Page 4 of Bound to the Bodyguard

“Ah, no, I’m fine.” He offered a shaky smile that didn’t reach his darting eyes. “Just not fond of big crowds, you know?”

“Of course. If there’s anything I can assist with, please don’t hesitate to ask. It’s my job to ensure everyone’s comfort tonight.”

“Thank you.” The man turned away and resumed his nervous survey of the room.

My instincts refused to settle, a silent alarm that wouldn’t be stilled by courteous words or forced smiles. As the man moved on, I lingered at the periphery, gaze locked onto the figure now threading through the crowd with a purpose that contradicted my earlier unease.

I’d be monitoring him.

Chapter 3

Raven

The sleek black car glided to a halt. With a discreet click, the driver’s door opened and closed as I made my appearance. The heels of my stilettos clicked against the pavement.

“Raven! Over here!” a voice called out from the crowd lining the entrance to the charity gala.

I turned towards the sound, my expressive eyes alight with recognition. My lips curved into a warm smile. I lifted my hand in a regal wave, acknowledging the adoring fans and friends who vied for attention. They held up their phones, eager to capture this moment with the woman who had become an icon of resilience and success.

This night was about more than celebration; it was an affirmation of the hard-earned independence I treasured, a testament to the strength that carried me from a modest beginning to the heights of acclaim. And yet, beneath the surface, I remained alert, my senses tuned to any sign of disturbance that might pierce the veneer of this glittering event.

“Raven, we love you!” the chorus of voices rose behind me as I approached the grand doors, the clamor echoing off the high columns of the gala hall.

Once inside, I allowed myself a moment to scan the opulent foyer, my gaze sharp and searching. Time to find Evelyn.

Inside the gala’s grand foyer, I navigated through the clusters of elegantly dressed guests like a ship adeptly sailing through calm seas.

“Raven, darling, they need you for a quick photo by the centerpiece,” Evelyn Carter chimed in. A clipboard clutched in one hand, her other reached out to tug at my elbow.

“Of course, let’s make it snappy though,” I responded, the corners of my mouth lifting into an amused grin at the sight of Evelyn’s planned schedule.

“Snappy? With you looking like a million bucks? Good luck with that.”

“Okay, how about we aim for two million, then?” I played along, allowing Evelyn’s lighthearted energy to eclipse the undercurrent of tension that settled in me.

“Always aiming higher, aren’t you?” Evelyn winked, tapping something onto her tablet with efficient fingers. “And don’t forget the speech.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it. After all, what’s a gala without a few heartfelt words?”

“Come on, superstar,” Evelyn said, linking her arm with mine as we made our way towards the floral arrangement that served as the evening’s showpiece. “Time to shine even brighter.”

As the flashbulbs popped and the cameras captured my poised figure, I stood the perfect image of success.

Ever since receiving the flowers, I’d been on edge. Someone was watching me. Stalking me. It had invaded my sense of peace and had been all-consuming, but I couldn’t let it stop me from living my life.

A moment’s respite at my table, the white linen cloth pristine under the soft glow of candlelight. As I reached for the napkin, my fingers encountered something unexpected—a folded piece of paper, stark against the cream fabric.

My pulse quickened as I palmed the note. This was not part of the evening’s script. Whoever was behind this would not see me falter.

Taking a breath, I unfolded the letter, eyes skimming the scrawled handwriting, each word sending a jagged chill down my spine. “We’re always watching,” it read, and nothing more. No signature, no clue as to the sender.

“Always watching?” I mused, my mind grappling with the implications. Was it a prank? A threat? It was a puzzle wrapped in an enigma, one I intended to solve without drawing unnecessary attention.

As the evening waltzed on around me, with laughter and light filling the grandiose hall, a seed of disquiet settled. Someone out there was playing a dangerous game, and I was unwittingly a part of it.

My fingers brushed against the cool silk lining of my clutch as I located Evelyn through the glittering guests. I drew my personal assistant aside into the quietude of a shadowed alcove.

“Take a look at this, please.” The folded paper exchanged hands with the secrecy of a covert operation. “Discreetly. We don’t want any alarm.”

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