The Billionaire's Bodyguard

Different body shapes swirled and danced around the club, illuminated by the bright colors that bathed the room. Laughter and conversation filled the air as people enjoyed drinks and snacks, while others indulged in more intimate activities like kissing and booking rooms for the night.

At the bar, Helen was drowning her sorrows in her fifth beer. Her spirits were low, and she felt like she could barely swallow her drink as she wallowed in her disappointment.

The day had been a tough one for Helen, as the job audition she had been preparing for had ended in failure. All the hard work and sacrifice she had put in seemed to be for nothing. She had skipped meals and abstained from alcohol in an effort to perfect her body for the role, only to be met with rejection.

If she had known that her efforts would go unrewarded, she thought bitterly, she would have skipped the gym classes, indulged in all her favorite foods, and enjoyed nights out at bars and clubs like the one she found herself in now.

"Oh no!" She moaned sadly, tears streaming down her cheeks and smudging her mascara. She reached for another glass when a strong hand stopped her.

Looking up, she scowled at the handsome and suave man before her. She didn't care that he was in a suit – all she wanted was another drink, and he was now in her way.

"Who the hell are you?" she spat, her eyes blazing. "Let go of me right now!"

"I'm sorry, but you've had enough for the night," he said calmly, taking a seat beside her.

"And who are you to tell me that?" she demanded, shoving him in the chest. "Are you my boss? My CEO? Who are you to control what I do?"

"I'm just trying to help," he replied, a small smile on his face.

"Well, the only way you can help me is by leaving me alone!" she snapped, grabbing the glass. But before she could drink, he snatched it from her and downed the contents in one swift motion.

"Hey, excuse me!" She yelled in frustration, her eyes flashing with anger. "What in the world do you think you're doing?"

"I'm just trying to help you," he replied, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he set the glass down.

Helen studied him intently, her brows furrowed as she seemed to be battling conflicting emotions. She let out a sigh and rubbed her temple as if trying to ward off a headache. "Explain to me," she muttered, shaking her head in confusion. "Why exactly are you doing this?"

"Because I fell in love with you at first sight," he answered smoothly, his deep brown eyes never leaving hers.

Helen's eyes widened in shock. "What does that even mean?" she questioned, her voice barely a whisper.

"My name is Ferdinand Moore," he introduced himself, extending a hand towards her with his business card.

"Ferdinand Moore?" Her voice softened as she took the card from him, her eyes scanning it. A sudden realization hit her when she saw 'FM company' boldly printed on the card. "Wait... Are you... the CEO, Ferdinand Moore?" she asked, her disbelief evident in her tone.

He smiled, nodding in agreement. She then took a closer look at his face and scrolled through the photos on the internet after browsing about him on her phone, and then fully recognized him as indeed the CEO of the well-known FM company. She was in disbelief as the resemblance was uncanny. Gasping, she almost dropped her phone, but he caught it just in time.

"How... how is this possible?" She stammered, shaking her head in confusion.

"Well, CEOs go to clubs too," he replied, a smile playing on his lips. "I've heard that CEOs usually only have one-night stands in clubs, but I guess my story is a bit different."

She swallowed nervously, her eyes widening as she struggled to maintain eye contact with him. Ferdinand's smile remained as he leaned in closer. She blinked, trying to figure out his intentions.

"I suppose my story is different," he said softly, brushing a strand of her hair to the side. "I believe I've fallen in love at first sight."

Before they could fully comprehend their actions, they leaned in and their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss. They kissed as if they truly meant it, losing themselves in the moment. When they finally parted, they gazed at each other, their lips slightly swollen as they tried to catch their breath.

"Let's go to a room," Helen whispered, tugging at his necktie. "I think I like you too."

Ferdinand gently placed his hand on the side of her face and shook his head with a smile. "No," he murmured softly. "Let's take things slow, okay?"

"What do you mean?" She asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

"Let's start dating," Ferdinand said, his eyes locking onto hers with sincerity, expressing the depth of his feelings.

She bit her lip, a soft smile forming on her lips, and nodded, whispering, "Yes, I will date you."

They shared another tender kiss before Ferdinand settled the bill for their drinks. As they left the club, he ordered an Uber, and they sat close in the backseat, fingers intertwined, while Helen rested her head on his shoulder, a sense of contentment enveloping them both.

After returning home, Ferdinand was delighted to see her street. He had also promised to visit her the following morning, and they bid each other farewell. Helen, in high spirits, danced her way to her flat, had a refreshing shower, and then settled into her pajamas and hair bonnet before reaching out to her younger brother, who was currently studying in Korea.

"Hey brother!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

"What's up?" he responded, his voice muffled as he was slurping something.

"Are you having ramyeon again?" she teased, to which he rolled his eyes.

"What's the matter, Helen?" he inquired, "I'm quite occupied at the moment."

"Studying?" she queried.

"The usual," he confirmed, "Anyway, what's new? Did you pass your audition?"

"No, but I have exciting news," she chirped.

"Oh? What is it?" he asked, not really surprised.

"I have a boyfriend," she squealed, "I met him tonight at the club!"

"You just met him?" he probed.

"Yes, why? Is something wrong?" she questioned.

"End things with him," he stated coldly, "I do not approve of this relationship."

Helen scoffed, her anger flaring. "What's that supposed to mean, Ethan? For your information, I didn't call you for your opinion. I just wanted you to know that I'm now dating a well-known and wealthy CEO."

"CEO?" Ethan asked softly.

"Yes, Ferdinand Moore, the owner of the successful mechanics company called FM," she stated.

"I don't know who that guy is, and I don't care," Ethan replied. "But I would advise you to be cautious. You just met him, and you're already dating? You barely know each other."

"Well, there's no way you would know about him. You're in Korea and busy with studies. Maybe check him out on the internet later," she retorted, eliciting a heavy sigh from Ethan.

"What!" she hissed. "Anyway, you don't need to worry about us. We don't need your approval. I'm sure if our parents were alive, they would have accepted him immediately. He's everything a woman could ask for. We can get to know each other while dating. It's not that difficult. Anyway, I have to go now. Bye!"

"Wait," he said, but she ended the call immediately, then took out the complimentary card from her purse. She typed in his number and messaged him online.

"Hi," she said.

"Hey, who am I speaking with?" His response was fast.

"I'm Helen, your girlfriend."

"Oh! I'm sorry for not collecting your number back then. I don't know why it escaped my memory."

"It's fine," she replied.

"Can we go meet my parents tomorrow?"

"Your parents?" She asked, her eyes widened with shock, and her jaw dropped.

"Yes, I told them about you immediately I arrived and they said they would love to see you. Can you come tomorrow?"

"I'm not too sure," she replied, adding some sad emojis.

He called her immediately he saw the message, "Baby, what's wrong? Why aren't you sure? I promised them that I would meet you."

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can do it. To be honest, I have important work to attend to, and if I don't go, I will receive an earful from the CEO of my company tomorrow," she answered.

"How about I talk to him?" He asked.

"Talk to him?" She asked, her eyes widening as she let out a nervous chuckle. "Don't you think you're moving too fast? Shouldn't you ask me where I work first? Aren't there other questions you can ask before trying to reach my company?"

"I'm really sorry about that. It's just that I want us to be great. I apologize for being forward. So, tell me, where do you work?" He asked, his voice calm and gentle.

"I'm an actress," she began. "Well, just some extra actress with barely enough lines. I haven't landed a big role yet, let alone a supporting role. But I aspire to be a successful actress one day. Anyway, I went for an audition today and I failed. The judges claimed that my acting was weak," she said.

"Oh, that's why you were drinking at the club. No wonder you seemed really down. I'm sorry about that, and I apologize for not asking you more about yourself. I was just struck by you," he said, and Helen chuckled softly.

"I understand," she said, her voice soft and calm. "I can give you my CEO's number so you can reach out to him and let him know about the plan. The reason I wasn't sure I could meet your parents tomorrow is because my boss said I have to shoot tomorrow."

"Don't worry, I understand," he said reassuringly. "Just send me the number, okay?"

"Al-" Ferdinand abruptly ended the call, leaving her mid-sentence. She stared at her phone, perplexed by his sudden departure.

"What's up with him?" she murmured to herself. Deciding to message him, she discovered that he wasn't online.

She was hungry, so she made herself some toast and went to her laptop to check her emails. There was one unread message in her inbox.

She clicked on it and saw that it was from her CEO, granting her permission to go wherever she wanted. "Wow!" she exclaimed, feeling a mix of surprise and gratitude.

Her phone rang and she answered it quickly, "Hello? Did you do this, giving me permission to go?"

"Guilty as charged!" he replied with a laugh. "I also wanted to apologize for ending our last call so abruptly. I was in a hurry."

"It's no problem at all, I didn't even think twice about it," she reassured him.

"Great. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning at 9 am, so make sure to dress up nicely. Anyway, I'm heading to bed now, so good night," he said.

"Good night," she replied, taking a deep breath before adding, "I love you."

There was a brief pause, and she started to worry that maybe she had said too much. "Hello? Ferdi-"

"I love you too," he said suddenly, causing her heart to flutter with happiness. She giggled, ended the call, and started dancing around the room in joy. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep, and the next thing she knew, the morning sun was streaming through the window. She quickly got ready, feeling excited about the day ahead.

She looked stunning in a slim-fitted blue gown with her hair flowing down. Her makeup was flawless, complemented by just the right amount of jewelry. As she slipped on her black kitten heels, a call from Ferdinand informed her that he was waiting downstairs.

When they finally met, they exchanged a warm hug and a sweet kiss on the lips. Helen couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Ferdinand's sleek new Mercedes parked outside. He gallantly opened the door for her, and they were off to his parents' house in no time.

Inside the opulent home, they sat on a magnificent sofa, facing Ferdinand's parents, whose expressions were a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"Is this the lady?" Ferdinand's father inquired.

"Yes, she is Helen, my future wife," Ferdinand proudly declared, as Helen gazed at him in disbelief.

After Ferdinand and Helen exited the car, he reached out to hold her arm, but she quickly pulled away, her frustration evident. "What were your parents saying? Why did it feel like they knew me already? We just met last night, right? And why am I suddenly your fiancée? When did you propose? When did you put a ring on my finger? When?" she yelled, her voice filled with confusion and anger.

Ferdinand let out a heavy sigh before reaching out to hold her arm again. "I can explain," he said calmly.

"Explain? That's all I've been waiting for - your explanation. Are you just using me? Do you actually love me, Ferdinand? Were last night's words all just a lie?" she questioned loudly, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

"No, I swear," he said softly. "Actually, the first time I saw you was at the subway. You were trying to get on, and that was the very first time I laid eyes on you. I fell in love with you at first sight. Luckily, my secretary was with me, and I asked him to find out more about you. He got your pictures and told me some personal information."

She gasped, her expression revealing her shock.

"I'm truly sorry if it seemed like I was intruding in your life, but I genuinely fell in love with you. Then, my parents, who were always pressuring me to get married, decided to arrange a marriage for me. That was when I had enough and told them that I would bring my own wife. I followed you that day, and that's how I ended up at the club. I... I couldn't keep my feelings bottled up. It was either I pursued you and fell into my father's trap, or I lost you. I had no choice but to gather the courage to ask you out. That's how we got here," he explained, watching Helen as she seemed to grasp his perspective now.

She let out a deep sigh, rubbing her eyes, "I...I'm speechless. Who would've imagined that a highly successful and wealthy CEO had feelings for me and that he was just a pawn in his father's game."

"Well, now you know," he mumbled before dropping down on one knee.

"What...What's happening?" she asked, turning her head in bewilderment.

"Please, marry me," he asked, holding out the ring toward her.

With tears in her eyes, she extended her hand and accepted the ring. Ferdinand slid it onto her finger, kissed her hand, and then stood up, pulling her into a hug. Their eyes met, and they shared a tender kiss.

Later that night, when Helen arrived home, she recounted the events to her brother, Ethan, who let out a shocked scream, "What do you mean? Why would you agree to marry someone you just met? Wasn't it only last night that you met him?"

"You won't get it, Ethan," Helen hissed, "I just need your support. Plus, this man is wealthy! Look up CEO Ferdinand Moore, check out his empire. He can take care of your education and bills, you know."

"No!" he snapped, "I won't endorse that relationship or some foolish marriage. Drop him. I'm capable of handling my academic expenses on my own."

"Listen, Ethan, you can't dictate to me. We love each other deeply."

"How can you be sure he loves you back?"

"Don't doubt me, Ethan. I'm not blind. You know what, I'm cutting ties with you as my brother. You don't deserve that title. I'm so let down by you," she declared.

"I've never felt this let down by you, Helen, but don't say I didn't warn you. Don't come running to me later, and watch your step. We'll chat later, I need to head to class now," he stated.

"Don't you dare call me your sister again. I disowned you, remember?" she yelled, and Ethan promptly ended the call.

Helen snarled and tossed her phone aside, glancing at her finger with a smile as she kissed the ring. Before retiring to bed, she and Ferdinand exchanged messages.

The next morning, Helen awoke to a text from Ferdinand saying, "We are getting married today."

Her eyes widened, and she immediately called him. "What does that text mean?" she demanded. "Is it true? Isn't it too sudden? I haven't even had a chance to tell anyone I'm engaged, and now we're getting married?"

"That's what my father wants," Ferdinand replied, with a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't go against him. Plus, I truly want to marry you as soon as possible because I love you deeply."

"Ladies will come over to dress you up. The wedding venue is set, and everything is prepared, so you don't need to fret. A driver will pick you up later," he assured her.

Helen blinked, letting out a resigned sigh. "Alright then. Let's get married."

The doorbell chimed, causing her to glance in its direction, "I think they're here already."

"Alright then, I can only imagine how stunning you look now, but I'm sure when I see you, I'll be speechless. You know how much I care about and adore you, right?" he expressed lovingly.

"Yes," she responded softly, "I love you too. I have to go answer the door now. Bye!"

"Yeah, bye... Kisses!" he playfully added, and she chuckled before ending the call. Making her way to the door, she opened it to find three young women standing there, grinning at her warmly.

"We're here to style and dress you up," one of them announced.

"Great, come on in," she invited, gesturing for them to enter. The trio stepped inside, and after Helen freshened up, they promptly began to adorn her in elegant attire.

As she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, she was taken aback by her beauty. Excitedly, she took a picture and texted her brother, "I'm getting married today."

One month had flown by, and the couple appeared to be content and joyous. However, everything took a sudden turn that fateful night after work when Ethan's phone rang.

"Hello, is this Helen Moore's brother?" a voice inquired.

Confused, Ethan furrowed his brows before responding, "Yes, who's calling?"

"I'm Officer Matthew from the New York Police Department. I regret to inform you that your sister has been found deceased. It appears she was a victim of murder," the officer disclosed.

"What!"

Ethan was taken aback by the shocking news and cried out in disbelief as he stood up abruptly.