Chapter 33 Conflicting Thoughts
Seeing my expression, Eric stopped smiling almost immediately. The casual curve on his lips vanished as if someone had wiped it off with a cloth. He walked closer to me and leaned in just enough that only I could hear him.
“Boss,” he whispered, his voice low and steady, “is anything wrong?”
I shook my head instinctively. “Everything’s fine.”
Eric didn’t pull back. His eyes stayed on mine, sharp and searching, as though he was reading lines I hadn’t spoken out loud. “You’re lying,” he said quietly, not accusing, just stating a fact.
I forced a small smile. “I’m really okay.”
He studied me for another second before finally stepping back, but the concern didn’t leave his face. It still surprised me how fast he had adapted during the short time he started working as my bodyguard. His awareness, his instincts, the way he picked up on subtle changes in my mood, it was almost unsettling. Anna, on the other hand, was still new. She stood a little distance away, her posture stiff, hands clasped in front of her, clearly unsure of when to speak and when to stay silent.
I turned to Professor Claude and bowed my head slightly. “Thank you once again, Professor.”
He waved it off with a mild smile. “Take care of yourself.”
With that, I began walking out of the facility, pushing open the doors and emerging from the gym house. The air outside felt different, lighter, but my chest still felt tight. Eric and Anna quickly caught up to me, falling into step on either side.
Anna hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “Boss… where are we going?”
“I want to go somewhere privately,” I replied.
Her eyes widened just a little. “I… I have to follow you. Isn't that what I was hired for.”
I slowed my steps and turned to face her. “Sit this one out. This isn’t something I can bring anyone along with.”
Before she could respond, Eric suddenly stepped in front of me, spreading his arms wide and blocking my path completely. I stopped short, looking up at him in surprise.
“That’s not happening, boss,” he said firmly. “It’s too risky to let you go alone.”
“I’m not taking anyone,” I said.
“That’s fine,” Eric replied without missing a beat. “If you don’t want to take me along, I’ll respect that. But you’re taking Anna.”
Anna stiffened. “Me?”
Eric nodded. “I’m sure she’s capable of protecting you.”
I sighed deeply, rubbing my temples. There was no point arguing with him when he got like this. “Fine,” I said at last. I looked at Anna. “You can follow me.”
She straightened instantly. “Yes, boss.”
We headed for the garage and boarded one of the cars waiting there. It was a fully bulletproof vehicle, heavy and imposing, driven by my chauffeur. Anna slid into the back seat beside me, sitting stiffly with her hands folded neatly on her lap.
As the car pulled out, I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. She looked nervous, her gaze constantly shifting between the window and the front mirror. She wasn’t relaxed around me at all, which made sense. After all, she had just started this job.
After a few minutes of silence, she finally spoke. “Boss… where are we going?”
“The hotel,” I replied.
She blinked. “Hotel?” she muttered, then looked at me again. “Are you meeting your boyfriend?”
I almost laughed, but the sound never came out. “It’s not my boyfriend,” I said. “It’s… complicated.”
She nodded slowly. “I understand.”
I turned back to my phone and sent Rudy a message, telling him I was on my way. Why of all places did he choose a hotel to see me? Almost instantly, my phone buzzed.
\[There’s a reason I want to see you in a hotel. It isn’t something we can talk about in the estate or in a public setting.\]
I frowned and typed back. \[This is weird. I’m coming with my maid.\]
\[It’s fine\] he replied, followed by a funny dog emoji looking sideways.
I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at that. The tension in my chest eased just a little. Maybe I have been thinking about too many bad things lately. Still, he caused this whole thing by grabbing me like that that night. No matter how I looked at it, that memory refused to fade.
Soon after, we arrived at the hotel. It was massive and breathtaking, something I would easily rate above five stars. What stood out the most wasn’t just the luxury, but the privacy. After parking in the lot, there were several roads and sections that led toward the reception hall, all carefully designed to separate guests. Even the reception hall itself was built in a way that accommodated different receptionists and attendants, clearly meant to avoid crowding and unwanted attention.
Anna kept looking around as she followed me, her mouth slightly open in awe.
“Have you ever been to a five-star hotel?” I asked.
She shook her head quickly. “No… how could I afford something like this?”
We stopped at one of the receptionist platforms, and I gave her the lounge details Rudy had provided. She made a call, spoke briefly, then nodded and handed me a pass. After a long walk and an elevator ride that seemed to go on forever, we finally arrived at the doorstep of the apartment.
I took a breath and pushed the door open, stepping inside.