The Former Marine

Chapter 70: Back to Los Angeles

Derek walked through Kylie's front door, exhausted but pleased. After days of shooting the Paco Rabanne commercial in Dubai, he was finally back in Los Angeles. The familiar smell of Kylie's house and the sound of Stormi's laughter upstairs made him smile. He dropped his suitcase on the living room floor and walked toward the kitchen, where he knew he would find Kylie and Kendall.

"Look who's back! The commercial star," Kendall joked, looking up from her phone as she saw Derek walk in. She was sitting on one of the stools at the kitchen island, sipping a smoothie. Kylie, next to her, was chopping fruit for breakfast.

"Welcome back," Kylie said with a warm smile. "How was it in Dubai? Did the shoot go well?"

Derek leaned over and gave Kylie a light kiss on the forehead before grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl. "It was amazing. The production was well organized and the plane jump was definitely the best part." He took a bite of his apple and looked at Kendall, who was clearly waiting for more details.

"What about Gigi?" Kendall asked, raising her eyebrows with a curious smile. "I heard you guys spent a lot of time together on set."

Derek laughed, knowing Kendall wouldn't let anything slip. "Yeah, Gigi is really cool. We talk a lot between takes, she's really easygoing and down to earth, despite all the fame. She's told me a lot of funny stories about the runways and of course about you and Kylie. It seems like the three of you have a lot of secrets."

Kylie laughed, shaking her head as she continued to prepare breakfast. "Gigi is wonderful. She's always been so kind and funny. I imagine you two got along well."

Derek nodded. "Yeah, definitely. It was nice to have someone to help me feel more comfortable in an environment that was so different for me. She makes everything seem easy."

Kendall leaned forward a little, clearly curious. "So when can we see this commercial? I want to see how you look in that fancy suit."

Derek smiled, grabbing another piece of fruit from the counter. "The commercial actually airs tomorrow. I was told it's going to be aired on a bunch of channels, as well as on social media. I'm not sure I'm ready to see my face in a perfume commercial, but I'm excited to see how it turns out."

Kylie smiled, pausing for a moment to look at Derek. "You're going to rock it. I'm sure you'll look amazing. And I can't wait to see you with Gigi. It's going to be iconic."

Derek felt a surge of affection for Kylie's support. She's always been his biggest cheerleader, and knowing that she was looking forward to the commercial made him even more excited.

"It was weird wearing that suit after jumping out of a plane, but I think it looked good," he joked, taking a seat next to Kylie. "And the mid-action outfit change was a really nice touch. I felt like a real fashion spy."

Kendall laughed out loud. "A fashion spy? That's new. But seriously, I'm curious to see how it turns out. I think you're going to do really well in this new role."

Kylie nodded. "You have this natural talent for adapting to anything. Whether it's jumping out of planes or appearing in commercials, you seem to be able to do it all with ease."

Derek smiled, happy to have his sisters' support. He knew that being in the world of media and advertising was new to him, but having Kylie and Kendall by his side made it easier and less intimidating.

"Well, let's all watch it together tomorrow then," Kylie suggested as she finished preparing the fruit and set the plates on the table. "It'll be fun to see the commercial firsthand and celebrate your success."

Derek nodded, excited at the idea. "Yeah, that'll be great. Let's do it."

As everyone settled down at the table for breakfast, the mood was relaxed and welcoming. Stormi's laughter echoed through the house, and conversation flowed naturally between them, with Kendall joking around and Kylie talking about upcoming work commitments.

When breakfast was over, they went to the living room, where they continued to chat. Derek was happy to be back in Los Angeles and surrounded by the people who mattered most to him. And, of course, he was looking forward to what would come the next day with the release of the commercial.

The next day, as planned, Kylie, Kendall, and Derek gathered in the living room to watch the long-awaited commercial. Kylie had the remote in her hand, ready to turn on the TV to the channel where the commercial would air. Stormi and Aire played in the background, and the mood was full of anticipation.

"Are you nervous?" Kylie asked, watching Derek.

"A little," he admitted with a shy smile. "But I'm also curious to see how it all turns out."

Kendall, next to him on the couch, patted his back. "You're going to be great. Relax."

When the commercial started, the image of Derek jumping out of a plane flashed across the screen, followed by the elegant transition as he changed from his military gear to a crisp suit. The final scene, with him applying One Million perfume and meeting Gigi Hadid, was full of style and charm.

"Wow!" Kylie exclaimed as the commercial came to an end. "That was amazing, Derek! You look like a real action star."

Kendall laughed. "Yeah, it almost feels like you've been doing this for years."

Derek, now relaxed, smiled. "It was fun to do, I admit. And I think it turned out better than I expected."

Kylie leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. "I'm so proud of you. And honestly, I think everyone is going to love this commercial."

Kendall nodded, looking at her phone. "I'm sure social media will explode once this goes live. And you'll gain even more fans."

Derek shook his head, still trying to get used to the idea of ​​being in the spotlight. But surrounded by people who supported and loved him, he knew he could face any challenge that came his way. And the success of the commercial was just the beginning of a new phase in his life.

They spent the rest of the day together, talking about the commercial, laughing about the filming, and celebrating Derek's newfound success. He was grateful to have Kylie and Kendall by his side, and knew that with them, every accomplishment would be even sweeter.

Chapter 71: The Media Backlash

The morning after Derek's Paco Rabanne commercial was released, it started with a social media and news site explosion. As soon as the commercial aired on the online platforms, the comments started to multiply, and the media wasted no time in covering the new advertising star.

Kylie and Derek were sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee, when Kylie's phone started to vibrate incessantly. She glanced at it and saw a flurry of notifications.

"Derek, it looks like you're causing quite a stir," she said with a mischievous smile, showing him the screen of her phone.

Derek, curious, frowned and leaned in to take a look. The mentions on Twitter and Instagram were going up, with fans and journalists posting about the commercial. Several entertainment profiles had already published articles about the video.

"Check it out," Kylie said, scrolling through her feed. "It seems the world is impressed with your skydiving and, of course, your chemistry with Gigi. I think you've officially entered the media radar."

Derek gave a half-hearted smile, still trying to get used to all the attention. "I knew the commercial would be big, but I didn't expect it to get so much attention so quickly."

Kylie laughed, clearly used to the frenetic pace of fame. "Welcome to my world. Now, everything you do is going to be news."

She then began reading some of the most notable comments out loud:

"'Derek Rogan is absolutely stunning in the new Paco Rabanne commercial! Who knew a former Marine could pull off a suit so well?'," Kylie read, smiling at Derek.

Derek shook his head. "This is unreal."

Kylie continued: "'Gigi Hadid and Derek Rogan are the duo we didn't know we needed. I want to see these two work together again!' 'Derek Rogan as a fragrance model? He can do anything!' and 'Paco Rabanne nailed it with this choice. I can't wait to see more of this guy!'"

Derek looked at Kylie with a mix of surprise and amusement. "Okay, this is getting serious."

As they laughed over the texts, Kendall walked into the kitchen, her face lit up with excitement. She was holding her phone and seemed to already be up to speed on everything that was happening on social media.

"Dude, you broke the internet!" she said, pointing at Derek. "The commercial is all over the headlines right now. Even my Instagram feed is full of posts about it."

Derek laughed, still trying to process everything. "I only did one job, but it seems like the reaction was bigger than I thought it would be."

Kendall plopped down in one of the chairs next to them and began reading some of the headlines out loud: "'Derek Rogan, the new face of Paco Rabanne, wows with stylish action performance in One Million commercial,' 'The former Marine turned perfume star,' and 'Derek Rogan and Gigi Hadid: Fashion's new golden couple?'"

Kylie raised an eyebrow and looked at Derek playfully. "You and Gigi are the new golden couple, huh?"

Derek laughed and shook his head.

"I think people are taking it a little too far. Gigi and I only worked together on this one commercial."

"Well, it seems like the world wants to see more of you two," Kendall said with a wink. "But seriously, that commercial was amazing, Derek. People are really impressed."

At that moment, Derek's phone began to vibrate as well. He picked it up and saw a bunch of messages from friends, coworkers, and even former military buddies. Everyone was eager to congratulate him on his success.

"Here's a message," he said, showing a message from an old friend from his Marine Corps days. "'Who would have thought you'd go from jumping out of planes to selling perfume? You're going places, bro!'"

Kylie laughed. "I think you're officially on a new level now, Derek. You're not just a gym instructor anymore, you're a commercial star."

As they chatted, the notifications kept coming in, and Kylie couldn't stop laughing at some of the more enthusiastic comments from fans. Some said Derek should star in his own action movie, others asked him and Gigi to do more work together. The James Bond comparison also came up frequently, praising Derek's coolness in the commercial.

Later that day, as they lounged in the living room, the television was tuned to one of the major entertainment news channels. And of course, Derek and Gigi's commercial was mentioned as a trending topic.

"It seems that the new Paco Rabanne commercial is getting a lot of attention," said the show's host. "Derek Rogan, a former Marine turned fitness instructor in Los Angeles, has made his advertising debut alongside supermodel Gigi Hadid. The commercial, which features Derek jumping out of a plane and then transforming into a man in an impeccable suit, is being widely praised for its impressive action and style. Social media is abuzz, and rumor has it that we'll be seeing a lot more of Derek in the future."

Derek looked at Kylie, surprised at how quickly everything was happening. "This is all happening so fast."

Kylie smiled, taking his hand. "Well, you did really well, and now people want more from you. That's a good sign."

Derek took a deep breath, trying to process what this meant for his future. He had never imagined he would find himself in this kind of position, but now it felt like the world was watching his every move.

"You'll get used to it," Kylie said, as if reading his mind. "The media will be all over you for a while, but the important thing is that you continue to be yourself. And trust me, this is just the beginning."

Derek smiled, feeling grateful to have Kylie by his side during this unexpected time in his life. Her support, as well as that of Kendall and everyone around him, made it all easier to deal with.

That night, they continued to watch the commercial unfold, as fans continued to post their praise and news sites continued to cover Derek's meteoric rise. For him, it was a new chapter opening, and while it was still uncharted territory, he knew that with the support of the people he loved, he could face whatever came next.

Chapter 72: Protection and Respect

It was a quiet night in Los Angeles when Derek and Kylie decided to go out for some fun. They had arranged to meet Stassie at one of the hottest bars in the city. Stassie, one of Kylie's best friends, was excited for the night of fun, and everyone was in a good mood.

When Derek and Kylie arrived at the bar, Stassie was already there, sitting at a reserved table, smiling when she saw them. She stood up to greet them, giving Kylie a tight hug and Derek a friendly smile.

"Finally! I thought you guys would never get here," Stassie joked.

Kylie laughed. "You know, it took us a while to get out of the house, but we're here now."

The trio ordered some drinks and started talking, laughing and enjoying the loud music and the contagious energy of the place. Derek was relaxed, enjoying the company of the two women, but always maintaining his protective posture, as was his natural instinct.

The night was going on and they were having a great time when suddenly something unexpected happened. As Stassie got up to go to the bathroom, a man who was passing by took the opportunity to grab her ass in an invasive and disrespectful manner.

The shock on Stassie's face was immediate. She turned around, visibly disturbed, and before she could react, Derek, who was just a few feet away, realized what had happened. His instincts were faster than his words.

In one swift and precise movement, Derek got up from the table and walked over to the man in question. He grabbed the man's arm firmly and, in the blink of an eye, knocked him to the floor with a quick but controlled blow.

"Are you crazy?" Derek growled, his voice low but full of authority. "You think you can touch her like that?"

The bar was silent for a few seconds as the people around him processed what had just happened. The man on the ground was clearly startled and unresponsive, shocked both by the suddenness of Derek's action and by the deadly glare he was giving him.

"I... I didn't mean to..." the man began to splutter, trying to get up, but Derek planted his foot firmly on the ground, blocking any attempt the man made to move.

"It doesn't matter what you meant," Derek said, his voice icy. "You disrespected a woman, and that's not going to happen here. Apologize, now."

Kylie was at Stassie's side, hugging her and trying to calm her down. Stassie was still shaken, but relieved that Derek had acted so quickly.

The man, embarrassed and still on the ground, looked at Stassie and mumbled an apology, his voice shaking.

"I'm sorry... I... I shouldn't have done that."

Derek held his steady gaze for a few more seconds, making sure the man understood the gravity of his actions, before finally allowing him to stand.

"Get out of here," Derek said firmly. "And don't bother anyone again."

The man, clearly intimidated, quickly walked away from the group, disappearing into the crowd at the bar. Derek watched him until he was sure he wasn't coming back, and only then did he turn his attention to Stassie and Kylie.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer now as he looked at Stassie with genuine concern. Stassie took a deep breath, still a little shaky, but nodded.

"Yeah, I'm... I'm okay now. Thank you, Derek. I don't even know what I would have done if you weren't here."

Kylie also looked at Derek with admiration and relief. "You were amazing, as always. Thank you for taking care of her."

Derek shook his head. "No one should have to go through that. I just did what any decent person would do."

They returned to the table, but the lighthearted atmosphere from before had temporarily been replaced by a sense of alertness. However, Derek made sure that the rest of the night was as comfortable as possible for Stassie.

"Let's order another round of drinks," he said, trying to ease the tension. "And if you want, Stassie, we can leave here and go somewhere quieter."

Stassie smiled, finally relaxing a little more. "No, it's okay. I don't want this guy to ruin our night. Let's just enjoy the rest of the night."

And so they did. Slowly, the laughter returned, and the group continued to have fun. Derek, however, kept his eyes always on them, making sure nothing else out of place happened.

As they talked and laughed, Kylie leaned towards Derek, whispering in his ear. "You're amazing, you know? Not just for today, but for always looking out for us. I love you."

Derek looked at her with a soft smile. "I love you too. I'll always look out for you."

The night went by without incident, and Stassie, now calmer, seemed grateful to have such protective friends around her. When they finally decided to call it a night and leave, Derek made sure to walk them both to their car, making sure that they would be safe.

"I hope this didn't ruin your night," he said as they got into the car.

Stassie shook her head, smiling. "You did the opposite, actually. You saved the night. And thank you again, Derek. You're a true hero."

Kylie nodded, holding Derek's hand as they prepared to leave. "Absolutely. You always do the right thing."

Derek just smiled, satisfied that he had done what was necessary to protect the people he loved. Tonight, he wasn't just a gym instructor or a rising public figure; he was, above all, someone who would always put the well-being of his friends and family first.

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