Falling for the Man Who Swore to Protect Me

The flash of cameras was nothing new to Annika Cervantes. As one of the biggest stars in the Philippines, she had mastered the art of walking past the chaos, ignoring the blinding flashes, the shouts of reporters, and the desperate crowd of fans who would do anything for a glimpse of her. She moved with effortless grace, the kind that only came from years of practice. Every step she took looked like part of a scene: poised, calm, untouchable. To them, she was a goddess who never flinched, never faltered. But tonight felt different. As she stepped out of her car and into the private entrance of her condominium, a chill ran down her spine. The night air was heavy, thicker than usual, pressing against her skin with something she couldn’t quite name. Unease. She wasn’t used to being without her assistant by her side. The latter had suddenly asked to leave for a while to buy the puto (Filipino steamed rice cakes) she requested, but until now, still hadn’t returned. She pulled her coat tighter around her and quickened her pace toward the elevator. Maybe it was just the exhaustion catching up with her. After all, she’d spent the entire day filming under the sun, giving interviews, smiling until her cheeks hurt. She wanted nothing more than a hot shower and silence. But the silence tonight didn’t feel comforting. It felt… watchful. Was she just being paranoid? Her thoughts drifted to the messages about the threats that had started weeks ago. At first, they seemed harmless: anonymous comments online, letters slipped under her dressing room door. She’d brushed them off, used to the occasional obsessed fan. But then things escalated. A scarf she’d left in her trailer vanished overnight. A handwritten note from her mother had gone from her purse. And then the photos started coming in. Candid shots of her, in places where no one should have been able to take them in her home, her car, even her bedroom window. Her father, Damian Cervantes a man whose name alone could make powerful men tremble had wasted no time fortifying his daughter’s security. But Annika, headstrong and fiercely independent, had dismissed them all without a second thought. Too aggressive. Too controlling. Too suffocating. She didn’t need someone shadowing her every move as if she were some fragile glass doll. She knew it was just an obsessed fan, but deep down, she also understood how dangerous people like that could be. Still, she chose to believe it would all fade away eventually. But as she stood alone in the dimly lit hallway now, she wasn’t so sure anymore. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pressed the elevator button. The digital display above flickered, the faint hum of the machinery echoing down the hallway. Then she felt that unmistakable sensation of being watched. Her pulse quickened. She turned sharply, scanning the corridor. Nothing. Just an empty stretch of polished floor and white walls. She exhaled shakily. Get a grip, Annika. You’re fine. It’s all in your head. The elevator doors opened with a soft ding. She stepped inside, pressing the floor button for her unit. But just as the doors were about to close, a hand shot between them. Her breath hitched. The doors slid open again, revealing a familiar, smiling face. “Ma’am Annika! You’re still so beautiful even when you look tired and scared,” Mila, her ever-loyal personal assistant, said with a teasing smile. Annika released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “You scared me, Mila.” “Sorry, ma’am! I just came up with your new bodyguard.” Annika frowned. “My what?” Mila stepped aside, revealing the man behind her, a tall guy with an easy grin, messy hair, and a casual air that screamed not your typical bodyguard. He looked more like someone’s mischievous older brother than the kind of man who took bullets for a living. “Good evening, Ma’am Annika,” he greeted, flashing a confident smile. “I’m Von Lazaro, your new savior.” Annika blinked. Then looked at his hand as he offered it and didn’t take it. Von didn’t seem offended. He pulled his hand back and shrugged playfully. “Ah, okay. No handshake. Maybe we can just do a fist bump next time?” Annika crossed her arms. “This is a joke, right?” She turned to Mila. Mila bit her lip nervously. “Sir Damian was the one who hired him.” Annika’s stomach dropped. If her father had personally assigned this man, there was no use arguing. Still, she couldn’t help the disbelief in her voice. “Dad actually chose him?” Von raised an eyebrow. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” The elevator came to a halt, and Annika was the first to step out, walking briskly toward the door of her condo. She ignored him. “What are his credentials?” Before Mila could answer, Von jumped in eagerly. “Oh! I have a lot of experience. I used to work as a security guard at a famous club, then became a driver for a politician—can’t say who, very confidential.” His grin widened. “I’m also trained in self-defense and firearms. But most importantly—” He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice dramatically. “I think fast.” Annika arched an eyebrow. “And what does that mean, exactly?” Von straightened up proudly. “If someone jumps in front of you with bad intentions, I’ll be the first to run straight to—” “—toward the enemy?” she interrupted. “No,” Von said seriously. “To the nearest exit. So I can get you out of danger faster.” Mila snorted, covering her mouth to hide her laugh. Annika sighed, rubbing her temples. “Unbelievable.” The sound of heavy footsteps interrupted them. Annika turned to see her father approaching, flanked by three of his personal bodyguards. “Why are you all still out here?” Damian’s commanding voice filled the hall. “Let’s talk inside.” The group entered Annika’s condo, a modern, minimalist space filled with soft lights and city views. Damian sat on a single couch, gesturing for Von to sit across from Annika. Annika didn’t move. She stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on Von like she was assessing a threat. “This has to be a joke.” Von grinned. “A good one?” Her frown deepened. “Dad, this is my life we’re talking about. He looks like he should be hosting a comedy show, not protecting me from dangerous criminals.” Von placed a hand dramatically over his heart. “Ma’am, I’m deeply hurt. Just because I can make people laugh doesn’t mean I can’t throw a punch. I’ll let you know I once knocked out a guy.” “Really?” “… In a video game,” he admitted. “But the principle is the same.” Damian sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Annika, enough. Anak (Filipino word that means “child”), this is for your safety. I can’t bear the thought of losing you too. You’re the only woman in my life. If something ever happened to you…” his voice faltered, trembling with emotion, “I don’t know what I’d do.” The irritation in Annika’s eyes softened, just for a moment. She understood his fear even if she hated being controlled. She exhaled. “I understand, Dad. But of all people, him?” Von chuckled lightly. “Ma’am, I promise I’ll grow on you.” She shot him a look that could freeze lava. Damian’s expression softened, the tension in his jaw easing. “Von’s father saved my life more times than I can count,” he said quietly, his voice laced with respect. “He was a man of loyalty and honor and I see that same fire in his son. I trust him, Annika. I trust Von to protect you with his life.” That silenced her. Mila quietly went about tidying up Annika’s things, her movements calm and practiced. At the same time, the comforting aroma of dinner began to fill the condo as she busied herself in the kitchen. Annika glanced at Von again, this time more carefully. Beneath the easy grin and wrinkled polo, there was something steady in his posture, an awareness in his eyes that didn’t quite match his jokes. Still, she wasn’t ready to trust him. “I’ll give you a chance,” she said finally, her tone clipped. “But only because Dad insists.” Von’s grin returned, bright and unbothered. “Fair enough. I’ll do my best, Ma’am Annika. You won’t even notice I’m there.” “Good,” she muttered. “I prefer it that way.” Damian offered a small, weary smile and looked at his daughter. “Thank you, anak. I know that, in time, you’ll learn to accept Von,” he said softly. Annika immediately rolled her eyes at her father’s words. Accept Von? The thought alone made her blood simmer. She still couldn’t tell if trusting him was the right thing to do or a mistake waiting to happen. One thing was certain, though: she would find a way, any way, to get rid of him. No one not even her father could force her to trust a man she barely knew. --- Later, as Annika disappeared into her room, Von followed Damian to the elevator. The older man’s expression was heavy with unspoken worry. “Protect her, Von. She won’t admit it, but she’s scared.” Von nodded, his playful demeanor fading. “I know. I read the reports. Sir.” Damian gave him a hard look. “Then you know this isn’t just about obsessed fans.” “I do, sir.” Von replied quietly. As the elevator doors closed, he shoved his hands into his pockets. The easy grin returned but his eyes sharpened. He wasn’t just a bodyguard. Not this time. He was there to catch a ghost hiding in plain sight. And if anyone tried to hurt Annika Cervantes… they’d have to go through him first.