Chapter 6

Adrian’s POV

She walked out of her room like a damn vision.

For a moment, I forgot why I was here. Aurora Black hair falling in loose waves, lips glossed in a subtle sheen, curves hugged perfectly by a black jumpsuit looked every bit the storm she was. And she didn’t even try.

“Damn…” I muttered under my breath.

She paused and glanced at me. “Did you just say something?”

I straightened, locked it down. “Just that you look… stunning.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and I could tell she caught more than I wanted her to. She turned without a word, brushing past me toward the stairs. I followed instinctively.

She was glowing today, lighter than usual. “I’m heading out,” she said as we reached the foyer.

“Where to?”

“Out with friends”

“Define ‘out.’”

She turned to face me, already irritated. “Vivienne called. I’m going to catch up with her and Luke. You know “fun”? Normal people do that sometimes.”

I didn’t budge. “That’s not what I asked. Where. Exactly.”

She crossed her arms. “Why do you care?”

“Because it’s my job to keep you alive. Not let you dance into whatever danger you think you’re immune to.”

“I can take care of myself.”

I nearly laughed. “Is that what you call nearly falling down the stairs last week while texting?”

She gasped,Shocked!. “That was one time! And I didn’t fall. You caught me.”

I stepped closer. “Exactly. And I’ll keep catching you. But not if I don’t know where the hell you are.”

She sighed dramatically. “Fine. We’re meeting at the lounge near Fifth. Then we might head to the club later.”

Club? My spine stiffened. “No.”

She blinked. “What?”

“I said no. You can do dinner or whatever that lounge thing is, but the club is a hard pass.”

She scoffed. “Are you my father now?”

“No. But I answer to him. And the police. And the file that says you’ve got a stalker still at large.”

Aurora rolled her eyes. “He hasn’t shown up in weeks. And I refuse to live in fear.”

“You don’t have to. That’s what I’m here for. To live in fear for you.”

She stared at me like she couldn’t decide whether to slap me or scream. “Adrian… Blackwell,” she said, drawing out the name like it annoyed her. “I’m going. Either you come or I go alone.”

I clenched my jaw. Damn it, she had to say the magic words.

“Fine,” I ground out. “But I’m driving. And I’m staying close.”

“Don’t get in the way.”

“You’re always in mine.”

She smirked, clearly pleased with herself.

We arrived at the lounge twenty minutes later. She slid out of the car, heels clicking confidently against the pavement. Vivienne and Luke squealed and wrapped her in hugs, pulling her into their bubble like they hadn’t seen her in years.

I stayed a step behind as she introduced me, hands in my pockets. Vivienne raised a brow. “You’re the bodyguard?”

I nodded. “Adrian Blackwell.”

“Damn,” she whispered to Aurora. “Can I get stalked too?”

Aurora rolled her eyes. “Ignore her. She has no filter.”

“Apparently neither do you,” I muttered under my breath.

She turned. “Excuse me?”

I shrugged. “Didn’t say anything.”

The night dragged on, the laughter got louder, and I stayed on the sidelines. Watching. Always watching. I didn’t miss the way Aurora’s eyes flicked my way every now and then, or the soft smile she tried to suppress.

Then he showed up. Zach. The golden boy with too many opinions and not enough spine.

He walked in like he owned the place, beelined to her, and kissed her right in front of everyone.

I wanted to break his nose.

Aurora barely reacted. She didn’t lean in. Didn’t smile. She looked… bored.

Interesting.

Zach slipped an arm around her waist and looked at me like he wanted to say something but couldn’t decide how bold to be. I didn’t give him the chance.

“Problem?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said. “You.”

I arched a brow. “Be more specific.”

He leaned in, thinking he was intimidating. “She’s my girlfriend. Eyes off.”

I gave him a flat stare. “Not interested.”

His eyes darted to Aurora, as if checking if she heard. She did. And she looked mortified.

“Zach,” she warned, but he ignored her.

“Maybe it’s time you got reassigned.”

“Maybe it’s time you grew a pair,” I replied evenly.

Aurora stepped in between us. “Enough. Adrian, back off. Zach, stop being dramatic.”

Zach grumbled something about clubs being more fun and suggested we all go.

I immediately said, “No.”

Aurora turned to me. “We’re going.”

“I said no.”

She squared her shoulders. “You work for me.”

“I work for your father.”

She growled. “You are insufferable.”

“And you are reckless.”

She stepped closer. “Either you drive me or I’ll go without you.”

I cursed under my breath. “You don’t play fair.”

She gave me a sweet smile. “Good.”

I drove. Of course I did. Because even when I didn’t want to, even when it went against protocol, I followed her.

The club was dark, loud, and pulsing with the kind of energy I despised. Too many strangers, too many shadows. She tossed back a drink like it was water, laughing as her friends dragged her to the dance floor.

I stood by the railing, watching her move.

God.

She was… impossible. Her hips swayed with confidence, eyes shining under the flashing lights. I shouldn’t have looked. But I did. I couldn’t stop.

A guy approached her from behind, placing his hands on her waist.

Aurora turned slightly, trying to shake him off, but he didn’t move.

I was already moving.

By the time I got there, she looked annoyed, uncomfortable.

I grabbed the guy by his collar and punched him. Hard.

He dropped like a sack of bricks, blood leaking from his nose.

The music didn’t even stopbut everyone nearby did.

Aurora stared at me like I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had.

“You’re done here,” I said.

She snapped, “What the hell was that?!”

“He touched you.”

“I had it under control!”

“No, you didn’t.”

She stomped off. I followed.

“Go away,” she hissed.

“Not happening.”

“I’m not ready to leave.”

“I don’t care.”

“Adrian!”

That was the last straw. I bent down, threw her over my shoulder, and started walking.

She screamed, pounded at my back. “Put me down! Are you crazy?!”

People stared. I didn’t care.

Outside, I finally let her go.

She turned around and slapped me hard across the face.

The sting was sharp and immediate. I blinked once.

“How dare you embarrass me like that?! Who do you think you are?!”

I stepped in, grabbed her waist, pulled her close. “The next time you slap me, Aurora, I’ll kiss you so hard you forget your damn name.”

She froze.

For once, she had nothing to say.

I stepped back, opened the car door. “Get in.”

“You’re so arrogant,” she hissed as she slid into the passenger seat.

“And you’re so stubborn it’s dangerous,” I shot back.

She crossed her arms, staring out the window. “I’m calling my dad. You’re getting fired.”

I chuckled. “Not possible. I signed a six-month contract. You’re stuck with me.”

She grunted, refusing to look at me the entire ride back.

When we got home, she slammed the car door and stormed upstairs.

I watched her go.

God help me… she was infuriating.

But she was also the most beautiful, reckless, mesmerizing problem I’d ever had to solve.

And I wasn’t letting her out of my sight.

Not tonight. Not ever.