Chapter 3
Verra POV
"Do you have any idea what that means for
me?" I shouted at Baron. He didn’t even bother to acknowledge me.
Baron and I had… a rhythm. At least, I thought we did.
I’d sneak out, he’d chase me, and never really catch me until my night of fun
was over. That was the unspoken game. So, this sudden change in my security
arrangements was completely uncalled for.
Worse—it was a woman. The last thing I needed was
another bitch like me getting in my way.
"It’s for your protection,"
"We had a deal. You’d better give me back half of
what I paid," I growled.
"The deal broke the moment I found out you have a
stalker."
I laughed, a sound that twisted at my ribs; though
that could’ve been the actual pain in my side. "
“A stalker is dangerous, you know."
I paced between the bed and the closet, pulling
clothes for tonight. No one—no bitch—was going to stop me from having fun.
"They’re just a couple of notes," I said
dismissively.
"A couple? Try a hundred or more. Doesn’t that
strike you as something to worry about?"
I wasn’t worried. I had eyes on me everywhere, and
while it was admittedly a little unsettling how he always found a way to slip
me those notes—it meant he was closer than I thought—it wasn’t like I’d
been kidnapped, or even threatened. The weirdo wasn’t dangerous.
If anything… it was fun.
"You're just so intrusive, Baron. You couldn’t
leave well enough alone."
"It’s my job to protect you."
"Yeah—was your job. Because you’re
fired," I growled, yanking a party dress off its hanger.
"Ms. Avalon—"
"Don’t say my name. You’ve taken away my
pleasure. Do you have any idea how miserable it’s going to be with a woman
bodyguard? What’s she going to do; criticize my makeup?"
"I promise you’ll be in good hands."
"I don’t want good hands, I want fun.
You’ve ruined that for me."
"I’m sorry, Ms. Avalon."
The door swung open. Someone stepped inside, face
shadowed by a hood cap, the bulk of a protective vest rising over their chest.
"You’re fired!" I barked at Baron.
"Baron, go," the newcomer said smoothly.
"Ms. Robinson has your files on Mrs. Messi."
Baron sighed in relief. I, on the other hand, glared
at both of them. "Listen, lady he’s fired. He has no more work here
because he failed at being a good boy."
"Hm." It was the only thing she said.
She thought I was joking.
"I’ll make sure daddy makes him suffer."
"Well, your daddy isn’t the owner of the
company," she declared, her tone dry. "So, I don’t think he has a say
in who stays or goes. As of now, I’m your new bodyguard. Baron, see yourself
out."
"It was nice working—"
"Get the fuck out!" I blared.
He left without another word. The woman didn’t move.
She stood planted in my doorway, filling the space like a full capacity of
mass.
"You. Baseball cap. Get rid of it."
"No."
She was already proving to be a bitch.
I gave her a once-over. Her height bothered me. I’d
been picturing someone petite but fierce, the type who could still break a few
bones if needed. Instead, I got this. I set my outfit carefully on the
bed.
"Listen up."
I eyed the four party dresses laid out before me.
"You need to understand my schedule."
Nothing. Not a word. I could feel her still
there. Her presence was too heavy to ignore. Finally, I glanced over my
shoulder. She was still blocking the doorway, legs braced, long and solid in
roomy trousers, one hand gripping the front of her vest like she might crush
it.
"You don’t look anything like a bodyguard."
She wasn’t going to answer me. Wasn’t going to explain
what she did before this. Most bodyguards came from something—
Soldier.
Criminal.
Weightlifter.
Firefighter.
Police.
Whatever the job, it took guts and muscle. Baron used
to be a firefighter. This woman? She looked like a cocktail of criminal and
assassin. "Well then…" I turned back to the bed, lifting the black
dress. Pretty, but it didn’t match the energy I wanted for tonight.
"I go to the club three times a week—no set
schedule. I go shopping every Saturday. I have secret visits with my mother.
And I’ve got other little things I’ll tell you as we go." I gave her a
once-over. "We’re both women, which means we both get periods and yes,
that makes us both bitches. But keep your bitch attitude for your
husband. Then again, with how jacked you look, I doubt any man wants you."
I giggled at my own jab. "Now, where was I? Oh,
right the only girl allowed to have an attitude around here is me. My daddy’s
the one paying you, and I might even throw you a little something extra."
She still hadn’t said a word. Most guards would’ve
asked a question by now. Maybe even picked a fight they’d inevitably lose. But
she was silent. Completely silent.
I turned to face her fully. "Did you hear
me?"
She didn’t move. Didn’t even twitch. Was she looking
at me? I couldn’t tell.
I stepped into her space. "I’m talking to you.
Your name?"
Every guard before her had introduced themselves
without hesitation.
"Where do you think you’re going?" she said
suddenly.
The change in her voice sent a prickle down my spine.
When she’d spoken to Baron earlier, she’d sounded almost casual. Now it was
darker—Like a sleep over dare.
Fine. Challenge accepted.
"I’ll be going to the club," I said,
"You’ll keep your damn mouth shut about it."
"You’re staying in."
I laughed. I didn’t think three words could be that
funny. You’re staying in? Wow. Okay.
"Listen up, Optimus Prime. I. Have. A.
Life."
Her hands stayed buried in her pockets. I hated how
that stance made her size impossible to ignore how it silently told me she
could take me on without breaking a sweat. But this was my domain. I was
the one who practically hired and fired around here. My father handled the
business side; I ran the mansion. Ever since my mother had been out of the
picture, I’d been the woman of the house. The CEO of this entire estate.
"I’m going out tonight," I declared.
"Hm."
I hated people of few words. They always carried that
dangerous sort of confidence that you didn’t mess with. I tilted my head, but
even then, I couldn’t see her eyes. My gaze caught on her lips instead
beautiful, but curved in what I thought was a smirk.
I stepped closer. Not because I was scared. Why would
I be? She was here to protect me.
Just above the collar of her vest, I caught sight of a
tattoo inked along her neck. And then something else. Something that must’ve
hurt far worse. A deep, rose-red scar traced from the corner of her upper lip
and disappeared upward, too high for me to see where it ends.
That wasn’t a smirk. She wasn’t smiling at all. She
was just staring.
"You’re free to chase me around," I told
her, lips curling. "I actually enjoy the chase."
"Have a good evening, Ms. Avalon."
She turned, her strong back to me. That wasn’t the
reaction I wanted. She was supposed to fight me on this.
"Where are you going?"
"To check the perimeter," she said, already
walking away.
"But you’re not listening to what I’m
saying." I called out after.
She turned to face me. "I’ve heard all I need to
hear. You’ll be staying in for the rest of the months I’m assigned to you for."
"My explanation, is that I’m going out
tonight."
"I’ll get the proper schedule from your
father."
I chuckled. "Listen up, I am the owner of my
life. A full-grown adult."
"Good," she said uninterruptedly, "So
your father will have no problem knowing his adult daughter is going to a club
and coming home at strange hours of the night."
She stepped toward the door, but I wasn’t about to let
her get away that easily. I rushed in front of her; arms spread like I was
trying to calm a wild horse. "How much do you want? Do you have kids? Want
a little something extra?"
I tilted my head back, straining my neck just to meet
her gaze. Her hair as dark as black liquor spilled from beneath a Chicago Cubs
baseball cap. I was a fan myself, and of that exact team.
"Have a good day, Ms. Avalon."
"My father doesn’t even have a schedule for
me."
"Well, now he’s about to. I plan to monitor your
every move."
I scoffed. "You sound like a stalker. Maybe
you’re the stalker."
"If I were a stalker," she said, a shadow of
amusement in her voice, "I wouldn’t waste my time on a helpless girl, now,
would I?"
"Remember, I’m the bitch here. The only
bitch."
"You’re right."
She strutted off, leaving me seething. I stomped back
into my room, jaw tight.
I was going out tonight.
This was going to be fun. I couldn’t wait to see her
rushing all over the place.
*************
"Father, has the new bodyguard said anything to
you?" I asked, careful not to give too much away.
"Please be specific."
I shrugged, spearing a small bite of quinoa with my
fork. "About anything, really, Daddy." I smiled sweetly across the
table.
This woman had practically been dropped into my life
out of nowhere. I didn’t even know her name, her facial features, or her eye
color, yet she was everywhere, breathing down my neck without even being
visible. I hadn’t seen her much, so technically she wasn’t in my face…
but she might as well have been. I needed to know who I was dealing with.
Barton had been different. He’d had a soft spot for
me, like I reminded him of the little sister he never had mostly because his
mother had been too busy having abortions.
"I don’t follow," Father said.
I sighed, setting my utensils down with exaggerated
delicacy. "Daddy, you sprung a new bodyguard on me?"
"I’m afraid that wasn’t my choice, Verra."
"Even if it wasn’t, couldn’t she be a little
more… mannered?"
"She’s the best. Owner of Santangelo Security and
Cyber Protection. Simply the best."
"That doesn’t mean she’s well-mannered."
"What did she do? I’ll talk to her."
"Well, for starters, I haven’t had a proper
introduction."
"That’s all?"
That made my nerves prickle. "If she’s supposed
to be protecting me, don’t you think she should be introduced to me properly?"
"I observed," he said, his knife cutting
through the lamb while his fork held it steady, like it was trapped in a
prison.
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"She’s a woman of few words. But I’ll introduce
you properly. Her name is Eren Santangelo. She owns the firm." His brows
drew together. "Come to think of it, that’s the only thing I actually know
about her."
"Maybe she’s the stalker," I said, giving
him a pointed look.
"She’s not. Are you paranoid?"
"Paranoid? No. I’m just putting two and two
together. We both agreed my stalker could be anyone."
"You and who, Verra?"
"Forget it," I muttered, stabbing into my
salad. "Will you be going to work tonight?"
He sighed. "I will."
"Oh."
"Will the girls spend the night?"
"No. I’ll be staying back, trying to get to know
the guard you practically forced on me," I said, my gaze dropping to the
elegant gold tablecloth.
"I don’t think you’ll get much from her."
"Where is she now?"
"Last I saw, she was checking the
perimeter."
I wondered what she was looking for. My stalker
probably wasn’t even here.
"She’s a woman of few words," Father
continued, "so I doubt you’ll be able to form the kind of bond you had
with the others."
I shrugged, perfectly calm. If she wasn’t talkative, I
could live with that. All I needed was for her to know her place. She was mine
now, and she’d do what I said whether she wanted a reward for it or not.
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