Dangerous protection

Maya's POV The sharp vibration of my phone broke the peaceful silence of my bedroom. I frowned, burying my face deeper into the soft silk pillow. The morning sun had already slipped through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow across the luxurious room, but I wasn't ready to leave my bed. The phone buzzed again. With a groan, I stretched out my hand across the king-sized bed and grabbed it from the bedside table without opening my eyes. "Hello?" I muttered sleepily. A familiar laugh echoed through the speaker. "Maya! Don't tell me you're still sleeping." A smile tugged at my lips. Only one person would dare wake me this early on a Sunday, and that's my best friend, Sandra. "Sandra," I sighed. "It's Sunday. Let me sleep." She laughed harder. "I know it's Sunday. I'm only teasing you." I rolled onto my back and finally opened my eyes, staring at the magnificent crystal chandelier hanging above me. "You nearly gave me a heart attack." "Oh, please," Sandra replied dramatically. "The future CEO of Coker Group doesn't get scared that easily." I shook my head. "You and this your mouth." "What? Am I lying?" she teased. "You're Maya Coker, the only daughter of Mr. Daniel Coker. The entire company belongs to you one day." I sighed. Everyone always said that. Future CEO. Only heir. Billionaire's daughter. Princess of Coker Group. To the outside world, it sounded glamorous. To me, it sounded like a life that had already been decided before I was old enough to choose it. "Anyway," Sandra continued, "don't forget about tonight." "As if you would ever let me forget." "Of course not. It's our graduation reunion. It's been a year since everyone gathered together. You promised you'd come." I smiled. "I remember." "You'd better. If you disappoint me, I'll come to the mansion myself." I laughed. Sandra and I had been friends since our first year at university. Unlike most people who stayed close to me because of my family name, Sandra had become my friend long before she knew just how wealthy my father was. After graduation, life became difficult for her. Jobs were scarce, and despite graduating with excellent grades, every company seemed to want years of experience. She never asked me for help. Not once. But I couldn't watch my best friend struggle. I had begged my father to give her a chance. To my surprise, he agreed. Now Sandra worked at Coker Group as my personal secretary. "Okay, talk to you later," Sandra said. "And don't you dare forget about tonight. I'll see you later." The call ended, leaving silence behind. I lowered the phone onto my chest before my eyes drifted toward the large oil portrait of my mother hanging on the opposite wall. Her smile was warm, and her eyes were full of light. My chest tightened. She had died of cancer when I was twelve. It had been eleven long years of learning how to live without her, but I still felt the ache of her absence every morning. If she were here, maybe this house wouldn't feel so cold. Maybe I wouldn't feel so alone. Just then, a soft knock interrupted my thoughts. I pushed myself up and whispered, "Come in." One of the maids entered, dressed neatly in her uniform. She carried a tray with warm milk and sliced fruits, moving carefully so nothing spilled. She placed it carefully on the small table beside my bed before bowing politely. "Good morning, Miss Coker." "Morning," I replied. "Mr. Coker is waiting for you downstairs," she added. At the mention of my father, my stomach twisted. Of course he was. If he wanted to see me, it usually meant one thing. Business. He was always the same, strict, cold, and overprotective. I wondered what he wanted now. "Tell him I'll be down soon," I said softly. She bowed again and left, closing the door quietly behind her. I dragged myself out of bed and slipped into the bathroom. The marble tiles were cold beneath my feet. I turned on the shower, letting the hot water wake me fully. Afterward, I wrapped myself in a silk robe and stood in front of the mirror, taking a look at my long black hair and brown eyes. These were the soft features that everyone claimed I inherited from my mother. I applied a little lip gloss before taking one last look at myself. "Another day," I whispered. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of my room. The hallway stretched wide, lined with tall mirrors and oil paintings of stern-faced ancestors. Their serious faces stared down at me as if judging me. Men in black suits, my father's bodyguards, also stood at every corner. Their presence was meant to make me feel safe, but most days, it just felt like another cage. When I reached the sitting room, my father was there, sitting on one of the couches, dressed in his usual fine suit, sipping tea as if preparing for an important meeting. He looked up briefly when I walked in. "How was your night, dear?" he asked in his calm but distant voice. "It was fine, Dad," I replied, though I doubted he cared about the answer. For the first time, I noticed someone standing near him. A man I had never seen before. His black suit clung to broad shoulders, and his posture was perfectly straight. His arms were crossed behind his back. He looked strong, carved from stone, yet there was something quietly dangerous about him. My father set down his teacup, and a maid rushed forward immediately to clear it from the table. He cleared his throat, then looked from the man to me. "Maya," he said firmly, "this is Damian, your new bodyguard. I have decided to hire him for your safety. He will follow you everywhere, and you will listen to him." My eyes widened. "What? Dad, is this a joke? Am I a baby that needs babysitting?" He frowned. "Maya, you don't question me. This is how I protect you. You are Maya Coker, daughter of the richest man in the city. Outside is not safe. You need protection." I smirked bitterly. So this was what he called caring? Hiring strangers to watch me instead of being a father himself? Before I could reply, his phone rang. He pulled it out quickly, checked the caller ID, and said, "Excuse me for a second." Without waiting, he turned and started walking toward the stairs, already speaking into the phone in his clipped business tone. I watched him leave, my chest tightening again, then turned my eyes back to the man he had just thrown into my life. Damian's gaze was steady on me, his face unreadable. Then, to my surprise, he smiled faintly and spoke in a deep voice. "It's nice meeting you, Miss Coker. I'll do my job well." I raised my chin and narrowed my eyes. "What's so nice about meeting me, Mr. Bodyguard? Or whatever you are." I walked closer to him, letting my eyes travel across his broad chest. He didn't flinch. His stillness irritated me even more. I leaned in slightly and whispered, "If it's money you need, I can give you eighty percent of my savings. But don't fool yourself, you can't follow me everywhere. I don't need you." He didn't reply. His lips only curved into another small smirk, which made my skin prickle. I turned sharply, ready to walk away. But just as I took a step, my foot caught on the edge of the rug. I gasped as my body lurched forward. Before I could hit the floor, strong arms caught me. His chest pressed against me, firm and steady. He pulled me upright with ease, his hands lingering at my waist for just a moment before he stepped back. "Be careful, Maya," he said in that deep v oice. "This is one of the reasons you need me." I glared at him, annoyed by his smug expression. Then I forced myself to leave, turning away as I marched toward the stairs. One thing I knew was that I didn't need a bodyguard.