Chapter 2 Be my wife
A few months ago, Tonia was attacked by a group of thugs at a friend's brother's birthday party. Although she survived the incident, her parents decided to increase her security measures.
At Karen's nineteenth birthday party, a charming hunk caught the attention of the girls, but Tonia introduced him as her bodyguard, Roger Douglas. Karen was stunned.
Their parents never mentioned getting them bodyguards, but Tonia was quick to clear the air.
“Mom insisted that I needed one because of the recent attack, which she thinks is due to my beauty. In her words, beauty attracts both admirers, pests, and danger, so Roger here is my pesticide and atomic bomb.”
A roar of laughter dominated the music, but Roger’s expression was stoic.
“Such a disappointment. He looks so dignified, I thought he was your boyfriend or something,” one of her friends said with displeasure. Karen was the only one who had a smile on her face at the sight of the bodyguard.
There was just something about him that made it impossible for her to take her eyes off of him, and this was the first time the sight of any man caused her heart to pound in her chest.
Roger, or whatever his name was, had flawlessly captured her heart at first sight, except that he spared her no glance, despite being the birthday girl.
Dressed in her best with the help of Tonia, Karen was certain that she looked amazing in the sweet printed flower butterfly outdoor boat neck short sleeve sheath dress she wore.
Despite her eyeglasses overshadowing everything, she took them off too late. Roger's gaze remained fixed on Tonia, who subtly stole the spotlight without realizing it.
It didn’t take long for Karen to put together the subtle signs as well as the rumors that Roger was secretly in love with Tonia. Tonia, with her attractive model figure, had all the guys vying for her heart, despite lacking the academic prowess to match.
Having repeated many classes, she found herself in the same class as her junior sister, Karen. Fortunately, Karen had been secretly helping her pass exams to avoid failing another class.
Karen's only solace was that Tonia despised Roger and instead sought the attention of wealthy men.
Having Roger around only deepened Karen's feelings for him due to his elegant demeanor.
She lost count of how many times he saved Tonia from abuse when she was with those affluent individuals she sought attention from.
Piecing her own experiences with Roger together, if he had also not shown care for her by appearing when she least expected, catching her from a fall, and other gestures that clearly indicated his concern, her hopes would not have grown stronger.
But there was something odd. The thugs Roger dealt with disappeared without a trace, and no one seemed to question it.
Months later, at their parents' business party, Tonia asked Karen, "Give this water to Roger. What can a man who doesn't drink do in bed?" She teased, but Karen, not understanding Tonia's intentions, saw it as a chance to talk to Roger.
His rules were well-known to everyone: no alcohol, no smoking, no tattoos, and no fooling around with girls. Despite the skepticism surrounding his strict principles, no one had ever witnessed him engaging in any of the activities he prohibited, leading people to accept them as true.
These agencies have their own set of rules, and it was possible that Roger was simply adhering to them. He was mostly reserved, composed, and observant, with a keen gaze that never missed a target.
"Roger, Tonia wants you to have this because she knows you don't drink," Karen's hand trembled slightly as she handed the bottle to him. She understood that if Roger had been wealthy, Tonia might have given him a chance.
The mention of Tonia brought a faint smile to Roger's lips, causing Karen's heart to ache.
Without a word, he accepted the bottle, unscrewed it, and downed its contents. That moment marked a significant shift.
Roger casually removed his jacket, his thoughts clouded. "It's too hot and noisy in here," he shouted, surprising Karen, as he rarely raised his voice, though its depth was undeniably intimidating.
"Roger, you're acting strangely. Is there anything you need?" Karen inquired, scanning the room anxiously, but everyone was engrossed in their conversations and cocktails. Suddenly, he took off her glasses and gazed into her green eyes, desire filling him.
"You are beautiful, do you know that?" Roger asked in a way he never had before. He was looking at her in a flirtatious manner, a side of him that Karen had never seen. For someone who was always serious, this playful and flirty side of him surprised her.
"Are you serious?" She felt her cheeks flush with blood, turning them pink. The music in the background faded as he lifted her in his strong arms, just as she had always dreamed.
His cologne enveloped her, and in that moment, she felt like she belonged there.
"You don't believe me? I'll show you." His lips met hers, and the passion was irresistible, especially after a few glasses of liquor.
Roger gently placed her on the bed, lay beside her, and soon drifted off to sleep. Displeasure clouded her eyes, but her respect for him grew.
Despite his actions, he respected boundaries and never took advantage of her, only holding her safely in his arms. A smile spread across her face as she gazed at his impeccably clean white shirt and neatly trimmed mustache.
The man was a neat freak, just her type, so she relaxed, closed her eyes, and let sleep take over.
However, she was completely shocked when she woke up naked next to him. The idea of virgin bloodstains should have been exciting, but fear overwhelmed her confusion, and she fled upon seeing the naked man beside her.
He seemed like he was straight out of a fashion magazine or perhaps a walking sex god, but her impure thoughts were interrupted by the reality of the situation.
How was she going to explain what had happened the night before when she couldn't remember anything after lying down next to him? Admitting that it felt good to be in his arms, she was at a loss.
Roger arrived late for work, but fortunately, it was the weekend, and he brought a modest bouquet with him. "I apologize for being late," he said with a charming smile, leaving Katherine and Gordon Fletcher stunned.
"This is unprofessional," Katherine scolded, unimpressed by the tardiness. However, Roger was oddly cheerful as he turned to Tonia.
"Last night was wonderful, Tonia. I thought you didn't like me." His words captured the attention of everyone present, but Karen felt a sense of despair.
Tonia had previously covered for her absence from home last night, but now, how could she avoid the situation?
"You must be crazy, and you're absolutely right, I can't stand you," Tonia exclaimed, pushing the bouquet away as if it were infested with insects. Her expression showed disgust. "Eww, get that away from me, or I'll start itching, just looking at it makes my skin crawl."
Despite Tonia's outburst, Roger's smile remained unwavering. He loved her and was unfazed by her harsh words.
The only one hurt by Tonia's words was Karen, who loved Roger deeply and would have cherished the bouquet that now lay scattered on the floor. Orchids were her favorite flowers, and that's what Roger brought, although they weren't meant for her. Roger took out a cheap ring and knelt down on one knee.
If Tonia were to accept his proposal, everything would change. With a snap of his fingers, he would make the world bow to her.
"Even if it wasn't perfect, I will improve, but I want to take responsibility, so please be my wife."
The parents did not look amused, and Tonia's face twisted with disgust. She backed away from her seat.
"Do you think I want to be the wife of a mere bodyguard? First of all, I'm not the foolish woman you slept with."
Her voice rose in pitch, surprising her adoptive parents, as she was usually composed and well-behaved. Regaining her composure, she forced a smile but her gaze landed on Karen. "That must be her. I think you were drugged."