Guarding Hearts' Whimsy

Chapter 44: Guardian Shell

Eve, not one to back down, retorted, "Entertaining, huh? Well, maybe I should invite you to my morning shows more often."

Raven, enjoying the banter, decided to play along. "Maybe you should. I'd hate to miss the chance to witness such wardrobe warfare."

Seeing the opportunity, Raven turned to Mara, who was still lingering, and said, "Mara, the other staff members have been asking for you. I think they need your expertise elsewhere."

Mara, catching on to Raven's unspoken plan, nodded with a knowing smile and made a hasty exit, leaving Raven and Eve alone.

Eve, now fully aware of the intimate atmosphere, raised an eyebrow at Raven. "What was that all about?"

Raven, smirking, replied, "Well, I thought we could use some alone time, away from the fashion battlefield."

Eve, realizing his playful intentions, couldn't help but smile. "You're lucky I find your interruptions charming."

As they shared a laugh, the morning continued with a delightful mix of humor and affection.

With a mischievous smirk, Raven closed the distance between him and Eve, moving her backward until her back gently touched the wall. He leaned in, a playful glint in his eyes, making Eve's heartbeat race at an alarming speed.

"So, what was the fashion chaos all about?" Raven inquired, his voice a low whisper.

Eve, feeling a mix of embarrassment and nervousness, answered, "I just didn't want to look like a raccoon who had just searched a bin for a fruitking mango peel."

Raven burst into laughter at the vivid description, thoroughly amused by Eve's creative analogy. After a moment, he suddenly adopted a more serious tone, looking directly into her eyes. "Well, it would be weird."

Eve, intrigued, asked, "What would be weird?"

Raven, with a sly smile, replied, "Describing my favorite view like that."

His words hung in the air, and Eve's embarrassment transformed into a warm blush. The playfulness of their banter shifted into a moment charged with a different kind of energy.

//

As the day progressed, Eve and Raven found themselves in the library. Eve, with a book in hand, attempted to concentrate on the pages before her, the words weaving a world of their own. However, Raven's constant gaze proved to be a delightful distraction.

Eve could feel his eyes on her, his presence almost tangible even when she tried to immerse herself in the realm of literature. Every time she stole a glance at her book, she found Raven's eyes lingering on her, a soft smile playing on his lips.

Attempting to maintain focus, Eve cleared her throat and said, "Raven, you know, it's customary to read the book and not the reader."

Raven, with a playful twinkle in his eyes, responded, "But the book can wait. There's something far more captivating right in front of me."

Eve couldn't help but blush at the compliment, her attempts at concentration growing increasingly futile. 

Eve, reveling in their playful banter, decided to up the stakes. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she challenged Raven, "Are you afraid to get caught with me and get fired from your job, Mr. Bodyguard?"

Raven, embracing the challenge with a mixture of confidence and intrigue, leaned in a little closer, his gaze locked onto Eve's. "Challenge accepted, Dale" he declared, his voice carrying a subtle undertone of excitement.

Eve, maintaining her composure, raised an eyebrow in mock skepticism. "We'll see how stealthy you really are, Noir" she teased.

With a silent understanding, they both slipped out of the library, navigating the corridors with a blend of caution and amusement. Raven, ever the vigilant bodyguard, led the way, strategically choosing paths that were less frequented. Eve, following his lead, couldn't help but be swept up in the thrill of the clandestine adventure.

As they reached a secluded corner of the estate, Raven turned to Eve with a triumphant grin. "Looks like we've successfully evaded detection, at least for now."

Eve, unable to suppress a grin of her own, playfully nudged him. "Impressive! Maybe I've underestimated your skills."

In a spontaneous moment, Raven, driven by an intensity of emotion, pushed Eve gently against a nearby pillar. The sudden shift in dynamics left Eve slightly surprised, her eyes widening as she registered the fervor in Raven's gaze. A brief hesitation crossed her expression, the awareness of potential onlookers making her contemplate the situation.

Undeterred, Raven, with a sincere intensity in his eyes, closed the distance between them. As Eve closed her eyes, anticipating a more intimate gesture, Raven surprised her with a gentle peck on her cheek. The unexpected tenderness of the gesture caught Eve off guard.

As Raven moved back, he spoke genuinely, "Eve, I want this to be as per your pace, as you like. I don't want to rush things or make you uncomfortable."

Eve, touched by his considerate words, felt her heart warm. Slowly, she slid her hand up his forearm, her fingers tracing the visible veins. In a soft, reassuring tone, she responded, "You are my guardian shell—my safest place."

Raven, registering the weight of Eve's words, asked with a mix of amusement and concern, "Guardian shell?"

Eve nodded, a fleeting flicker of sadness crossing her features. "Yeah, my mother used to call herself that for me."

As the memory brought a touch of sorrow, Raven squeezed her hand comfortingly. "I'm sorry, Eve."

Eve, offering a bittersweet smile, looked away momentarily. "It's okay, Raven. It's just... I wish I was able to see her one last time before..."

Hearing the unfinished sentence, Raven looked at her, confusion etched on his face.

Eve, understanding his bewilderment, continued, "Her body was never found at the accident spot. The police said it might have fallen further down from the cliff than the site where her car was found."

As Raven processed Eve's revelation about her mother, a surge of internal thoughts and questions flooded his mind. The discrepancy between what Eve shared and the public narrative planted seeds of doubt and curiosity.

"What is she telling? This isn't what was told to the media. According to the articles, she was given a proper farewell with her body being properly buried in a ceremony. Was she lied to about it all along? What are you hiding, Aiden Dale?"

///

The night was draped in an air of tension as Raven, with determination etched on his face, knocked on Mr. Dale's door at a late hour. Mr. Dale, surprised by the unexpected visitor, opened the door, questioning, "What are you doing here this late, Raven?"

Maintaining a serious demeanor, Raven replied, "I'm here to talk to you urgently about Eve's matter."

Invited inside, Mr. Dale offered him a drink, but Raven declined, opting to keep the conversation straightforward. As Mr. Dale signaled him to speak, Raven got straight to the point, "Why are you doing this, Mr. Dale? You know it's Bartlett behind all those attempted kidnappings of Ms. Dale, yet you're not taking any actions against him. Why?"

Taken aback, Mr. Dale maintained his composure, denying any involvement with Bartlett and questioning Raven's accusations. He defended Bartlett as his oldest and close friend.

Frustrated, Raven raised his voice, "Don't lie now, Mr. Dale. I know there's something going on between you two. I heard your conversation that day. Why are you putting your daughter's life in danger?"

Defensively, Mr. Dale accused Raven, "So Bartlett was right. You're no ordinary bodyguard but an agent or detective in disguise."

Undeterred, Raven confidently stated, "I don't know what Bartlett said about me, but one thing's for sure—I am Eve's bodyguard, and protecting her is my duty."

Mr. Dale, attempting to regain control, moved forward and patted Raven's shoulders, warning him to stay out of his matters. Raven sighed heavily, agreed, and turned to leave.

Before departing, he added, "Hope you haven't lied to Eve about someone she loved the most," leaving Mr. Dale with widened eyes and a lingering sense of unease.