A Knife on His Lap|| Bodyguard AU

Chase

~Nariya Patel~

I stretched my feet, savoring the newfound sensation of being able to walk properly once more. The past week and a half forced me to shift my weight onto just one leg, turning normal walking into an almost foreign experience. The doctor assured me that soon, I would adapt, and my life would return to normal.

As I relaxed in the chair, the door to the doctor's office clicked open, drawing my attention to Alexie entering the snug space. A quick glance in my direction confirmed that he took note of my improved condition. He proceeded to flash a smile at the doctor as they exchanged greetings and he expressed gratitude for the marvelous job they had done.

"Thank you so much, Doctor," Alexie said, and the doctor mirrored his smile. "Oh no, no, she was a very good patient," the doctor replied.

"Was she now?" Alexie looked at me, causing me to bite my lips as the earlier scene flashed in my eyes. I knew I had to apologize, yet I didn't know how to explain to him what had happened. "For she can be very feisty at home," he joked, a smirk playing in his eyes. My eyes widened at the implication as they continued to jest, their conversation gradually shifting to discussions about my medicines and plans for my improvement in the coming days.

After expressing our gratitude to the doctors once more, we made our exit, heading back toward the parking area. My course of medicine was complete, and my injury had significantly improved. There were just some chances of future discomfort while walking that I had to be mindful of, but otherwise, I was back to normal. As we strolled through the halls, I observed that we were no longer taking the same route we had entered from. This path was less crowded and had a more office-like atmosphere.

I pondered where we were headed but didn't bother to ask, grateful that we no longer had to traverse those dreadful halls again. After a while, observing the change in the crowd, it became clear that we were making our way towards the staff entrance. The ambiance of this space had a more office aesthetic with beige walls in contrast to the white ones we had encountered upon entering. I wondered why they couldn't maintain the same vibe throughout the building. Perhaps keeping patients on edge helped extract more revenue, but either way, my spirits felt much more lifted now.

As we entered the lift, I finally mustered the courage to own up to my mistakes. "Alex... I—" I began, but something in his tense gaze halted me in my tracks. Following his line of sight, I realized he was fixated on a certain individual sharing the same lift car as us—a man in his mid-30s donned in a janitor's outfit. Confusion furrowed my brows as I struggled to comprehend the meaning behind Alexie's actions.

His veins flexed in frustration, his jaw clenched, and an inaudible gasp escaped my lips as Alexie's hands clasped mine, squeezing them gently. I looked at him, but his gaze remained fixed on the man's back. With our lift being shared by a group of people, it was challenging to make out the man's facial features, but something seemed off in his behavior. He fidgeted a lot, attempting to glance our way multiple times in a not-so-subtle manner, only for his view to be obstructed by other riders.

Another detail caught my attention: he carried no cleaning supplies whatsoever. Typically, these lifts were designed as service lifts with ample space for larger deliveries, featuring doors that opened both ways. The odd combination of his attire, behavior, and lack of equipment heightened the mystery, leaving me bewildered in the confined space of the elevator.

The ding of the elevator grabbed my attention, signaling our imminent arrival on the minus first floor. At that moment, I felt Alexie's grip tighten on me. He smoothly pulled me toward the back door of the elevator, seamlessly blending in with the outgoing crowd. It wasn't until the doors were closing that I caught a glimpse of the man we had been observing inside, panicking to exit, but it was already too late.