A Knife on His Lap|| Bodyguard AU

Independence

~Nariya Patel~

I stepped outside, taking small strides, feeling the chilly wind sweep my curls aside. As I headed towards the rear of the store where the parking area was located, I spotted a towering man in the distance. His frustrated demeanor caught my attention, as he paced back and forth in the deserted lot, engrossed in a heated conversation on his phone. The intensity of his strides revealed his discontentment with the person on the other end of the line.

I hesitated to disturb his personal time, so I positioned myself in the corner, out of his line of sight, to respect his privacy. The sun was still shining brightly in the sky, although the clouds had begun to gather, casting a gloomy grey shadow over my head. The same intensity resonated in the surroundings, evident from the fragments of voices I could hear. I waited patiently until I heard the conversation conclude with an audible "suka" (Russian for "bitch"). This was my signal to approach him. However, a sense of unease crept back into my mind, as my past experiences with angry men had never been pleasant.

His gaze flickered towards me, capturing my uneasiness, and in an instant, the sparkle in his eyes softened as he motioned for me to come closer. "How long have you been outside? You look chilled to the bone," he trailed off.

I shrugged as I made my way towards the passenger seat, and he kindly assisted me, placing my crutches on the back seat. The warmth of the car's interior embraced me, causing my body to relax. I observed him hurriedly crossing over to the driver's seat, sliding in gracefully. Inside, he started the engine and cranked the heater to its maximum setting. Unbeknownst to me, a slight shiver ran through my body, causing goosebumps to rise. Instinctively, I rubbed my palms together. He removed his leather gloves and gently enclosed my hands within his own. As he rubbed them, the friction from his cold fingers generated warmth, helping both of us to thaw.

"My goodness Moonpie how long were you out?" his intense gaze locked to mine "Why didnt you inform me?"

Feeling a mix of nervousness and hesitation, I glanced down at our intertwined hands. "Um... I..." I stumbled over my words, unsure if my honesty would hurt him. But summoning my bravery, I finally spoke up. "I was frightened..."

As his fingers gently caressed mine, they suddenly froze. He then separated his right hand and placed it beneath my chin, lifting it to meet his gaze. "Nariya, no matter what happens, I promise I will never hurt you," he said with such sincerity that it hung in the air. A surge of emotions coursed through me, causing my heart to pound and my mind to embrace his genuine words.

Once I nodded in agreement, his hand returned to hold mine, and we sat there, basking in each other's warmth, as if time had stood still. It felt like an eternity until reality jolted me back to my senses. Startled, I clumsily withdrew my hands from his grasp and stuttered, "Oh, right... I forgot to give this back." Carefully, I retrieved the black plastic from my breast pocket, holding it delicately with both hands as I offered it back to him.

He wore a mischievous grin as he shook his head, starting the car and leaving the parking lot behind. "Nuuh," he uttered, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "That's all yours now."

My eyes widened in disbelief and a hint of terror. The Amex Black card, a symbol of immense wealth and limitless spending, held in my trembling hands. It possessed a power far beyond my reach. Nervously, I cradled it as if it were a fragile newborn. Lost in my own thoughts, I didn't even realize when we arrived at our home's parking lot. It was only when his long fingers plucked the card from my grasp and exited the car that I snapped back to reality.

In a state of panic, I hurriedly followed him, hopping my way towards the entrance. And then, it suddenly dawned on me what he had actually done. Racing behind him, I attempted to playfully hit him on the back, teasingly saying, "Stop fooling around!" But to my surprise, he swiftly evaded my hand, causing me to lose my balance and stumble. In an instant, he caught hold of my hands, and we burst into laughter at each other's expense. Assisting me to stand, he guided me inside and took out his wallet. He placed the black plastic bag back inside and handed me a regular visa card.

"I was just joking, Nari," he chuckled. "It was meant to be a lighthearted prank, but I never expected such a reaction from you." His laughter continued, and feeling slightly annoyed, I lightly slapped his hand.

"Here," he offered, presenting the visa card. "This is your card connected to your bank account."

To my immense relief, the card I turned around was just a regular debit card. While credit cards may offer convenience, I've always had reservations about spending more than I can afford. They seem to embody a darker side of capitalism and consumerism. I expressed my gratitude to him and began making my way back to my room, exhausted from the day's adventures.

"By the way," he called out, causing me to turn back and face him, "I've invested the money your father entrusted to me for you in various assets. If you have a specific investment in mind, I don't mind lending you some money. However, I expect it to be repaid not with interest, but as a 20% share of the returns you earn." His offer caught me off guard, but I couldn't ignore the main reason that led me on this journey. "But my daily expenses-" I started to say, but he raised his hand, signaling for me to be patient. "As for your household expenses, I will be expecting 80% of your monthly salary from your current and future jobs as long as you live with me," he concluded.

Something within me, perhaps my business-oriented side, sparked a negotiation. "How about 60%?" I countered.

He chuckled, his brow twitching in amusement, and proposed, "75%."

"70%," I shot back.

"Deal," he agreed.

"Deal," I repeated.

After exchanging our goodbyes, we retreated to our separate rooms. Later that evening, I retrieved the investment portfolio that Alexie had sent me before dinner. I was astounded by the wide range of strategic investments made, ensuring that the small amount my father had left me would grow into something substantial enough to support me after college. While I didn't plan on relying solely on this, having a little support at the beginning of my professional career would allow me to focus on more important matters.

Grateful for his generosity, I typed out a message, "Thank you so much for this." I hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to send it. "It means a lot, Alex." Almost instantly, I received a response, even though I hadn't expected one since he had already retired for the night. "You're welcome, Moonpie." A smile spread across my face as I tightly hugged a pillow in excitement. With Nyx in my arms, I made my way to my room and eagerly awaited breakfast with him the following day. "Oh, how I wished I could see him right now."