CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24 ON THE ELEVATOR

*CADEN*

Mason burst into laughter but his laughter halted when I added.

“I’m serious.”

He grimaced.”You? Personal bodyguard to Alora, are you crazy?”

“I just think I can do it. Besides, I’ve trained alongside some of your men before so I can always protect myself if the need arises, so I can say I have what it takes to...”

“Wait...wait.”Mason moved closer to me.”I didn’t come here to ask for your help. I have professionals working for me. I just thought since we both know Alora, we could gossip about it or something...”

“Hanks and Jerry can come with me. Just let me be her personal bodyguard.”

“You’re still saying this. No! You don’t even work under me...”

“I don’t need you to pay me. In fact, I’ll pay you double of what her manager offered.”

Mason gasped.”You want to pay me to let you become a personal bodyguard to Alora?”He asked in disbelief.

I sighed. “I just...”

I didn’t know how to explain it.

But I felt I needed to see her. Fuck, I don’t even know why I’m doing this.

“Also, you’re the boss of Ford Group, you have a company and sub-companies that you need to run. Being a personal bodyguard requires your time, your full time, you could even be living with her for now.”

I ran a hand through my hand.”I’m sure I can handle everything.”

Mason shook his head.”No. Why are you even suggesting something like this? Do you know what it means to sign up to be someone’s bodyguard. In this line of work, you’d be literally putting your life on the line for the clients. We have absolutely no idea who is after her or how dangerous the person can be. And you what? You want to be her bodyguard? You? You literally own one of the best company in this country.”

“Mason, can you stop trying to talk off my ears. Fine. I’ll triple the pay.”

Now, that seemed to have moved his stance.

“But...but I still don’t get it. Why are you doing this? Do you still love her?”

I quickly shook my head, defensively.”It’s been eight years, Mason. Who on earth would still be in love with someone for that long?” I scoffed.”I just...I guess, maybe I’m in need of a new hobby or something.” I tried to make up an excuse.

Even if that sounded stupid.

“Of all the hobbies you can think of, a bodyguard?”

I patted his shoulder.”Would you just stop judging me already? How about you think of your net-worth by you just allowing me to fill in for one of your men. If you turn me down, think of how long it would take for you to come by this kind of amount.” I persuaded.

He sighed and shut his eyes.

I smiled, knowing I had gotten him.

“But...the integrity of my company is on the line, you don’t even work for me.”

“That’s pretty easy. Just set up an employee profile for me. Also, no one knows me as the owner of Ford Group. So don’t worry, there would be no issue.”

I walked back to my desk and sat down.

I wasn’t even giving myself the chance to process what I was about to do, I just knew the thought of it excited me.

Mason turned to face me.

“You’re really acting crazy right now. Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nodded.

I might not be.

“Fine, but you need to understand the gravity of what you’re signing up for. There should be no mistake in protecting her. Your mistake would affect my company.”

“There would be no mistake. I can even do a better job than Hanks.”

He huffed. “You’re spending so much money and you’re going to spend so much of your time on this, hmm, Caden, I can swear you’re trying to win her back.”

“I’m not.”I argued.

He eyed me then brought out his cellphone and sent a file to my email.

“That’s everything you need to know about the job you’re about to take on. You’re to resume with the others tomorrow.”He informed me.

I nodded.

“I’ll wire you the money.”

He raised an eyebrow.”You better.”

*************

For the rest of the day, I was a giddy mess. Something about seeing and being close to Alora again made me feel so excited.

My life has been pretty dull for the past eight years. Even with all the success I’ve achieved, it wasn’t enough to light up my world.

I haven’t felt this way in a long time. And I was counting the hours until tomorrow.

Of course, I knew this would be very hectic for me. But I have to give it a shot.

I could take my laptop with me, find the time to work when I can.

Vance and my vice-president could handle things here, except when something extremely important comes up and then I’d put Hank in charge and then head to my company.

I was sure I could balance this. I wanted to do this. I could feel it in my bones. I called Vance over and we went over my schedule rearrangement for the subsequent days.

As the time struck 6:pm, I grew more impatient.

Why didn’t Mason say I could start today anyway?

What if she gets in danger today?

I guess, I could briefly, just briefly try to make sure she’s okay.

After all, it was my new job to make sure of that.

With that, I gave Vance an order.

“Find out where Alora Harper is right now.”

“Alora Harper? The actress?”

Vance had been to my house a few times so I knew I was a huge fan of hers.

“Yes.”

In less than ten minutes, I got the address. She was at Blue-hills hotel.

I already knew it was hers. Aside from watching her movies, I sometimes goggled about her. Aside acting, she owned two establishments, an hotel and a huge mall.

She was a smart woman. Smart and successful.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that I hadn’t considered how she’d feel seeing me again.

The last time we saw each other was in London when I was trying to win her back.

She was still giving me the cold-shoulders at that time.

But then again, it’s been eight years, she couldn’t possibly still hate me, right?

Not wanting to find out tonight, I had Vance get me a leather jacket and a face cap.

I just wanted to get a brief glimpse of her tonight. We could officially meet tomorrow. I didn’t know how it was gonna go but she might be cool with me now. We might even become friends.

***********

I got to Blue-hills hotel and walked in. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of her or something but I didn’t realize the hotel was this big.

Not wanting to seem suspicious for just walking around, I booked a room. I was given the keycard to the 20th floor.

As I leaned against the wall of the elevator, I realized how pathetic this was.

What was I even doing?

It was as if I was an obsessed stalker.

I straightened.

I was a dignified businessman. A man lots of people were dying to meet. Why am I yearning to be close to a girl I was with in college?

It was almost a decade now.

I am Caden Ford now.

This wasn’t me. I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t have volunteered to become her bodyguard. I have to call Mason and tell him I changed my mind.

As the elevator stopped on the 20th floor. I got out and then pressed the button of the elevator going now.

I can just tell the receptionist that I changed my mind about spending the night here. I don’t even need a fucking refund.

I have money.

Money that would last generations. A man like me should never do something as degrading as chasing after a woman like this.

I got into the descending elevator but just as I made to press the button to get me to the first floor.

I saw her.

Alora.

She was walking up to the elevator and was on her phone.

God!

The screens didn’t do justice to her. She was gorgeous in every way.

She was like a goddess, so womanly, so divine.

Seeing that she was almost at the elevator and suddenly not having the nerves to face her, I adjusted my face cap and moved backwards.

She walked into the elevator and pressed a button. It seems we were both heading for the first floor.

As soon as the elevator doors closed, her scent filled the small space and it was as if it sent me floating.

I shook my head, regaining my senses.

Then I noticed something about her, she was still on her phone.

I do not know what was so important that she was going through but can’t she be more conscious about her environment?

For someone who was almost kidnapped, she sure was nonchalant about her surroundings.

Granted, this was her hotel and maybe she felt safe in it.

Still, she knows her life was in danger at the moment, plus, I was dressed in all black and even wearing a face cap and it seemed she didn’t notice my presence at all.

I shook my head.

If she was really like this, then it’d be easy for her to get kidnapped again.

She really needed protection; the best protection.

Not to brag, I was a pretty capable man. There wasn’t any kind of fighting technique I didn’t know.

Maybe I can just go ahead with my agreement with Mason and protect her for old times’ sake.

After all, it wasn’t as if Mason would refund my money.

I stared at her face, suddenly having the urge to touch her.

Oh, Alora, you’ve really grown into a fascinating woman.

Suddenly, the elevator shook and before I could even blink, the lights went out and it began to plummet.

She screamed in fright and instinctively, I reached for her.