The Bodyguard (GxG)

The Morning after

Emily Langston had always been a master of disguise, slipping into the role of the carefree socialite as easily as slipping on a designer dress. The nights out, the endless stream of clubs, and the fleeting encounters—they were all part of the persona she had carefully crafted to keep the world at bay. And it worked. No one ever questioned the blonde heiress, who could charm her way into any VIP section and make out with any woman she desired under the pulsing lights. It was a game, a way to feel in control when everything else in her life seemed dictated by others.

But last night had been different. The memory of waking up in a strange woman's bed, naked and vulnerable, gnawed at Emily as she lay on the plush sofa in her private sitting room, staring blankly at the ceiling. She hadn't made a move since Mia had helped her inside that morning.

The encounter with Alex had left her rattled in a way she hadn't expected. Emily was used to the brief, intense connections she made in clubs—the flirtations that turned into passionate kisses, the feeling of power that came from being desired. But she had never let things go beyond that. She was always in control, always the one to decide when to stop, when to pull back and walk away before things got too complicated.

But last night, the lines had blurred. Her recklessness had nearly cost her, and the thought of what could have happened if Alex hadn't intervened sent a chill down her spine. For the first time in a long while, Emily felt something other than the numbing fog she usually chased with alcohol and adrenaline: fear.

A soft knock on the door pulled Emily from her thoughts. She sighed and sat up, brushing her hair out of her face. "Come in."

The door opened, and Mia stepped inside, her expression a mix of concern and determination. She didn't say anything at first, just watched Emily with that steady, assessing gaze of hers—the one that always made Emily feel like Mia could see right through her.

"I brought you some tea," Mia finally said, holding out a steaming cup. "Thought it might help."

Emily took the cup, her hands trembling slightly as she wrapped them around the warmth. "Thanks," she murmured, taking a small sip. The tea was calming, its herbal scent filling the room.

Mia settled into the chair across from her, crossing her legs. "You want to talk about what happened?"

Emily looked away, staring into the swirling liquid in her cup. "Not really."

"Emily," Mia's tone was gentle but firm, "you've been pushing yourself too hard. These nights out, the drinking, the hookups—they're not helping. They're making things worse."

"What do you know about it?" Emily snapped, more harshly than she intended. "You don't know what it's like."

"Maybe not," Mia said calmly, "but I know what it's like to try to numb yourself to something you don't want to face. It doesn't work, not for long."

Emily felt the tears burning at the back of her eyes, and she blinked them away furiously. "I just... I just wanted to forget, you know? To forget everything. But I keep waking up and feeling worse."

Mia leaned forward, her gaze softening. "You don't have to do this alone, Emily. Whatever it is you're trying to escape from, you can talk to someone. To me, if you want."

Emily's defenses began to crumble, the walls she had built around herself feeling suddenly too heavy to maintain. She had spent so long pretending that nothing could touch her, that she was invincible, but last night had shown her just how fragile that illusion was.

"I don't know how to stop," Emily whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't know how to make it go away."

Mia reached out and gently touched Emily's hand, her touch grounding. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. But the first step is letting someone in. Letting them help."

Emily looked at Mia, really looked at her, and saw something she hadn't expected: understanding. She nodded slowly, the tears finally spilling over, and for the first time in as long as she could remember, she let herself cry.

Mia didn't say anything more, just sat there with her, letting her feel what she needed to feel. And in that moment, Emily realized that maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to keep running anymore.