The Woman They Choose
1116 Words
Naomi couldn’t speak.
The words echoed inside her head.
Someone planned your meeting with Naomi from the very beginning.
She looked from Arthur to Jaxon.
“No…”
“There has to be a mistake.”
Arthur’s expression remained grave.
“There isn’t.”
“The restaurant manager reviewed every employee record.”
“The waiter who bumped into you doesn’t exist.”
Rachel looked at Naomi.
“Which means your meeting with Mr. Hayes wasn’t an accident.”
Naomi shook her head.
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m just a waitress.”
“Why would anyone care about me?”
No one answered.
Because no one knew.
Jaxon turned to Arthur.
“I want every security recording from that restaurant.”
Arthur sighed.
“There’s another problem.”
“What?”
“The camera covering your table was disabled.”
Rachel frowned.
“For how long?”
“Exactly twelve minutes.”
Silence filled the room.
The timing was too perfect.
The collision.
The spilled wine.
The marriage offer.
Every step had been carefully arranged.
Naomi wrapped her arms around herself.
“I feel like someone’s been controlling my life.”
Jaxon stepped closer.
“We’ll find out who.”
She looked into his eyes.
“And if we don’t?”
“We will.”
His confidence should have comforted her.
Instead, it frightened her.
Because whoever was behind this seemed to be one step ahead.
Always.
Rachel closed her notebook.
“I’m assigning officers to your brother.”
Naomi’s eyes widened.
“Ethan?”
“He may become a target.”
“No.”
Fear rushed through her.
“He has nothing to do with this.”
“Neither did you.”
Rachel’s words hit hard.
Arthur immediately made a call.
“I want two security officers outside Ethan Brooks’ residence.”
He listened for a moment.
“No.”
“Don’t tell him why.”
Naomi breathed a little easier.
At least Ethan would be protected.
Jaxon turned toward her.
“You should rest.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You think I can sleep after tonight?”
“You need to try.”
“I’m afraid to close my eyes.”
His expression softened.
“You won’t be alone.”
Naomi looked away before he could see the warmth creeping into her cheeks.
Arthur cleared his throat.
“I’ve prepared the east wing.”
Naomi frowned.
“The east wing?”
“The safest part of the estate.”
She nodded quietly.
Arthur led them upstairs.
The hallway stretched endlessly beneath crystal chandeliers.
Finally, he stopped before two large doors.
“This will be your room, Mrs. Hayes.”
Naomi opened the door.
Her jaw dropped.
The bedroom was larger than her entire apartment.
Floor to ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline.
A fireplace glowed softly.
Fresh flowers decorated every corner.
There was even a private sitting room.
“This is one bedroom?”
Arthur smiled.
“It belonged to Mrs. Hayes.”
Naomi froze.
“You mean…”
“Mr. Hayes’ grandmother.”
She swallowed.
“I don’t think I should stay here.”
“It was Mr. William’s request.”
Arthur quietly excused himself.
The door closed behind him.
Naomi walked toward the window.
The city lights sparkled below.
Everything felt unreal.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
She turned.
Jaxon stood at the doorway.
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m trying.”
He stepped inside.
“I know today wasn’t what you expected.”
She laughed.
“I expected to lose my apartment.”
“I didn’t expect someone to shoot at us.”
He smiled faintly.
“Neither did I.”
Silence settled between them.
Naomi looked around the room.
“So…”
“Where are you sleeping?”
“My room.”
She frowned.
“I thought married couples shared a bedroom.”
“They do.”
She looked at him suspiciously.
“So why aren’t we?”
He smiled.
“Because despite what the media thinks…”
“I don’t intend to make you uncomfortable.”
She blinked.
“You mean…”
“I’m giving you your own space.”
For the first time since meeting him, Naomi realized something.
Jaxon Hayes wasn’t trying to take advantage of her.
He never had.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I do.”
He nodded once.
Then turned to leave.
“Good night, Naomi.”
“Jaxon.”
He stopped.
She hesitated.
“Thank you…”
“…for protecting me.”
He smiled.
“I made a promise.”
“And I intend to keep it.”
The door closed.
Naomi smiled to herself.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
She hadn’t made the biggest mistake of her life.
Across the hall, Jaxon entered his own bedroom.
Arthur was already waiting.
“You seem happier.”
Jaxon loosened his tie.
“I wouldn’t use that word.”
“You smiled.”
“I smile.”
“Not like that.”
Jaxon sighed.
“What’s your point?”
Arthur folded his hands.
“You’ve known Miss Brooks for less than two days.”
“I know.”
“And yet you jumped in front of two bullets tonight.”
“I’d do it again.”
Arthur studied him carefully.
“This arrangement is becoming dangerous.”
“I know.”
“I’m not talking about the threats.”
Jaxon frowned.
“I’m talking about your feelings.”
The room became quiet.
“I don’t have feelings for her.”
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
“You call her Naomi now.”
Jaxon said nothing.
“You stopped calling her Miss Brooks yesterday.”
Still nothing.
Arthur smiled knowingly.
“You’re in trouble.”
Jaxon laughed.
“It’s a contract.”
Arthur nodded.
“It started that way.”
He walked toward the door.
“But contracts expire.”
He paused before leaving.
“Feelings don’t.”
The door closed.
Jaxon stood alone.
His eyes drifted toward the wall separating his room from Naomi’s.
He remembered the way she had stood before the reporters.
The way she had defended him.
The way she had smiled.
Without realizing it…
He smiled again.
At that same moment, Naomi lay awake in bed.
Sleep refused to come.
She reached for the bedside lamp.
A folded piece of paper rested beneath it.
She frowned.
She hadn’t noticed it before.
Slowly, she unfolded it.
Her heart stopped.
The note contained only one sentence.
You should have said no to the marriage.
Naomi looked toward the locked bedroom door.
Someone had been inside her room.
After security had locked down the mansion.
She wasn’t safe.
Not even here.
- Writer
