CHAPTER ONE
“Scott!” I screamed.
As I shot upright on my couch, staring at the television in disbelief.
“Are you actually serious right now?”
On the screen, Scott was making yet another questionable decision.
I grabbed the pillow beside me and hugged it against my chest.
“No. No, no, no. Don’t do that.”
I watched for another few seconds.
My eyes widened.
“Oh my God.”
I slapped the pillow against my leg.
“Scott, what are you doing?!”
I paused.
Then I frowned.
“Actually… you know what? That’s exactly what I expected from you.”
I continued watching, completely invested in the chaos unfolding on the screen.
A few minutes later, Derek appeared.
My entire expression changed.
I sat up straighter.
“Yes!”
I pointed at the television.
“Go, Derek!”
I grinned.
“Finally. Someone with sense.”
I settled back into the couch, completely absorbed in the episode.
One minute, I was laughing.
The next, I was yelling at the screen.
Then I went completely silent.
“Oh…”
My smile disappeared.
“No.”
I stared at the television.
“That didn’t just happen.”
A few seconds passed.
I pulled the blanket closer around myself.
“Stiles is the Ketsune, whatttttt.”
I was genuinely upset now.
Then another scene came on, and I suddenly started laughing again.
“This show is actually crazy.”
I shook my head, smiling.
I knew I was talking to myself.
I also knew I didn’t care.
Watching movies alone had always been like this for me.
I reacted to everything.
I argued with characters who couldn’t hear me.
I celebrated when my favorite character did something right.
I got angry when they did something stupid.
And sometimes, I forgot I was sitting alone in my living room.
My phone suddenly started ringing.
I glanced toward the coffee table.
Unknown number.
I frowned.
Who was calling me?
I reached over and picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Rachel?”
I recognized the voice immediately.
“Mrs. Whitmore?”
“Yes, darling.”
I smiled.
“Hi. It’s been a while.”
“It has. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
There was a brief pause.
“Are you busy tomorrow?”
I frowned slightly.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. I need you to come by the house.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine.”
That answer somehow made me more suspicious.
“Then why do you need me?” I said as i walked back to the couch.
She laughed softly.
“I have something I want to discuss with you.”
I leaned back against the couch.
“Okay…”
“Come around ten tomorrow morning.”
“Ten?”
“Yes.”
I glanced at the television.
“I suppose I can make that.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Goodnight, Mrs. Whitmore.”
“Goodnight, darling.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone for a moment.
Then I shrugged.
“Okay.”
I put my phone down and turned back to the television.
********^********
The next morning, I arrived at the Whitmore residence a little before ten.
I stepped out of my car and looked up at the enormous house.
It was beautiful.
Huge.
Perfectly maintained.
The kind of place most people would probably stop and stare at.
I didn’t.
Not because it wasn’t impressive.
It was.
But I had grown up around houses like this.
My own family’s home wasn’t exactly modest.
Money had never been something I’d had to worry about.
Still, there was something different about the Whitmore residence.
Maybe it was the quietness.
Or the fact that everything seemed carefully placed.
I walked inside.
A member of the staff greeted me politely and led me into the sitting room.
“Mrs. Whitmore will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you.”
I sat down.
A few moments later, someone brought me a glass of juice.
“Thank you.”
I took the glass and settled comfortably into the sofa.
While drinking, I pulled out my phone.
opened my favorite novel app g********l, then I continued reading my favorite book.
Then I heard footsteps.
I continued looking at my phone.
“Who are you?”
I slowly lifted my head.
A man stood a few feet away from me.
Tall.
Black hair.
Deep grey eyes.
He looked at me with an expression that made it very clear he wasn’t impressed to find me sitting in his house.
I blinked.
Then looked around the room.
Then back at him.
“Who are you?”
His eyebrows pulled together slightly.
“I asked you first.”
I took another sip of my juice.
He stared at me.
I stared back.
There was a strange silence between us.
Then he finally spoke.
“I’m Blaze Whitmore.”
I paused.
Oh.
So this was him.
I put my phone down.
“Oh.”
I smiled politely.
“You’re Mr. Whitmore.”
He didn’t respond.
I stood up.
“Well, nice to meet you.”
I extended my hand.
Blaze looked at my hand.
Then looked at me.
Then, without saying a word, he turned around and walked away.
I remained frozen.
My hand was still stretched out.
I slowly looked down at it.
Then looked in the direction he’d disappeared.
“What?”
I stood there for another second.
Then I lowered my hand.
“Okay…”
I sat back down.
I picked up my glass.
Took a sip.
Then muttered under my breath,
“Rude.”
I picked up my phone again.
A few minutes later, footsteps approached again.
This time, I immediately looked up.
Victoria Whitmore entered the room.
The moment she saw me, her face lit up.
“Rachel!”
I stood up with a smile.
“Mrs. Whitmore.”
She walked straight toward me and pulled me into a warm hug.
“Oh, I’ve missed you!”
I laughed softly.
“I’ve missed you too.”
“You never come to see me anymore.”
“I know.”
“And you hardly call.”
“I’m sorry.”
She pulled away and looked at me.
“Are you avoiding me?”
I smiled.
“No. I’ve just been busy.”
“Doing what?”
I hesitated.
“Trying to find work.”
Her expression softened.
“Ah.”
She took a seat.
I sat across from her.
“ That’s why I called you.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“You have a job for me?”
“I do.”
She smiled.
“I know how capable you are, Rachel.”
I listened quietly.
“I’ve known you for years. I know what you’re capable of, and I know you can handle yourself.”
I nodded.
“So what exactly is the job?”
She took a breath.
“I want you to protect my grandson.”
I blinked.
“Your grandson?”
“Yes.”
I immediately thought about the rude man from earlier.
“Blaze?”
“Yes.”
I stared at her.
“You want me to be his bodyguard?”
“Yes.”
I couldn’t help the slight disbelief in my expression.
“Mrs. Whitmore…”
She smiled.
“I know you haven’t spoken to him much.”
“I haven’t spoken to him at all.”
“Exactly.”
“I think I spoke to him for about thirty seconds.”
She laughed.
“And he was rude.”
“Very.”
“Don’t take it personally.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“He walked away while I was trying to shake his hand.”
Victoria shook her head fondly.
“That is just Blaze.”
I sighed.
“Great.”
“He’s actually very sweet.”
I gave her a look.
“Are we talking about the same person?”
She laughed.
“Yes, we are.”
Then her expression became more serious.
“But that’s not why I’m asking you to protect him.”
I straightened slightly.
“What happened?”
“He’s been receiving threats.”
My smile faded.
“Threats?”
“Death threats.”
I stared at her.
“How long?”
“It’s been happening for a while.”
“And the police?”
“They’re aware.”
“Security?”
“He has security.”
“Then why do you need me?”
“Because Blaze refuses to have someone constantly following him.”
I sighed.
“That sounds like him.”
“He keeps insisting that he’s perfectly capable of protecting himself.”
I folded my arms.
“Is he?”
Victoria gave me a tired smile.
“He’s capable of many things. But he’s still my grandson.”
Her voice softened.
“He’s the only family I have left.”
I became quiet.
She looked down at her hands.
“I can’t sit back and wait for something to happen to him.”
I understood then.
This wasn’t simply about hiring a bodyguard.
She was scared.
“I need someone I trust,” she continued. “Someone who won’t be intimidated by him. Someone capable enough to protect him even when he doesn’t think he needs protection.”
Her eyes met mine.
“And I know you can do that.”
I remained silent for a moment.
Then I glanced toward the doorway where Blaze had disappeared.
Protect Blaze Whitmore.
The arrogant man who had just walked away from my handshake without saying a word.
I looked back at Victoria.
“When would I start?”
Her expression immediately brightened.
“Immediately.”
I sighed.
Of course.
Because apparently my peaceful life had just ended.
