Chapter 66 Chapter 66
Hailey’s POV
I studied for hours with Tyler, my eyes scanning through the notes and textbooks he’d brought, trying to absorb everything I’d missed over the past weeks. But something felt off the entire time.
Tyler looked completely different from when we’d first met at the shopping district. The haircut was one thing, but the thick-framed glasses seemed unnecessary, and there was something about the way he kept glancing toward the door that made me uneasy.
And then there was the matter of Benita’s guards. Marco had been her constant shadow for weeks, and suddenly he was gone, replaced by two newer guards I barely recognized.
“Is everything okay?” I asked Benita during a brief pause in the lesson. “Where’s Marco?”
Benita’s expression tightened, frustration clear on her face. “Sophia needed him for something. Some secret mission she wouldn’t tell me about.”
“That’s strange,” I said, frowning.
“Everything about this is strange,” Benita muttered, shooting a suspicious glance at Tyler.
We continued studying, Tyler walking me through complex equations and theories I’d completely missed. He was actually a good tutor, patient and thorough in his explanations. But every so often, I’d catch him staring at me in a way that made my skin crawl, like he was studying me rather than helping me study.
After what felt like an eternity, Benita finally stood up and stretched. “I need a break,” she announced. “I’m going to call Marco and check on him.”
“That’s fine,” I said, grateful for the interruption. “Take your time.”
Benita walked out into the hallway, pulling out her phone as she went. The guards stationed outside shifted slightly but remained at their posts.
The moment she was gone, Tyler leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask. Do the guards really have to watch us the entire time? It’s kind of making me uncomfortable.”
I looked at the two guards visible through the doorway, standing stoically with their hands clasped in front of them. They weren’t directly staring at us, but their presence was definitely noticeable.
“I know it seems excessive,” I said apologetically. “But with everything that’s been happening, security is really tight right now.”
“I get that,” Tyler said quickly. “But maybe they could wait outside? Or at least further away? It’s just hard to concentrate with them hovering like that.”
“I’ll tell them to give us more space if you come back tomorrow,” I offered, trying to be accommodating. “Would that work?”
Something flickered across Tyler’s face, too quick for me to identify. His expression seemed to glitch, like a mask slipping for just a fraction of a second before snapping back into place.
“Yeah,” he said, his smile returning. “That would be great.”
I told myself I was imagining things. The stress and paranoia of the past weeks were making me see threats everywhere, even in a harmless tutor who was just trying to help.
We continued studying for a few more hours, Tyler patiently explaining concepts and answering my questions. Despite my lingering unease, I had to admit I was learning a lot. He really did know his stuff, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like maybe I could actually catch up on my coursework.
Benita returned eventually, though she looked troubled. “Everything okay?” I asked.
“Marco won’t tell me what mission he’s on,” she said, frustration clear in her voice. “He said it’s confidential family business and he can’t discuss it.”
“That’s weird,” I said.
“Everything today is weird,” Benita muttered, settling back into her seat.
As the afternoon wore on, Tyler finally started gathering his materials. “I think that’s probably enough for today,” he said, standing up and stretching. “We covered a lot of ground.”
“We really did,” I agreed, feeling genuinely grateful despite my earlier concerns. “Thank you so much for your help, Tyler. I learned so much today.”
“Happy to help,” he said, shoving his textbooks into his backpack. “That’s what classmates are for, right?”
“What time are you coming tomorrow?” I asked, already planning out my study schedule for the next day.
“Same time,” Tyler said quickly, already moving toward the door. “And please, do something about the guards. It really does make it hard to focus.”
He rushed out before I could respond, practically jogging down the hallway toward the exit. I watched him go, that uneasy feeling returning full force.
“That was weird,” Benita said, voicing exactly what I was thinking.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “But maybe he’s just uncomfortable around security. Some people get nervous around armed guards.”
“Maybe,” Benita said, but she didn’t sound convinced.
We spent the next few hours reviewing what Tyler had taught us, both of us trying to process the mountain of information we’d covered. But my mind kept drifting back to Tyler’s strange behavior, the way he’d rushed out, the odd expression that had crossed his face.
I was probably overthinking it. Stress did that to people, made them paranoid and suspicious of everyone.
Hours after Tyler had left, long after the sun had set and dinner had been served, I heard raised voices coming from downstairs. Curious and concerned, I made my way down to investigate.
Marco stood in the main hallway, his face flushed with barely contained anger. He was talking to one of the staff, his voice tight and controlled but clearly furious.
“I need to see Miss Sophia,” he was saying. “Right now. It’s urgent.”
“She’s in her room, sir,” the staff member said nervously. “Should I call her down?”
“Yes,” Marco said through gritted teeth. “Tell her Marco needs to speak with her immediately.”
I watched from the stairs as the staff member hurried away, and Marco stood there practically vibrating with rage, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
Something had happened during his mysterious mission for Sophia. Something that had made the normally calm and professional Marco absolutely livid.