Finding his soul

3

I woke up abruptly to the sound of persistent knocking on my apartment door. Realizing I was still dressed in my office attire—a skirt, button-up shirt, and coat—I quickly assessed the situation. No one around here knocked like that, except for Alex, so who could it be?
With a mixture of caution and curiosity, I hurriedly grabbed the gun I kept concealed under my bed. "WHO IS IT?" I called out, trying to mask my apprehension.
"Miss Smith, it's Samuel. I'm Mr. Richardson's bodyguard," came the reply from the other side of the door.
"Of course, he has a bodyguard," I muttered to myself, feeling slightly exasperated. "I'm coming," I announced, quickly slipping on my shoes and stuffing a change of clothes into my purse.
As I opened the door, I was met with the sight of a tall man with striking brown hair and piercing blue eyes. His demeanor exuded a sense of security, and I noticed the discreet earpiece he wore.
"Hello Miss Smith, you can call me Sam," he introduced himself in a composed manner.
I couldn't help but wonder why Kaden, my enigmatic boss, required bodyguards, and why they all seemed to be as good-looking as this man before me. Trying to maintain my composure, I asked, "What's the time, Sam?" My nerves heightened as I spotted the gun holstered at his waist.
"The time is currently two-thirty PM," he informed me calmly.
Alex's warning echoed in my mind—I shouldn't have slept. The implications of being late were enough to add a sense of urgency to my already tired state.
Without further discussion, I followed Sam out of the building. He courteously opened the door of a sleek black SUV parked nearby, and I slid inside. As the door closed behind me, I couldn't help but wonder how he had located my apartment.
"How did you know where my apartment was?" I finally asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"Mr. Richardson knows where all of his assistants live," Sam replied matter-of-factly.
I fell silent after that, too fatigued to delve into any further conversation. The events of the day had taken their toll on me, and I leaned back in the car, attempting to find some semblance of rest during the journey ahead.

After a brief drive, we arrived at the airport and passed through the back gates, revealing a private jet. My initial thought was one of astonishment—could Kaden really be this wealthy?

As I stepped onto the plane, I noticed Alex diligently typing away on her laptop, while Kaden immersed himself in a book. Another bodyguard was present, and Sam took his seat, prompting me to sit across from Kaden.

"I see you finally made it," Kaden acknowledged, looking up from his book.

"Yes, Mr. Richardson, I apologize for being late," I offered a fake smile. Returning to his book, Kaden seemed aloof, leaving me to wonder about the presence of bodyguards.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I ventured to ask, "Why do you have bodyguards?"

"I didn't ask for them; they came with the territory of being the boss. And Sam isn't my bodyguard," he replied casually, engrossed in his reading.

"Then whose bodyguard is he?" I inquired, still puzzled.

"Yours," Kaden replied matter-of-factly.

"What?" I exclaimed in shock, drawing laughter from Alex.

"You're my executive assistant, are you not?" he asked, maintaining his composure.

"Yes, but that doesn't explain why I need a bodyguard," I protested, glancing at Sam and then back at Kaden, who remained focused on his book.

"Your job requires you to do things for me, and once we get off this plane, you'll be with me twenty-four seven. The press tends to be very aggressive in New York, so I've assigned you a bodyguard," he explained.

"And what about Alex?" I inquired further.

"I'll be with the tech guys. I'm a nerd, you know," Alex interjected with a smile.

"I don't need a bodyguard," I retorted, crossing my arms in defiance. Kaden chose not to respond, leaving me frustrated as I gazed out the window.

"Why are we going to New York, anyway?" I questioned, hoping to get some clarity.

"Business," Kaden mumbled.

"Sorry, I can't understand you through that book, boss," I replied, growing irritated as he looked out the window instead of answering.

"You know, for an assistant who just got their job, you're quite confident," Alex chuckled.

"Boring plane ride," I groaned, shifting my attention to the bodyguards.

Amidst the commotion on the plane, Kaden couldn't resist teasing me. "I suggest you learn some Spanish, Miss Smith," he smirked, glancing out the window. His remark was met with an eye roll from me; after all, he seemed to take pleasure in challenging me at every turn.

Turning to Alex for assistance, I asked, "Do you know what he said?" Alex, focused on her laptop, effortlessly translated Kaden's words, leaving me slightly embarrassed. "He told them that he's trying to sleep. You should definitely learn Spanish, Nai," she chuckled.

"Ugh, shut up," I retorted playfully, leaning back in my seat. Despite the light-hearted banter, a part of me knew that learning Spanish might indeed be useful, considering the unpredictable nature of my new job and my boss's diverse group of bodyguards.

After two hours of traveling, we finally arrived in bustling New York City. Kaden, Alex, the two vigilant bodyguards, and I piled into the sleek black SUV, ready to face the city's chaos head-on.

As we approached our hotel, the anticipated swarm of reporters surrounded the vehicle, hungry for any snippet of news they could capture. Alex appeared unfazed as she chatted away on the phone, while Sam tactfully pulled out a pair of sunglasses, advising me to shield my eyes from the blinding flashes of cameras.

With Alex and the other bodyguard departing first, Kaden encouraged me to step out of the car into the pulsating crowd. I hesitated, but his hands on my waist provided a sense of security amidst the chaos. His calm demeanor in front of the cameras only accentuated the enigma that surrounded him.

Questions from the reporters filled the air, with one woman asking, "Kaden, are you planning on taking over your father's business completely?"

Kaden tactfully replied, "I'm sorry, I can't answer that." My anxiety surged, making me feel paralyzed in the intense spotlight. Kaden's grip on my waist tightened, but I could barely process his comforting gesture amid the frenzy.

More invasive questions followed, such as whether he was dating someone named Olivia Linn. My discomfort grew, and I responded loudly to Kaden's inquiry about my well-being. The flashing cameras persisted as the crowd pushed for information, questioning whether I was his new girlfriend.

Sam intervened with a firm shout, urging the reporters to back off. Kaden shielded me as we finally made our way inside the building. As the doors closed behind us, Kaden's hand on my waist vanished, leaving me feeling vulnerable.

Alex playfully teased, "Come on, this is the fun part of your job. Mary gets to dress you for tomorrow."

Kaden then informed me that I needed to meet him in his room in fifteen minutes, a directive that left me curious and intrigued. "What for?" I inquired, hoping to gain some clarity.

"I need you to know what you're doing for tomorrow," he replied, his voice leaving a sense of mystery lingering in the air.