The Agent's Blood

Chapter 16.

The incident at the hotel became headline news everywhere, as the victim was Elena Montgomery, a boutique owner who had just married Julian Thorne, the CEO of a large company, the day before. Their wedding was even still being replayed on several television shows. It was reported that two people, disguised, had threatened Mrs. Julian Thorne and robbed her of her diamond jewelry. Both individuals met a tragic end in a police shootout for threatening with a firearm.

Elena stared furiously at the television screen. The events were not as reported. Evander's name was not mentioned as her savior.

"Why are you so upset?" Julian asked that morning. They had returned from the hotel, and Julian had brought Elena to his house.

Elena glanced at her husband briefly. "It's nothing," she answered curtly, sipping her tea.

Julian snorted. He understood why Elena seemed annoyed watching the news. "Sometimes, a hero must remain silent and hidden, darling!" he said. "Your bodyguard doesn't seem to like popularity either!" he added with a faint smile.

"But at least give him some recognition for saving your wife," Elena retorted, looking straight at Julian. "Unless you actually wished for me to die there!" she added cynically.

Instantly, Julian sprang from his chair and rushed toward Elena, his eyes bulging. He angrily gripped his wife's jaw.

"What did you just say?!" he growled. "Are you accusing me? Your thoughts are twisted, Elena!" he snapped, releasing Elena's face furiously.

The woman turned back with a smirk on her lips. "Well, who knows!" she replied flippantly.

Julian snorted. "You're just upset because your beloved bodyguard wasn't mentioned, even though he saved your life!"

Elena remained silent, her face still looking grim.

"Don't look for trouble with me, Elena! As long as you obey, I will fulfill all your desires!" Julian declared arrogantly.

Elena smiled faintly. "Including a divorce?!" she quipped.

Julian slammed the table in anger. "How dare you say that to me!" he yelled, then pulled Elena's hair, forcing her to look up at him. The woman shrieked, enduring the pain in her neck, holding Julian's hand that gripped her hair.

"Listen! You are mine now. I will never let you go, remember that!" Julian snapped, then kissed Elena's lips harshly. The woman struggled, pushing Julian's face away until he released the kiss.

The man then burst into laughter, seeing his wife glaring at him with pure hatred. Roughly, he let go of Elena's hair and walked away with a lingering laugh, leaving Elena in silence, her face wet with tears.

***

Elena left the house with her bag in hand. This time, her face was stiff and somber. Evander saw her but didn't ask many questions, immediately opening the car door for Elena, who got in right away.

"To the salon first, please!" Elena requested as soon as Evander got in. "I want to cut my hair!" she added, turning her face to the car window.

Evander was taken aback, but again, he didn't ask anything. He just nodded in response to his lady's command.

The car moved smoothly down the road, with a silence between the two of them.

Elena looked at Evander, who was driving in front of her. "Don't you want to know why I want to cut my hair?!" she said, a little annoyed by Evander's attitude.

Evander glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "What is it? If I may know," Evander asked.

Elena snorted. She was even more irritated now. So she didn't speak again, just folded her arms and looked out the window.

Evander smiled at the sight.

It wasn't that he didn't know. Evander had heard the argument between Elena and Julian inside the house. It was just that he couldn't ask, let alone interfere in Elena's domestic affairs.

All he could do was comfort her and be her confidant.

"I like seeing you smile, Miss," Evander said, glancing occasionally in the rearview mirror. "It encourages me in my work," he added.

Elena pressed her lips together, holding back a smile at the Captain's compliment. But she was still annoyed, so she just glared, though her cheeks were clearly blushing.

Evander chuckled softly, finding Elena's angry face amusing. "Do you still want to go to the salon, Miss?" he asked.

Elena just nodded, her face still haughty.

"Alright, let's go there!" Evander said, gently turning the steering wheel towards Elena's regular salon.

***

The salon owner, Grace, greeted Elena warmly and friendly. Evander intended to wait outside, but Elena insisted that her 'bodyguard' come inside and ordered him to wait inside.

However, it seemed to be the wrong choice. Because what happened next was, Evander became the center of attention for the salon's patrons, who were all, without exception, women.

Time and again, Evander just smiled and nodded in response to their greetings, as they intentionally flirted and acted coquettishly in front of him. And this did not escape Elena's notice, who was being attended to directly by Grace.

The woman was furious and annoyed at the behavior of those women. So she ordered Evander to come closer to her.

With a suppressed smile, Evander obeyed, standing not far from Elena's spot, far from the reach of the admiring women on the other side.

"Miss, what kind of haircut would you like?" Grace asked, looking at Elena in the mirror, lifting the woman's long hair. "You have beautiful, lovely hair. It's a pity to cut it," commented the woman of Chinese-Korean descent.

Elena was taken aback, but then her eyes met Evander's behind her. "I want to become a new Elena, one with more character and resilience, for someone I love," she said, without breaking their gaze.

Evander was stunned in his place, his eyes dimming as he looked at Elena.

"Ah, what a beautiful love story you have, Miss," Grace exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Alright, please choose which haircut you'd like," she said, then handing over a magazine filled with haircuts from famous hairstylists.

Elena turned to Evander. "Could you please come closer?" she requested.

Evander frowned, not understanding, but he still obeyed and stepped closer to Elena. Grace blushed as she saw Evander close beside her. The beautiful woman shifted to make room for Evander.

"Which one?" Elena asked, looking up at Evander, who just shook his head slowly.

"Do you really want my opinion, Miss?" he asked back.

Elena suppressed a smile, then nodded with a playful attitude. Evander sighed deeply. To be honest, he didn't want to show their interaction like this in front of people. He was worried they would become suspicious and speculate, especially since they were rumored to be close before.

"As long as you don't color it, you'd look good with any haircut, Miss," Evander commented.

Elena smiled widely at his words, then turned to Grace.

"Alright, do it, Grace! I want to cut my hair in half, to shoulder length," she declared.

Grace nodded happily.

"Golden brown, please!"

"Miss!"