Love in the line duty

New beginning

That night, Jeremy left the estate and returned to his apartment. As he stood in his small room, a deep emptiness filled his chest. He pulled a ring out of his pocket, the ring he had once planned to give Nicole. After a moment, he placed it back in the bedside drawer, feeling lost. Everything he had built, everything he had trusted, was gone.

His phone buzzed. The name on the screen made him pause, Xavier Thornton. Xavier and Jeremy were friends from their time serving together in the marines. After their service, Xavier started his private security business, while Jeremy took up a job as Damien Wellington’s bodyguard and driver. Xavier knowing how skillful Jeremy was, had been trying to recruit him for years, but Jeremy had always stayed loyal to his boss, Damien. He was such a fool.

"Jeremy!" Xavier’s cheerful voice came through the line. "I heard about your boss and your girlfriend. That’s rough. After all your loyalty, they did you like that?"

"What do you want, Xavier?" Jeremy asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Xavier chuckled. "I’ve got a job for you. A big one. You won’t want to turn this down."

Jeremy sighed. "What job?"

"Langdon Freeman," Xavier said, and just hearing the name made Jeremy pay attention. "You know who he is, right? Freeman Motors, oil tycoon, real estate king. He needs a bodyguard for his daughter. I recommended you."

Jeremy raised his eyebrows. "You didn’t even ask me first?"

"Come on, Jeremy," Xavier urged. "After what Damien did to you, you should be looking at new opportunities. And this job pays more than you can imagine. Langdon doesn’t mess around."

Jeremy paused. He needed a new start. After losing everything, he had to rebuild. And if this job paid well, maybe he could buy back his mother’s house from the bank. It wasn’t just about money anymore; it was about getting his life back on track.

"Alright, Xavier," Jeremy finally said. "I’ll consider it."

"Good!" Xavier sounded excited. "You won’t regret it. Trust me."

---

The next day, Jeremy found himself standing inside Langdon Freeman’s massive estate. It was bigger and more luxurious than anything he had ever seen.

Jeremy and Xavier waited in Langdon’s grand office. When Langdon walked in, his presence filled the room. Despite being in his sixties, he moved with confidence, someone who knew exactly how much power and influence he had.

But it wasn’t Langdon who caught Jeremy’s attention, it was the woman walking beside him.

Iris Freeman.

She was breathtaking. Her deep blue eyes sparkled like the ocean under sunlight, and her figure, graceful and elegant, it was the kind that made heads turn.

Jeremy quickly looked away before Langdon noticed.

"Mr. Truman, I assume," Langdon said, his sharp eyes locking onto Jeremy.

"Yes, sir."

Langdon studied him for a moment, his gaze intense. "I hear you managed to keep your previous client safe for many years. That’s impressive. I want you to protect my daughter, Iris. She would be taking over the company in my absence, and that makes her a target. I can’t afford to lose her. She’s my legacy, my world. I’m trusting you to keep her safe, no matter what. Do I make myself clear?

“Yes, sir.” Jeremy’s voice was firm and professional. “I’ll protect her with my life.”

Langdon gave a satisfied nod. "Good. I’m leaving for Dubai. The doctors say I need a break because of my health, so I’m taking a vacation.” He turned to Iris, “You’ll be fine with Mr. Truman here, he would keep you safe.”

Iris gave a small, polite smile. “Of course, Dad. Just focus on your health now.”

He nodded and smiled at her softly. She received a call on her air pod.

"Your jet’s ready, Dad. We should go."

Langdon shook Jeremy and Xavier’s hand firmly before he and Iris left.

Xavier nudged him, "Good luck, man," Xavier said.

Jeremy nodded and followed after Iris.

---

Once Langdon’s jet took off, leaving Jeremy alone with Iris. Iris instructed him to drive her to a meeting. The car ride was quiet at first. Jeremy kept his eyes on the road, scanning for any signs of trouble. But he could feel Iris watching him, like she was studying him.

After a while, she finally spoke. "So, Jeremy," she asked, her voice soft but curious, "how old are you?"

He didn’t look at her. "Twenty-eight," he replied simply.

She tilted her head, her blue eyes focused on him. "What makes you think you’re good enough to protect me?"

Jeremy held back a sigh. He had heard these kinds of questions before. "I trained in multiple combat skills, served in the marine, transitioned into private service and I’ve never failed."

Iris gave a small smile but didn’t say anything else. She turned her gaze back to the passing scenery.

They turned onto a quiet street, and that’s when Jeremy saw it, a dark van parked in the middle of the road. Seconds later, five men jumped out, armed and ready.

"Get down," Jeremy ordered, his voice sharp.

Iris ducked without arguing as Jeremy stepped out of the car. The men surrounded him, but Jeremy stayed calm. There were five of them, but he had the advantage, training, speed, and precision.

The first man swung a baton at him, but Jeremy dodged, grabbing his wrist and twisting until the weapon dropped. With a quick punch, the man was out. The second attacker rushed him with a knife, but Jeremy disarmed him easily and slammed him against the van. The others didn’t stand a chance. In minutes, all five were on the ground.

Jeremy turned to check on Iris, he expected her to be shaken. But she wasn’t. Instead, she sat up with an amused smile on her face.

Jeremy stormed back to the car, his anger building. "What was that?" he growled.

Iris didn’t flinch. In fact, she smiled. "It was a test."

"A test?" Jeremy stared at her in disbelief. "You set this up?"

She nodded. "I had to see if you were as good as they say. And you passed."

Jeremy shook his head, trying to control his frustration. "This isn’t a game."

“I never said it was,” she replied, her tone softening. She leaned back against the seat and crossed her legs, completely at ease.

"We have an event tomorrow evening. I’ll be meeting some business partners, and I expect you to be there. Look presentable."

Jeremy blinked. "What do you mean?"

Iris’s eyes flicked over him, sizing him up. "Exactly what I said. I don’t want my bodyguard sticking out like a sore thumb."

Jeremy opened his mouth to argue but stopped. There was something in the way she said it. He wasn’t sure what game Iris was playing, but he wasn’t going to lose control.

As they drove back to the estate, Jeremy couldn’t stop wondering what kind of woman Iris Freeman really was. But one thing was clear, Iris Freeman wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met. And he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.