THE POPSTAR’S BODYGUARD 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 81 - 챕터 90

Can I?DANIELSome wounds didn't bleed. They sat quietly at the dinner table pretending they didn’t exist. Neo’s mom smiled sweetly at me, taking the drinks and glasses and setting them on the table. The atmosphere had suddenly become so tense. Even Charlie, usually incapable of staying quiet, barely spoke.The moment Mrs Vale sent Charlie and me to get the drinks, I understood. I lingered in the kitchen longer than necessary, listening to Charlie ramble about school.Neo wouldn’t look up from his food, and his mom wouldn't stop peeking at him once in a while. I didn’t know what their history was but she looked like she was trying. The rest of lunch passed in strained conversations. Charlie did most of the talking, telling his mom how cool I was. She laughed, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Excuse me for a minute. I’ll be right back.” Neo rose from his seat, tucked the chair back in place and left through a door I’d not seen since we arrived.Mrs Vale looked like she was ab

Off-ScriptDANIELThe worst part wasn’t what happened last night. It was pretending it hadn’t when I told myself I was tired of pretending. A part of me still nudged at my brain, telling me all the reasons this was a bad idea.The SUV rolled through Manhattan traffic while Neo scrolled absentmindedly on his phone beside me.Neither of us had mentioned the kiss. Or the partial confession. In fact, we’d gone back to acting as if nothing had changed. Anytime our eyes accidentally met, one of us looked away first. It was partially my fault. I’d avoided having breakfast with him this morning. My eyes strayed to him for the second time, and our eyes met. The corner of his mouth lifted, but he said nothing. My ears warmed as I turned my attention back to the passing buildings outside.Professional. I’d spent months hiding behind that word. This morning it felt paper-thin. The car came to a stop minutes later near one of the largest broadcasting companies in the country. I’d grown up li

No More DoubtNEOI checked my phone for the eighteenth time. Still nothing. Daniel had read the messages.He just hadn’t answered. I tossed my phone across the bed and immediately reached for it again, unlocking the screen as if a reply might magically appear because I’d looked away for five seconds. Nothing. I let out a frustrated groan and buried my face in the pillow. “You’re embarrassing yourself,” I muttered to the pillow, which surprisingly had no opinion. I’d sent him two texts after not seeing him after the interview. Earlier, he’d texted to say he had something to check out.But he should have been home hours ago. I wasn’t even sure what answers I was waiting for after sending those two texts. But my insecurity was slowly creeping back in. What if he had regretted last night and didn’t know how to act around me?I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling as if it held answers I was looking for. Then again, the way he’d looked at me last night wasn’t the look o

My VoiceNEOSeeing Daniel all gentle and caring tugged at my heartstrings. The man who could intimidate an entire room looked completely lost when it came to taking care of me.“You getting in or not?”He hesitated for one more second before dipping his legs in the water and getting in. He leaned his head against the edge of the tub and sighed softly, watching me.“Do you regret it?” I heard myself ask, my fingers parting the water lazily. I didn't look up, but I could feel the intensity of his eyes on me.“No. Not ever.” He replied calmly, voice soft. “I only regret not taking my time with you,” he added. “I don’t like that you’re hurt.” It was small. But I heard it. That tiny crack in his voice at the end. My eyes slid back to his as I made my way to the other side where he sat. Turning around, I pressed my back to his chest and sat between his legs.He shifted back a fraction, and my lips pulled up slightly. “Relax, I'm not made of glass.”Only then did his posture soften a bit,

After MidnightDANIELNeo wasn’t himself the whole day. Though he convinced me he was fine. I knew he was lying just from looking at his face and how quiet he’d been.I hated how useless I was then—hated how I could only sit back and watch. The faint sound of a piano came from somewhere outside my room, a soft note that drifted to my ears and made me sit up in my bed. Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I checked the time. 2 AM.Only one person could be behind the piano at this time of the night. Curiosity and concern tangled together, pushing me to my feet and out of my room. The house was quiet. Then the piano started again, this time a bit louder as I followed the sound. It was coming from deeper in the house. East Wing. The music room I’d only glanced at once during the walkthrough. I didn't turn on any lights. Flaps silent on the floor, I moved down the hall, past the windows that showed tiny cracks of lightning in the night sky. The double doors to the music room stood