The Bodyguard

Chapter 2.

Scarlett Jones P.O.V

Harvard University – 8:00 p.m.

I look at my reflection in the mirror, and I am absolutely sure that I am not dressed appropriately for the role that I intend to play, I am dressed like a responsible adult, not a young girl who is about to have fun at a party.

My boss said he would send clothes more compatible with Scarlett's personality for me, but to my chagrin, they would not arrive until tomorrow.

The plan was not for me to be going out tonight.

Finding out where the party was taking place was not difficult, since everyone on campus was going to it and the loud music gave away the exact place.

Does the president know that his son is having a party of this proportion? Because let's face it, this kind of attitude is like putting a target on your own forehead. Attacking Benjamin in a place like this would be very easy.

Some bodies bump into me, while I try insistently to find Benjamin, but without much success.

— Hello, kitty. Are you lost? — a man grabs my arm and stares at me with a weak smile on his lips.

I pull my arm from his hand.

— No – short and thick.

— I don't know you. — his eyes narrow, and he seems to scrutinize me more carefully.

— And you won't! — You must be the fledgling Ben invited. — he surmises, and I stare at him with more interest.

Ben? That seems like a good nickname for a man who goes by the name Benjamin, aka the person I'm after tonight.

The young man slips his left arm around my shoulder and begins to pull me in some direction.

— He'll be happy when he sees that you came. — He speaks close to my face, allowing me to smell his breath, pure alcohol.

We pass a few people, until we stop next to a small group of people sitting on a couch. It didn't take me long to spot Benjamin, he was splayed out on the couch and holding a glass in one hand.

— Ben, look who came! — the man next to me shouts.

His voice overrides the loud music playing throughout the house, and it doesn't take long before his clear eyes are on me and a very big smile appears on the face of the man I need to keep close.

— Patrician. — he takes a sip of his drink and I cross my arms.

— Playboy.

The gazes of everyone on the couch are already on me, and they seem quite interested in my interaction with Benjamin.

His eyes run over my entire body and laughter escapes his lips.

— What are those clothes? You look like a schoolteacher.

I take his comment as a compliment, even as I hear the surrounding giggles.

— Thank you.

— Where did you get this girl, Ben? — My eyes glance at the woman who made the comment, and she looks me up and down.

— I met her when I was coming out of your room. — he answers her, but keeps his eyes fixed on me.

— I think I'm going to jump in the pool! — the man who still has his arm around my shoulder speaks up, and I see that some of the people who were on the couch get up, wanting to do the same thing.

The only ones left are me, Benjamin and the woman he has something with.

— Are you coming? — she asks, grabbing his hand.

— In a little while.

She nods and looks at me once more before walking away in quick steps.

— You're very brave, little Missy. I have to admit. — Benjamin stands up and approaches me.

— Brave? — I arch my eyebrow.

— Yes, to come here after our little misunderstanding.

Didn't it cross your mind that I might set something up against you here?

— It did. But I don't care. After all, what can a playboy do against me? Tell Dad that someone is bothering you?

He laughs, but I realize it's not the healthy kind of laugh.

— Have a great night! — he speaks softly and brings his face closer to mine. — And I suggest you be very smart.

— Is that a threat? — I smile, and he nods his head in denial.

— No. Just some advice. Having said this, Benjamin strides quickly past me and disappears among the people.

I can see that my night is going to be very long.

I grab a glass and pour water, finding a place where I could go unnoticed and keep an eye on Benjamin, find a place in the room and give my full attention to the man who seems to be nice to other people, looking like this, he didn't seem so obnoxious.

Hours go by, and I watch carefully every person who approaches Benjamin, every person who looks at him.

If there is any chance that someone wants this man dead, that person could very well be infiltrated among all these young people.

Sometime during the night, his gaze finds me and from the way he looks at me, I sense that something bad is coming. I see him approach one of his friends and whisper something in his ear, the boy agrees with his head and calls two boys over. Benjamin raises his glass to me, as if to shield himself, while the three boys start coming towards me.

Okay, that's not good.

— Ben says you're next. — one of them says, as soon as he stops in front of me.

— Next? Next for what? — the three of them laugh, and in a matter of seconds I am being lifted by all three of them.

They hold my arms and legs tightly so that I don't have a chance to escape.

I could get out of this situation very easily, but acting now would damage my identity, so I allow them to do what they want. Even though I hate every second of it.

What I don't do for the chance to protect the president one day.

I am led out of the house and when we stop by the pool I understand what is going to happen.

— Are you sure you are going to do this? What if she can't swim? — a girl asks from somewhere, and I try to struggle weakly in their arms. I had to act as if I wanted to get out of it.

— That's not our problem.

Benjamin approaches me and starts putting his hand in my pockets. Taking out my keys, my wallet, and my cell phone.

— You can play. — he asks, smiling and gives me a wink. — Take a nice bath, little Missy. I hope the water is good!

Looking like this, it's not so hard to understand why someone would want to kill this man.

My body is rocked from side to side and is tossed, I close my eyes and feel the icy water hitting every part of my skin. My body sinks at once and I allow myself to stay there for a while, trying to adjust to the cold temperature of the water, before returning to the surface.

I push off with my legs and lift my head out of the water, running both hands over my face.

— What's up, little Missy. Is the water okay? — Benjamin asks and leans over the edge of the pool.

Part of my training is to keep my emotions intact, so as much as this attitude has thrown me off, and I want to do something about it, I have to stay centered.

— It's great! I think you should try it. — I quickly approach him and grab one of his heels, pulling him at once into the water.

Benjamin doesn't have time to act and avoid the fall, his body falls, and I take the opportunity to get out of the pool.

Jerk!

He sticks his head out of the water and flashes me a smile.

— Nice move, little Missy.

— So, how's the water?

— It's great!

An icy wind whips against my body and I feel the chill hit me. All I want right now is to turn my back and go to my room, but I couldn't afford that right now, not if I want the job of my dreams.

I spin on my heels and am ready to enter the house and go to a bathroom to try to dry myself off.

— Don't let her go! — I hear Benjamin's shout behind me and within seconds there are three men standing in front of me, all of them with huge smiles on their faces.

I had completely forgotten how insufferable these frat boys were.

— Excuse me. — I still take the trouble to ask, even though I know I won't be heard.

— I'm sorry. But it's not going to happen. — one of them says, and I feel a cold hand on my arm.

— The rule is clear, once you throw someone in the pool, they have to stay at least one hour wet or in the pool. — Benjamin's debauched voice comes from beside me, and it doesn't take long before he walks past me and stops in front of me. — It's a challenge, little Missy. Are you good at challenges? — he arches his eyebrow and crosses his arms, looking at me in a way as if he doubts my ability.

I let out a long sigh and moisten my lips, gaining Benjamin's attention even more.

— I am great at challenges! — I smile sideways. — Getting wet won't be a problem for me. I see a naughty smile appear on his face as his eyes pass me intently.

— Good to know. — he winks in my direction, and I snort. — Whoever gives up and goes in first, loses. Are you ready, patrician?

— Yes, and you playboy?

— I'm more than ready.

I lean against some wall and cross my arms, trying to turn my attention to anything that will make me forget about the cold I'm feeling, but I'm not very successful. Benjamin is far away from me, but still, I feel his gaze locked on me, totally attentive to what I am doing and how I am acting.

Several people were entering and leaving the house at all times, and my eyes were always on them, attentive to everything they were doing and if they could present any risk to Benjamin.

A man walks through the door and I automatically go into my alert mode, straightening my posture and keeping my eyes fixed on them. From the shape of his body, it is a man, but everything about him is covered. I notice that he looks just in the direction where Benjamin is sitting, alone.

Slowly his body turns in that direction and he starts walking towards Benjamin. Okay, time to act.

I kick off the wall on the spot and start taking quick steps in the same direction as his, walking past his body.

Benjamin frowns as soon as he realizes that I am approaching. I sat down beside him without saying a word and discreetly looked at the man who had intended to come over, I just didn't know what he wanted to do, noticing that he had stopped in place and was looking at Benjamin intently, until he turned and walked away.

It seems that I have destroyed the plans of the assassin.

— Why did you come here, little Missy? Did you miss me?

— Yes, playboy. I couldn't control myself because I missed you so much.

He laughs, and I lean back in my chair, stretching out my legs and crossing my arms.

I start to feel a few icy drops hitting my body and let out a long sigh, watching as Benjamin straightens up next to me, not looking the least bit worried about the rain.

— So what, you want to give up?

— Not a chance. — I say with conviction.

— Me neither.

It feels like I'm about to take a rain bath next to one of the most unbearable people I have ever met in my entire life.