Mr. Bodyguard, It's Hard To Love You

Erin tossed all her belongings into her room, breaking and smashing them. Exhausted, she quietly wept in a corner.

Her body shook with profound disappointment upon discovering that the man she had loved for years had toyed with her emotions. He had only granted her a few months of solace before delivering the final blow of punishment.

The accusations from people, pointing fingers at her for a sin she didn't commit, persisted. She had borne the weight of guilt since high school, which continued without relief. When would she ever find her justice?

She sobbed as her lips trembled.

"Erin!" Orion's voice echoed as he pounded on the penthouse door. She had already changed the security code, preventing him from entering.

"Erin! Hear me out. Please... Erin!" His voice quivers audibly from the other end.

But her emotions are weary. Her chest felt drained. It isn't easy to love someone who doesn't love you back.

Erin raised the phone to call security and remove the man from outside her door. Tears streamed down her face. She had anticipated Orion hurting her severely, but not in this manner.

She grabbed the cell phone with a cracked screen, and despite her tear-blurred vision, she called the person she knew would keep her safe.

While sobbing, she uttered the words, "Let's get married."

***

[Two years ago]

"I wish to extend my gratitude to everyone who has shown me love, especially my daughter, Erin. I'm entrusting my car to our driver, Cardo Dalyas, and placing the mansion in the capable hands of Isadora Reyes, who dedicated her life to my family for several years. I will pass down the penthouse in White Garden to my daughter, Erin Villaverde.

"My friend, Niel Arvesso, will oversee all my shares in the Yurich Group until my daughter Erin becomes a part of their family through marriage. I grant Arvesso and Erin two years, effective today, to strengthen our relationship. If they fail to fulfill my final wish, transfer all my shares to the Yurich Group."

It felt as if every part of Erin's body froze, and her lips were left hanging open in response to Attorney Tuazon's concluding words. Even her head appeared to swell.

"That's everything Mr. Lawrence stated in his last will," the lawyer said.

"Are you saying Dad left me nothing except for his penthouse in White Garden?" Erin rose from her seat, her face a blend of disbelief and concern.

'How could this be?'

Two months ago, her stepfather succumbed to diabetes-related complications. His kidneys had weakened to the point where he collapsed in the hospital and ultimately passed away.

"The last will specifies that he leaves all his shares in the company to the Arvessos within two years, contingent upon your full integration into their family through marriage. Failure to fulfill his final wish will result in his shares reverting to the company itself."

It means that after two years, the shares her dad owned in the company will go to his cousin, Uncle Roger. She turned to look at the man and his daughter Jenna, who was smirking.

"How much is his net worth in the company?" Erin asked.

"Two hundred and fifty million," her uncle answered with a grin.

"You've got two years, Erin. You have nothing to worry about if your relationship with the Arvessos is solid." The lawyer glanced at Mr. Niel Arvesso, who sat quietly in the corner.

"That's the problem. She hasn't been getting along well with them!" Jenna, her cousin, said amusingly.

"Why?" Erin blurted out. 'Why with the Arvessos?'

Despite her desire to confront them openly, she held back, particularly with the man's presence. That was perplexing! Her stepfather appeared determined to burden her with punishment for the rest of her life. Wasn't seven years of guilt enough?

"I think we've heard enough! We're leaving!" declared Uncle Roger, who happened to be a cousin of her stepfather.

"Good luck, Erin! I must congratulate my dad; the task is hard," Jenna said with a sarcastic tone, casting a look at Niel Arvesso.

Erin shot her with an indignant look. At that moment, she wanted to slap Jenna. Although they were close in high school, her betrayal of Erin's boyfriend made her realize who to avoid.

Individually, each person rose from their seat and left the room. The household staff also departed, their expressions subdued, even though they, like the others, were beneficiaries of monetary support from her father. Though they yearned to revel in the windfall, the somber reality of their master's recent death cast a shadow over their hearts.

"This is quite a revelation," Mr. Arvesso said, holding the tears welling up in his eyes. "I'll excuse myself too. Miss Villaverde, call me when you're prepared," he conveyed before exiting, leaving her in the lawyer's company.

"I will file a petition. I have a stronger claim to the shares than letting Uncle Roger take them!" she declared, her irritation evident. The urge to cry welled up within her. She was determined not to let the two hundred and fifty million end up with them. She adamantly opposed allocating her parents' money to Jenna's family.

Her mother had passed away during her high school years due to a heart attack. Part of the two hundred and fifty million belonged to her mother. It was her rightful inheritance! Since Mr. Lawrence was her mother's husband, everything seemed natural to go to him, especially considering she was still a minor then.

"I apologize, Erin. Only Mr. Lawrence's biological daughter can perform that action."

"What?!" Not even her last name changed when her parents married; she still carried her mother's surname.

"It's true that Mr. Lawrence was your legal guardian back then. But you are twenty-four now, Erin. It will be difficult if you petition for what you'd inherit, especially since there's no blood relation between you."

"But to marry into the Arvesso family?!"

"As far as I know, your dad and Mr. Arvesso were friends. You saw him earlier. I don't think he had any objections. For me, marrying into the Arvesso family seems easier than submitting a petition."

That's what she aimed to uncover. To her knowledge, his family held contempt for her. She hadn't seen Mr. Arvesso in over seven years. Even her mother couldn't bear the guilt of what she had done, resulting in her heart attack.

"I'm going as well; I'll handle everything your dad left behind."

Erin covered her mouth. She quivered with anger, sadness, and a multitude of reasons!

Unfamiliar with office work due to her modeling job, she still expressed willingness to work at Yurich and assume her father's position if necessary rather than letting it go to his cousin.

She wouldn't allow what rightfully belonged to her in Jenna's family to slip away.

Erin was already ten years old when her mother married her stepfather. She didn't see Mr. Lawrence as a stepfather; to her, he was her birth father, and he treated her as such.

Her mother got Erin during her maidenhood, and the lack of knowledge of her biological father might explain her happiness in experiencing fatherly care from Mr. Lawrence. Even when her mother passed away seven years ago, she felt an even stronger sense of nurture from him.

Erin was the one who ended the friendship between Niel Arvesso and her father. She understood why her father continued to include her in their lives up to that point. Maybe her father wished to test the enduring friendship she shattered during high school.

However, Erin only knew one thing: she was not responsible for Daryl's death-the youngest son of Niel Arvesso.

'No, Erin! You are guilty!'

Tears began to flow down her cheeks.

Daryl's loss became a tragedy for the Arvesso family. In turn, Erin lost her mother, who followed Daryl just a day after the incident.

Erin steered her car towards the Yurich Group office. Since her father's passing, it felt as though she were on autopilot, routinely making her way to the office.

Her father held the majority of shares, rendering the board powerless in the face of her presence, despite enduring unpleasant remarks from them on numerous occasions.

"What does the model do in our office?"

"I like seeing her ass, though," were just a couple of the unsavory comments she overheard.

Her Uncle Roger now serves as the current chairman, having won the vote for the position vacated by Mr. Lawrence. Erin allowed this to transpire due to her lack of knowledge about the business. However, this didn't mean she would passively await his decisions. Refusing to be excluded from the office dynamics, she joined the advertising team as a staff member. Her father's assistant coached her, ensuring she navigated the corporate landscape adeptly.

Her manager consistently targeted her. It's plausible that this directive came from Uncle Roger or perhaps Jenna, intending to drive her out of the office.

Erin lacks trust in her Uncle Roger and harbors similar feelings towards his daughter, Jenna, who currently holds the position of marketing head.

It's childish! That's why she remains unfazed. Currently, her salary is meager, just a couple of thousand, which she must allocate for daily expenses. She saved nothing from her modeling gigs because she needed to purchase skincare and personal items. The idea of saving never crossed her mind due to the luxurious lifestyle her dad provided. Now, she can only endure her office job's modest salary.

Although her dad left her a penthouse, she hasn't been able to sell it for two years. It will only become hers after that time, and that's where she currently resides.

Erin has a two-year window to become the Arvessos' wife. Still, she is determined to explore every avenue to avoid that path. She won't allow Uncle Roger to take control of her shares.

The sudden arrival of a motorcycle beside her car startled Erin, catching her off guard. The passenger, wielding a hammer, proceeded to shatter the side mirror of Erin's car. Nervously, she honked the horn, pondering anxiously about their intentions. What did they want from her?

After that, the man pulled out a gun and aimed it at her. Erin's eyes widened.

"Help!" Frantically scanning the street, she feared the motorcycle-riding tandem. The man used the gun to tap on her car. Swiftly, she maneuvered her vehicle to reach another road, aware that there was a police station nearby.

She hoped the motorbike wouldn't trail her there. The tires of her car screeched as she brought it to a halt at the station.

"H-help!"

Exiting her car, she approached the entrance in a state of panic. While trembling with fear, a uniformed police officer met her at the gate.

"Miss, are you okay?" he asked.

"Someone is following me!"

The police officer looked back to where she came from.

"There's a motorcycle-riding tandem trying to harm me! They broke my side mirror!" The profound fear was evident on her face, and her muscles had yet to recover from the shock of the man pointing a gun at her.

Erin recounted the incident, and soon after, Assistant Mike arrived at the police station.

"Are you okay, Erin?" he inquired. She had contacted him because she was running late for the office.

"I already provided a statement about what happened earlier," she said. Regaining her composure, she proceeded to share the details with him.

"Any idea who they were?" he probed.

She sighed. "I suspect it was Uncle Roger who orchestrated it. We went through Dad's last will over the weekend. I have a two-year window to claim my shares in the company. If I fail, the Yurich Group will benefit from the substantial two hundred and fifty million worth of shares!" She involuntarily clenched her fist as she spoke.

"But taking legal action is challenging without evidence," Assistant Mike pointed out.

"That's precisely why I can't file a report against him!" she exclaimed through gritted teeth.

"Why not consider hiring a bodyguard if you're feeling uneasy?" Assistant Mike suggested.

Erin grimaced as the impracticality of the idea hit her. Her meager salary made it impossible for her to afford a bodyguard. The burden of her daily expenses left her feeling helpless at the moment.

Despite her financial constraints, Erin still entered the office. Skipping work was not an option; it was what she had chosen, her self-imposed punishment.

***

[Months Later]

"Are you saying that the Villaverde you've mentioned and the one implicated in Daryl's death are the same?" Orion sought clarification from his father, a need for assurance evident in his tone.

A year ago, Mr. Arvesso had proposed that Orion marry the Villaverde princess. However, it was only now that Orion grasped the significance of that surname. He realized the connection when Lily's identity came up.

He thought he had settled the matter and hadn't anticipated it would continue to have repercussions a year later.

"So, you're telling me I'm supposed to marry Uncle Rod's princess? Erin Villaverde?" Orion pointedly inquired. Despite sharing the same household as Uncle Rod, Erin bore a different last name.

"That's correct!"

"Damn it, Dad!" Orion couldn't contain his frustration.

"Lower your voice, Orion! Remember, I'm still your father!"

Orion felt an urge to express his frustration physically. Despite this, he found himself holding a degree of respect for his father.

"I couldn't believe it when you mentioned wanting me to marry someone. But what's even more astounding is that you expect me to marry Erin! I need to remind you that she's the one who seduced Daryl! She's the reason my brother died and the reason why I quit the Bureau of Investigations."

Anger surged through Orion's muscles as he recollected the events, his disdain for Erin intensifying.

"What do you think Danica would feel knowing Erin could become her sister-in-law?"

"Orion..." His father appeared weary, displaying the signs of aging on his face and a longing for a peaceful life. "I know I haven't been the best father to you. I felt relieved when you quit your job back then, not just because of its danger but also because I had no one else to rely on to protect your siblings."

"Then why are you doing this?" Orion demanded, his anger palpable.

"I'm fulfilling the last wish of a dear friend. You also know the truth about what happened back then because you secretly conducted the investigation."

"Yeah, Erin engaged in flirtatious text messages with Daryl. Pure flirting! And now you expect me to marry that woman?" The mere thought of marrying the person responsible for his brother's downfall made him feel nauseous.

While still with the agency, he conducted some investigations despite prohibitions due to potential conflicts of interest, as his family was the victim. The son of his boss was one of the names implicated, and this individual was actively taking steps to protect their seventeen-year-old child.

Indeed, all the names that came up were minors, just like his brother. Naturally, their parents would be held responsible. While everyone pointed fingers at Erin as the primary suspect, Orion knew the evidence had been tampered with. Nevertheless, that knowledge didn't diminish his disgust towards her; she still played a role in Daryl's fate.

"Come on! She was just seventeen at that time," Mr. Arvesso argued.

"That's what's repulsive about that situation! Back then, at seventeen, she flirted so openly in her messages with Daryl."

Most likely, now, various men are making a move on that woman! Orion shook his head, vividly recalling Erin's face-a seventeen-year-old Erin Villaverde. How old is she now? Twenty-three? Twenty-four? Her age is not far from Danica and Daryl's.

Erin was the type of woman who seemed like a bully in school, a cheerleader, and a popular girl. Unsurprisingly, she played with Daryl, her brother with thick glasses, who is thin and deeply in love with Erin.

Above all, Daryl managed to use his car without permission! Right now, Orion felt on the verge of punching someone's face.

He was twenty-seven at that time, and he despised her physical appearance. Erin was just a kid in his vocabulary of the women he dated.

But how about now? If she's twenty-four, she's definitely beyond that high school student stage.

"O, I propose you marry Erin because of the financial benefits you two would gain. Erin's father has entrusted her shares in the company to me for the next two years. Erin will receive her inheritance only if she agrees to marry you. It took her a year to come around to the idea, and I believe it's because she's reaching the breaking point of her sanity."

Perplexed, Orion inquired, "What do you mean?"

"She's facing difficulties due to not receiving financial support from Rod. I wish I could be happy about this turn of events, but I can't. I just came across this email from her father, which I hadn't seen until now." He handed Orion a printed copy of Mr. Lawrence's email to Mr. Arvesso.

Orion's eyes widened as he absorbed the contents of the letter. "You... You're saying?"

His father nodded solemnly. "Yes."

***

Approaching the hotel front desk where the man was residing, Erin asked the receptionist, "I'm here to meet Mr. Niel Arvesso."

"You've been expected. Please take this card," the receptionist replied, handing her a card. "You may proceed to his room."

Erin nodded appreciatively before stepping away from the receptionist's desk and going toward the elevator, carefully pressing the button for the desired floor. Her heart pounded with nervous anticipation.

She couldn't shake the feeling of shame. That's probably what the Arvessos were thinking.

Using the card provided, Erin entered the room. Her heart raced as she caught sight of the man, his hands casually tucked into his pockets as he gazed out of the floor-to-ceiling window.

His scrutinizing gaze turned towards her as he heard her enter.

A wave of fear washed over Erin, causing her to tremble.

'Is he Daryl? No, Orion!'

Erin revisited the reasons prompting her to seek assistance from the Arvesso family.

Last month, her advertising manager, Mrs. Robles, extended an invitation to meet with Mr. Yu, the manager of a television station.

"Erin, I'm bringing you along for the meeting with Mr. Yu."

"Sure, Ma'am!"

Having spent a year with the advertising team, Erin retained her position as a staff member. She refrained from complaining, recognizing that the Arvesso family currently held authority in the company on her behalf. At the same time, she remained merely Mr. Lawrence's stepdaughter.

Accompanied by her manager, Erin entered a private club. In a room, they found Mr. Yu with two other staff members.

"Good evening, Mr. Yu! I am with Erin Villaverde. She's the one we were talking about," her manager said, subtly lifting one corner of her lip. "She will be coordinating our project with you for the ads of the new whitening lotion produced by the company."

The man ran his thick tongue over his lips. Erin had been a model before, and encounters with individuals like Mr. Yu were not unfamiliar to her.

Her manager initiated the discussion. Mr. Yu responded, occasionally touching Erin's leg. Later on, Mrs. Robles excused herself to go to the restroom, signaling the two staff members to leave.

Mr. Yu's hand ventured higher on her leg, causing Erin to squirm.

"I've noticed you're not finishing your drink. Drink it," he said.

Erin pushed it away, distancing herself from his wandering hand. As a model, she was keenly aware of potential threats.

"Mr. Yu, I'm here for business. Please don't taint my purpose for being here."

"Stop being so uptight! Why don't you sell me this night? I'll give Yurich a significant discount for airtime and pay you for it. Others in your office have done it before, which isn't new."

She recoiled in disgust at the notion that another employee might have accepted the offer. Mr. Yu embraced her, encircling his arms around her waist.

"Ahhhh!" She let out a scream. In her hand, she seized a bottle of expensive liquor, using it to strike his head. Trembling with fear, she quickly distanced herself.

"You shameless woman!" he exclaimed, clutching his bleeding head.

Mrs. Robles returned at that moment. "Erin!"

"Ouch! Ouch! That woman hurt me! Call the police!"

Mrs. Robles filed a complaint against her at the office because Mr. Yu's group refused to broadcast their commercial. Furthermore, the office covered the medical expenses for Mr. Yu and the costly liquor she had broken.

She raised concerns about the harassment, but Mrs. Robles distorted the events.

The entire team disapproved of Erin. The office dismissed her due to an incident, and her colleagues claimed she wasn't contributing. Returning home to her penthouse, she found that the electricity was disconnected. Unpaid bills had accumulated, and she had been in debt for several months with the monthly association dues.

In a corner, she wept uncontrollably, overwhelmed by a year-long struggle. Despite attempting to assert her rights and expressing gratitude to her father for bequeathing her the penthouse, she questioned its value if she couldn't sell it.

Despite this, she had no intention of selling the place because it held sentimental significance. She and her father resided in this place after the incident in San Martin. Her father had purchased it as a surprise for her mother, who tragically suffered a heart attack before getting the chance to see it.

Erin gazed at herself in the mirror. She had formally retired from her current agency, a decision they did not permit. Transitioning to another agency posed the risk of incurring fines due to the breach of the five-year contract she had entered into with the modeling agency.

Tears welled up as Erin beheld her reflection. The Erin she saw was no longer the radiant beauty she once knew. After composing herself, she dialed Mr. Niel Arvesso's number on her phone.

Now, she finds herself face to face with Orion, someone she hasn't seen in years.

***

Orion turned as Erin entered the suite, squinting at her changed appearance. Previously, he had considered her too young. The last time he saw her, she was turning eighteen, but she had undergone a striking transformation since then.

He swallowed hard, evaluating her figure. Her black hair cascaded freely, her neck elongated, her posture straight, and her eyes were a deep chocolate color. His gaze descended to her lips, which gasped and parted as if she could read his thoughts, anticipating what he wanted to do with those lips.

He lowered his eyes to her chest and continued down to her petite waist. Erin's current mini-skirt outfit prominently displayed her long legs. His palm itched to touch her skin.

'Damn it!'

He was displeased with the energy she exuded. Detecting the fear in her eyes, perhaps fearing him, prompted him to wash away all his emotions. Orion approached the fridge, opened it, and grabbed a water bottle.

"Take a seat," Orion commanded with a straightforward order. "Would you like tea, coffee, or juice?"

"Uhm, I came here to meet Mr. Arvesso."

He glanced at her while pouring water. "I am Mr. Arvesso."

"I mean your father."

Erin claimed the single-seater couch, her stunning legs becoming more pronounced in the dimming light.

"He went abroad. Unless it was him you wanted to marry," he said, aiming to quash any admiration he might have had for her.

"No!" Her eyes widened.

"It was me then."

"Uhm..." She fumbled with his questions.

"Miss Villaverde, let's not waste our time. You know I'm the only man left in my family besides Dad. Unfortunately, you killed the other one!" His voice echoed in the room.

The woman quivered in fear, tears streaming down her cheeks. Damn it!

Now, he seemed like a devil's son, bringing her to tears. She swallowed his words, the reason for his amusement. If this person didn't have thick skin, she needed his help.

Erin stood up.

"I need your assistance! Given a choice, I would avoid marrying into the Arvesso family after what transpired-yet I have no alternative but to marry you! The Arvessos hold sway over the shares my dad left, leaving me no options after being ousted from the office unless I marry you! Securing the shares is contingent on our marriage, and with each passing year, my choices are diminishing! I must assert my rightful claim!" she pleaded. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes! Please!"

"Really?" Orion asked, a corner of his lips lifting.

"Yes! If you want, we can share the shares my dad left."

"No, Erin! I have no interest in your inheritance simply because I am an Arvesso! I've never been drawn to my father's wealth, so what distinguishes that from yours?"

She cried harder and spoke again, "I will do anything..."

"Then strip!"

The woman's eyes widened.

"Strip now. I want to see what I'd get if you ever became my wife."

"B-but..." She felt a chill run down her spine.

'This isn't me! Damn this!' Orion thought.

He struggled to contain his emotions. The woman bore responsibility for Daryl's death, and he yearned to teach her a lesson. Yet, a surge of self-loathing gripped him because, despite the anger, he found himself captivated by the desire to pin her on the sofa and act on his long-suppressed urges.

He should despise her, not succumb to lust!

Anticipating a slap from Erin and the woman storming out, he hoped to make her reconsider the potential consequences of becoming his spouse. However, as he watched her lift her blouse, he swallowed hard, wanting to utter, 'Let's stop this now.'

All his intended words clung to his throat when he caught sight of the woman's lacy bra. His throat constricted as she unfastened her skirt, and that garment gracefully descended her long legs.

***

Anger coursed through Erin, yet she couldn't muster the power to confront or counter Orion. The man she had admired seven years ago had undergone a significant transformation, leaving her quivering with frustration.

Firstly, what he said held truth; she bore responsibility for failing to protect his brother, Daryl. Secondly, she found herself in need of Orion's assistance.

Aside from his father, he was the sole male in the Arvesso family. The idea of marrying Mr. Arvesso drove her to the brink of insanity, even though, deep down, it was Orion she had desired from the very beginning.

'Damn him for still possessing an appealing physique and being so handsome!'

Erin caught her breath, sensing the blaze in Orion's deep chocolate eyes. Gracefully surrendering her pride, she unfastened her bra, and his gaze deepened as her breasts came into view.

Her nipples responded to his lingering gaze, hardening in tandem. He parted his lips slightly, suggesting a desire to claim them.

Her lips quivered at the mere notion of his mouth sensually exploring her chest.

'You've got this, Erin!'

She delicately descended the lace panties along the contours of her legs, a shiver coursing through her in response to either the chill in the air or the intense scrutiny of his gaze as her body became unveiled before the man.

"Touch yourself like the way you used to tell Daryl." Orion clenched his fist.

"What?" Horror showed on her face. "I-I have never done that!"

"Your message exchange with Daryl contains that information, doesn't it?"

No! Her tears welled up even more. She pieced together the meaning of his words, her hand instinctively finding its way to cover her quivering lips.

No! It's not Daryl! No!

'Daryl...' He lied to her!