Chapter 7: Present

Panic seizes my chest the moment I realize where they were taking me.

As we near the gates, my leg starts bouncing and I swallow hard. The smooth driveway and perfectly trimmed hedges give nothing away.

Because who would look at something this grand and question what waits behind those double doors?

As the van rounds the fountain centered in the driveway, the men exit, slamming the doors shut behind them. They stand for a few minutes, discussing.

Meanwhile, I try to placate myself, because this nightmare has just gotten worse. Mr. Bodyguard unlocks my door before offering me a hand.

His eyebrows knit together at my reluctance to take it. “Are you okay?”

I take a deep breath. “Do I look okay?” I ask pointedly.

He closes his eyes, swearing under his breath. “Well, next time I’ll just not ask.”

“Good. It’s not your job anyway.”

He withdraws his hand, deciding to hold the door instead. I struggle to get out on my own, though I wouldn’t dare admit it by asking for help.

After getting out, I don’t waste a second before marching up the stairs to the hellhole I’ve tried escaping for years.

Yet I always seem to come back here.

I reach for the doorbell at the same time the door flies open, and I’m wrapped in someone’s arms. The life being squeezed out of me.

Kaitlyn. I already know by the smell of her perfume.

'What are you doing here?” I manage, taking a step back from her.

She cups my face. “I heard what happened. What is going on?”

I shake my head, the lie already rolling off my tongue. “I don’t know.”

My mind ignores my stomach gnawing at me to reveal the truth. What I found in my closet earlier today but that will only make things worse.

Pushing past her, I step over the threshold and into the foyer. Marble floors glisten beneath the chandelier, though it isn’t needed because the massive windows make it so bright my eyes burn.

The staircase greets me, and the sight of it resurfaces a terrible memory. My feet are suddenly frozen in place.

Kaitlyn holds my shoulder, standing beside me.

I turn to look at her. “I can’t be here. You know that..”

“It’s for your safety,” Mr. Bodyguard adds. His eyes scan my face, holding eye contact for a beat too long. “Your father says it’s best.”

“I don’t care!” I seethe.

I promise that I’ve been working on my attitude, but ever since, he keeps testing my boundaries and personal space, the bitch is back.

Kaitlyn gasps, hand covering her mouth.

He grins. “I didn’t ask.”

He then turns and walks away, and oh my goodness, I would take my shoe off if bending didn't make me dizzy.

And I would throw it right at the back of his head.

“Deep breaths, Serena. You are better than this.”

Despite my efforts to calm down, I stalk after him. “You arrogant, infuriating, entitled, unprofessional—”

“What?” he says, taking a sharp turn, cocking an eyebrow at me. “Asshole?”

“You said it, not me.”

“Aw, is the princess afraid to say a curse word?"

I get so close that we are mere inches apart. I lift my head in an attempt not to speak to his chest.

Before I can do or say anything, Kaitlyn forces us apart. “Hey!”

She then turns to me. “Let’s go upstairs.”

“I’m not staying here!”

“You are!” My father’s voice booms as he exits the living room and walks toward us. “And it’s final.”

"Fine! You want me to stay? Then fire him!” I shout, pointing directly at the bodyguard.

My father’s lips press into a straight line. “Why?”

“He’s unprofessional!”

“And you don’t listen,” the bodyguard says plainly. “You can’t always have your own way, Ms. Moretti.”

“Princess, what did he do to you?” my father questions again.

Beside him, Mr. Bodyguard smirks at the sound of the nickname.

My cheeks heat up, “Dad, stop calling me that.”

My father pinches the bridge of his nose. “Mr. Lopez, what is the problem here?”

“She’s difficult, sir,” he says, meeting my gaze, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Yes, we already established that she is incredibly difficult.”

My mouth falls open at his confession. The bodyguard bites back his smile while Kaitlyn cringes.

My father turns to him, clearing his throat. “What I mean to say is… what do you mean she’s difficult?”

He stuffs his hands into his pockets. “I can’t protect someone who doesn’t want to be protected, sir.”

I throw my hands in the air. “Bingo!”

“Do you think this is a joke?” my father snaps, startling both me and Kaitlyn.

“Yes, the incident at the party could’ve been a coincidence. But the gun was pointed in our direction! You could’ve died that night, God forbid.”

His voice drops lower. “Then your house gets broken into, yet nothing valuable was missing. Someone had a point to prove. So why won’t you let me protect you?”

I step toward him, wrapping my arms around him. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

“I just can’t—I can’t lose you too."

“You won’t,” the bodyguard declares from behind us. “I’ll protect her with my life.”

I stare at him for a long moment, eyes searching his and studying his smug expression. I dislike him.

My father finally uses his sleeve to wipe his face. “I know you will. So I hope you don’t mind me requesting that you stay with us until the threat is eliminated.”

My protest is blocked by the guilt of stressing my dad any further. Kaitlyn locks her arm with mine.

I spare him one more glance, and he winks at me. I roll my eyes, turning toward the staircase. I will do this if it means putting Dad’s mind at ease.

But that surely doesn’t mean I won’t give Mr. Bodyguard a run for his money.