Chapter 89

Olivia

A few days passed, during which the tensions between Nathan and I slowly eased themselves. We didn’t talk about our play-fight in the living room, and I didn’t tell him about Alvin.

The morning air was still crisp a few days later when I strolled down the staircase. I had a book in my hand, with plans to go outside with a cup of coffee and read until lunchtime.

However, the soft murmur of male voices drifted from the dining room and made me pause in sudden confusion.

Nathan was supposed to be at a Council meeting, or so I thought. My curiosity piqued, I ventured in to see what was going on. My eyes quickly settled on the sight of Nathan sitting at the dining room table with two unfamiliar men.

Both were broad-shouldered and ridiculously muscular, their powerful forms a testament to their obvious warrior status. Their postures exuded an aura of unshakeable confidence that usually came with years of rigorous training.

“Ah, there she is,” Nathan greeted, rising from his seat as I entered the room. “Guys, this is Olivia.”

I nodded politely at the two men before I quickly grabbed Nathan’s arm and pulled him aside.

“Who are they?” I whispered.

“This is Max and this is Levi,” Nathan introduced, pointing to each man respectively. “One of them is going to be your personal escort whenever we leave the house, and will be staying with us for a while. The choice of who it will be is all yours, Olivia.”

My heart sank at his words. So he was serious about the escort thing after all; I had hoped that he changed his mind or even forgot about it.

I looked at the two potential bodyguards, their eyes boring into mine, and suddenly felt too much like a damsel in distress. With a terse smile at the two men, I quickly pulled Nathan away into the kitchen.

“You’re really still on about the whole escort thing?” I asked in a low voice, raising an eyebrow at Nathan. “You haven’t said a word about it. I thought that you decided against it. Or do you not trust me after all?”

“It’s not about trust, Olivia,” Nathan explained, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s about safety.”

A knot tightened in my stomach. I hated the idea of someone watching over me, monitoring my every move.

But as I studied the men, I found myself reluctantly accepting the situation. They seemed capable enough, and Nathan was obviously concerned for my safety.

“Alright,” I finally agreed, walking over to the table. “It seems I have no choice.”

Nathan, smiling in a satisfied manner, came over and sat beside me. The two potential escorts both showed me their extensive history, but Levi stood out to me the most. He was in the military at one point, and had plenty of experience with working as a personal bodyguard.

I hated to admit it, but he was easy on the eyes as well. Max was nice, but… He was a lot older, probably my father’s age, and had a gruff look about him. Levi, on the other hand, was not much older-looking than me and there was a softness to his face. I thought that I could see myself spending time with him in comfort, unlike with Max.

Finally, I chose Levi.

“Well, the lady of the house has spoken,” Nathan said, standing. “Sorry, Max.”

“No worries.” Max stood, his broad body bumping up against the table. I watched as he shook hands with Nathan, then followed Nathan over to the front door. They spoke in hushed tones, and meanwhile Levi and I were left alone.

There was a bit of an awkward silence. I found myself struggling to meet the bodyguard’s gaze, partially because I was still annoyed over the whole situation and partially because his handsome face made me a bit bashful.

Suddenly, Levi spoke and broke the silence.

“Thank you for choosing me,” he said with a smile that revealed a row of pearly white teeth. “I won’t let you down, Miss…”

“Just call me Olivia,” I said, waving my hand dismissively at Levi. “No need for pleasantries.”

“Alright,” Levi replied, his voice low and smooth. “Do you have any particular requests, or…?”

I thought for a moment. “I guess I don’t really care,” I said with a shrug. “Although… Don’t take this the wrong way, but I would like you to stay outside when I'm home.”

Nathan, overhearing this as he was coming back into the room, shot me a frown. “You’re gonna kick the poor guy out?” he asked. “We have a guest room.”

“It’s my house,” I replied snarkily, folding my arms across my chest. “No offense, Levi, but I’m already giving up my precious independence. I’d like to at least save the sanctity of my home, and besides… I need my privacy.”

Levi simply nodded, his face giving away nothing about his inner thoughts and feelings. Nathan, on the other hand, looked slightly amused, but said nothing.

Once the meeting was over, and Levi had gone off to settle into the guest room in Clint’s cottage that Clint graciously agreed to rent out, Nathan and I were left alone in the villa once more.

“Privacy, huh?” Nathan snorted, leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest as we watched Levi walk across the lawn toward Clint’s cottage with his bags. “What could you possibly have to hide, Olivia?”

“Nathan, don’t be obtuse,” I said, feeling my face turn red. “It’s none of your business.”

Nathan grinned, obviously deciding to take the opportunity to tease me like he was a schoolboy and I was the little object of his childlike affection.

“Aw, c’mon, Liv,” he teased, poking me in the shoulder as I scurried around the house and tried to get away from him. “Are you afraid that Levi will walk in on you while you’re playing dress-up or having a tea party?”

His teasing tone didn’t help the situation. I stammered, my cheeks burning while I struggled with the coffee machine. “I-I just… I need privacy, okay? I’m a girl. I need my… privacy.”

He wouldn’t stop pestering me. His curiosity, seemingly piqued by my words, made him continue to push. There was an undeniably mischievous glint in his eyes. He really was like a dog with a bone sometimes.

“Come on, Olivia, just tell me!” he urged, his smile widening. “I’ve always wanted to know what it is that girls do when they’re in their rooms. I wanna know what goes on during those sleepovers, too. Is it like the movies?”

My heart pounded in my chest as I blurted out the words. “Nathan, I have private time too! Just like you with your porn magazines.”

The room fell silent.

Nathan’s cheeks turned a shade of red that was reminiscent of a ripe tomato.

He coughed awkwardly, a look of surprise flashing across his face. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, his smirk fading into a bashful expression as he stared down at the floor.

“I...I guess I never pictured you doing that when you’re alone…” he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

The embarrassment that filled the room was palpable.

I groaned, covering my face with my hands as the memories of the night that I inadvertently caught him during his own ‘private time’ flooded back into my mind.