The Bodyguard

Chapter 14

TORI

After my mother's passing, I experienced a sense of belonging and family for the first time. This feeling was brought about by my connection with my half-siblings, Hayley and my father. Throughout the week, we took the time to understand each other, and even though we knew there was much more to discover about one another, I felt ready to embrace them as my own family.

Tonight was the movie premiere of Leaving It All Behind. The whole cast, crew, and their families, as well as my family, would be there. I was thrilled to share this moment with them and knew many more would come.

Arianna, Brielle, Morgan, Hayley, and I were all getting ready upstairs at home. My makeup artist, Sharon, and designer, Paulie, had come over. Paulie had unique gowns for each of us, and Sharon also had different makeup looks, so we stood out the most on the red carpet.

Arianna wore a golden yellow dress with thin straps and shoes to match. Her eyeshadow was even gold, and her skin was glistening with glitter. My best friend looked stunning.

Brielle and Morgan both wore purple, Brielle in lavender and Morgan in eggplant purple. Their gowns had thicker straps, and their shoes were silver.

Hayley chose to wear black because it was simple, and she didn't want to outshine me—her words, not mine. The gown was v-neck and had thicker straps like her daughter's gowns.

I was the last one to get ready. Paulie had been saving this stunning red dress for tonight, and it was finally time for me to wear it. The dress had delicate, thin straps and a beautiful, laced back. Paulie also picked out a stunning diamond necklace, a matching pair of earrings, and shoes to complement the whole look. Paulie had a talent for selecting the perfect outfits for me, so I entrusted him with my designer and stylist role.

As my long, golden locks cascaded down my shoulders in perfect, lustrous curls, I couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. The bold red lipstick adorned my lips, accentuating my features and evoking a sense of empowerment. At that moment, I felt like myself. Red was more than just a color; it was a statement. I recalled how Logan consistently expressed his disapproval whenever I adorned myself in red, claiming that it accentuated my beauty in a way that made him uncomfortable.

We walked down the stairs together, holding the railing as we did so we didn't fall. All eyes were on us, and I bet you wouldn't have to guess where Theo's eyes were.

They were on me.

As I approached Theo, he gently kissed my cheek and murmured, "You look radiant this evening. The color red suits you perfectly, sweetheart."

I smiled, my cheeks turning pink blush. My nickname has become sweetheart over the last several days, and I wasn't mad about it. It was better than dear, which is what Logan called me. It was like the start of a letter—Dear Tori—and got on my nerves.

"You don't look so bad yourself. I never thought I'd see you in a tux, but here I am, and I like it. I may have to drag you to more events like this."

Theo smiled. "Don't worry, you won't have to drag me. I'll be there willingly, whether for my job or not."

"I'm glad." I linked my arm through Theo's and turned to face my father, who had his arm linked through Hayley's.

"You look lovely, Tori. All of you ladies do. Tonight will be great.

I look forward to seeing the movie," Patterson said.

Brielle and Morgan had their arms linked through Peter's. What made me grin was seeing Arianna and Archer together. They were only talking, but seeing them so close together was cute.