The Bodyguard

Late

Chapter 4

"I am willing to deal with the ramifications of me being my full self" - Gary Vaynerchuk

•••

Chapter 4 - Late

Stella's POV

You know how some people will talk about the burn after working out and how proud it makes them feel? How it reminds them of the good workout they had the day before and makes them happy? How they feel achieved and successful although they are in pain?

Yeah well that s**t is bullshit.

I could barely reach over and silence my alarm without feeling pain in pretty much my whole body.

I jumped in the shower and turned it on until it was boiling hot yesterday when I came home from training, and it sure did help with the muscle soreness at first but boy do I feel it today.

I literally didn't even have the energy to shower, so I just went into the bathroom and freshened up a bit before somehow managing to change my clothes. Becca was still asleep when I got out. She worked late yesterday, and no one should wake up this early unless they're in the military so I decided not to wake her up.

I brought my phone from my room and headed to the living room while checking the bus schedule to the location John had sent me.

It was out in the middle of nowhere. Literally.

Since we are thankfully going to be practicing some shooting today, they picked a spot far from the city out in the middle of nowhere. Probably in case Lucas shot someone from the group...

I had received a message from an unknown number though, so I decided to open that first.

'Hey Stella! It's Chris. I got your number from the group website, I hope you don't mind. Anyways I was wondering if you wanted a ride to training today since it's kind of far from the city. Let me know :)'

Wait, we have a group website..?

I messaged John quickly asking what the hell the group website is, and he replied apologizing for not informing me of it. It slipped his mind apparently since he informed me so late of me even getting through to training. He offered to stay for 10-15 minutes after training today and just go through everything he should have talked about from the beginning and I gladly said yes. Then I went back to Chris and messaged him saying I'd love a ride. Now that that's sorted, I would love nothing more than to just lay on that fluffy sofa we have.

"Are you already headed out this early?"

"Becca jeez you scared the s**t out of me"

"Bro I know I look tired but damn, calm down. Now what psycho has their training at this hour?"

"Lucas f*****g Bruno" I sighed.

"Your boss honestly seems like a madman" she said, and I couldn't help but laugh. She hasn't even met him and yet she thinks that. What if she did meet him?

"Only if you knew"

"Stella what the hell happened to your arm?" She said as I took a look at where her eyes were staring and s**t.

"f*****g Lucas.." I sighed and poor Becca looked terrified. It was bruised up and blue-ish yellow.

"What in the kinky f**k did he do to you!?" She said and I realized how bad 'f*****g Lucas' sounded, so I hurried to explain.

"We had one-on-one drills yesterday. It's normal. You should have seen the other guy" I said only imagining Bruno's neck.

"No thanks. Are you alright?"

"Yeah for real, don't worry about it. It's all good"

"Alright. When are you heading out?" She asked while make herself a coffee.

"Like 20 more minutes I guess. A friend is picking me up. Are you working today?"

"No thankfully not"

"Nice. Would it be cool if I invited a friend over for lunch?"

"Sure"

"Alright cool. I'll make sure to tell you if they're coming around 30 minutes latest before we leave. Should give you an hour or so to prepare if not more" I said glad that she isn't questioning who the friend is. I really wanted to surprise her.

"Alright. Anything in particular you had in mind for lunch?"

"Not really. You do you"

"Alright. I'll see if I'm in the mood to cook or if I just order takeout" She said, and I got a message on my phone from Chris saying he's here.

"Dope. My ride is here so I'll see you later. Anything you need on my way back home?"

"Nah all good thanks. Be careful"

"Yes mom" I joked sarcastically before opening the door and heading out.

A gorgeous black Suzuki Grand Vitara stood parked outside our apartment with Chris behind the wheel.

"Good morning!" I said hopping in.

"Morning! Ready for day two?" Chris asked as I sighed.

"As ready as I'll ever be"

"I feel that. So, we have 1h 20 minutes before we gotta be there and the drive shouldn't take more than 50 minutes, so I was wondering if you wanted to stop by somewhere and grab some breakfast maybe?" He asked, seeming kind of nervous. I obviously couldn't decline food.

"Dude, say less. There's an amazing breakfast shop/cafe/bakery really close to here. We can stop there if you want?" I asked as he nodded smiling.

"Hell yeah. Just tell me where" he said, and I obviously gave him the directions to the one and only Eduardo's.

"Morning Eduardo!" I said as we stepped in and Eduardo immediately had this look on his face.

"This is Chris. Chris this is Eduardo"

"Pleasure meeting you" Eduardo said with his thick accent.

"The pleasure is mine" Chris replied.

Chris seemed like the quiet yet somehow social type. The one your parents would love if you were to introduce them to him. He seemed like he was so easy to talk to and would know exactly what to say. I would love to see Becca's parents meeting him...

We ordered some light food and noticed that we had about 30 minutes to spare so we decided to eat here instead of on the road.

"Man, I can't wait for you and Hugo to meet again. He always mentions you whenever someone takes up the military days"

"No way" I laughed remembering all our stupidly hilarious memories. "I just can't understand that he managed to settle down to be honest" I said, not being able to picture our party boy Hugo settling down.

"Oh, I know. It was honestly so unexpected, but it also felt like it was what he needed" Chris explained.

"I'm really glad for him. It sounds like he has evolved so much in a few short years"

"He has. What about you? How's life treating you?"

"Meh. Life is confusing man. I have moments where I want to just let it all go and go back to my old ways, but others where I'm just thankful and appreciative for everything. I don't know. I feel like this job is exactly what I needed though. Even though the boss is an asshole" I said getting a laugh out of Chris.

"He is quite the character isn't he"

"I sometimes do wonder, if I get the job and an emergency actually occurred, would I protect him or just give him away for free to the enemy" I said sarcastically with a bit of truth behind it as Chris almost spit out his coffee from laughter.

"You two don't get along that bad huh?!" He spoke stretching the 'that' in his sentence.

"He was just straight up an asshole on the interview which also was my first impression of him, so I guess yeah we are not close"

"I'm gonna be honest, option two is pretty tempting if I'm in your shoes" He said, making me chuckle.

"Oh, by the way, Becca isn't working today, and I told her I was bringing a friend over for lunch. So, are you free today?" I asked and his face just immediately lit up as a wide grin spread on his face.

"Okay buddy calm down" I joked sarcastically at his reaction.

"I mean yeah sure I'm free" he said attempting to now act casual making me laugh.

"Alright great. She doesn't know it's you though"

"Oh, my goodness. I haven't seen her in so long"

"Chris you have seen us like 4 times in total"

"Stella, not the point. Your best friend is freaking gorgeous"

"Oh god I'm already third wheeling and she isn't even here" I sighed, making him chuckle. I picked up my phone to message Becca that the friend was indeed coming when I saw the time.

"Oh, s**t we are late"

"What?"

"We start in 30"

"f**k s**t f**k" Chris said as we jumped up from our seats and practically ran out.

"See ya Eduardo"

"Ba safe kids" he said laughing at us as we ran to the car and got in.

"Is the fastest route 50 minutes?"

"Yup"

"s**t"

Lucas was going to enjoy every second of telling us off like little children.

Sadistic f**k.

When we arrived I honestly don't even know how Chris parked but we jumped out of the car and tried calling John to see exactly where everybody is.

We were almost 15 minutes late.

"Wait Chris!" I yelled.

"All good?" He asked.

"Why are we treating this like the military? It's one man"

"One man who's paying us for the next six weeks and possibly the rest of our lives!"

"s**t you are right"

"Hey John! We have been looking for you guys for like 20 minutes where are you guys?" Chris said, putting the call on speaker as I took a sip of water trying to calm down.

"Just turn around buddy. Nice car you just got out of by the way" John said making me spit out the water I was drinking from laughter. We both turned around and Lucas did not look the least bit happy.

"I can explain. It's my bad. I made him late" I said not wanting Chris to take the blame as we made our way to them.

"No honestly it's only mine. I should have driven faster and kept track of the time" Chris yelled, not throwing me under the bus.

Definitely introduce-him-to-your-parents material.

"Can both of you just shut up?" Lucas said once we arrived, making us in fact do so.

"We are already late because of you two. Don't make it any f*****g worse" He yelled, and it was pretty clear that someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.

"I want those set up. Targets are supposed to be 50-40-30-25 and 5 meters away. Go" he yelled as if we were little kids but what choice did we have but follow Mr. Dickhead's orders.

•••

Lucas POV

"Yo Lucas, can I talk to you quickly?" John asked, walking away a bit.

"What?"

"Do you honestly not know what?"

"No, I don't f*****g know what"

"What the f**k is going on dude? Why are you being a d**k right now?"

"I'm being a d**k?"

"Yes, Lucas you are. You are being a f*****g d**k. I'm sorry if it hurts your little feelings but you are"

"I-I don't know what's up" I sighed "But I know that there's something"

"It's about her, isn't?"

"She just manages to get on my every f*****g nerve John" I said trying to refrain from yelling, and for some reason this i***t started laughing.

I gave him a look that I'm pretty sure said 'What the f**k' before he spoke again.

"Not even two days in and she has already achieved her goal" John said as I groaned.

"Look man you're letting her do this. You are the one letting her push your buttons"

"Yeah cause that's easy to do" I groaned resting my hands around my waist.

"It is. Just don't be a d**k!"

"Don't be a d**k huh?" I asked looking at him as he nodded.

"Yeah don't be a d**k" he repeated as if the problem was that I didn't hear him.

"Don't be a f*****g d**k huh?!" I yelled, kicking him in the stomach, making him groan.

"How's that for being a d**k?" I said but stopped once she was here again.

"All done" she spoke, making me clear my throat. But then the other f*****g d**k appeared behind her.

"Chris, you're with me today," I said.

Wait why the hell did I do that..? s**t.

"Stella"

"Mhm?"

"You're with John"

"Michael with Tony. Steven you're with Kyle"

•••

Stella's POV

"Alright gather around everyone. Yesterday you were against your partner during the training. Today we are going to focus more on the opposite of that. As you know by the end of this, two of you will get the job. Not just one- So I want teamwork. I want communication and coordination. Understood?" Lucas asked as everyone replied with something similar to "yes sir"

He went on to explain today's drills, what he'd be looking for and what he wanted each team to do.

To begin with he was going to check everyone's weapon knowledge and skills and test the basics and then this was going to become a challenge in the pairs. I can already spare you time and tell you now, me and John didn't do any sit-ups cause we freaking won baby! That boy could shoot like there was no tomorrow. Hell, even I admired his technique and movement.

Chris obviously got it down as well, reminding me a lot of Hugo. Lucas wasn't struggling either.

I tried not to focus too much on him, but every time my eyes would wander to him he would look like he's simply flexing his skills. I made sure to stop looking however when I heard John from behind me say "Stella stop staring"

"I'm not staring"

"Sure, you aren't. Why would you stare at your boss anyways?" He whispered, making me elbow him in the stomach.

"What the f**k is up with y'all and my stomach. Stop hitting my fat rolls bro" he said making me roll my eyes, chuckling.

"Alright thanks for today everybody. Tomorrow we will resume at the gym. We start at 11. Stella and Chris, if you are late once again you will do a lap for each minute" Lucas spoke, making me and Chris roll our eyes. "You all may leave" he said once again, and everyone started walking towards their cars.

"I need to talk to John. It will be 10 minutes, that's alright?" I informed Chris.

"Of course, no worries. Take your time. I'll wait over by the car" Chris said, and I nodded making my way towards John.

"Hey, do you still have time to talk?" I said from behind them as Lucas was the first to turn around clearly confused.

"f*****g what now?" He whispered confused.

"You swear a lot don't you"

"You got a problem? Just talk and get it over with"

"I'm supposed to talk to John"

"Oh yes right. Of course," John said joining the conversation & looking at Lucas as if he was waiting for him to do something. He clearly didn't understand though until we were both staring at him.

"What?" Lucas asked.

"Some privacy, thanks," John said, making Lucas sigh.

"Fine. I'll wait in the car" Lucas said before walking away.

"Alright so I'm really sorry about not making you informed of everything at appropriate times. We have basically set up a website that only the group is able to access with the emails you signed up for the job with. You will find training information, locations, times, and contact numbers there for everyone in the group. Including Lucas' work phone. You will also find the information for the gym membership there"

"Gym membership?" I asked not knowing what exactly he meant.

"Oh yeah my bad. Lucas owns a gym and everyone that works for him gets a free membership as long as they are hired"

"Can I ask a kind of unrelated question?"

"Sure"

"Why does someone like Lucas need this protection so suddenly?"

"What do you mean?" John said and I swear I could see right through him as he tried pretending that he didn't catch my drift.

"John, you and I both know that you understand what I mean"

"Stella, you should discuss that with him. I can't tell you much, I'm sorry"

"It's fine. I'm just confused about it that's all. Anything else I should know?"

"No that should be about it. Is there anything that isn't very clear, apart from that, which you would like to discuss?"

"No, I'm good thank you"

"Alright then that's it" He said as we began making our way towards the cars.

"Thanks for taking the time" I said thankful for him doing this probably instead of just half ass-ing it. Rather late than never.

"Oh of course. I'm sorry again that I didn't inform you earlier"

"I know it wasn't your fault so don't worry about it. I'll see you tomorrow John"

"See you Stella" he said hopping in the passenger seat in Lucas car that stood parked beside Chris.

"Ready?" Chris asked as I nodded and looked out the window, locking eyes with Lucas.

God damn you Lucas Bruno.

His eyes didn't leave mine until Chris pulled out and drove away and a little part of me wishes we never did. What is wrong with me?

"Lucas is quite the character isn't he"

"He gave you a hard time today?" I asked, smiling.

"A hard time? Try f*****g impossible. Honestly how do you tolerate him?" he said, making me smile.

"I just accept the fact that he is a special dude I guess. I thought I was getting a special treatment at first for being a girl and sassy and all that but apparently it isn't as exclusive as I thought. He is basically just an asshole towards everyone"

"An asshole who we might have to work for"

"Oh gosh don't remind me" I sighed making him laugh.

"So, you ready?" I asked thinking about Becca.

"No but let's freaking do this" he sighed making me chuckle at how nervous he was. It was very adorable.

Indeed, let's freaking do this.