Our Mysterious Bodyguard

Episode 7 : Victoria's Move

"Isabella, having you here is a rare delight. The previous parties I hosted seem dull without you." Lucas complimented.

Isabella blushed, appreciating the compliment. "Thank you, Lucas."

Their conversation, however, was abruptly interrupted by an unexpected visitor. Victoria Montgomery, a familiar face to Lucas just that he doesn't think they have ever spoken.

She came with two champagne flutes in one hand each. Her entrance was deliberate, and her gaze was fixed solely on Lucas.

"Lucas Harrington, finally an opportunity to talk to you," Victoria declared, her voice carrying a hint of intrigue. She blatantly disregarded Isabella, who stood nearby as if she didn't exist, and extended a warm greeting to Lucas.

Lucas, taken aback by the sudden appearance, inquired with a furrowed brow, "And you are?"

With an air of confidence, Victoria introduced herself, "Victoria Montgomery. I thought we could share a drink and perhaps a few words"

Lucas, already holding a champagne flute, eyed her skeptically. "I see. Sorry, I'm in the middle of a conversation right now so kindly excuse us?" Lucas said with a frown on his face which made Victoria's countenance fall.

As Victoria began to withdraw, Lucas stopped her with a curt command. "Wait. Since you've come this far, hand over a glass, please. Isabella, care for a drink?"

She courteously handed one of the glasses and withdrew.

Lucas, attempting to salvage the evening's charm, extended the glass she took from Victoria to Isabella and offered a toast with a charming smile. "To unexpected guests and intriguing encounters."

Isabella, still trying to shake off another peculiar encounter with Victoria, offered a polite smile and clinked her glass against Lucas's. "Unexpected, indeed."

Damien, standing a short distance away from Rachel, observed the entire exchange with a furrowed brow. His keen eyes followed Victoria as she made her exit, he couldn't help but wonder about her intentions and her sudden appearance.

Meanwhile, Lucas continued his efforts to steer the conversation back to a more pleasant course. "Isabella, have you had a chance to explore the grandeur of the villa? It's quite impressive."

Isabella, appreciating the diversion, responded, "Not yet. This place is enormous. Where do you suggest we start?"

Lucas, ever the charismatic host, gestured towards the sprawling terrace overlooking the city lights. "How about the terrace? The view is spectacular, especially under the moonlight."

As they strolled towards the terrace, Isabella's gaze occasionally flickered back to where Victoria had vanished into the crowd. The air was charged with an unspoken curiosity, and Lucas couldn't help but notice the distraction.

Meanwhile, Damien excused himself from his conversation with Rachel and discreetly made his way closer to Isabella and Lucas. His expression masked any concern, but his observant eyes focused on them and his surroundings

The duo eventually reached the terrace, where the glittering cityscape unfolded beneath them. Lucas, determined to lift the mood, leaned against the ornate railing. "Metropolis Heights at its finest. Quite a sight, isn't it?"

Isabella, momentarily captivated by the city lights, nodded in agreement. "It truly is. Thank you for the distraction, Lucas."

As their conversation continued Isabella's laughter, initially vibrant and full of life, took a sudden turn as dizziness overcame her. The city lights below seemed to blur into a hazy mosaic, and her words began to slur.

Lucas, sensing the abrupt shift, frowned in concern. "Isabella, are you alright?"

Isabella, now leaning on the elegant terrace railing for support, attempted to steady herself. "I don't know. I suddenly feel... strange."

Lucas, ever the attentive host, moved closer, a hint of worry in his eyes. "Maybe you need some water, Let me—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Damien materialized beside them. His swift and silent approach added an unexpected layer of tension to the scene. He reached out to steady Isabella, his touch gentle yet firm.

"Isabella, what's happening? Are you feeling unwell?" Damien's concern was evident in his voice.

Isabella, struggling to maintain coherence, mumbled something incomprehensible.

Lucas, noticing the proximity between Damien and Isabella, couldn't hide the flicker of annoyance in his eyes."

In the dimly lit Terrace, Damien assessed Isabella's demeanor, and suddenly came to a realization when he stated, "She appears to be drunk"

The air was thick with unspoken tension as Damien maintained his composed demeanor, staring at Lucas.

"She's not drunk," Lucas proclaimed, glancing sideways at Damien, he raised an eyebrow and continued. "One glass of champagne doesn't make someone drunk. Besides, Isabella doesn't even drink that much."

"Sometimes, it's not about how much one drinks but what they consume," Damien said

Lucas, puzzled, "Look, if you're insinuating foul play, you're way off base this...."

"Where's the bathroom " Damien suddenly asked from nowhere

"The bathroom?" Interrupted and confused Lucas asked.

With a calm voice, Damien replied."Yes the bathroom, lead me to it"

"Why?" Lucas questioned again.

Instead of answering this time, Damien looked at him with a chilling gaze, which made Lucas's heart palpate a little. "Follow me" Lucas declared.

The unexpected turn of events cast a hushed ambiance over Lucas's lively party. As Lucas guided Isabella, who appeared increasingly unsteady, through the elegant hallways of the villa, curious whispers spread among the attendees.

The notable Archer heiress being assisted by the male companion she came with fueled speculation and gossip.

Rachel, having observed the peculiar scene unfold, approached Lucas with an inquisitive expression. "What happened? Is Bella alright?"

Lucas, somewhat preoccupied, responded, "I'm not sure. She suddenly started acting strange on the terrace."

As they reached one of the opulent bathrooms in Lucas's villa, Damien took charge. "Wait here," he instructed both Lucas and Rachel, his demeanor leaving little room for negotiation.

In the private confines of the bathroom, Isabella's disoriented gaze met Damien's stern yet concerned eyes. "What's happening to me?" she murmured, her words slurred.

Damien maintained a calm composure, though an underlying intensity flickered in his eyes. "It seems your drink was spiked. We need to get it out of your system."

Guiding Isabella towards the toilet, Damien identified her Neiguan pressure point, gently pressing it to alleviate the nausea that accompanied the spiked drink. Isabella, trusting the enigmatic bodyguard's actions, felt a wave of discomfort as her stomach responded to the stimulation.

"What are you doing?" Isabella managed to ask between bouts of nausea.

"It's a pressure point that can help with nausea, though right now I'm pressing on it a little differently to alleviate your nausea and at the same time make you throw up," Damien explained evenly, though his gaze held a glint of urgency. As the pressure on the Neiguan point increased, Isabella felt an overwhelming need to purge the toxins from her system.

She leaned over the toilet, the cold porcelain against her skin a stark reminder of the alarming situation as she threw up the recent contents of her stomach.

In that vulnerable moment, Damien maintained a steady presence, his actions solely focused on ensuring her well-being.

As Isabella emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet, a mix of relief and discomfort washed over her. The muted sounds of the party outside the closed bathroom door seemed distant, replaced by the more immediate concern of the unexpected threat posed by a spiked drink.

Isabella, having expelled the remnants of the drink, took a moment to regain her composure. Her eyes, still reflecting traces of unease, now held a fierce determination. Turning to Damien, she questioned, "Who would do such a thing? Who spiked my drink?"

Damien, with a measured tone, contemplated the possibilities. "Considering the circumstances, I suspect it might be Victoria," he stated, gauging Isabella's reaction. Her expression shifted from confusion to a steely resolve as the realization sank in.

"Victoria?" Isabella's face creased with anger. "But why?"

"I believe jealousy might be a powerful motivator," Damien offered, maintaining his composed demeanor. "She has seen you with Lucas, and her confrontation with you at the boutique earlier suggested she might harbor resentment."

Isabella's fists clenched at her sides. She moved towards the sink, splashing cold water on her face to wash away the physical and metaphorical stain of the spiked drink. The large bathroom seemed to amplify the tension in the air.

As she stepped out, her gaze directed with fiery determination, Damien dutifully flushed the toilet, leaving behind the remnants of the vile scheme.

Isabella stepped out of the bathroom, her composure regained but the fire of anger still burning in her eyes. Lucas, standing nearby with an air of concern and a little jealousy of Damien being with Isabella alone in the bathroom, immediately inquired, "Isabella, are you okay? What happened in there?"

Rachel, too, joined the concerned chorus, asking about Isabella's well-being. Isabella, however, remained tight-lipped, her focus shifting from them. With Damien trailing behind her, she strode purposefully back towards the heart of the party.

Lucas persisted, "Isabella, talk to me. What's going on?"

Ignoring the questions, Isabella scanned the room, her eyes locking on Victoria Montgomery, who stood near a gathering of guests. Isabella's determined steps carried her through the crowd, Damien a silent imposing aura at her side.

As they approached Victoria, the atmosphere crackled with tension. Isabella's voice, sharp and cutting, sliced through the ambient chatter, "Victoria you sick b***h"

The heads of nearby partygoers turned in curiosity as the scene unfolded, a confrontation brewing beneath the opulent chandeliers of Lucas Harrington's villa.