it.

Soaked, and drenched in chlorine, I glared at the bastard smiling on the edge of the pool, as I came up for air.

"Have you lost your mind? What the fuck was that for?" I screamed, spitting water out of my mouth, and nose. He just stood there with his hands over his chest with no look of remorse whatsoever. He shrugged.

"Thought it'll give you a wake up call." I growled.

"Yeah? Well here's a wake up call for you." I swam by the edge of the pool and grabbed hold of his leg in an attempt to pull him in but to no avail. The sucker wouldn't budge, and I probably looked like a three year old tugging on its mothers leg. He eyed me with an eyebrow cocked. God was this man built out of solid rock or something. I tugged again like a mad woman, but his foot remained grounded. I huffed. Why won't you move you son of a bitch. I silently cursed. Dimitri looked down at me with an amused expression.

"Are you done?" I cleared my throat. Stupid strong sexy leg. I decided to swallow down my embarrassment, trying to play it cool as I slipped out of the pool.

"Just know that I really could have pushed you in if I wanted to." I mumbled. His mouth tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I didn't doubt you for one second." Ugh! The bastard was mocking me. I resisted the urge to stick him with the middle finger, but that would just seem too childish, and he already made me feel like one.

"Whatever." Was my genius response. So much for not sounding like a child Rose. I flipped him off, stomping over to the recliner to retrieve my towel. Wiping my face, and glared.

"I will get you for this." He rolled his eyes.

"Get dressed Rose, and be in the gym in ten, or you will regret it." I glared at his retreating figure, and didn't make an attempt to follow him. He glanced over his shoulder for good measure.

"Now, Rose." I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. Hold your freaking horses." I said, turning around and pulling at the string of my bikini bra, letting it fall to the ground. I was slightly aware that his footsteps were no where near gone, but he said ten minutes right?

"Oh and Rose?" I jumped, hastily looking around for my towel. Settling for my arms to cover what little exposure there was. He cleared his throat.

"God! Can't you see I'm getting dressed here?" I looked over my shoulder, and glared. Yeah, maybe it was silly of me to get undressed out in the open…but it's not like anybody could see over those walls, and I doubt anyone in the house would take a peek.

I watched his eyes roam up and down my body, and something changed in his expression as his eyes settled on the lower dip of my back, eying my tattoo I guessed. I kinda liked his eyes on my body, but his mask of composure was impossible to tell if he liked what he was looking at. He cleared his throat again and finally met eyes.

"Sorry…just…." And with that, he turned to stalk away. God! He couldn't have stalked out of there fast enough. I shrugged, wrapping my towel around myself and headed for my room.

"Damn stupid lessons." I muttered on my way there. After I was dressed for training, I made a beeline for the gym. I didn't want to have him waiting any longer than I had. I rolled my eyes just thinking about him. Was he always this persistent?

I passed my fathers office and frowned when I noticed the door was slightly ajar. Voices bouncing off the walls. I stopped, figuring I may as well tune in to what was going on in my dads secret meetings. Besides, if my dad didn't want to fall prey to eavesdroppers, he would have locked his door like he always did. There were a few voices, but my father's voice was more dominant.

"Killing the man is asking for a war, we're not murderers. We want to see justice served, not make the situation worse for this country." My father was saying. I raised my eyebrows at that statement. Killing people? War?

"He's the leader of a multimillion dollar operation, and has an intimate connection with the leader of the Russian Federation. We can use him against his allies."

"How intimate?"

"He's the mans' half brother. He also has a daughter by the name of Natalie Dashkov. She's here too."

"And what do you suppose we do with these relatives of his? Torture them for simply sharing the same blood as Victor?"

"If it comes to that, yes." I narrowed my eyes, recognizing Stan's irritating voice instantly.

"Asshole." I muttered under my breath.

"He also has a niece; which happens to be your daughters' best friend too." My curiosity piqued at the mention of Lissa. What did Lissa have to do with all this?

"Vasilisa stays out of this, and so will my daughter." My father's voice of authority reverberated through the room.

"I get that sir, but we need to use all the resources we have in order to bring down this man. He's gotten away with too much already. Isn't Sir Castile's honor worth bringing this man to justice?" Oh the sick bastard was playing the wild card, and judging from his tone, he was loving every bit of it.

"Yes, I agree this man will be bought to justice, but not in the expense of my child, or her associates. Vasilisa's considered family here. She will not be exposed to the likes of that man."

I was startled when I heard my name being called behind me. I straightened and turned to the culprit. It was Natasha Ozera. My fathers secretary, and personal assistant. She'd been a trusted family friend for years, and she also had a knack for computers. She smiled, her iced blue eyes full of curiosity. She wore a blue cardigan, and plain jeans. Her raven black hair stood out in stark contrast next to her pale skin.

"Rose, shouldn't you be somewhere?" I bit my lip, nodding.

"Yeah, training with the big bad wolf Dimitri Belikov. I was on my way there." She smiled, making her scar on her cheek wrinkle.

"You think Dimka's the big bad wolf?" She chuckled, shaking her head.

"I suppose that's a good enough description." I frowned at the way she said Dimka, like she was remembering something private. It made me wonder if she's shared something intimate with the guy. I mean, she was already on nickname basis with him. That's gotta involve some kind of intimacy, right? Suddenly I felt a little jealousy spike and the green monster near its head, but I shoved it at the back of my mind.

"Dimka? Kinda sounds like a T.V commercial for a cleaning product." She laughed, and slipped into the office, leaving me staring after her.

Arriving in the gym, I found Dimitri sitting by the stereo with his legs up on the barbell bench. Reading a book? I raised my eyebrows.

"You're late." He accused. I rolled my eyes.

"I see that, though I'm sure I didn't miss much." Pointedly staring at his casual pose, reading a…Louie LAmour novel? This guy had a fetish for the wild-west. Well I'll be damned.

"You missed nearly an hour of training. Now you have to make up for it." I grunted throwing my duffel bag down on the floor. I shrugged.

"You know, if you want to spend extra time with me, you could just ask." He flipped the corner of the page down – that he'd been reading to mark his page, and closed it. He stood up.

"I have better things to do than spend my free time with you." Somehow, his comment bothered me a little. But I shrugged it off like no big deal.

"Yeah, I would have believed it if you weren't still pushing these classes. Come to think of it, why is that?"

"Why is what?"

"Well, seeming how you have better things to do than spend it me, why don't you go?"

"I can't."

"You can't or you won't?" He ignored my question and ordered me over to the mats, to start stretching. I reluctantly complied, and done the stupid stretches as he asked.

"So, you just were going to avoid my question huh?" Silence. Save for the strict orders he barked at me, carrying on with the lesson. He didn't even spare me a glance when we ran around the court a few laps.

"The silent treatment your giving me is kind of childish don't you think, Comrade?" I said after two hours of training. Anyone would think I was talking to a brick wall. I rolled my eyes, obviously not going to get an answer out of the man. I grabbed a cold water bottle out of the cooler, and flipped the lid off, watching him do his cool down stretches.

"Your ass kinda looks good from this angle." I said, hoping I'd get a rise out of him. Sure enough, he nearly lost his balance. I bit the insides of my cheeks in order to keep from laughing.

"Rose, that's completely inappropriate…and rude."

"He talks!" I bellowed, flipping my hands in the air.

I pegged him with a glare. "Yeah well, it's also rude to give a person the silent treatment, when they've done nothing wrong." He sighed.

"Your dad offered me a job I can't possibly refuse.

A/N: Sorry I've been totally MIA for too long. LOLOL I just haven't been in the mood to write fanfic to tell you the truth. I've been writing some of my own lately, and hope to turn them into something worth reading LOLOL In the meantime. I give you this chapter. :P