CHAPTER THREE
1405 Words
Noelle's eyes flutter open, her eyes getting used to the blinding uv lights and her ears aaccomodating the beeping sound of what seemed to be a heart monitor.
I'M IN A HOSPITAL!!!
Her eyesburst opened as she sprang up, sitting on the hospital bed, analysing her environment and her outfit, which was now a hospital gown.
Her sights set on a mirror, "Even in a hospital gown, I look amazing." She mumbled to herself.
Memories of the previous night and her failed after party after a failed award ceremony come crashing, and Noelle's eyes widen in horror.
"Oh no! Oh no! Ohhh nooooo!" She groans, grabbing her phone with shaky hands, opening the Internet.
To her horror, there it was, her worst nightmare; bad....awful....Terrible PRESS:
CELEBRITY HEIRESS TURNED MURDER TARGET!
Not even waiting to read the article, Noelle throws up on herself and screams hysterically, alerting the nurses, her mother, and Christos.
"Oh dear! Clean this up will you, " She tells a nurse who nods and gets cleaning.
"Mooom!" Noelle sobs. "I am ruined. This is absolutely awful and by far the worst! On Christmas!" She cried. "Darling, I did tell you the party was a bad idea." Her mother shrugged, consoling her, Noelle glaring at her mother.
"I don't need you correcting me right now, Mom! I need solutions. My image is tainted! I do not need 'celebrity murder target' on my resume!" She whined, wailing helplessly.
"Say... something...." Her mother snapped at Christos through gritted teeth.
"Uh...yes...Kiddo don't be so dramatic. Your image's still intact. I'm working on stuff that'll get this story off the Internet pronto!" Christos assured.
"See, Christos has it all under control like he always does. Let's just get you home and back in your fancy clothes. Okay baby, " Her mother cooed, Noelle nodding as she went to get changed, preparing to be discharged.
##########
"Noelle, sweetie. You've been holed up in your room for days. Why don't we go shopping. I hear Chanel has some nice new fits you'd absolutely love to try." Noelle's mother cooed, softly placing a hand on Noelle's thigh as she sat beside her on the bed.
Noelle has been holed up in her room for 3 days, not daring to step out, for fear of being shot at.
No parties,events,social functions, social media,.....nothing.
The press, who have been camping by her mansion, nit letting her take 3 feet out of the house before pouncing her with questions,only worsened the issue.
She was slowly turning to a shadow of her former self, entering a shell she never knew she had, building up walls she never knew were possible to build, at least not for someone in her career and with her outspoken character.
"This enough! I've had it up to here!!" Her mother grumbled, dramatically placing her hand on her neck chokingly, as she stood up from the bed, frowning at her daughter, hands on her hips in an annoyed stance.
Receiving no reply or reaction whatsoever, her mother sighed sadly, strutting out the room in worry.
##########
Noelle yawned and stretched. Getting out of bed, she peeked through her pink window curtain to the compound, the battalion of press and news casters, and reportershad reduced drastically.
That was a good thing. It meant that at least she could step out now and go for little social functions.
She missed being a famous celebrity, the GenZ mogul, as the Internet calls her. If she didn't get back into action soon, that title could be stolen by the next pretty mediocre and basic talent.
She couldn't let that happen.
SHE IS A STAR! TIME TO SHINE!
She took a comforting breath and sprung into action. Taking a shower and getting into her best Louis Vuittons and pink Louboutins 💗, she stretched out her hair, curling the end and strutted downstairs; A REBORN STAR 🌟!
"Oh darling, you're downstairs. was just about to call on you. I got you someone for your safety." Her mother cooed, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"The bodyguards we have aren't enough?" Noelle asked, raising an eyebrow in question.
"This one's specially for you. He's the best in the field, and he has excellent military expertise." Her mother smiled, calling on the figure that stood in the hallway.
"This is Niklaus St. Clausen, your new personal bodyguard." Her mother introduced.
Noelle eyed her new personal detail up and down. He was at least 6'5 " in height, with broad shoulders, tanned skin, and his brownish gold ruffled hair.
He wore a rather stoic and emotionless expression on his chilled face, and Noelle didn't find it the least bit attractive.
"Welll....since he's here already, I might as well.... I'm going for a photo shoot right now. I'm supposed to be there 30 minutes ago. we gotta go ASAP." She ordered walking away.
"Look at my own self-sufficient baby. Booked herself a gig. You're getting your mojo back." Her mother praised, smiling proudly.
"She's not going." A voice calmly boomed, everyone pausing and staring in shock at the voice who spoke; Niklaus.
"Excuse you. You're here to protect me, not restructure my moment. Just keep quiet and hold your gun close." Noelle rolled her eyes, staring at him, annoyance in her eyes.
"With all due respect, Ms Hollsbury, there is a target on your head, every deadly one at that, and apparently, he's good enough to get into your mansion. So here's not exactly safe, I can assure you it's worse out there. So if you want to be easy bait, by all means, strut out the door, or sashay, whatever suits you, princess." He shrugged, placing his hands in his pocket.
"No one asked your opinion." Noelle scoffed, strutting out.
"I specifically made myself crystal clear. You're not leaving the walls of this house until I give the say-so." He growled, placing a hand on her lower belly, restricting her moments.
"You. Don't. Control. Me." She seethed, gritting her teeth.
"It's in my contract." He replied bluntly.
Noelle stared in confusion at the room. Her mother and the guards did nothing.
"It is in the contract, sweetie, until we find you killer. Your father made it very clear." Her mother sighed comfortingly.
"And no one thought to involve me in my life's business!? Typical! " She scoffed, her voice going an octave higher.
"Now be good and turn around and march back into your room. Your father gave me a go ahead, it's why I'm the best bodyguard in town. It's my job, sweetheart. " He smirked at Noelle's red and frowning face.
Huffing, Noelle grabbed her bag and phone, in her skimpy, fashionable outfit, and stomped up the stairs, her heels clicking with the marble floor.
#######
"Who is it?" Noelle asks, and the door opens, Niklaus and two other bodyguards marching in.
"What is this? What do you think you're doing?!" Noelle screeched, jumping out of the bed.
"Checking out your room for anything unusual." He bluntly replied, his face void of any expression.
"Nothing, sir." the men replied, and he nodded, ordering them out.
"You have no right!" Noelle screamed, walking up to him, her 5'9" height, and slender figure barely meeting his enormous build. She stared up at him, her golden, rimmed eyes daringly looking straight into his crystal blue ones.
"It's in my contract." He stared her back, breathing into her face.
"I can fire you if you don't stop this harassment. If you do not back off, I will fire you. Whatever shenanigan you pulled downstairs doesn't mean s**t! I don't have to listen to you and let you control me." She threatened, her breath shaking and her resolve weakening.
"Cute." He chuckled heartily, staring at her now confused expression.
"You can't fire me. Your father hired me, and we have a contract. It is well within my job description to protect you as I see fit. Besides.., I'm here to protect you, not play chaperone." He replied, eerily calm.
He turned around, walking away, then stopped abruptly, turning around.
"Oh... one more thing." He drawled annoyingly, walking up to her.
"NO MORE SOCIALS." He whispered into her ear, grabbing her phone out of her hand.
Noelle watched helplessly as he walked out of her room, closing the door softly behind her.
Never had she felt helpless and out of control before.
But....was she going to take this maltreatment?
NO... NO SHE WASN'T.
- Writer
