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“Thank you.” I smiled at the cab driver as I handed him his money. I stepped out of the car.
“Hey, this is more than your cab fee.” He yelled as I walked away.“It’s yours.” I replied with a wide grin on my face.I turned slightly just in time to see a thankful smile on his face before he sped off.“Now, let’s do this.” I muttered under my breath as I made my way to the renowned Anderson Corporation.
I wasn’t a bit nervous about today. Why? It was my first day after all. I should be but I wasn’t.Yeah, it was my first day at work as the personal bodyguard to the famous New York’s most handsome young CEO.As the elevator moved, I braced myself up to face my soon to be boss who was none other than Ryan Robin Anderson. He was popularly called RRA. Classic, huh?
I stepped out of the elevation as it stopped.“Hi,” I looked up to see a middle aged man. “You must be the new bodyguard.” He said. I nodded with a smile.“Come with me to his office so I can properly introduce you to him and every other person you’d work with.” he said as he led the way. My first impression about this man was that he seemed too polite.
It didn’t take up to five minutes before we got to the CEO’s office and as the man pushed the door opened, the interior designs took my breath away.
“This way, please.” The man signaled with his hands as he led me to the supposed Ryan. Not that I didn’t recognize Anderson but I’ve never been up close to him. I should probably be crazy about seeing the most handsome bachelor in New York but I wasn’t. You know why?
That was probably how much I hated him.“Mr Anderson, he’s here.” The man announced and we waited as Ryan swirled his seat.
“Wow!” I muttered when Ryan Robin Anderson raised his head and got his gaze fixed on me.He sure was handsome. No kidding! His perfectly outline jaw, his well-shaped lips and nose, those piercing blue eyes, his slick gelled up hair. Everything about him screamed perfection.“You must be Sam.” He said as he eyed me up and down. I didn’t even realize he was now in front of me. “Are you sure he passed the tests?”
“Yeah.” The man that brought me in nodded.“All the stages?” Ryan glanced at the man with a slight look of disbelief in his eyes.The man nodded with a sigh.“He sure doesn’t look like it.” He smirked.I almost rolled my eyes. Will he keep talking about me as though I wasn’t even there? I should probably speak up.
“Hello,” I showed off a stoic look. “Nice to meet you, Mr Anderson.” I stretched my right hand to him for a shake.Ryan stared at me before he fixed his gaze on my outstretched hand that was politely seeking for a handshake.He scoffed as he took my hand in his. I shook hands with him and while he wasn’t aware, I pulled him closer to me. In reflex, I had him pinned down under me with his hand in the most uncomfortable position.
“Ah!” he groaned silently as he struggled to set himself free from my grip.“Mr Sam?” The man called with a tone of warning. With a smirk on my face, I stood up.
“Nice to meet you once again, Mr Anderson.” I bowed politely.The look on his face was definitely priceless. That move obviously took him by surprise and I wondered why he didn’t resist even though he never suspected it.I stretched out my hand to him to assist him to his feet. He shook his head at first but after a second thought he accepted my offer.
“Your mode of attack is weak,” he started.You have to be kidding me, Ryan.“But I must commend the way you attack unnoticed.” He smiled.I stared at him as he turned to the man that was with us.
“I like him. He should be up to the task, Philip.”Finally, I got the name. Philip!“Tell him the important things he need to know to work with me.” He went back to his seat. “I want no mistake. Perfection is all I need.”“Noted, sir.” Philip responded. “Sam, this way!”We headed to the door and as the start to my duties, I got the door for Philip. He appreciated the gesture with a smile and I proceeded after him.
“Samuel?” I stopped walking and turned to Ryan.“Just Sam.” I replied.He nodded slightly and smiled. What’s up with him and his smiles?
“Nice to officially meet you.” He said. “I look forward to working with you, Sam Gray.”“Same here,” I said.“I really look forward to ruining you, Mr Anderson.” I thought to myself as I stared at him.“Sam! Hurry!” I heard Philip’s voice.“All right!” I replied as I left Ryan’s office immediately.Ryan Robin Anderson! You really have no idea about what I’d do while I’m right by your side. I’ve been employed to protect you from your business foes. But who would protect you from me?
~
I sighed as I unlocked the door to my apartment. I turned on the light bulb that illuminated the whole living room. I tiredly walked across the living room to my bedroom. As soon as I entered my room, I threw my phone on the bed and I began to undress. I removed the tie that I had on the entire time, which seemed to be sucking out my breath.Still clad in my chest binder and pants, I traipsed over to the bathroom. When I got to the bathroom, right before I could take my bathe, I removed my chest binder, pants and underwear. All thanks to the chest binder, no one at the Anderson Corporation can ever sense the fact that I was a girl.
Who else knew my first day at work could be this tiring? As if walking around the whole Anderson building wasn’t tiring enough, Ryan had to make me drive him to a business meeting where I had to stand guard all through the five-hour meeting.
I know that was meant to be part of my job as his guard but I never expected it to wear me out like it did today.
You’re definitely stronger than this, Samantha.I heaved a deep sigh of relief as the warm water got in contact with my body. I took my time to have a body and soul soothing bath.Few minutes later, I exited the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body.I dried the water on my body, applied some lotion and then clad myself in my nightwear. Arranging every other thing where they needed to be, I laid back on the bed to get some rest before the real fun for tonight begins.
Ryan's POVSleep never really came. Every time I closed my eyes, another headline flashed across the darkness.ANDERSON CORPORATION LINKED TO ILLEGAL SHIPMENT.AUTHORITIES WIDEN INVESTIGATION.SHAREHOLDERS DEMAND ANSWERS.By the time the first hint of dawn slipped through the curtains, I was already dressed. The study looked worse than it had the night before.Files remained scattered across the desk exactly where Samantha and I had left them. My laptop screen glowed with overnight market reports, while two tablets displayed live financial updates from different exchanges. Red figures dominated every graph. Our stock had opened lower in the international market.I reached for my phone before the coffee beside me had a chance to cool. Philip answered on the second ring."I've been expecting your call.""I know." I exhaled."The media isn't slowing down.""I know.""The board wants an emergency meeting.""They'll have one." Philip hesitated."They're nervous.""They're supposed to be."
Ryan's POVThe doorbell rang just as David reached for another folder, and I didn't need to think twice to know who it was. Mom never announced her arrival twice."I'll get it," I said, pushing my chair back.As I walked to the front door, the walk felt longer than it should have. Maybe it was because everything that had happened today had finally begun catching up with me. Or maybe it was because I already knew the conversation waiting on the other side of that door.The moment I opened it, she looked me over from head to toe without saying a word. Her gaze moved from my face to my shoulders, then to my hands, almost as though she was making sure I was still in one piece.Only when she seemed satisfied did she finally speak."Have you eaten?"Despite everything that had happened, the question almost drew a smile from me."I've been accused of trafficking illegal goods today, Mom.""And starving yourself won't improve your defense."She brushed past me before I could respond, carrying
Samantha's POVRyan disappeared into his study without another word. I waited a moment before following him. The door was already open.He had spread several files across the large mahogany desk. There were shipping manifests, inspection reports, invoices and logistics summaries everywhere, covering nearly every inch of the polished surface. Another monitor displayed live market data, where Anderson Corporation's stock continued to fluctuate by the second.Ryan didn't acknowledge my presence immediately. Instead, he was reading through one of the manifests with complete concentration, making notes in the margins as though the world outside that room wasn't threatening to pull his company apart.I stood quietly for a few seconds, watching him work. For someone whose corporation had just become the center of a growing scandal, he was remarkably composed. He did not look like he was ignoring the crisis. It looked more like he was stepping into it, fully aware. I finally broke the silenc
Author's POVThe room remained dim despite the expensive chandelier hanging overhead. Its golden light barely reached the far corners, leaving sections of the room swallowed by darkness. The busy city was shut out beyond the windows by thick curtains.The older man stood beside the window with one hand clasped behind his back. He had not touched the wine poured for him as his attention rested on the city below. There was a soft knock on the door to the room."Come in."The subordinate entered immediately."The secretary has reported." The older man did not turn."And?""Mr. Leigh suspects nothing."A slow smile appeared on his face."I expected as much.""The dock operation failed. The Andersons discovered the shipment.""They were supposed to."The younger man frowned. "They were?" The older man finally turned."You still think the container was meant to remain hidden.""It wasn't?" The younger man asked, confused. "No.""Hidden evidence has no value." He walked casually toward the
Author’s POVRyan searched her face, studying every flicker of emotion that crossed it. He wanted to believe her. The strange part was that a part of him already did, and it wasn't because of her words. Anyone could say the right thing when circumstances demanded it.It was because Samantha rarely offered reassurance she didn't intend to keep."Then stop shutting me out," he said quietly.Samantha lowered her eyes for a brief moment before looking back at him. The firmness she had worn since walking into the house softened ever so slightly, revealing a hint of exhaustion she could no longer hide."I've been doing this alone for too long," she admitted. "Trust doesn't come naturally anymore."Ryan gave a faint nod. "Neither does silence."A corner of her lips lifted, though the smile never quite reached her eyes."I suppose we have that in common."For a moment, neither of them spoke.The tension between them had changed. It no longer carried the sharp edge of suspicion. Instead, it se
Author’s POVThe container door remained open yet no one dared to move closer. In a moment, Ryan stepped forward. Almost immediately, the metallic scent hit first. It was faint, but present. The scent was not strong enough to overwhelm, but the expression on everyone’s face showed it did more than enough to unsettle.His eyes adjusted to the dim interior, and then he saw it. It was not cargo nor anything that belonged to a legitimate shipment.He could see crates, sealed and unmarked. One of them had already been forced open. Inside were stacks of tightly wrapped packages, each identical in size, carefully concealed beneath a layer of industrial lining that had been sliced through in haste.Philip exhaled quietly beside him. “That’s not ours.”Ryan didn’t respond. Instead, he reached forward, pulling the lining back further, and getting a sharp tingle on his hand. His expression hardened, not from surprise, but from confirmation.“They didn’t just want to disrupt our activities,” Phil







