Chapter 31 The Bodyguard
The next morning I went to the doctor to have the nasal splint removed.
The adhesive tugged a little as the doctor peeled it away, but the relief afterward was immediate.
He examined the bridge of my nose, nodded approvingly, and told me everything was healing beautifully.
The bruising under my eyes was still faintly yellow, nothing a little makeup couldn’t hide.
For the first time since the attack, I almost felt like myself again.
Which was why I told Knox that evening I planned to go back to work the next day.
He disagreed instantly. “You should rest one more day,” he said. “Just one.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the worried look in his eyes stopped me. So I gave in. One more day at home would not kill me.
It turned out to be a busy day anyway.
Detective Harris called in the afternoon with news.
Apple had been arrested the day before for opening multiple credit cards under my name.
Identity theft. Fraud. The police finally had enough evidence to charge her.
She had spent the night in jail, and that morning she had her initial court appearance.
She had pled not guilty, of course.
The judge set bail at ten thousand dollars, which she was unfortunately able to pay. So she was out again, free to roam around.
Amy sent me Apple’s mugshot the moment it became public record. We would leak it when it hurt the most. Unless someone else did it first. Apple has accumulated plenty of haters.
I also told Amy I believed Apple was behind the kidnapping attempt.
Amy didn’t even blink.
“I will find proof,” she said. “If there is a way to tie it to her, I will find it. She’s sloppy when she’s desperate. She leaves fingerprints everywhere.”
I believed her.
That evening, when Knox came back from the office, he brought a small black box.
“For you,” he said.
Inside was a delicate necklace and a matching bracelet, both understated and elegant. He fastened the necklace around my neck himself, his fingers brushing my skin, then clasped the bracelet around my wrist.
I lifted my hand, turning it in the light, admiring the way the metal caught the glow of the lamp.
“They’re beautiful,” I said.
His eyes softened. “Wear them. Every day. They suit you.”
Somewhere in the middle of all this, Knox had begun moving in. It happened gradually, without discussion.
One day I opened my closet and found three of his suits hanging neatly beside my dresses. I didn’t comment. I simply cleared a drawer in the dresser.
Two days later, that drawer held his T-shirts, grey sweats, and boxers.
It was strange, living with someone again. Strange, but not unpleasant.
I had never lived with a man before. Nick and I had been engaged in my past life, but we never shared a home. This was new.
And I didn’t hate it.
Titan certainly didn’t. He acted like he owned the place. Thankfully the backyard was fenced, so he could go outside without needing a walk every time. Knox still took him out every evening for a full hour, insisting Titan needed the exercise to stay healthy and sane.
I had never been to Knox’s penthouse, but I was sure it was bigger, closer to work, and objectively safer than my house.
And I knew he would go back there eventually.
His life, his world, his home were all on a different scale than mine.
But he never brought it up, and I never asked when he planned to leave.
With Knox and Titan in the house, I felt safer. Especially now, when Apple had proven how far she was willing to go. Her unpredictability made me cautious. I had always been security conscious, but after the kidnapping attempt, I was hyperaware of everything.
Which was why, later that night, I told Knox what I had been thinking.
“I want to hire a security guard,” I said. “Someone to be with me when I go to work or come home. And when you and Titan go back to your place, someone who can stay here. I have a spare room.”
Knox didn’t react to the part about him leaving. He didn’t even acknowledge it. He only said, “I will find someone for you. I know exactly where to look.”
“I want to pay for it,” I said.
“Don’t worry about that,” he replied. “I have it handled.”
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it. If he wanted to pay, let him pay.
Later, when I was getting ready for bed, Knox touched the necklace lightly where it rested against my collarbone.
“Keep this on always,” he said. “And the bracelet too.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“They are delicate. The clasps are… particular. They are not meant to be taken off often.”
It was a strange answer, but I didn’t push.
Going back to work the next day felt strange. Everything looked the same, but people looked at me differently. The concern they tried to hide.
Claire saw me first.
“Oh my God,” she said, rushing over. “Ashley.”
She stopped short, her eyes scanning my face. The bruises were mostly gone, hidden under careful makeup, but not completely invisible.
“We heard what happened. We were so worried,” she said. “Nora cried.”
“I did not cry,” Nora protested from behind her.
“You absolutely cried,” Priya said.
Nora rolled her eyes, then glanced at me. “You’re okay?” she asked more softly.
“I’m okay,” I replied.
Priya pulled me into a gentle hug without asking. “I am glad you are back.”
Something warm settled in my chest.
Then Knox stepped out of the elevator with Titan.
He had already left the house before I woke up that morning. I only realized he was gone when I reached across the bed and found cold sheets. A message was waiting on my phone.
“Early meeting. I will see you at the office. Nathan will drive you. “
Knox had taken Titan with him and left Nathan behind to make sure I got to work safely.
Knox’s eyes found me immediately, like he had been scanning the room the second the doors opened. He walked straight toward my desk, ignoring everyone else, Titan trotting beside him.
“How are you feeling?” he asked quietly.
“I’m good,” I said, offering a small reassuring smile.
Titan nudged his head against my hand. I laughed softly and scratched behind his ears. He leaned into the touch, warm and solid, his tail sweeping lazily behind him.
Knox watched me for another moment, as if searching for cracks I might be hiding, then gave a single nod. He leaned down, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
“If you need anything, I’m in my office.”
I nodded. He lingered for a heartbeat longer before finally turning and heading back to his office, Titan trotting after him.
The moment the door closed behind them, Nora leaned toward me.
“Oh my God,” she whispered.
Claire nudged her sharply.
“What,” Nora said. “We are all thinking it.”
Priya gave me a careful look. “Are you two…” she hesitated. “…together?”
I smiled faintly. “It is complicated.”
Julian looked like he wanted to ask something but valued his life too much.
Ethan kept glancing between me and Knox’s closed office door like he was watching a live-action soap opera.
I turned back to my screen, cheeks warm. The morning passed in a blur of emails and catching up.
At noon my desk phone rang.
Knox.
“Come to my office,” he said.
As I stood, I felt half the floor watching me. Claire mouthed tell me later and wiggled her brows. Eyes followed me until I stepped out of sight.
Knox was at his desk when I entered, phone already in hand. He gestured for me to sit, then pressed a button. Titan's eyes lifted when I walked in and his tail thumped against the floor.
“You can come up now,” Knox said into the receiver. “Linda will send you in right away.”
He ended the call and leaned back in his chair, studying me with that unreadable expression he wore when he was thinking ten steps ahead.
“Who was that?” I asked.
“Your security,” he said.
I blinked. “Already?”
“I spent the morning interviewing candidates,” he said. “I wanted someone who could handle every scenario.”
He said it so casually, like he hadn’t rearranged his entire morning to vet bodyguards for me.
A soft knock sounded at the door. Titan stood slowly, ears pricking forward, his body shifting into alert mode.
“Come in,” Knox said.
The door opened, and a woman stepped inside.
Late thirties, athletic build, dark hair pulled into a tight bun. Calm eyes. Controlled posture. She moved like someone who had been trained to assess a room in a single glance.
Titan watched her closely, muscles tight, waiting for a cue.
Knox gave him a small nod.
Titan exhaled, relaxing just enough to sit back down on his bed, though his eyes stayed on her, tracking every movement.
“Ashley,” Knox said, standing. “This is Lena.”
Lena gave me a small, professional nod. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I nodded back. “You too.”
Knox continued, “She was the strongest candidate. Former military. Private sector for the last ten years. Excellent record.”
Lena stepped forward. “I’ll be with you during work hours, escort you home, and stay at the house when needed. We’ll go over routines and boundaries whenever you’re ready.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
As Lena spoke, my gaze flicked briefly to Knox.
I wondered if he had chosen a woman on purpose.
Not because she was the best.
But because he did not want another man occupying my space.