The One Who Changed It All (Rewritten)

22. The Guards

I opened the door and walked to look for Cole. I saw him sitting around the dining table with two men discussing something quite seriously in a language I did not understand. He saw me and stopped.

"Angelina, come here,"

I walked a little hesitantly looking at the two men who looked strikingly similar. They stood up from their seats. They were tall and beefy. It hit me in a moment that these were the men I would have around me all the time, my guards.

"Meet them, this is Alejo," Cole gestured towards the man with a full-grown royale beard. He bowed to me.

"And he is Alvaro,"

I smiled at the clean-shaven giant in front of me. He gave me a small smile and bowed.

"I am-"

"They already know everything they need to about you," Cole said.

I gave them an uncomfortable smile. I was not used to meeting strangers who already knew me.

"They have been working for my family since almost a decade so you don't need to worry, they are extremely professional and I am sure they would carry out their duty well," said Cole looking at them.

"Sí, señor!" they answered. I looked puzzled at them and then at Cole. He noticed it.

"And, I would like you to interact with Miss. Angelina only in English. She is a bit of an ignoramus when it comes to languages apart from English." Cole smirked.

"And you are a self-declared polyglot?"

"Well, I know quite a few foreign languages so I am sure I am."

"Alejo, do you think there's anything wrong with being a monolingual?"

"No, ma'am," he replied.

I smiled at him.

"I hope I made everything clear?"

"Yes, señor,"

"Okay, great. You guys can go to your room for now."

Alejo and Alvaro bowed and walked to a room opposite to the kitchen.

"I want you to listen to them and do not step outside of here without them. Not even with Jessica or Ethan."

"Okay," I nodded and pulled Cole's face gently before planting a peck on his cheek.

"Thanks," I smiled.

Cole was stunned for a moment. He nodded and touched my cheeks gently.

"Would you be getting back to university from tomorrow?" asked Cole. I didn't reply.

" I had a talk with the principal and Mr.Grey. Mr.Grey is still quite furious on us but we have served our detention so we are allowed to attend lectures including Mr.Grey's. And the principal does not mind having the guards outside the University building." said Cole.

"What did you tell him? I mean about the guards?"

"He is an old family friend. So I didn't have to disclose him much."

"Oh..."I whispered.

I wondered about Cole's family. The only thing I knew about Cole was that he was from Lille. It is a city at the northern tip of France. Ever since I was a kid, I have wished to visit France. Its Mediterranean beaches, fashion houses, classical art museums and of course the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the city of love have always been my topmost travel destination.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Nothing,"

"I know nothing about you," I said.

"What do you want to know?" Cole stepped forward and leaned in to kiss my lips. I kissed him back.

It went on for some more seconds before Cole pulled himself back. I looked at him.

"Do you still love Alex?" he asked in a dull tone.

"Do you think I can after knowing all that he had hidden from me?"

Cole took me into a warm embrace.

"You know I really feel this is unnecessary, I mean you having to hire guards for me. I could have just talked to Alex and hopefully sorted it out."

"And how would you sort-it-out?" frowned Cole.

"I would promise him that I will never tell anyone about whatever I know about him if he doesn't interfere in my life."

"And what makes you think he will listen to you or trust your words?"

"I don't know I have a feeling that he will trust me on this. I mean, apart from hiding about his illegal business from me, he has been good to me,"

"You really think he actually loved you or trusted you?" asked Cole.

" I don't know that and I would probably never know. But, whatever it was, feelings don't fade away in just a few days, do they?"

Cole's hands dropped from me. I looked at him. He looked back at me with his face etched with hurt for a moment and then he looked infuriated.

"I have some important work to finish. You go back to your room," he said and stormed off.

I didn't understand what just happened to him. Why was he suddenly so furious?  I stood there for a few minutes, hoping he would come back. He didn't. So I went back to my room and decided to study for a while.

I closed my books after an hour as I wasn't able to concentrate. I kept thinking about Cole. I decided to call him. He didn't pick it up. I called Jessica and asked her to meet me whenever she gets free.

There were twenty-seven messages from Alex. I shuddered and decided to read them.

Alex: Where are you, Angel? Please call me back.

Alex: Why aren't you picking my calls? Where did you go?

Alex: I saw the cloth rope hanging from the window. Why did you try to do that? I hope you aren't hurt. Please call me.

Alex: Why is your phone switched off? It's past midnight Angelina, I am really worried about you.

Alex: Please call me back, love. I hope you are alright!

I read the messages. Alex seemed to be genuinely worried about me. I felt guilty. I dialled his number. I didn't know what to do. I decided to wait and ask Cole about it. 'I shouldn't have run away like that...', a part of me had started to regret breaking the dream relationship that I was trying to form.

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