Chapter 4 04

Two months.

That was how long Sylvie had endured Ryan Finley shadowing her. Sixty one of clipped commands. Eight whole weeks of icy gray eyes evaluating her every move with military precision. She was losing her mind.

Ryan followed her everywhere she went. The café, boutique, every charity gala and corporate dinner, every walk to her car.

He existed in silence, black clothes, unreadable expression, arms always crossed unless he was opening a door or blocking someone from getting too close and he never spoke unless it was about protocol. He never smiled too. Today was no different.

Sylvie stepped out of a luxury boutique on Fifth Avenue, oversized sunglasses perched on her head, shopping bags dangling from both hands. Ryan stood beside the entrance before she even noticed him move, his gaze sweeping the street.

"That is not the exit I came out from." Sylvie snapped.

"That exit was too exposed." he replied simply. "This angle gives better visibility."

"Visibility for who? You? Because I don't recall asking for surveillance." she said walking to her car.

Ryan didn't respond. He opened the car door. Sylvie didn't move.

"You know," she said, "for someone who's supposed to be protecting me, you seem very determined to ruin my day."

"No," Ryan said. "I'm preventing opportunities for someone else to ruin it.

He didn't even bother looking at her as he added, "Get in the car, Miss Wilfred."

"I am not a mission."

"No," he said. "You are a high-target individual with poor impulse control."

Her jaw dropped. "What did you just...?"

"Car. Now."

Sylvie stomped into the car so hard the vehicle rocked. Ryan closed the door calmly behind her.

---

Attempt 47: Operation Ditch Ryan

That night, she tried ditching him again. Her plan was flawless, at least in theory.

She waited until he turned to answer a call from her father's head of security, then snuck out through the kitchen garden, climbed over the smaller stone wall, and slipped into the alley behind the mansion barefoot so her heels wouldn't click.

She smirked to herself, whispering, "Checkmate.

She made it all the way to the side gate and reached for the lock. Then a shadow fell over her.

She froze. Rya's stood there with his arms crossed and a deadpan Express

"How... how did you get here before me?" Sylvie demanded.

Ryan offered the faintest tilt of his head. "Protocol."

"That's not an answer!"

"You used the garden exit. You always try the garden exit."

"I do not!"

"You've attempted it six times." he replied.

Sylvie scoffed. "You keep count?!"

"Yes."

He stepped aside and opened the gate for her to go back inside the mansion to get her car.

"Let's go. We'll go to wherever you are going together."

"Ughh, you are unbelievable." Sylvie hissed, marching past him.

Ryan followed silently behind her, not even breathing loud enough to satisfy her need to be annoyed.

"You know," she said over her shoulder, "normal bodyguards don't treat their clients like this"

"I'm not a normal bodyguard."

"You can say that again."

"I'm not a normal bodyguard."

"I DIDN'T MEAN... Ugh... forget it!"

He didn't say anything. He always said nothing when she was trying to ignite him which only infuriated her more.

The next morning, Sylvie stormed into the foyer with her handbag slung over her shoulder. Ryan was already waiting by the door with a straight posture.

He didn't need to ask where she was going. She never told him.

"Can I just be alone today?" she asked.

"No" he replied flatly.

"Why are you like this?"

"I'm not your friend, Miss Wilfred. I'm not here to impress you or argue with you. I'm here to keep you safe."

"And I'm here to live my life without a six-foot freezer following me everywhere!"

Ryan lifted an eyebrow, unfazed. "Then stop trying to get kidnapped."

Sylvie's eyes widened. "Wow. You really know how to charm a girl."

"Protocol requires honesty." he replied.

"Protocol requires you to have a personality!"

Ryan blinked slowly.

"No," he said flatly. "Personality is a distraction."

Sylvie threw her hands up. "I can't do this! I cannot do this with you for another day."

"You don't have a choice."

"Watch me."

She turned on her heel and began running toward her car.

Ryan stepped in front of the door before she even reached the handle.

"Move." He requested.

"No" she replied stubbornly.

"I could call you father"

Sylvie's voice was almost a whisper. "You're evil."

"No," Ryan corrected. "I'm efficient."

She shoved past him and stomped toward the living room, deciding not go out again muttering curses under her breath.

Ryan followed.

Hours later, the house finally quieted. The tension between them lingered, crackling like static in the air, but exhaustion eventually dragged Sylvie into a calmer mood.

She walked downstairs for water.

As she approached her father's office, she heard murmurs through the slightly open door. Cole Wilfred never murmured, he only lowered his voice when something was very, very wrong. Sylvie paused.

Her father whispered sharply into the phone.

"Yes... yes, I already told you. It wasn't an accident. Someone sabotaged the expansion deal. Sabotaged us. They're pushing, and they know exactly where to strike."

Sylvie's eyes widened.

Sabotage?