The Bodyguard

Prologue

Benjamin Demsey P.O.V

Massachusetts - 8h00 a.m.

Frustration was present in every part of my body as I paced back and forth in the small room I was in, the only place where I could have a little privacy.

— Benjamin, I've had enough of explaining the reasons for this to you, will you please understand your father's side? — my mother's soft voice sounds on the other end of the line.

— I've always understood his side, Mom! I want to know at what point you will understand my side? — I ask in an anguished way, trying to contain my tone of voice. — I can't stand these men behind me anymore!

— Son, they are there to keep you safe.

— But I am safe! — I speak a little louder than I would like.

— Do you remember when he decided to enter a political career? Do you remember what was the first agreement between you? — Even though the question is rhetorical, I pause for her to answer. — The agreement was to keep my identity intact so that my life would not be damaged by his decision. People don't know who I am, they don't know whose son I am.

I hear her let out a sigh.

— Honey, we have always been aware that your identity would not remain anonymous for long, and this moment has come. People are already starting to know who you are, and with that, you need protection, like any person who is important to the president.

— I want to have a normal life.

— It is impossible to have a normal life being the son of who you are. I am sorry! We spared you for as long as it took, but not anymore.

I hear a weak knock on the door, and it doesn't take long before one of the security guards opens it, looking at me intently.

— Sorry to interrupt, sir, but it's time to go.

— I have to go. — I warned my mother.

— That's fine, sir. Good class!

I didn't answer anything, I just ended the call and grabbed my backpack.

It was the beginning of the semester at college, but different from the others I've been here, this one I was going to have several security guards surrounding me, everywhere I went. And this was making me very anxious.

College was the only place where I could be myself, where I wasn't the president's son, but now it seems we are back to square one.

I leave one of my father's apartments, accompanied by various security guards, and walk to my car. I start the car and begin to see the SUVs following me.

People will never act the same way with me again when they know whose son I am, and there was nothing that made me more frustrated than this.

I stop at the red light and see that the security cars surround me and even though it bothers me, I try to ignore it. I turn on the car stereo and let some rock music play at full volume.

As soon as the light opens, I start walking, but I don't get a chance to go very far.

The SUV next to me is hit hard and when I look in its direction, I see that it is coming at my car, it is pushed against me and my car starts to slide down the road.

I step on the gas and manage to get out of her way, seeing that she was being pushed by a truck. The car starts to roll over until it hits a wall. I watch the whole scene in shock as my car door opens, and I am pulled out by my security guards, they get me into another SUV and get me out of there quickly.

It was just an accident.

Why were they so desperate?

Melissa Roberts P.O.V

Washington, D.C.

10:40 a.m.

I squeeze the hem of my blazer with some force, trying to contain the sweat on my hands, as I follow the tall man walking in quick steps in front of me.

My eyes try to capture every little detail in the place, but I can't quite process what is in front of me, as I am too nervous.

I always knew that there would come a time when I would be here, but I didn't imagine it would be so fast, so soon.

I can hardly believe it!

The man in front of me stops abruptly, and I need to think fast, before my body hits his.

— They are waiting for you in this room. — he speaks seriously and slams his fist against the wood, opening the door for me shortly thereafter.

I took a deep breath and walked past him, finally entering the room and seeing three pairs of eyes fixed on me, not caring much about two of them, since I was staring enchantingly at the president. I would do anything to keep this man safe!

— Melissa, I'm glad you're here! We have a lot to talk about. — the voice of one of the men resonates through the room.

I turned my gaze to him; it was my boss.

— It's a pleasure to be here! — my voice comes out lower than expected.

The man, who had said earlier, stands up from where he is and interchanges his gaze with everyone present.

— Mr. President, this is the woman I told you about, Melissa Roberts. She is my best bodyguard. — he introduces me and I keep my eyes fixed on the President, while he seems to analyze me completely.

— Your best if compared to other women, isn't she? — the third man says in a debauched manner. — Sir, do you really think it's a good idea to put a woman on this mission? She could ruin everything!

I listen to everything in silence, even though inside I am about to explode.

— Melissa is as capable as any man I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and if you have any doubts about that, I suggest you take the test yourself. — He points his arm in my direction, and I try to contain the smile that wants to escape my lips.

The man straightens his suit and takes the suggestion as a challenge, turning towards me immediately. He walks slowly towards me and looks me up and down, showing how indifferent he was to me.

— I'll go easy on you. — he says.

Too bad I'm not willing to do the same. Taking it easy is the last thing on my mind right now.

His movement flashes past my eyes in slow motion, I follow everything closely. He raises his fist and brings it closer to me, I throw my body backwards just as I do, successfully deflecting his punch. Before he can move his hand away, I grab his fist and turn his body around, pinning his arm behind his back and leaving him totally immobilized.

He tries to break free, but I use all my strength to keep him that way.

— Did she prove to you that she is good? — my boss asks and crosses his arms.

— She did. Now you can let go of me, young lady. — he asks, but I don't let go.

— Why don't you let go yourself? — I ask quietly and hear him murmur.

— You can let him go now, you have shown that you are ready for this mission. — The president finally speaks to me and I obey his order immediately. — She is a great choice and will go unnoticed around campus.

Campus?

I stare at the president in confusion, but before I can open my mouth to question what he was talking about, his voice sounds before mine.

— You are hired, Melissa. But before I send you to Harvard, we need to discuss a few things.

— Send me to Harvard? I thought I would be your bodyguard.

I hear a low chuckle, and I don't even have to look to know who it came from.

— It's not me you'll have to protect, it's my son. — I think the disappointment is clear in my eyes as he adds. — But if you do a good job and keep him safe, you can join my personal team. This is your chance to show how capable you are.

— All right. I'll do my best.

The president gives me a sideways smile, and this is enough for me to understand that joining his team will be easy from now on.

— My son suffered an attack earlier today, and I am afraid that this will happen again a few more times, because of this, I need someone who will be around all the time, without him, or anyone else, knowing that this is a bodyguard. Someone who goes unnoticed.

— The president has received some threats against his son. — my boss explains.

— When did these threats start?

— A few weeks ago. — the president explains and hands me an envelope. — What worries me the most is that apparently it is a person from the college.

I grab the envelope and open it. Inside there were several threatening letters, and in all of them, the person made it clear that he knew perfectly well where the boy was and that he could get to him very easily.

— At first we thought that it was just a bad joke by some joker. Since Benjamin's identity has been private since the beginning of the president's political career, but after today's attack, we realized that the matter is serious. — The man who doubted my ability speaks.

— Did something happen to him? — I face the three of them.

— No. He came out of it intact.

— But we know that the intention was not to actually hurt him, they wanted to scare him and make it clear that they could get to the boy at any time. They had probably already realized that they were not being taken seriously. — my boss explains and I agree.

— I will make sure that they can't get to him again.

I will keep this boy safe and alive.