Guard of heart

The conference

I stared at myself in the mirror, smoothing out the creases of my blazer for the hundredth time. The pale gray fabric felt heavy on my shoulders, as if the weight of the day ahead rested squarely there. My reflection stared back at me, eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. I could do this. I had to do this. No matter what happened in that room, I needed to keep it together—for Mr. Wilkins, for the company, and—most importantly—for myself.

“Okay, Elara,” I muttered, forcing a smile. “You’ve got this. Just another day at work, except... the world’s watching.”

A quick knock on my door snapped me out of my thoughts. It was one of the security guards, his expression unreadable as always. “We’re heading out in fifteen minutes, Miss Hailsin. The cars are ready.”

I nodded, giving myself one last look in the mirror. “Right. I’ll be there.”

I grabbed my phone, slipping it into the inside pocket of my blazer, and stepped out of my room. The mansion felt different today—tense, on edge. The guards were on high alert, their movements precise and purposeful as they positioned themselves around the estate. Everyone was in formal attire, the entire household moving like clockwork, preparing for the storm that was about to hit.

As I made my way downstairs, I caught sight of Mr. Wilkins in his signature black suit, standing by the foyer with Adrian and Allen at his side. Adrian looked every bit the future CEO, dressed sharply in a navy suit that matched the sternness of his expression. Allen, on the other hand, was fidgeting with his tie, clearly uncomfortable in the formal wear.

“Allen, stop playing with your tie,” Adrian muttered, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.

Allen sighed dramatically. “I’m just saying, it’s choking me. How does anyone breathe in these things?”

Adrian shot him a glare. “It’s a press meeting, not a casual stroll. Try to act like you care.”

I stepped toward them, trying to maintain my composure. “Everyone ready?”

Mr. Wilkins turned to me, his eyes sharp but weary. “As ready as we’ll ever be.”

He nodded to the head of security, and within minutes, we were moving. The black SUVs pulled up to the front of the mansion, their tinted windows gleaming under the midday sun. I slid into one of the cars, sitting beside Mr. Wilkins, with Adrian and Allen in the car behind us. The guards flanked the vehicles, ensuring every step of our journey was meticulously covered.

The ride to the press meeting felt longer than it actually was, tension hanging thick in the air. I glanced out the window, my mind racing through the talking points I had prepared. This was more than a media briefing—this was a moment that would reshape everything for Wilkins Enterprises. The media had no idea what was coming, believing today was about a new product launch or a business expansion, unaware of the hidden complexities behind our actions.

As we arrived at the venue, the press was already gathered in full force. Cameras flashed relentlessly, and reporters swarmed the entrance, jostling for position. The large glass building stood tall, sleek and modern, a symbol of the corporate power that Mr. Wilkins had built over decades. Security quickly moved to create a path for us, ushering us inside the building and away from the barrage of questions that were already being hurled in our direction.

I could hear snippets of the press’s frantic inquiries.

“Mr. Wilkins! Is it true there’s a major announcement today?”

“Is this about a new product launch?”

“Adrian! What can you tell us about the future direction of the company?”