Kira’s POV
We were in the first-class cabin, on our way to New Delhi.
I was sitting up straight in my seat, hyperaware of every movent, as I munched on my breakfast.
I was halfway through my fruit plate when I felt him.
Damien.
He appeared beside like a shadow, leaning in close to pluck an apple from my tray. His cologne hit first, and I found myself shifting away instinctively, my shoulder pressed against the window. "What are you doing over here?"
Damien took a bite of the apple, his eyes never leaving mine. "Seriously? You’re really asking that question?"
"Yes."
"Wow." He settled into the empty seat next to , even though his actual seat was two rows up. "Sotis I wonder if you are actually my bodyguard or just soone who follows around for fun."
I bristled. "Of course I’m your bodyguard..."
"Then act like it." His voice dropped lower, more serious. "How exactly are you supposed to protect when you’re sitting back here and I’m up there? What happens if danger strikes? How would you save ?"
Heat crept up my neck. He had a point. A very valid point.
"You’re right. I apologize." I straightened my posture, slipping back into professional mode. "Sotis I forget the nature of my job."
Damien studied for a long mont, sothing unreadable flickering across his face. "Do you? Forget?"
"What?"
"The nature of your job." He leaned back, still watching with that intense gaze. "Or is there sothing else you’re forgetting, Kyle?"
My pulse quickened. What was he talking about? Was he testing ?
"I don’t know what you an, sir."
"Don’t you?" He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Never mind. Eat your food. We have a long flight ahead."
He stood and returned to his seat, leaving staring after him.
The rest of the flight continued slowly. Every ti Damien moved, I tracked him. When he went to the bathroom, I positioned myself strategically in the aisle. When the flight attendants served him als, I watched to make sure nothing was tampered with.
I was doing my job. Being Kyle. Being professional.
So why did it feel like I was failing so test I didn’t even know I was taking?
When we finally touched down in New Delhi, the wall of heat that hit us was staggering. Even in the air-conditioned airport, I could feel the warmth seeping through.
"First ti in India?" Damien asked as we collected our luggage.
"Yes, sir."
"Try to enjoy it. Despite the business etings, New Delhi is incredible."
I wanted to roll my eyes at the idea of "enjoying" anything while on duty, but as we stepped outside into the chaos of Indian traffic and the vibrant colors of the city, I felt sothing shift in my chest.
It was beautiful.
The buildings were a mix of ancient and modern, temples standing proudly beside glass skyscrapers. The streets thrumd with life - auto-rickshaws weaving through traffic, street vendors calling out their wares, the sll of spices and incense mixing in the air.
I tried to keep my expression neutral, professional, but I caught myself staring at everything like a tourist.
"You can be impressed, Kyle," Damien said, amusent coloring his voice. "I won’t tell anyone."
"I’m maintaining situational awareness, sir."
"Of course you are."
Our car drove through the streets, and despite myself, I pressed closer to the window, taking in the view. Won in brilliant saris walked the sidewalks, their fabrics flowing like rainbows. Street food vendors grilled sothing that slled absolutely divine. A sacred cow stood in the middle of an intersection, completely unbothered as traffic moved around it.
This was nothing like New York.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?" Damien’s voice was soft.
I cleared my throat, forcing my attention back to the job. "It’s... colorful, sir."
His quiet laugh suggested he knew exactly what I was really thinking.
********
The hotel was stunning. It was a perfect blend of traditional Indian architecture and modern luxury. The chandeliers looked like they belonged in palaces.
Damien approached the reception desk with the confidence of soone who owned the place. "Reservation under Wellington."
"Ah yes, Mr. Wellington. Welco." The receptionist smiled warmly. "We have your suite ready - two bedrooms as requested."
My stomach dropped. "Suite? Sir, I can get my own room..."
"You’re my bodyguard, Kyle." Damien didn’t even look at as he signed the paperwork. "How exactly are you supposed to protect if you’re three floors away?"
"But..."
"Two bedrooms. Separate spaces. Unless you have a problem with that?"
I did. I had several problems with that. But I couldn’t articulate any of them without revealing things I could not reveal.
"No problem, sir."
"Excellent."
We headed to the elevators, my mind racing. Sharing a suite with Damien Wellington for three days. Three days of being in close quarters with my hot boss.
This was fine. Everything was fine.
The elevator doors closed, trapping us in the small space, and my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out and my heart sank.
Kennedy calling...
Oh shit. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
I’d told Kennedy I was going to a work summit. A boring digital marketing conference. Not a three-day trip to New Delhi with my dangerously attractive boss.
I declined the call.
Imdiately, he called again.
And again.
"Are you going to answer that?" Damien asked in a neutral voice.
"It’s not important," I said quickly, declining another call.
"Your phone has rung three tis. Seems important."
"It’s not."
Kennedy called again. The elevator dinged, announcing our floor.
"Kyle." Damien’s voice had an edge now. "Just pick up the damn phone."
"The call isn’t important," I insisted, stepping out of the elevator and heading down the hallway.
"Are you sure?" Damien followed, his long strides easily keeping pace. "Because soone seems very desperate to reach you."
"I’m sure."
My phone finally stopped ringing as we reached our suite. Damien swiped the key card and pushed open the door, revealing a space that was sohow even more luxurious than the lobby.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city. Rich fabrics in deep reds and golds. Traditional Indian artwork on the walls. And two doors leading to what I assud were the separate bedrooms.
"Take the room on the right," Damien said, already loosening his tie. "Get so rest. We have a eting in two hours."
I nodded and escaped to my designated room, closing the door and leaning against it.
My phone buzzed with a text.
Kennedy: Is everything okay? You’re not answering. Call when you can.
Guilt twisted in my stomach. I typed back quickly:
: Everything’s fine. Just busy with the conference. Will call later. Promise.
I stared at the lie on my screen before hitting send.
Three days. I just had to survive three days. Then I’d be free of this job, free to tell Kennedy the truth, free to actually figure out what I wanted my life to look like.
I could do this.
I absolutely could do this.
...Right?
*******
Olivia’s POV
I stood in my hotel room, unpacking my suitcase and hanging clothes in the wardrobe, but my mind was miles away.
Why did Maxwell react that way?
The question kept circling through my brain like a song I couldn’t shake. He’d looked right through . Treated like I didn’t exist. Like I was nothing.
Wasn’t I supposed to be the one angry with him? I was the one who’d been played, manipulated, confused at every turn. So why did it feel like the roles had suddenly reversed?
God, this man was confusing.
I dropped the dress I’d been holding and sank onto the bed with a heavy sigh.
This trip was probably the last ti I’d see Maxwell. I’d resigned - well, resigned myself by running away and drugging his security team. There was no going back to that job, to that life, to playing Oliver.
And it just hit .
I was going to miss him.
Actually, genuinely miss him. Despite everything he’d put through as Oliver, I was going to miss Maxwell Wellington.
Maybe I should just tell him the truth. Co clean about everything. Confess that I’d been Oliver all along.
I didn’t have a job to protect anymore. No reason to maintain the disguise. What did I have to lose?
But how could I approach him with that attitude he was exhibiting? With that cold indifference?
A light knock interrupted my spiraling thoughts.
"Co in!" I called out, not moving from my position on the bed.
The door opened and Gabriel stepped inside, his expression concerned. He sat down next to , the mattress dipping slightly under his weight.
"Are you alright?"
I nodded automatically. "Just jet lag. I need a little rest and I’ll be fine."
"Are you sure?" His voice was gentle. "This isn’t about what happened with Maxwell?"
"No. It’s not."
Gabriel was quiet for a mont, then he groaned, running his hands through his hair. "Damn. I really ssed up, didn’t I?"
I turned to look at him, confused. "What?"
"Our first date," he said, a rueful smile playing at his lips. "Do you rember it?"
How could I forget? "Of course I rember."
"It was fun, wasn’t it? Beautiful, even. Maxwell followed us, tried to cause chaos, did everything he could to destroy our date. But it still ended well." Gabriel’s eyes t mine. "I wish I’d pursued you then. Wish I’d followed up imdiately instead of wasting my ti pining after a woman I knew I could never have."
My chest tightened at the honesty in his voice.
"And now I’m back in your life," he continued with a bitter laugh. "But as your fake boyfriend. While you have feelings for the third-wheel who tried so hard to sabotage what we could have been."
I found myself smiling despite the complicated knot of emotions in my chest. "He really did try hard, didn’t he?"
"Oh, he did." He finished with a laugh. Then he turned towards and asked quietly. "Do you love him?"
I jumped up imdiately, "Alright, we’re not doing this today. We’re not sitting here brooding about love, or our sad romance lives."
"But..."
"No!" I grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the door. "We’re in Tokyo! One of the most incredible cities in the world! We ca here to have fun and relax, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do."
I honestly didn’t want to dwell on that question.
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