Guarded: Worth the Risk

Chapter 5

                                                                                           Nico

            “A little warning would have been nice” I say to my uncle as we walk towards my room.

            Could I have looked like more of an i***t just now.

            “What- that you would be heading security for a woman? Would you have changed your mind about the job if I would have told you beforehand?”

            Maybe-No. I boarded my flight this morning not knowing what my new job would actually entail or whom I’d be employed by. Maybe I should have asked more questions before I arrived at Chicago International Airport or even better asked questions while we made the hour drive to Fox Lake. However, none of that matter once I laid eyes on her.

            Standing in the foyer of my new home, she walked into the room and it felt as everything around me stopped. Her dark hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and she was wearing workout clothes that show cased her toned body perfectly. I could see the curiosity and confusion on her face as her eyes roamed down my body. I tried to pretend as if I didn’t see her walk into the room, but I couldn’t stop myself from stealing a few glances at the gorgeous woman in front of me. She was a very attractive woman. A woman I wouldn’t mind sinking my teeth into if given the chance. However, now that I know she’s my employer, nothing can happen no matter how much I fantasize about it.

            “Just would have been nice to have a little heads up is all. That way I couldn’t make an ass out of myself like I just did.”

            I can see the amusement on Enzo’s face. It was almost as if he had this planned all along.

            “Don’t sweat it bud” he says with a smile. “Well, here it is. Your new home for the next several months.”

            The room is large, a lot larger than my master bedroom of the apartment I had once shared with my fiancé- well now ex-fiancé. As I look around, I can’t help but wonder why someone like her would really need a bodyguard to begin with. I mean sure she’s running one of the top 5 fortune 500 companies, but tons of people who run fortune 500 companies don’t have bodyguards or security like Natalia does. And with her house hidden all the way in the middle of the woods, there is certainly no way anyone would find her.

            “So, why the need for a bodyguard anyway?” I can’t stop myself from asking.

            Enzo takes a moment to gather his thoughts before responding “I’ve been working for Natalia since she was 5- well her father I should say. There are a lot of people out there who wanted to see her fail after her father handed over the reins to her. She’s had her fair share of stalkers, and crazy ex’s. As well as some physical threats on her life, so this has been the best solution.” He pauses for a moment before continuing on “Look- she has a tough exterior because she has a lot to prove, but she is a sweetheart deep down. You two will be fast friends in no time.”

            I’m not here to make friends if that what he thinks. This is strictly a temporary distraction till the drama back home settles down. I try to digest the information he’s given me before I meet up with my new employer in her gym. Crazy to think that this place has one to begin with.

            “So, before you leave me, what type of company does she exactly run? You said people have physically threatened her life. She’s not doing anything illegal right?” I can see he’s holding back something. It’s then that I realize there is more this bodyguard thing then he’s leading on.

            “First and foremost, she runs an investment firm. Over the past year and a half, she has purchased some smaller companies who have been struggling which has expanded dealings for them. Natalia has made it her mission since taking over the company to make it legit- break away from the not so legal things her father got roped into. Though that hasn’t stopped the threats, but I can assure you she’s running an honest business.”

            I’m not so convinced by what Enzo has told me, but if what he said is true then I have a lot on my hands. The police academy didn’t really prepare me for this sort of thing, not even close. Not only do I have to keep my thoughts and d**k under control but be on high alert as well. Enzo walks me to the gym and what a gym it is. It has everything from weights to treadmills to its own mini sauna. I have to be dreaming.

            I give a small nod to Enzo letting him know it’s ok to leave before finding a place in the corner of the room to observe- well not to just observe the room, but to observe the beautiful woman in front of me. I can’t stop myself from staring, especially since she’s in a position called downward dog. Oh, how I wonder what it would be like to be taking her from behind while she’s in that position. I know- I know, I shouldn’t be having these thoughts since I’ve just met her and she’s my boss, but I can’t help it. I’m only human after all.

            The sound of a gentlemen’s voice from beside me soon breaks me from my trance I am caught up in.

            “Well, hello there Mr. Hottie- we didn’t get a proper introduction earlier. I’m Dimitri Natalia’s assistant, right hand man and bestie since pre-k. It’s nice to have some more eye candy on the team.”

            I can’t help but laugh at Dimitri’s comment. He’s a very bold person. “Uh- Thanks, I guess. Nico” I say as I extend my hand.

             “Dimitri! If you are done drooling over Nicholas- please go get ready. We have to be at the office within the next hour and a half.” Natalia’s sweet voice is stern but not too stern to notice its beauty.

            As Dimitri scurries away, Natalia walks towards me with an expression I’m not sure I can crack. “Sorry about him- he can be a bit of a handful.”

            Like you?

            “No worries.” I offer a slight smile.

            “Go change into something more professional and meet us in the foyer in 30 mins” before I get a chance to respond she is on her way out of the gym. I stare at her ass a little longer than I should before snapping out of it and doing as I was told.

            I wasn’t technically prepared for the business dress code part of the job, but I threw on the most professional thing I had packed. Make note- stop at the mall at some point. When Natalia appeared in the foyer, I couldn’t take my eyes off her, once again. She was wearing a tight-fitting dress that hugged all her curves just right with a matching blazer and a pair of stilettos that I would love to imagine her still wearing while I f****d her.

            f**k.

            Focus Nico, she’s your boss. This is probably going to be the hardest job of my life. The drive to the office is exhausting. I’m not quite sure why she does this every day, but I can imagine it gets old. We walk into the giant skyscraper baring the name Mezzanotte Industries and take the elevators to the very top floor. We walk past the receptionist and down the long hall to her office which is tucked away into the corner. It very modern rustic looking and has very large floor to window ceilings that show off Chicago’s amazing view.

            “Nicholas this will be your space” I look as she points to a desk in the corner of her office next to a lounge area. “I hope its ok. Lorenzo never spent much time at the desk. I don’t usually require personal protection in the comfort of my own office, so feel free to go explore throughout the day. Maybe hit up the mall down the street?”

            I can’t help but laugh at her comment “Are you making fun of my business wear?”

            Her eye’s roam my body for a moment before responding “Maybe- just figured you weren’t prepared considering you had no clue that you’d be working for a woman.” A slight tilt appears at the side of her mouth as if she’s going to smile.

            s**t she remembers.

            “Yea-yeah sorry about that” I offer my hand for a handshake and she takes it. As she grabs my hand, I feel all the hair on my arms stand as if an electrical current had just run through my body. As she pulls away, I can’t help but wonder if she felt it too. “Thank you again for this opportunity Ms. Mezzanotte. And for future references you can call me Nico I like that better.”

            That small curvature of her lips is now a full-on smile. “Nico” my name lingers on her lips for a few moments. “And for future references you can call me Natalia- I like that better.”

            I offer a smile before she turns and walks towards her desk to begin her day. 2 hours into the day, I decide to take Natalia’s advice and explore Chicago a little. Its for sure not Ketchum, but I think I could get used to it here. After picking up a few things at the mall, I stop off at a little café on the way back to the office. Not wanting to be rude, I order Natalia a coffee and muffin along with mine. Maybe I can redeem myself from the first impression I made this morning. I walk into her office just as Dimitri is leaving out. I can see he’s not happy as he gives me a warning look before entering, however I still walk in, placing the muffin and coffee on her desk before going to mine.

            “What’s this?” her voice is stern.

            “A blueberry muffin and a large coffee black.”

            “What’s the occasion?” now she just sounds flat out defensive.

            “No reason. I was just coming back to the office from the mall and happened to pop into the little café down the street and figured you may need a little mid-morning pick me up.”

            I can see that she’s mulling something over in her head. “How did you know I take my coffee black?”

            “Just a guess- you don’t really seem like the type who enjoys pumpkin spice or what ever that s**t is” I let out a little chuckle as I see a slight smile form on her face.  

            I take a seat at my desk and pull out my phone to send a quick text to Chase to see how thing are back home. I’ve only been here for less then 24 hours and I miss that assholes voice giving me a hard time about going out with him to the bar after a 12-hour shift. He was more like a brother to me then my own brother.

            Nico: Miss me yet fucker?

            Chase: Dude my new partner is a f*****g rookie. What a joke. How are you leave me like that?

            I can’t help but chuckle to his response. I knew he wasn’t going to be happy with his new partner. Before I get a chance to respond he sends another text.

            Chase: It’s all good man, I understand why you did it. But when are you coming back?

            Nico: It hasn’t even been 24 hours. I have to give it some time, right?

            Chase: I guess… how’s the city? Have you gone out yet?

            Even though I haven’t had much time to explore Chicago yet, it really is a beautiful place. However, as I go to respond to him, I catch Natalia out of the corner of my eye. She seems stressed out, but even then, she is gorgeous. Without even realizing it I typed out a message to Chase and sent it.

            Nico: She really is beautiful.

            Chase: Who is? The City?

            f**k. That’s not how I wanted to tell Chase about my boss. How do I tell him that my boss looks like a Grecian Goddess and I want to bury my d**k deep inside her.

            Nico: Yeah-the city. I’ll tell you all about it later. Got to get back to work.

            Chase: Whatever man. Talk to you soon.

            The rest of the workday passes in the blink of an eye. All I can think about is finally getting back to the house, taking a long shower, and going to sleep. The exhaustion from the traveling this morning and then working all day is finally catching up to me. Just as Natalia is powering down her computer for the day, Dimitri comes rolling in with a garment bag in hand.

            “Ready to go?” He says with a devious smile.

            “I told you-I’m not going out tonight. Plus, I’m sure Nico is tired and would like to go home and rest.” They both turn their stares at me.

            “I don’t think he’s ready to go home. It’s his first night in Chicago. We have to go out and show him a good time.” He looks at me with a questioning look “Are you ready to go home and be bored for the rest of the night Nico?”

            Yes, it what I really should say, but he’s right, it’s my first night in a new city so why not      explore. “I mean-I’m game to go out if everyone else is.”

            “Perf” I can see the excitement beaming from Dimitri’s face. “Now go put this on Miss Priss. We got some ass shaking to do.”

            Stepping into GPL is like stepping into a time machine that took you straight back to the 90’s. From what Dimitri has told me it’s one of the hottest up and coming night club’s in the Chicago area with amazing views of Lake Michigan. As we make our way to the VIP area, I can’t help but notice how many eyes are watching us. A bit of uneasiness settles into me, but I try not to let it affect the night.

            “Do people always stare at her like she’s a piece of meat?” I find myself asking Dimitri.

            He raises and eyebrow and I can see the amusement on his face. “That’s Natalia for you, the bell of the ball. Every man wants her, while every woman wants to be her, well without all the baggage she carries around.”

             How much more baggage can one person have. Lorenzo has mentioned the main reason I’m here, but I can’t help but feel like everyone is leaving something major out. Pushing those thoughts aside for the time being, I take a seat at the table, positioning myself so I can see the whole room, but more importantly Natalia.