Guarding Her Silence

Chapter 4 - Held in Silence

The sun was setting behind the towering skyline as Jhoanna Robles made her way into the gleaming office building for her scheduled business meeting. Her posture was straight, confident as always, but there was an underlying tension that had built up from the events of the plane incident. Colet followed silently a few steps behind, her eyes scanning the surroundings from the shadows. She had never been one for crowded places, and being a bodyguard was still an uncomfortable role.

Jhoanna stepped into the conference room, filled with executives waiting to discuss a major deal. The air smelled of rich leather and polished wood, the scent of power and wealth. Colet took her place by the far wall, blending into the background like a shadow, watching everyone closely.

As Jhoanna sat down and greeted the attendees, one man in particular caught Colet's attention. He was seated on the opposite side of the table, hands folded neatly, but something about the way his eyes lingered on Jhoanna unsettled her. Colet's instincts, honed over years of training and experience, began to flare.

The meeting continued, voices discussing business ventures, mergers, and partnerships, but Colet's eyes never left the suspicious man. Then, something odd happened. When one of the executives passed a document for Jhoanna to sign, a small, folded note was tucked under it. Colet noticed immediately.

Jhoanna, unaware of the note, began to review the papers. Colet shifted her position, trying to get a better angle on the note. Her heartbeat quickened, but her face remained expressionless. Her hand instinctively reached towards the concealed knife at her waist, but she stopped herself, realizing that drawing a weapon here would cause chaos.

Without warning, the man across the table stood up abruptly and began moving toward Jhoanna. The action was too sudden for Colet's liking. In a flash, she crossed the room in two swift steps and positioned herself between Jhoanna and the man.

"Excuse me, miss, this is a private meeting," the man said, clearly irritated.

Colet didn't respond with words. Instead, she subtly glanced down at the table, flicking her eyes toward the note that was now exposed under the document. Jhoanna noticed Colet's eyes, then glanced at the note. She picked it up, her face betraying nothing as she unfolded it.

Her expression changed—her brows furrowed for a brief moment. She handed the note silently to Sheena, who stood nearby. Sheena quickly signed the contents to Jhoanna.

"You're not safe," Sheena signed, and Jhoanna's lips parted in shock.

Colet's gaze locked on the suspicious man, whose expression was too controlled for her liking. She turned to Jhoanna. "Time to go," Colet said in a low, firm voice. Her protective instincts fully kicked in. This wasn't just another meeting—it was a trap.

Jhoanna looked around the room, still playing it calm, though her heartbeat sped up. She gave a slight nod, acknowledging Colet's command. "I'll need to reschedule this," she said to the executives, her voice steady despite the tension simmering in the air. "Something urgent has come up."

Before anyone could question further, Colet was already guiding Jhoanna out of the room, her hand resting lightly on her back, ensuring she moved quickly without raising suspicion.

As they exited the building, Colet couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She stayed close to Jhoanna, her eyes sweeping the streets. She noticed a car parked across from the building with a figure sitting inside, watching them. She stiffened but said nothing, pulling Jhoanna toward the waiting vehicle.

The second they were inside, Colet spoke. "There's someone watching us."

Jhoanna's face remained calm, but there was an edge to her voice when she replied. "I trust you'll take care of it."