Safeguarding Isla

Chapter 9: In Which She Is a Goddess

Isla had recovered from her cold in less than a week with the help of Alexander's supervision who kept on reminding her to take her meds and gave her that look that kept her away from ice pops. She found it so endearing.

Dare she say that the slight crush she had on him had developed into full-on feelings for him, which was so wrong, and she knew so but she couldn't deny her feelings nor could she admit them out loud.

"Well... this sucks" she huffed plopping on the couch like a sack of potatoes with her cheeks red and puffed out.

They were in the main house, Alexander standing guard by a wall watching her huff and puff about not being able to go outside since it was raining. It was quite an amusing sight but as always, he kept his face straight.

"What am I supposed to do now?" she questioned no one in particular.

Just then one of the men came in instantly putting Alexander on alert as he stepped forward, standing right beside where Isla was seated.

"Mr. Gambino requests both Miss Gambino as well as your presence in his study" the guard informed the two.

Isla looked up at Alexander, her eyes showing confusion and a hint of nervousness. Her father didn't often call her, weeks would go by that she wouldn't see her father, so this sudden call made her nervous.

She got up from the couch, fixing herself a little before nodding at the guard who turned around and started leading the way after giving her a slight nod of acknowledgment of his own.

As she started walking, Alexander walked close right behind her. Even he was confused as to why Mr. Gambino had requested their presence together after he had noticed that he rarely saw his daughter.

Once they reached the door to Mr. Gambino's study, she hesitantly brought her dainty fist out, knocking on the door no more than thrice. The guard had left them at the door as a 'come in' was heard from the other side and she twisted the doorknob open before entering inside the study.

"Dad, you called for me?" she asked making Richard turn his head in her direction and a soft, genuine smile replaced his frown as he got up from his leather chair.

"My little moon" he used his sweet endearment for her like he always did since she was little, it was quite often till Isla's mother died. The endearment brought a smile to her face and suddenly she wasn't nervous anymore.

Richard placed a soft kiss on her temple as he stood in front of her.

"I heard you were sick? how are you feeling now?" he asked, concern etched on his features.

"I am all better now dad, actually, Alex had a great hand in me getting better" she mentioned with a grin.

Alexander who was watching the father-daughter exchange quietly tensed at that, not sure what Mr. Gambino would make of it.

"Alex huh?" Richard questioned amusedly, glancing at Alexander who was standing at a distance behind Isla.

"Oh yea, I know, he insisted it was very unprofessional, but I consider him my friend, so I call him Alex" she explained, a slight blush creeping to her face.

"Well then I wanted to inform you that we'll be attending a very big auction tomorrow, a charity event and I want you to be there with me and there are gonna be a lot of people there so Alex will be with you the whole time, I do not want you to leave her side for a second" the last instructions directed at Alexander.

"That is my duty as Miss. Gambino's bodyguard sir, I won't disappoint" Alexander replied with a nod of respect.

"But dad, I never attend these events, why this one?" Isla asked confused.

She was hardly ever let out of the estate for security purposes she despised that, but it was one thing she couldn't argue against with her dad no matter how caged it made her feel.

"This event is different, all the reputable businessmen and men in power will be present there, it would be vital for the Gambino family's reputation if you came with considering the majority of those people have never even seen you" Richard explained.

"Alright dad," she said before placing a quick peck on her father's cheek and turning around to leave.

Alexander was right behind her.

At least she had something to be excited about and do now, pick out an outfit.

Isla looked at herself in the full-length mirror and to be quite honest she was impressed by herself, she couldn't believe that the girl in the mirror was the same Isla Moon Gambino who just an hour ago was in a pink sweatshirt and shorts.

The girl in the mirror looked like someone out of a fashion magazine. She was adorned in a white knee-length dress that had navy blue embroidery with silver stones decorating it in very intricate patterns. The neckline was a prudence illusion showing off her delicate collar bones.

Her makeup was pink and minimal, her pin-straight hair was let down with a braided hairstyle on the front. She was gonna wear heels but only 3 inches considering it wouldn't be wise to wear any taller while knowing of her clumsy nature.

Slipping on her heels, and taking her clutch she did a once over in the mirror before she headed out of her room.

They're right outside her room, Alexander was on his duty, standing stiff as a statue until he heard the click of her door closing as she stepped outside making him turn around.

His throat went dry, and his mouth went slightly ajar as he did his best to conceal his emotions.

She looked no less than a goddess.

She blushed as she felt his burning gaze on her.

"How do I look, Alex?" She asked. She knew she looked good but for some reason, she wanted some sort of approval from him.

He was brought out of his trance by her melodic voice as he cleared his throat awkwardly.

"You look beautiful Miss. Gambino" he complimented yet his face remained stoic, but Isla had gotten used to it now.

She knew behind that cold exterior he had a smile complimenting that compliment he just gave her.

It was gonna be a long evening. He just hoped he'd be able to take his eyes off of her and focus on the surroundings for threats.

### Chapter 10: In Which Things Go Wrong

Alexander held open the door of the Limousine for the beautiful miss who got in with a faint blush on her cheeks, her dad getting in from the other side as the chauffeur held open the door for him.

Alexander was instructed to be seated with Isla and her father for protection and so he got in after Isla took a seat in front of her another guard, Mr. Gambino's personal guard got in the car sitting right in front of Richard.

Isla bit her lower lip as she felt her bare knee brush against Alexander's pant-clad thigh and her already red face flushed even more.

This little action didn't go unnoticed by Alexander either. It was getting harder by the second for him to control himself and keep his facial expressions neutral with her creamy leg brushing up against his in the packed limo and her teeth tugging at her luscious lips.

God, did he wanna bite that lip for her instead?

Isla looked up from toying with her fingers for a moment and her gaze met Alexander's making her breath hitch for money as she met his heated gaze, with great effort they both willed themselves to look elsewhere.

After a very long tension-filled ride, they were finally in front of the plaza where the auction commenced at.

Isla peered outside the window with curiosity however, that turned out to be a poor idea as a man with a camera came right thump at the window of the Limo with his face flushed right against it out of the blue, scaring poor Isla away from the window as she yelped and moved back towards her father.

"Whoa their little moon, it's alright, it's just the paparazzi they go crazy like this at times," Richard said keeping a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she let out a sigh of relief, calming herself down.

This is why she rarely went out, the paps and the threats.

Isla's nervousness definitely grew as her hands grew clammy and her heart raced at the thought of stepping outside of the limo into all that chaos.

This of course didn't go unnoticed by Alexander as his jaw clenched at the fear in her eyes, God did he wanna hold her and wipe that look away from her face?

"Alright, we have to get out now, don't wanna be holding up other cars," Richard said as if it mattered to the owner of three states, he could do whatever the f**k he wanted in reality.

Richard's guard and Alexander were the first ones to step out of the Limo as they pushed the paps away towards the other guards before turning around to get the Gambinos safely out. Richard stepped out of the car with grace, but Isla kept sitting. Alexander turned and looked towards her and held his hand out for her, however, she only looked outside warily at the crowd and then at Alexander, her eyes shone with nervousness, Alexander gave her a slight nod of reassurance, a promise of getting her safely inside which gave her a tad bit courage to put her own dainty hand in his rough callused one.

He held her hand in a firm grip as he helped her out of the Limo closing the door and she stood right beside him, gripping his hand.

As soon as she was out there was an uproar amongst the paparazzi as there were questions being shouted and camera flashes clicking pictures almost blinding her in the process all the while the guards were holding the paps back, but it seemed there were a lot more paps than guards proving it difficult to contain them.

Without a word Alexander pulled her flush against his back, holding one of her hands with an arm behind him. She stuck close to him as they pushed through the crowds, her hot breath hitting his back making him gulp at the incredible chills it sent down her spine which he ignored or at least tried to.

Once they were safely inside the plaza Isla was still clinging to his back making Richard raise a brow towards the two of them.

As much as Alexander wanted her to stay like that, close to him, he cleared his throat in order to get her attention. It was creating an awkward situation with her dad present there.

She peeked from behind him and her face heated as she saw Richard looking at her with a questioning look and she stepped away from Alexander.

"Come on Isla, I am going to introduce you to some people, now darling if they ask for dance do them the courtesy of saying yes, it's only a dance no harm done, and it will reflect positively on our image as well as the relationship with other allies. I need all the guards to make themselves scarce not too close but not too far either, anything can go down during an event as grand as this" Richard instructed. He saw a pout on Isla's face at his instructions, she wasn't keen on interactions, but she had to do it, Richard places a short kiss on her hairline in the order it makes the situation a tad bit better.

Alexander along with the other guards scattered around the humongous plaza, taking positions and guarding afar.

After an hour or so the auction had been done and over with, and people bid tremendously large sums for useless stuff such as old urns and mirrors, but it was all for goodwill in the end it was worth it.

Now they were all interacting, dancing, and enjoying the food, Alexander's eyes never leaving Isla. She looked nervous and fidgety meeting all these people and already three young men had danced with her, all the while her posture was rigid and she looked uncomfortable which didn't settle well with Alexander, but he couldn't do anything about it.

Isla had been occasionally glancing in the direction where Alexander stood watching over her only to see him looking right back at her making her shy away. Isla had gotten various compliments from various guests as her father introduced her proudly, however, her feet did ache from all the dancing, and at this point, she missed the comfort of her bedroom and silk nightgown.

She was heading towards a table where she had spotted delicious-looking chocolate delicacies calling out to her, but she halted mid-step as all of a sudden, the lights of the huge plaza went out and it was pitch dark.

The next thing that came was nightmarish chaos as the foul noise of gunshots rang through the dark hall.