It was hard to protect a secret nowadays with all the technology and Theodore’s inability to keep a low profile.
Theodore realized that nearly too late. Indeed, he received an anonymous letter that said: Sweet date, lover or mate? We wonder…
The words albeit simple made him spring into action. Within minutes, he was outside, driving his car as if the devil himself was on his tail. He called Emily multiple times but she didn’t pick up.
His blood froze and then started boiling over. His beast wanted out. And they both wanted blood.
If anything were to happen to his mate – he was not thinking pessimistically, mind you, just being realistic – he shall turn the world upside down, and bury the mother fucker who dared to touch his mate alive after setting him on fire.
His car was barely parked when he left it, didn’t bother to lock it, and was already inside his mate’s building.
He also didn’t bother knocking on her door. A powerful kick was all it took for it to slam open.
He heard a startled gasp, and hurried over to the sole bedroom, where he found his mate in nothing but a towel, fresh out of the shower.
He released a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
“What’s going on?” She demanded as she blushed profusely. “Did you just break in? You better have a serious explanation, Theodore, to barge in this way.”
He didn’t utter a word and simply hugged her tightly to him, uncaring of how she was still wet from the shower.
She pushed at his chest lightly, but he didn’t allow her to break free of his hold.
“You’re going with me,” he declared once he was in control of himself again.
“Going where?” She asked as she freed herself from his embrace. “And are you going to explain to me what’s going on?”
“Back to the estate,” he told her matter-of-factly.
“Why?” She tilted her head to the side in a quizzical manner.
Oh, how sweet was she!
“Because I need you by my side,” he didn’t want to tell her the entire truth just yet and thus settled for that.
“You’re not making any sense, you know,” she told him sullenly. “Why would you need me… and now? It’s 8 pm! I don’t work for you 24/7”
“You don’t have to work at all if that’s your wish,” he deadpanned. “Just come along with me.”
He was pleading with her to understand and yet commanding her to just follow him. Theodore rarely contradicted himself so. But his mind was in complete disarray and all over the place. He should be cut some slack.
“Theodore,” she called his name as she glared at him. “I’m not going with you.”
“I was not asking,” he told her stubbornly.
“Excuse me,” she all but shrieked at him.
He sighed at that. He needed to tell her the truth, if only a part of it.
“The press found out we are seeing each other,” he said softly. “Come morning, you’ll have paparazzi surrounding your building.”
She narrowed her eyes, not buying it, it would seem.
“I saw the headlines in the tabloids a day or so ago, and yet they didn’t bother with me then. Why would they now?” She raised an eyebrow in question.
He sighed again, and then formulated his next demand as a sweet request, “How about you put something on for our first argument?”
She blushed at that, almost as if just remembering her state of undress, and nodded. She grabbed an outfit from her closet and headed to the bathroom.
A quick search of the bedroom and he found yet another letter: Not exactly living the dream life your lady friend.
He hid it in his pocket, and set his mind on having her by his side no matter what.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Emily didn’t understand what was up with her boyfriend, but she could see the obvious worry in his eyes when she emerged from the bathroom.
She went to him and stated boldly, “I’m ready for this first argument if you are.”
He chuckled humorlessly and then cupped her face and kissed her.
“I’m in no mood to fight,” he told her softly.
“Good,” she beamed at him even though she was still confused. He wasn’t one to give up so easily usually. Why the sudden change?
“I’ll be staying the night though,” he then announced. “I hope you don’t mind having me over.”
She gasped in shock. “What?”
“You heard me, dorogaya,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Why?”
“Why not?” He argued right back. “We are seeing each other, aren’t we?”
“But…” she tried to protest some more.
“I’ll sleep on the chair if that’s what you wish for,” he bargained. “Hell, I can just watch you sleep. I don’t need that much sleep.”
“Creepy,” she mock frowned at him as a giggle escaped her.
“I’m staying, and that is not up for debate,” he said in no-nonsense tone. “And I’ll pay for the damned door.”
“Suit yourself,” she said in fake surrender. “I only have mac and cheese for dinner.” She tried to dissuade him one last time.
“Pasta is fine by me.” He said as he looked her dead in the eyes.
“Fine, I give up. You can stay,” she pouted.
She didn’t know what was wrong with him. And he didn’t want to say much, but she shall find out sooner or later. She could feel it in her bones that whatever this was about, it wasn’t pretty.
They ate the pasta, engulfed by a pregnant silence since Theodore was pensive. He even stopped eating for a moment there.
“Are you okay?” She couldn’t help but ask him.
“Yeah,” he nodded stiffly.
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong eventually?”
He nodded again, “of course, dorogaya.”
When it was time to go to bed, she couldn’t bear to make him sleep on the chair as he suggested… and thus, she made space for him on her bed.
“Get in,” she commanded. “No funny business though.”
“Yes, madam,” he said solemnly.
He removed his shirt and was about to remove his pants as well when she told him to keep them. He smirked but obliged her.
For the first time, she slept in a man’s embrace… good god, it felt heavenly!
When morning came and they headed together to the estate, she found three men, waiting by the door, seemingly ready to do Theodore’s bidding.
One of them took one step forward, and she looked a this attire with a little bit of a frown. He wasn’t clad elegantly but rather in a combat like style.
“Good morning, Mr. King,” he greeted him in a respectful tone.
“Morning,” he responded simply as he regarded the man levelly. “This is Emily Nill,” he introduced her, and her frown deepened. What was happening? She could feel it was something big… bigger than she could possibly imagine. “She’s my lover. And she’s the person you ought to protect with your lives, gentlemen. I trust you can do that.”
“Yes, sir!” They exclaimed in unison.
The person you ought to protect with your lives? His words echoed in his head alarmingly.
“Theodore, what’s going on?” She asked softly.
“You’ll be staying at the estate from now on,” he announced matter-of-factly. “And if you ever need to run an errand or anything, they’ll accompany you. They are to be with you at all and any time.”
“I beg your pardon?” She interjected angrily.
“You have to understand, dorogaya, that you are in danger, and I am doing this to protect you,” he said calmly despite the obvious lingering worry in his eyes.
“I’m a big girl,” she protested, “and I can take care of myself.”
“I’m not taking any risks,” he said in a tone that brokered no argument.
“Are you even hearing yourself?” She asked him incredulously. “We’re not going to war with paparazzi, you know.”
“I have made my fair share of enemies, dorogaya, and it is not from paparazzi that I am protecting you.”
“You’re impossible,” she shook her head negatively. “You can’t force me to stay here.”
“I can’t?” His smirk was even more disturbing than those words he uttered. “You obviously do not know me nearly enough, or else you would know that I would do anything to protect my loved ones. I’ll stop at nothing to protect you, dorogaya.”
“Theo, please be reasonable,” she said softly. “There’s no tangible danger…”
“There was someone in your apartment yesterday,” he declared, eliciting a gasp from her. “And that someone isn’t me.”
“How can you be so sure?” She said on a sigh.
“Because I just know things you do not, dorogaya.”
“You know what? I’m not buying it.” She shook her head negatively. “I’m out of here by the end of my shift.”
“You just won’t be allowed out.” He shrugged as if to tell her to do her best.
“What?” She exclaimed angrily. “Am I prisoner here now?”
“You can see it that way if that is your wish,” his eyes were slightly narrowed in anger. She had never crossed him so, so it was no wonder. “But you’re more like my most precious guest.”
She stomped away from him angrily, and heard footsteps behind her. The four men were all on her trail, her bodyguards following her like lost puppies already while Theodore walked nonchalantly.
“I’m in the estate… what are you following me for?” She seethed.
“We are just following orders, madam.” One of them told her earnestly.
She glared at Theodore and said, “Well then, I’m not working today and I expect my wage to remain the same.”
“Sure,” he agreed readily.
“I’m not picking your outfit for you or doing anything at all really.”
“If you so wish, dorogaya,” he said calmly, a smile gracing his features.
She glowered at him, huffed, and then entered the main building.
This was going to be one long day! She could feel it already… and it had just begun too.
“Screw you, Theodore King,” she exclaimed only for him to say “Gladly.”
“I’m neither your plaything nor your kept mistress. What are you keeping me here for?” She demanded to know.
“Because I love you,” he stated simply, hardly the romantic confession. “And by doing so, I have put you in danger.”