MY SECRET LOVER

CHAPTER THREE

MY NEW BODYGUARD

SOPHIA'S POV

The drive to Calcutta University is a pretty long one. Dad had to build his house quite far away from other people.

It was a huge mansion that stood on the edge of Calcutta’s coastline, surrounded by the endless roar of the sea. No neighbours, just the sound of waves crashing against stone.

The route that led out of the estate is surrounded by trees.

The entire property alone is worth millions of gold.

Valentino isn't much of a talkative, but I talk to him anyway. At least he can still hear what I have to say. Not responding is his choice and not mine.

“You know this will be our new routine from now on?” I asked, peering at him from the rearview mirror.

“Christian was in charge of taking me to school when I was still in high school, you know?”

I peered at him again, but there was no response from him, no change in his facial expression. His eyes remained on the road, so concentrated.

Oh well, I still have to keep talking though. It is a long ride, and the silence in the car may just be what ends my life.

I look out the window on my side and see the many hectares of land filled with exotic flowers and huge trees. The sight of so many beautiful flowers and trees always made me feel at ease.

Whenever I took a walk down the road that led to the mansion gates, the air was always filled with so many scents.

It was fun trying to differentiate which scent was coming from which flower.

“You know I plan to be very busy in school. I will trouble you to work beyond the normal time you expected your work hours to be,” I sighed and took out my phone to scroll through it.

“It was a pretty long holiday, and I didn't even get an invitation to go anywhere by anyone. I don't have a lot of friends, and I want to.”

I scrolled through the messages in the Chatbox app, and a lot of my mates had so much fun during the holidays.

They were always posting pictures and tagging such cheesy words on the pictures. They were giving out information no one asked them about.

“I plan to make a lot of friends in college, Valentino. It is a new chapter for me, so I doubt events at my high school will still haunt me here,” I smiled at the idea, suddenly feeling a rush of excitement flood my chest.

“I'll be hosting a lot of parties and events as well,” I say aloud while jotting down some ideas in my note app.

The silence lingered, and I became lost in drafting out ideas for my plans. It was a colossal shock when I heard someone else speak so suddenly.

“Trying to buy your friends never ends well; you should only make friends with people who are worthy of being called your friend.”

I looked up sharply at the rear mirror and looked at him. His expression remained the same, which was practically an icy expression that seemed to be carved from stone.

“I have thought about it too, you know, but I don't think I'll be buying them out, I just think it is a way of making them notice me so they can decide on their own if they want to be friends with me,” I answered, feeling a bit strange with the sudden turn of the conversation.

“Everyone must not have friends.”

“It feels lonely not to have them,” I replied quietly.

He said nothing more afterwards. We remained in that contemplative silence till we got to the University of Calcutta.

I stepped out of the car, adjusting my bag on my shoulder as Valentino rolled down the window.

“I’ll be back by three,” he said flatly.

I blinked at him. “Three? Since when do I get told what time to be back?”

He better not be insinuating what I think he may be insinuating.

“It’s the boss’s order. He wants you home before four. My job is to make that happen.” His eyes didn’t waver, his tone as rigid as if he were reading from a rulebook.

I gaped at him. “Dad never policed me like this. The only rule was to be back before ten, except on special occasions, where I need to stay late, which, by all accounts, has never happened. What’s going on now?”

I was beginning to feel hysterical. Dad can't control my movements now. How am I going to carry out the plans I've made, plans he has inadvertently given me money for?

Valentino’s lips twitched, just barely. “Calm down, Miss Sophia. The boss wants to talk. Urgently. I’d say you should be happy, but clearly, you’re panicking instead.” A spark lit in his eyes; he was enjoying this.

I realised then that he made me feel that way on purpose.

I narrowed my eyes at him.“You are a prick, you know that?”

“I've been told one too many times, Miss,” he said with a laugh, rich and deep, far too amused for my liking.

He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret.

“Don’t keep me waiting, Miss Sophia. If you’re late, I’ll create a scene big enough to scare off every friend you’re so desperate to make. Permanently.”

My mouth fell open. He only smirked, started the car, and added casually, “I’ll be on official bodyguard duty tomorrow, unless plans change. For today, try not to get kidnapped,” he stated, driving off immediately after.

Before I could form a comeback, he was gone, tyres crunching against the pavement as the car disappeared down the road.

I exhaled sharply, scoffing at the space he left behind. Rude. Infuriating. Maddening man.

And yet, a reluctant smile tugged at my lips. At least he wasn’t trying to charm me or play nice.

Maybe, just maybe, this year wouldn’t be as boring as I thought.

With a shrug, I turned toward the looming gates of the University of Calcutta and walked inside.