Tatum couldn't help but feel the tension in the air as she dressed for the event. She had been given a stunning nude dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, the sequins shimmering in the dim light of her hotel room. The slit up the side showed off her toned legs, and the deep neckline added just enough allure to catch anyone's attention. Even as she adjusted the strap on her heels, she couldn't shake the feeling that today, something was different.
When they arrived at the venue, a grand ballroom illuminated by chandeliers, Tatum immediately felt the eyes of the room on her. She didn't need to look around to know that people were staring not just because of the dress, but because of the confidence she radiated. She was there for one reason: to protect Aiden. But tonight, it seemed she would be dealing with more than just potential threats.
Aiden was in his element, smoothly navigating through conversations with clients and partners. Vivienne, always the dutiful assistant, stayed by his side, occasionally eyeing Tatum with thinly veiled jealousy. She had already positioned herself to keep Tatum as far away from Aiden as possible, practically shepherding her away from him at every turn.
But Tatum wasn't one to be herded like cattle.
As the night went on, the music picked up, and the mood shifted. Aiden, who had been deep in a conversation with some of the clients, finally noticed her and could finally be with her. The room felt like it tilted for a moment when he saw her standing near the bar, holding a glass of wine. The dress she wore clung to her like it was made just for her, accentuating every curve. Her slender fingers, the way she brushed her hair, her beautifully sparkly naked back and her ass, he caught himself starting big time.
Fucking hell, Tatum.
Her gaze was sharp, focused, as always, but her presence seemed to demand his attention, more than anyone else in the room. Without realizing it, Aiden's hand twitched as if reaching for her. He couldn't explain the surge of heat in his chest, the possessiveness that he didn't want to acknowledge. To touch her, to have her by his side. His mind raced: she was just his bodyguard. She wasn't like the other women here, the women who dressed up to impress and smile sweetly for attention. She was...different. And the more he thought about it, the more that difference pulled at him.
Before he could act on his thoughts, a man, Marco, one of the clients Aiden was supposed to maintain a good rapport with, approached Tatum, his charming smile lighting up his face as he offered her his hand.
"Would you dance with me, Mrs..?" Marco asked, his voice low and inviting.
"Joy. Mrs. Joy" Tatum said.
She raised an eyebrow, catching Aiden's gaze across the room. The look between them was brief but loaded. She wasn't oblivious to his stare, the tension radiating off him. She took Marco's hand and followed him to the center of the floor.
Aiden felt a tightening in his chest that he couldn't explain. His mind, still hazy from the heat of jealousy that flared within him, watched them for far too long. Marco was a handsome man, but there was something about Tatum that made Aiden want to be the one standing beside her. He wasn't sure why, it was irrational, but the longer he stared, the more his frustration grew.
Vivienne, always quick to notice any change in his mood, grasped his hand with a smile. "Come, dance with me, Mr. Aiden," she said, her voice honeyed. "You can't let the night slip away without enjoying yourself."
Aiden looked at her, his frustration obvious in his expression. He was still watching Tatum, the way Marco had his hand on her waist, sometimes even lower than that, guiding her in time with the music. Tatum, of course, remained unbothered, her posture perfect, her attention elsewhere, except for the small glint of mischief in her eyes whenever she glanced back at him.
Her chest tightened at the thought, her breath hitching as the weight of it all pressed on her. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to will the unease away, but it clung to her like a second skin. Tatum walked down the dimly lit hallway, the muffled hum of the party below fading as she climbed the staircase. The air felt cooler here, quieter, but her mind was anything but. Questions spun relentlessly, each one a thread in a tangled web she couldn't unravel.
Who was that stranger that kept texting her? Who was the person chasing her that night? How about the one that broke into her house and attacked her? Are they all related? Who and why was someone trying to harm her? Why did that person want her dead?
Lost in her thoughts, she barely registered the figure approaching until her shoulder collided with theirs. She didn't flinch, didn't mutter an apology. Her mind was too preoccupied to even acknowledge the moment.
"Tatum."
The sound of her name, spoken with concern, pulled her back to reality. She turned, her gaze meeting Kyle's worried eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice steady.
For a moment, she considered brushing him off entirely, but something about the way he looked at her made her hesitate. She offered a small, faint smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just need a break," she said softly, her voice betraying her exhaustion. "See you around."
Kyle's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't press further. He nodded, stepping aside to let her pass. "If you need anything, you know where to find me."