Chapter 2

• A look of confusion form on my face when I open the door and I see father standing in front of my door.
• “How can you agree to have him guard you when you don’t even know anything about him?” He doesn’t sound pleased and I already know. I mean we have fought about everything else I can think of.
• “You sought out the company dad” I tell him, “and no one will dare to hurt me, especially not a bodyguard. Have you forgotten who’s daughter I am? The Lucas Festilio. The owner of mirage and also the alpha of the blood moon pack. Do you think anyone in their right senses will want to hurt me?”
• “I do not trust that man, Eve” he says, “and I want you not to trust him too”
• I don’t bother to wait for his response and I quickly make my way towards the in house elevator and in a few minutes, I am walking towards the bodyguard who is standing beside an Aston martini. A look of bewilderment flashes through my face, I didn’t know bodyguards make a lot of money these days.
• “Are we going in your car?” I ask, coming to a halt in front of him. I use this opportunity to study him. This man is handsome. Handsome is even an understatement to describe him, he is ethereal. He is like someone out of a painting. How can someone so beautiful be a bodyguard? He is over six foot tall and I look like a fucking teenager in front of him.
• “I didn’t know I would be starting today” his deep baritone jolts me out of my thoughts, his silver eyes peering at me like he is trying to sniff my soul. His eyes remind me of a certain someone but I slam that box close. I shouldn’t be thinking about him again.
• “But I will keep my car at home and make sure to use yours starting tomorrow. We can use mine for now”
• So dominating. So commanding and so confident.
• “I see. My name is Evanthe. What is yours”
• “Adir” he answers and my heart skips a beat.
• “Your name is Adir?” My voice falters, revealing my innermost fears.
• “Why? I shouldn’t bear it?” He leans back against his car and folds his hands, his biceps peeking out through his shirt.
• “No, I didn’t mean that. I just…” my gaze rests on his eyes again, “the coincidence is just uncanny. I used to know someone , I mean you both share the same name and you have the same eyes”
• “So you think I am him?”
• “No!” I blurt out, “I mean he is dead anyways….it's just… you know what? We should leave before I get late”
• “Sure”
• I watch him open the car door for me and I gently slip into the passenger’s seat before I watch him slip in beside me and he zooms off. He smells nice, almost delicious.
• “Where are we going, ma’am?”
• “Call me Evanthe, please”
• “Of course not, you are my boss”
• “Please, call me Evanthe and you must know mirage right? That’s where I am headed”
• “Okay”
• Silence slowly creeps into the car, I keep stealing glances at him. There is just something about him that I haven’t seen in any man before. Something captivating…
• “Maybe I should add glances bill to your Cheque?” His voice cuts through my musing, “you keep stealing glances at me”
• “I didn’t know bodyguards earned enough to afford an Aston martini these days, Adir”
• He lets out a little chuckle, sparing me a quick glance before returning his focus to the road ahead.
• “Do I look like some cheap bodyguard?”
• “That’s not what I mean, I just…
• “I know what you mean, ma’am” he answers, “and yes, we earn enough to afford all the luxury we want”
• “I see, that’s beautiful”
• He doesn’t say anything again and I turn away from him as my eyes catch the billboard with a certain man’s picture on it. My insides knot as I continue to look at him and the lady beside him. I don’t understand why it was easy for him to throw away seven years of our lives for that woman. Samaj and I found out we were mates eight years ago and he was ecstatic to make me his. We quickly did our mark and mate ceremony even though he didn’t have a lot to offer me. A year after our mating ritual, I took in and I gave birth to our daughter. Five months ago, he served me divorce papers under the guise of finding his true love. A woman who is from a no name pack, someone who can’t even dare to stand in front of me. I didn’t even fight it, I signed the papers and took custody of our child. Now he is running for office, forgetting what he did five months ago?
• “Ex husband?” Adir’s voice cuts through my thoughts and I turn my head towards him.
• “How did you…
• “Of course I did my homework before coming here. Tough one?”
• “Not really” I shrug, “but please, keep my secret”
• “Sure”
• We become silent again until he finally pulls up in front of the company building and I climb out.
• “The meeting is only for an hour. You can take a tour and I will see you after I am done”
• “I am your bodyguard, ma’am. I will stick to you like glue”
• Before I can say anything, a sea of reporters are already upon us. Taking pictures and shoving their microphones into my face.
• “Tell us ma’am, do you think Mirage will be able to acquire X-gaming?” One of them asks.
• “What will happen if mirage falls to acquire X- gaming?” Another puts out, “does that mean Mirage will be losing billions of dollars!”
• “And what does that mean?” I ask them, “has mirage ever made you feel like it can not live up to its name? My father built that company from scratch with his sweat and his blood. Of course, acquiring X-gaming is a simple task”
• “You have so much confidence in yourself” another says.
• “Who is this man beside you, ma’am?”
• “Is he your lover?”
• “The last we heard, you were married”
• “I am her bodyguard,” Adir tells them, “don’t spread any rumors. If you will excuse us now”
• He makes way through the crowd and we make our way into the building. How did they know I would be here today? I need to be more careful.
• “Thank you,” I tell him.
• “I was only doing my job” he says, then his forehead curves slightly, “the last I heard mirage was co-founded by your father and someone else right?”
• “Hmm” I nod, “but he died and left everything for my father. That’s why I can’t let any other company acquire X-gaming. This is their legacy and I need to protect it”
• “I see”
• “You can make yourself comfortable, I will see you after the meeting”
• “Sure”
• After that, I make my way towards the elevator to go ace the meeting.
• “Sorry for keeping you, I was caught up with reporters outside”
• “I am sure they are eager on who would acquire X-gaming” one of the other company representatives say.
• “Of course, I am sure they are all waiting for the announcements. We have already reached a consensus, it’s left for us to complete the paperwork”
• “Before then I have a few things to say” The CEO of X-gaming says but at that moment, his phone rings and he excuses himself to go and answer it.
• “Let’s go over the papers until he gets back” I tell them and my assistant goes ahead to hand them the papers and we start to discuss the next line of action. A few minutes later, the door opens up and he steps into the room again.
• “Just in time” I tell him, “we should proceed…
• “Something came up” he blurts out and my head whips to his direction.
• “What….
• “I just got a call from my grandfather. We are no longer interested in selling”
• I abruptly stand up, a look of confusion flashing through my face, “what do you mean? What are you talking about?”
• “I am sorry but like I said, we are no longer interested. Another company got the bid”
• “What? What other company?” My eyes travel around the room, “all the companies vying for X-gaming are here. So what other company got it? Why?”
• “That’s what my grandfather told me, I am sorry for any inconvenience caused”
• He gathers his stuff from the table and makes his way out, leaving me and the others more confused than we could ever be. I was supposed to close the deal today
• I immediately run after him, I can’t let this happen.
• “Anton!” I call after him just before he and his assistant would enter the elevator, “what’s going on? You assured me!”
• “I am sorry, Evanthe” he apologizes, “but I can’t go against my grandfather. I will try to find out what happened and I will get back to you”
• He finally leaves and the urge to scream down the building envelopes me but I pull myself together. I won’t let this happen, I won’t let X-gaming pass me by.i tell finally tell them that I will get back to them before making my way out again.
• *****
• Adir is seated In the lobby and as soon as he sees me, a small smile creeps up on his face and he stands up.
• “It isn’t even up to forty minutes yet” he says, “why are you out now?”
• “Let’s just go” I tell him and he nods, leading the way.
• The reporters are still camped outside the building and they immediately rush towards us as soon as they see me.
• “I don’t want to talk to them,” I tell Adil.
• “Did you finally secure the deal?” Some of them ask.
• “Information reaching us that the founder of X-gaming has refused to sell to you. How credible is this, ma’am?
• “Say something, please”
• “You were sure you would close the deal and now…
• “That’s enough” a much deeper baritone calls out behind me and I swivel my head to see it is Adil, he can make his voice that deep too?
• “The lady is not in the mood to talk, can we at least respect that? You will be sued for trespassing if you don’t get that camera off her face” he looks upset and a feeling of security washes over me, I should have gotten one sooner.
• All the reporters immediately retire and he leads me towards the car, zooming off when we were both settled.
• “Thank you”
• “No need for that, ma’am. That’s my job”
• “Let’s take a detour, I need to pick up my sister from her school”
• Adir looks at me for a moment and I see a small smile dancing at the base of his lips, does he know this too?
• “If I am going to be your bodyguard, you need to be totally honest with Miss Evanthe"
• “Just how much do you know about me, Adir?”
• “Enough to keep me going, ma’am”
• “Did you do a background check on me?”
• “Is it a crime?”
• I open my mouth to answer him but I decide against that. I am not in the mood to have a full fledged conversation with him so I will leave it be.
• “Yes, my daughter” I tell him, “after that, you can leave for the day. I am moving into my apartment next week, that’s when your full work starts”
• “Sure”
• I close my eyes and press my head against the car headrest. How did I lose this deal? Why would he suddenly change his mind? They both assured me, I was confident I would close the deal today and now..
• My phone starts ringing and dad’s name pops up, making me roll my eyes. I almost don’t want to answer but it’s not like I can hide forever. Letting out a sigh, I click on the receive button before pressing the phone against my ear.
• “Hello dad”
• “You assured me you would secure X-gaming, Eve”
• “And I am going to do that, dad” I blurt out in frustration, “it is just a minor setback. I am going to meet with Anton and his grandfather and I am going to get us that deal. You need not worry”
• “If you can not handle it, you better step aside?”
• “What?”
• “You heard me, young lady. Mirage is mine, I won’t anything harm it”
• “I can do this, dad” I am almost crying in frustration, “can you just let me be?”
• “I have already arranged for a dinner meeting with the old man, make sure to make a good pitch. I will take you off the deal if you can’t work your way into his mind this time around”
• He doesn’t wait for my response and ends his call, leaving me feeling stupid.
• All my life, I have always done whatever dad wanted me to do and now, now he can’t even trust me.
• “Fuck!” I mutter under my breath.
• “That old man..” Adir starts to talk, he loves Korean beans sprout soup. Take that for him when you go for dinner.
• “How did…
• “I used to be his bodyguard, I know something about him. Prepare a good comeback speech too"
• Well..I…” scratch that, “thank you”
• “You can treat me to a bottle of champagne when you get the deal”
• I nod without saying anything. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought he was flirting with me but this man doesn’t look like he cares about sweet talking a woman.
• ******
• A few minutes later, he pulls up in front of Zoe’s school and I see my daughter leaning against the wall talking to one of her friends. As soon as she sees me, her face breaks into a smile and she runs towards me, throwing herself into my embrace.
• “I thought the driver was going to come pick me, mama,” she says excitedly.
• “Of course not, baby” I gently squat in front of her, “I am here now and we are going to have a lot of fun during your mid term break, okay?” Her eyes leave mine and settle on Adir who is standing beside me.
• “Who is this, mama?”
• “This is Adir, he is our new bodyguard”
• “Hey, pretty one” Adir flashes her a smile.
• “You are too handsome to be a bodyguard. Tell me, are you my mama’s boyfriend”
• “Hey!” I clamp my hand over her mouth, “you shouldn’t say that to strangers, Zoe”
• “Well, I am not your mama’s boyfriend but I am here to keep the two of you safe, okay?”
• “Really?” She immediately clasps her hand over his, “well, now I get to look at a handsome man everyday. My name is Zoe” This girl, she doesn’t behave like a little girl at all.
• “Adir, call me Adir”
• “I like your eyes, Adir”
• “And I like your hair too” He leans forward and scoops her up, “we should leave now okay?”
• I watch him open the door and place her in the back seat before beckoning on me.
• “What a gentleman” my wolf beams but I immediately shut her voice out, never again.
• “Don’t mind what my daughter says” I go ahead to tell him, “she is just a child”
• “Of course” he responds, his smile widening the more, “I don’t do married women”