CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27 THE NEW BODYGUARD

*ALORA*

As I strode out of the hotel, I contemplated getting the receptionist to check the record and check for a man named Ford.

What if there were more than one more named Ford who recently booked a room in my hotel?

Was I really going to look for him?

And then what?

I shook my head.

You know nothing about this man, Alora.

And also, you can’t get shaken like this.

You’re a strong woman.

I should just forget about him.

I should forget about the man who made me feel like an hopeless romantic again.

It was pointless.

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

I had just finished getting ready the following day when my cellphone rang out.

I had nothing much planned out today.

Just a photoshoot session with my co-star for our new movie.

Oscar was calling. I picked up and he informed me.

“Your new bodyguards are here. We’re at the study.”

Sighing, I hung up and headed for the study.

As I got closer to the door of the study, two voices filtered out.

One was Oscar’s and the other was...familiar.

Chills raked through my flesh.

“Don’t worry.”The rough-edged gravelly voice said. “I’ll keep her safe.”

My head spun.

My palms grew damp.

Currents of electricity shot up and down my spine.

It was him.

The elevator stranger.

Ford.

What?!

Another voice chipped in.”We’ve viewed the black box thoroughly, there was a tattoo on the man’s neck, I think we can start with that as a lead to finding him.”

The shock of hearing Ford’s voice and that fact that I finally get to see his face was making me nervous.

“Alora?” Oscar noticed my presence at the door.

Ford, the mysterious stranger who haunted my dreams last night was here...in this room.

Compose yourself, Alora!

You can’t go melting because of a man!

I swallowed and walked in, properly as Oscar introduced.

“Alora, this is the owner of the security company, Mason Graham, this is your personal bodyguard, Caden Ford, and the others are...”

I completely zoned out on Oscar as my eyes landed on Caden.

No!

Old, long-dormant nightmare stirred to life as I stared at him.

Time stood still as I stared into the eyes of Ford, aka Caden Steele!

He was dark and foreboding and even hotter than I remember.

I’ve never forgotten those burnished bronze eyes.

It was him!

The man I feel in love with at twenty.

The man who crushed me.

Caden Steele broke my heart into a million tiny pieces and, although it all happened over eight years ago, standing right now, staring at those eyes of his, it felt like it happened yesterday.

I still hated him!

Whirling back to Oscar, my hands balled into fists.

Fire and venom were on the top of my tongue, begging to be spat out like poison.

“No way! Absolutely no way!”

Oscar face-palmed himself.”What is it this time?”

“I don’t want him as my bodyguard!”I declared pointing at Caden.

And then I stared at Mason, Oscar had introduced him as the owner of the security company.

Mason had been close friends with Caden back then.

Now, Caden works for him?

If I could remember clearly, Caden was from a very rich family.

Why would he work as a bodyguard?

Were these two planning something for me?

Eight years and they still haven’t changed!

Do they actually think I’m still stupid?

“Why?”Oscar asked me.

I stared at Caden and he was staring back at me, nonchalantly.

“Yeah, why, Miss Harper? Why don’t you want me to be your bodyguard?” He asked.

I scoffed.

The nerves of him!

“Do you know him?” Oscar asked, again.

“Actually, Miss Harper, Caden and I went to the same college before she transferred to finish in London.”Mason replied.

Oscar clapped.”That’s great. You three already know one another, I think that would make working together easier.”

“No, find me other bodyguards from another company!” I ordered.

“Why?”Oscar asked, staring at me, then at Mason and Caden.

I weighed the situation right now. Both Caden and Mason were acting nonchalant and if they didn’t know why I was at odds with them.

If I were to be the one to bring it up now, then it’d seem like I was a bitter woman who still hadn’t forgotten about what happened eight years ago.

I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of knowing that.

“I just don’t want to work with them, that’s all.”

“Alora, I made it clear to you before that you need a good reason.”

“Oscar.”I called, warningly.

Oscar sighed and stared at the men.”Can you gentlemen excuse us for a moment please?”

The men nodded and walked out of the study.

“We have to work with them, I have a good feeling about them.”

“C’mon, Oscar, I’m sure you can find a better security company.”

“They’re one of the best. Plus, can’t you see that they’re already one step ahead of the police, they already have a lead in finding that man. I can’t let them go.”

Fine, since Mason wasn’t the one I was directly involved with, maybe I could use his company.

“Okay then, but I can’t have that man as my personal bodyguard, tell him to assign someone else.”

“Why?”

Why does he keep asking me for reasons?

Ugh!

Oscar smiled, knowingly at me.”Was he your crush in college?”

“No.”

“Your first love?”

“NO!”

“Seeing how hard you screamed, he was. Give me the tea. Did you guys have a bitter breakup?”

“No. I don’t remember. I don’t remember anything about him.”

“Good, he’s going to be your personal bodyguard so let’s drop this.”

“Please, Oscar, please.”

Oscar eyed me.”Did you two really have history? This is the first time I’m seeing you all reeled up because of a man. Do you still like him?”

“No! I’m gonna puke. Stop saying stuff like that!”

“Don’t you think that if we replace him like this, he’s going to think he still means something to you?” Oscar drawled.

I bit my lower lip hard.

He had a point.

“Alora, Mr Graham said Caden Ford is one of his best men. I want the best for you. I don’t care what you two had in the past. It’s all in the past now. He’s only here to protect you. When the job is done, he’ll be on his way. So cooperate with him, professionally and everything will be fine. Like I said before, You can’t fire anyone anymore. And I am not firing or replacing anyone unless there’s a good reason.” With that, Oscar walked away.

He was right.

It’s all in the past now.

I didn’t care about it. It didn’t bother me anymore.

But I still couldn’t trust Caden as my bodyguard.

No!

Thinking about how I flirted with him on the elevator made me wince, I felt like digging a hole and burying myself.