Maxine’s Bodyguard

  Maxine’s Bodyguard

  M. L. Ray

  Maxine’s Bodyguard

  Copyright 2017 M. L. Ray

  Dipasha Tara Raj Publications House

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author.

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Thank You

  Chapter 1

  Rico

  “That’s Maxine Alexandria Clark. You will be assigned to be her bodyguard,” said Calvin – my superior and cousin – when he entered my office, making me stop from finishing the crossword puzzle I got from the paper yesterday. He lent me a brown envelope with a blank expression and I creased my forehead in confusion.

  I shrugged before releasing an exaggerated sigh. We had already agreed that I would not be taking any bodyguard related jobs. And Calvin was not that kind of person who breaks a promise. My cousin was very strict when it comes to any pact – written or verbal. So, I presumed that the client was involved in a very important case.

  “What?” I asked, lazily peeling off the cover only to have my eyes landing on a beautiful face of the woman in the picture. I felt my heart beating fast when I looked into her dark brown eyes, making me stop from the constant twirling of the fountain pen I was holding as I continued to study the photograph a little bit longer.

  She had wavy dark brown hair that lay just above her shoulders. Her lips were thin and pinkish and I would bet all the cash I had in my bank account that she was not wearing any make up. She had deep chocolate brown eyes and at the back of my mind I knew I needed to be careful whenever I’m around her. Her nose was high and all I could think about was how beautiful she was that a mere picture of her makes me forget my boss’ presence.

  A memory of my first meeting with the woman started to cross my mind. The unwanted feelings I had in our first encounter had awakened inside of me, making me curse myself quietly. For the first time in my entire life, I had the urge of never letting go of a stranger’s hand when our skin brushed. It was brief, yet, electrifying.

  Maxine Alexandria Clark was not just a familiar face. She was the woman who caught my eyes for the very first time; who made my heart race for an unknown reason; and the face that haunted my dreams for months. She has that smile that draws out my consciousness and the eyes that give off a vibe that I can’t quite figure out.

  She was my best friend’s girlfriend.

  And I was smitten by her beauty. How could I ever forget her? How could I ever forget the way she looked?

  Mulling over my own thoughts, I found myself to have completely forgotten the reason why I was holding her photo or how it came into my hands. Pictures of her smiling face kept on appearing in my mind, making me look back on times when I still had my best partner – Jacob – and best friend.

  “Rico?” said Calvin, and I flinched. He was waving his hand just a few inches in front of my face.

  I blinked, hearing Calvin’s voice along with the clicking of his tongue. I couldn’t blame him. I was probably spacing out too much while he ranted on how I was going to be in the job he was giving me.

  Clearing my throat, I raised my head and gave him a questioning look. I wanted to ask why she needed a bodyguard. I wanted to know how important her case was and why he was assigning me on this job. But my mouth felt too dry and no word came out.

  “W-W-What?” I managed to ask. And I knew I sounded really stupid for someone who found body guarding as one of the most boring jobs in the world.

  I saw Calvin shake his head a few times, before crossing his legs after settling on the black leather upholstered couch just a few feet in front of my table. He then crossed his arms on his chest with a knowing look on his face and then smirked.

  I hated it when he did that.

  “I asked if it’s okay with you to be her bodyguard,” he stated, scanning my face, trying to look for the puzzled expression I had for a moment earlier.

  I pressed the bridge of my nose few times, hoping that it would help me find the appropriate words to say. It took me one good minute to be able to formulate a response but Calvin started talking again.

  “Is there a problem?” he asked, raising a brow but he looked more hopeful than concerned. His expression was giving me the idea that I should be taking the job without any hesitation because even before he was my superior, Calvin was my cousin. And I knew him too well. He was not the type of guy who never loses a woman as beautiful as Maxine Clark. Judging from his expression, he was clearly interested in her but being the boss of Millers Security Agency, he couldn’t get the job for himself unless I bail.

  He was such a playboy.

  Pffft. So? What is it to you? She’s just one of those girls.

  I shook my head and forced my lips to crack a smile. The idea of Maxine being with someone else was starting to make my blood boil and it ticked me off. Plus, I didn’t want Calvin to be that person.

  “No, nothing,” I replied, after shrugging. “I mean, where is she right now? Is she under custody? And how did she become the star-witness of the murder case of Congressman Williams?”

  Looking defeated, Calvin released a heavy sigh and straightened up. He stood up from his seat and started pacing back and forth in front of me. He was back to his usual ‘boss-like’ attitude and started explaining the client’s situation.

  “She’s in the hospital under FBI custody but someone requested to transfer her security needs to our company,” he stated, which made me flinch.

  “What?” I blurted out of the blue.

  Was I worried? I didn’t know. I just knew I wanted to see her alive and the idea of her having a threat on her life made me want to rush out of my office and see how she was. I’m crazy and I knew that.

  “H-How did this happen?” I mumbled helplessly, trying my best not to break the fountain pen in my hand.

  “A few days ago, people entered her house where she had two close-in security agents. Her bodyguards were shot in the head and were announced dead-on-arrival in the hospital. She was also shot on the shoulder but she managed to escape through the backdoor of the kitchen.”

  Calvin paused, and I was itching so hard not to yell at him to continue the story.

  “And?” I urged, raising a brow, the corner of my mouth twitching in curiosity.

  He sighed. “She was able to run and get help from the security patrols in the subdivision. She was then brought to the hospital to get her wounds treated. But she is certain that whoever wanted to kill her won’t stop until she is silenced to death.”

  With that, I felt like a heavy load of nonexistent sand and gravel was lifted from my shoulders. I didn’t know how I would be able to react if Calvi
n said that her injuries were fatal.

  “Anyway, since you don’t have any assignment as of the moment I was thinking of giving you this job. How about that, huh?” he then asked.

  I paused. It’s just another simple job.

  Maxine and I weren’t close. I may have had a crush on her before but I didn’t think I would be this worried about her safety. Declining the job would be something I would regret if something happened to her.

  Why would you?

  I released a deep sigh after coming into a decision. I’d be her bodyguard – not because I wanted to – but because I didn’t want my conscience to eat me up if something bad happens.

  “Fine, I’ll take the job,” I said, finally.

  I never wanted to have any regrets in my life. And if I needed to guard the woman whom my best friend used to adore and the person I used to have a crush on, then so be it.

  I took another quick glance of the woman in the picture and my heart began to throb again…just like the very first time I laid my eyes on her…when Jacob introduced us to each other.

  For a second there, I wanted to take back my words. But I knew what was going on in Calvin’s mind. Shit.

  “I know you wanted to quit body guarding and work in close-in security, Rico. You wanted jobs that could give you the excitement and adrenaline rush,” he said, chuckling in between the words, making me want to give him a glare. I know what he was trying to say – that he’d take the job himself if I didn’t want to do it.

  Or maybe, he really means what he is saying now…

  I gritted my teeth. My mind was completely right. Calvin has been my boss for the last five years since I quit the Special Forces. He was my senior in the training, as well. He knew perfectly what kind of jobs that I liked and didn’t like. He was probably thinking that was the reason why I was hesitant in accepting the job.

  “But we all know, Congressman Williams is a high-profile politician. He’s also a very well-known businessman. Aside from that, he’s the most sought-after bachelor in town because of the looks and money he possesses which we all know came from his rich clan. So, for the times that he was involved for graft and corruption, he was able to easily get away with it. Manipulating justice was a piece of cake for him. Do you remember the time when you personally investigated the corruption he was involved? He got away with it, right?”

  I nodded in annoyance when the memory crossed my mind. I was very certain that I’d get him that time. But I failed.

  “And that was because the statement of the witness changed about getting multi-million kickbacks from the road projects that his office has approved,” I said, finally getting aboard of Calvin’s ranting about the ill-mannered politician.

  I was starting to get excited about the job after he mentioned my failed mission two years ago. This time, I won’t be sitting idly and allow Congressman Williams do whatever he liked.

  Not this time.

  “But in this case…” Calvin trailed off, letting out a big smirk from his mouth, “being the murder suspect of the brutal killing of Adrienne Johnson, a well-respected award-winning actress and considered as the country’s showbiz goddess because of her beauty, it is considered as a high-profile case. Maybe this time, he can’t get away with his crime if Clark comes on the witness stand. But before that, we need to ensure her safety.”

  The idea was very enticing, but something was bugging me.

  “But Calvin…”

  “And one more thing, we need to clean her name and reputation. I mean, they said that this woman was a well-known gold digger…” He sighed, and paused for a moment then continued. “That she used her exquisite beauty and charms to lure many wealthy men. Jewelries, money, house, a beautiful car, a trip abroad – anything – name it – gifts from the men who have gone crazy for her.”

  That. That’s what I wanted to say.

  I nodded and said, “Well, she used to be Jacob’s girlfriend. I am well aware of that rumor,” I mumbled lazily, like it was nothing important for me.

  Calvin, who was pacing back and forth, stopped and faced me. He took a few steps to get closer to my table and planted both of his hands on it. His eyes sparkled in curiosity.

  “And?” he asked.

  “And what?” I retorted, trying to figure out what he was talking about.

  “Was it just a rumor?”

  My hands turned to fists upon the question. Anger started to burn inside of me like there was a volcano threatening to explode in my chest. I knew Maxine Alexandria Clark. I knew her too well. She was the reason why Jacob jumped off the fifteenth floor of the hotel! But Calvin didn’t have to know it. It was something too personal for Jacob who was already resting in his grave.

  I cleared my throat and shrugged and directed my attention to my boss. He was eager to hear some juicy details.

  “I don’t know. I was in a mission when Jacob dated her and we were not able to talk much about it,” I said, then shrugged.

  “I see,” Calvin’s face brightened, looking relieved for a split second, which vanished quickly.

  I opened my mouth to say something but he started talking again, making me shake my head in disbelief. We’ve been playing together since we were kids and he never loses when it comes to talking. He loves talking – a lot.

  “Her words against his words! Her reputation as a materialistic girl against Congressman William’s image as a good politician and a good public servant, which was never really affected when issues started to go afloat because they are always able make it look like black propaganda from his political rivals. That’s the thing that can ruin Clark’s credibility as the star-witness. Actually, as of now, men have started giving their statements against her.”

  I felt my brows twitched. “Really?”

  “Yeah. They have said really bad words against her to the media. It was either she was a bitch, gold digger, whore, etcetera! Any words that could ruin her are coming out from the guys… well, let’s just say, she made use of. There were clearly some bitter and sour grapes remarks.”

  I found my knuckles turning white with the words I’ve heard. Yes, that was true. And of course that was how I knew Maxine. She was a bitch, gold digger…

  But whore…

  I bowed my head, feeling a tugging protest in my heart with the adjective used. For some reason, I didn’t want to believe it. Something was telling me that she was not that kind of woman. Hoping…

  I swallowed my saliva and tried to compose myself before raising my head once again, wanting to hear more from Calvin. I wanted to know how much information he had gathered about Maxine.

  “Actually, Congressman Williams has already made a statement against Clark,” Calvin said, after clicking his tongue, a habit he always had whenever he couldn’t believe something he hears.

  “What? What did he say?” I asked, feeling anxious.

  “He said Clark was acting like this – standing against him – because she was angry when he did not give her the large sum of money she was asking in exchange for one night…well…to play on his bed.”

  I held my breath from anger after what I’ve heard. It was as if I was just talking to Jacob – when he was broken because of Maxine.

  I could still remember vividly the last conversation I had with my best pal, over a year ago. We were in his apartment, drinking as he expressed his disappointment and pain towards his girlfriend.

  “That woman was a bitch! She took away all of my money! Aside from holding her hand, I was not able to get anything from her! She never even allowed me to kiss her cheeks! The devil! She just used me. She even accepted my proposal and now she has vanished like a bubble after I placed all of my assets under her name…my hard earned money!”

  I had watched Jacob with a mixture of pity and disbelief. I had never seen him fall so hard for a woman. With what he had said, he acted nothing like himself. He was clearly bewitched by Maxine.

  “Why did you transfer all of your money
to her?”I had asked, patting him lightly on the back. He had looked so devastated and wasted as he took another shot of brandy.

  Jacob had let out a loud but dry laugh. But I saw the tears that were forming at the corner of his eyes.

  “To prove my love to her! She reasoned that she couldn’t trust me because of all the women who were part of my past. Those women I used…I’ve told her that she was different – that I was ready to give her everything I have!”

  I filled my lungs with air and exhaled exasperatedly as I shook my head to calm my insides. The sudden flashes of memory have almost taken over my self-control. I should not let my personal grudges get in between me and my job.

  I shouldn’t let my personal disappointment to Maxine ruin my perfect reputation.

  I should be careful.

  I should…

  “Rico…” I heard Calvin, snapping me back to reality. His eyes were scanning me like I had done something really bad to him. He has never liked it if nobody listens when he talks.

  “Y-Yeah? So, how are we going to strengthen her credibility if she was accused with all of those things? Will the court believe her if her reputation was tainted from the very beginning?” I couldn’t help but ask.

  Calvin shook his head, meeting my grey orbs with his green ones before crossing his arms on his chest. He straightened up and walked away, approaching the slightly opened door.

  “We don’t need to do anything. We can’t prevent Congressman Williams from ruining her image. All we can do for now is to protect her and ensure that she’s safe. Anyway, when the time comes that she’s required to show up in court, I believe that she can stand on her ground as the sole witness. She’s a smart girl. She’s good in words and she was able to answer every question I asked her when I met her. She looked tense. But I’m sure she’s a strong woman.”

  I raised a brow after hearing what he said.

  “You assessed all of that in one meeting?” I asked sarcastically, which I wanted to take back the moment Calvin crumpled his forehead.

  “What?” he asked, looking all confused and flustered with the tone I used.