The Bodyguard's Betrayal

Chapter Five

Evangeline

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Gabe Loretto isn't going to know what hit him.

The click of my heels on the hardwood floors echoes through the bedroom as I stride toward my vanity. Sitting down, I brush through my hair one last time and mentally rehearse tonight's plan: Kat and I will make a brief appearance at the White Arrow Club, generate enough positive publicity to momentarily overshadow my father's scandal, and then spend the rest of the evening dodging Gabe.

The latter was Kat's idea, our way of showing Gabe that I'm the one in charge here. Sure, I might be stuck with him for the foreseeable future, my freedom a mere illusion at this point, but that doesn't mean I'm going to make it easy for him.

"I still think you should seduce him," Kat says, applying another coat of mascara. Her lashes flutter as she examines her handiwork. "There's no way someone that serious about their job would keep working for someone they hooked up with."

"Except I've sworn off men," I remind her, "and there's no way in hell I'd let that man kiss me."

Gabe seems the type to have a different woman in his bed every night, which is the opposite of what I'm looking for. But maybe that's been my mistake all along. I've always gone for men who pretend to want something serious, only to end up disappointed when it doesn't work out.

"He might be an asshole," Kat says, smirking in the mirror's reflection, "but he's also six-foot-six of pure, bronzed goodness. If you're not gonna kiss him, can I?"

A lash of jealousy fills my stomach at the thought of Kat kissing him.

I push the feeling aside and pick the perfect jewelry from my box. I have to look flawless tonight. The media are looking for any reason to tear my family down, and I can't give them one.

"There's still time to back out," Kat says. "Do you really want to go out when some creepy stalker is still out there, getting off on the thought of catching you alone?"

I focus on fixing the strap of my heel, avoiding her gaze. I have yet to mention the flowers sent to the house, and I'm not going to. I adore Kat, and she's an excellent personal assistant, but sometimes she worries too much. Between her and my mother, I constantly have to put on a brave face to keep them from falling apart on my behalf. 

"That's exactly why I have to go." For as long as I can remember, my life has been controlled by others—the media, my parents, and now, this stalker. While I can't change the first two right now, I refuse to let someone intimidate me into surrendering what little freedom I have left. "If I hide away tonight, my stalker wins."

"Fine, forget about the stalker. I know you, Eva. You're over the drama and have been since your breakup with Kael, so why are you still going along with this? You can't fund your mother's lifestyle forever."

It's not a dig, but it feels like one anyway. Kat has no idea what it's like to have the kind of relationship I have with my parents. She comes from a stable, loving family with successful careers, a far cry from my own upbringing.

My childhood was chaotic, filled with movie sets, financial struggles, and my parents' turbulent relationship. Love felt fragile and lonely. And despite years of resentment toward my mother, I've realized she's my anchor, the one person I trust and love unconditionally. As much as she needs me to keep her relevant, I need her more.

"Look, I love you for caring about me," I say, squeezing her arm, "but I'm fine. In a few months, all of this will be behind us, and we'll be relaxing on a beach somewhere, laughing about how worked up we got over nothing."