34

CHAPTER 34.
Steve entered his room and closed the door behind him. The room was dimly lit, with a soft glow emanating from a small lamp on the bedside table. He walked over to his bed and sat down on the edge, taking a deep breath as he tried to shake off the thoughts of Andrianne that were still lingering in his mind.
The room was spacious, with a king-sized bed taking up most of the space. The walls were painted in a soothing shade of blue, and there were a few black and white photographs hanging on the walls. A small wooden dresser was placed against the wall, and a closet stood in the corner.
Steve looked around the room, taking in the familiar sights and sounds. He had been living in this room for a few months now, but it still felt foreign to him. He missed his old life, the one he had before he started working for Andrianne’s father. He missed his friends, his family, and most of all, he missed Andrianne.
He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind of all the chaos that was swirling around in his head. He tried to focus on the steady rhythm of his breaths, in and out, in and out. Slowly, he felt himself slipping into a peaceful slumber.
As he slept, he dreamed of Andrianne. In his dream, they were running through a meadow, laughing and holding hands. The sun was shining brightly, and the birds were singing. It was a perfect day, and he felt happy and content.
But as he reached out to touch her, she vanished, leaving him alone in the meadow. He woke up with a start, feeling a sense of loss wash over him. He sat up on the bed and rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream.
He knew that he couldn’t keep living like this, stuck in a job that he hated, working for a man he despised. He needed to make a change, to break free from the shackles that were holding him down. But he didn’t know how to do it, or where to start.
With a heavy sigh, he lay back down on the bed and closed his eyes. Sleep eluded him, but he didn’t mind. He had a lot to think about, and he knew that he needed to come up with a plan, a way out of this mess that he had found himself in.
The morning sun slowly crept into Steve’s room, casting warm rays of light across the floor. As he stirred in his sleep, he slowly opened his eyes, his vision adjusting to the brightness of the room. He stretched his arms above his head, feeling his muscles slowly come to life after a night of rest.
As he got out of bed, he walked over to the window and pulled back the curtains, letting in more of the morning sunlight. He took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air fill his lungs. He smiled to himself, feeling grateful for another day.
After taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of the morning, Steve went to his closet and picked out his outfit for the day. He chose a simple black t-shirt, paired with comfortable jeans and a pair of white sneakers. He quickly got dressed and headed out of his room, ready to start his day.
He started to pull out clothes from his closet and lay them on his bed. He chose a few of his favorite shirts, pants, and jackets, along with some shoes and socks. As he was packing, memories of his time with Andrianne kept flooding his mind, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing and sadness.
He picked up a photo of him and Andrianne, taken during one of their vacations, and held it in his hands. He looked at it for a few moments, lost in thought, before putting it back on the shelf. He knew he had to move on, and this new job was his chance to start afresh.
Steve continued packing his bags, making sure he had everything he needed for his new job. He checked his phone for any new messages, but there were none. He sighed and put his phone away, realizing that he needed to focus on his new job and leave his past behind.
As he finished packing, he looked around his room one last time. He felt a sense of nostalgia and sadness, but he knew that this was a new chapter in his life. He closed his suitcase, took one last look at his room, and walked out of the door, ready to start his new adventure.
Lucas sat in his office, his phone pressed to his ear as he listened to Adrianne’s father talk. “I understand your concerns,” he said, his voice deep and gruff. “But I assure you, Adrianne is safe with me. I will do everything in my power to protect her.”
“I appreciate that, Lucas,” Adrianne’s father replied. “But given the recent threats, I believe it’s necessary to have an additional layer of security. I will arrange for a bodyguard to be sent to your home.”
Lucas sighed, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t like the idea of having a stranger in his home, but he knew Adrianne’s safety was paramount. “I understand,” he said, his voice resigned. “But please make sure the guard is discreet. I don’t want Adrianne feeling like she’s under surveillance.”
“I will ensure that he’s professional and unobtrusive,” Adrianne’s father promised. “You have my word.”
Lucas nodded, even though the man couldn’t see him. “Very well. I’ll inform Adrianne of the situation.”
“Thank you, Lucas. And please, keep me updated on her safety.”
Lucas ended the call and sat back in his chair, contemplating the situation. He knew Adrianne wouldn’t be thrilled about having a bodyguard, but he had to keep her safe. He made a mental note to talk to her about it later.