𝓢𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓪 𝓚𝓲𝓼𝓼

-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏-

 Whipping my head around to find the culprit. I see a brunette that I could only describe as...a doe? "You're Dante?" she confirmed, looking at me up and down, still using my name.

"Jawcrusher." I insisted.

"Yeah, yeah...Jawcrusher," she grumbled sarcastically, "I need to talk to you about business."

"Business?" I questioned. "You mean, about taking some boxing lessons? Because you don't have to talk to me spe-"

"No, no, not about boxing. About you being my bodyguard." What is she- oh...right...that.

"Right, yes, your dad already contacted me about that. Everything is all set up. I just need to know your sched-"

"No." This woman has a thing for interrupting me. "So, this is how it's going to work. You are going to get paid for doing nothing. Congratulations. I don't need a bodyguard following me around everywhere, I have a life and a job to do. Besides, wouldn't you much rather be here?"

Jesus, she talks a lot. "I already signed a contract. So, no can do. I'm going to ne-"

"What do you mean, contract?" she huffs. Is she ever going to stop interrupting me?

"Your dad made me sign a contract stating that I actually would do the job, even if you tried to convince me otherwise, or else I wouldn't get paid." That was enough talking for a month.

"Oh, you've got to be-." she groaned. "I'm sorry about the inconvenience, but you're not hired. I'm sorry for wasting your time. If you come by my apartment," she pulls out a notepad and pen from her purse, scribbling what I'm assuming is her address, "I'll give you some compensation for the run-around." She tears the paper from the notepad and shoves it onto my chest. Slowly lifting my hand to take the paper and as soon as the paper is in my hand, she stomps out of the arena.

I need a drink. I open the cabinet where my wine glasses are and turn slightly to the refrigerator for some vodka, knock knock knock. What, now? I huff as I make my way to my front door, "Hey, you said to come for...compensation. Is now, okay?" I blink a few times, trying to register what he said, I'm still stuck on my vodka.

"Yeah, now is fine." I step aside gesturing for him to come inside. He hesitates for a moment before walking into the foyer. I walk back over to my cabinet. "Want a drink?" I offer, looking over my shoulder.

"You got any whiskey?" he questions, now sitting on my couch. I snort a bit. Sure, is making himself at home.

Nodding as I turn my head back around to make the drinks. I bring the glasses and the bottles with me to the couch. I hand him his glass of whiskey and sit adjacent to him on the other couch setting the bottles of alcohol on the coffee table. I take a breath and then a sip of vodka. The vodka burns its way down my throat, I relish in the feeling. "So," I start still not feeling a buzz yet, "there has been a change of plans..." I trail off. Letting my eyes wander around my apartment, taking another sip of my drink. "First, I want to apologize for the back and forth. My dad has been insisting on me getting a bodyguard for some time now, but recently something really sent him over the edge. So, I agreed to hire a bodyguard, but the more I thought about it...the more I realized how much of an inconvenience it would be. However, I have had a change of heart...yet again. My dad convinced me to keep you as my bodyguard. Congratulations, again." I give him a sarcastic smile.

"Do you usually talk this much?" He pondered.

I can feel my eyebrows twitch into a frown, "Excuse me?" I hissed. "I was just trying to give you an explanation."

He looks up at me through his eyebrows, while drinking my whiskey. "Learn to take a joke, will you?" He laughs off my irritation. Setting my glass with my whiskey, down on my table. He stands up towering over me a bit because of the sitting-standing dynamic. "Anyway, thanks for the whiskey...and the explanation. I'll be seeing you around. " He is now at the door, and I don't even bother to offer him a farewell. I only stare him down as he departs from my apartment, closing the door as he gives me an awkward smile.

I take a moment to exhale and relax. I grab my glass and down the rest of the drink and add more vodka to the glass. I feel so much better.