In the city of Elmira-where cobbled streets met sleek storefronts and cafés buzzed with student chatter-Dr. Joshua Bennett lived a life of quiet order. At just twenty-five, freshly graduated from medical school, he had returned to Almira University...
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Felix's POV
The bitter Helsinki wind cut through my coat as I stood on the snow-covered street, my eyes fixed on the quaint café across the road. It was empty now, closed for the night, but I couldn't help imagining Aina sitting at one of those tables, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug, her eyes bright with laughter. But she wasn't here. She was back in medical school, unaware of my presence, unaware of our shared past.
I closed my eyes, letting the memories wash over me. The weight of the past few weeks pressed down on me - watching from afar as Aina and her classmates, including Dr. Joshua, visited Finland for their medical camp. I had stayed hidden, a silent guardian, as I saw her experience flashes of memory that left her confused and reeling.
But now, alone in the quiet Helsinki night, I allowed myself to remember everything.
I saw us at that charity gala, the room dimly lit, soft music playing. Aina had looked up at me, her eyes shining, and something had shifted between us. I could almost feel the warmth of her body against mine as we swayed to the music, the rest of the world fading away. It was the first time I had held her not just as her protector, but as something more.
The chandeliers cast a soft glow over the ballroom, their light reflecting off the jewels and polished shoes of Helsinki's elite. I stood at my usual post, back straight, eyes constantly scanning the room. But tonight, something was off. My gaze kept drifting back to one person, drawn like a magnet to true north.
Aina.
She was breathtaking in a midnight blue gown that seemed to shimmer with every movement. Her laugh rang out across the room as she chatted with a group of diplomats, and I felt an unfamiliar tightness in my chest.
What's wrong with me? I thought, forcing myself to look away. This is just another job. Just another night of keeping her safe.
But as I watched a young attaché approach Aina, asking her to dance, I felt a surge of... something. Jealousy? No, that couldn't be right. I'm her bodyguard, for God's sake. The son of her father's best friend. This isn't who we are.
Yet I couldn't tear my eyes away as they moved onto the dance floor. The attaché's hand on the small of her back, Aina's smile as she looked up at him - each sight was like a physical blow.
"You look like you could use this," a voice said beside me. I turned to see Markus, a fellow security professional, holding out a glass of water.
I took it gratefully, hoping the cool liquid would douse whatever madness was taking hold of me. "Thanks," I muttered.
Markus followed my gaze to the dance floor. "Ah," he said, a note of understanding in his voice. "It's always hardest when they're like her, isn't it?"
