Chapter 7: One Bodyguard.

"I am not a bad guy like you think… I am here to protect you until you are somewhere safe and secure, Please allow me to be your Bodyguard"

He pleaded as he pulls her closer like he doesn't want to let her go as he wraps his one arm around her waist. Rania looks at him thoughtfully and then looks behind his shoulder – the gangsters were still roaming around looking for them. Daniel could see the doubts in her eyes and before she could speak, he interrupted;

"Trust me for once and I promise you won't regret it"

He says as he softly caresses her jaw with the back of his thumb.

"Allow me to take you somewhere safe because believe me no men on this earth could protect you tonight the way I can"

She had never been so close to a man intimately let alone the thought of dating. After all these years she was in the arms of a handsome man but in a wrong situation. She might have liked this English man if they were in a different circumstance. Rania felt paralyzed whenever he was close – she slightly shook her head and took a deep breath to calm her mind as she nods her head in approval. He grabs her wrist and they walk in the dark alley meantime a loud thunder strikes in sky and its starts raining. Rania gasped as the droplets of cold water touched her face. She knew before she could reach their destination she will be soaked in rain.

*

"I don't see hope mama because all I see is darkness and every door is closed for me tonight"

"But it's new to me,

I'm new in this place and I have never witnessed a thing like that before in my life,

It still in front of my eyes,

I can't forget her painful scream…"

"I can't trust you not after hearing your conversations on the phone, Someone's death might not be a big thing to you but it is to me and I can't trust a man who promises to save me but behind my back he says it won't bother him if… if…,

 I… I… die"

Her words echoed in his ears as he searched around for the lady that left him clueless on the dance floor. Daniel couldn't get over the way she accused him of being someone he's not – he was going crazy by the thought of her being caught by those gangsters because he felt they were not just a bunch of street mobs. He was doubtful about these men being behind a woman – his mind kept on telling him that the lady has witnessed or knows something that had put her life in extreme danger and yet she has no idea but now he had to find her and get to know the real reason behind this chase. 

He kept on asking every maître de about the lady by giving her description until one of them informed him that he saw her running towards the door. Daniel rushed for the entrance and found her calling for a cab but before she could step in, he saw that few members of the gang where stepping out of a car. She turned to run away but Daniel grasped her and took her in the dark alley behind the restaurant – after a good struggle he got her and she calmed down but Daniel was pleased that finally the lady accepted his proposal and gave him a chance to protect her but somewhere deep down in his heart he felt like she gave him a chance as a person. He knew he screwed up the first chance he was given but this time he won't mess up and now both of them were standing in front of a shop. 

Rania was confused standing there as she looked back and forth between the shop and the man. Daniel unlocked the door with one hand while his right hand was intertwined with hers. She couldn't believe herself that she gave this man another chance and wondered why he was so persuasive on being her bodyguard. Rania felt her heart flattered when he gently squeezed her hand;

"After you"

He said softly as he opened the door for her and let her step in first with letting go her hand.

Daniel looked around to confirm no one was following them and then steps inside the shop. Rania stepped inside the shop – it was pitch-black inside. She took a step backwards but her back hits a hard chest making her heart skip a beat but at the same time making her aware of the closeness of the man behind her meanwhile the lights turned on. Rania gasped when her eyes caught the view in front of her, it was costumes. The room was filled with all kinds of sparkling costumes and masks – in the corner was door with a plate written Makeup room. The wall of the room was filled with posters of women in skimpy clothes but Rania’s sight caught a poster that terrified her it was of a woman on a stage while man with hunter in his hand.

Tears rushed through her eyes while her breathing came out ragged as she steps away from the English man and turns to walk towards the door but he grabbed her wrists;

"Now why are you walking away?"

He asked in bafflement as he pinned her to the wall between his arms.

Rania tried to push him away by thumping her fists on his toned chest but he didn't flinch nor let her go. For the first time in his life he met a woman who seemed to dislike everything he did to please her.

"For the sake of good God, tell me lady, what happened?"

He asked frustratingly as he shrugs her by her shoulders but was shocked when he heard the words;

"I won't be a stripper for your club, do you hear me!

Go ahead kill me but I won't be a sl…"

Daniel stopped her by keeping his palm over her mouth because he couldn't hear anymore but Rania pushed him back forcefully making him stumble. He was going insane with the accusations by this woman in front of him - her words cut deeper than a blade. He had been blamed in his past for being a playboy but never been accused for being a bad person or an owner for a stripper’s club. He felt like this woman could only assume the worst out of

him no matter what he does for her. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted when she spits the words venomously;

"I should have known you were no different from the rest, you killed a man brutally and did my makeup perfectly… You know everything about this dirty world because you belong from it and who knows?... maybe you are one of them just pretending to be different,

God, how could I trust a stranger blindly who kills people without giving it a second thought?"

She cried out while her body shook in anger.

Rania took a step back to walk away from the shop but was stopped when Daniel stood in front of her with the keys in his hand. He was fierce for the doubts the lady had on him but he a took a deep breath to calm his anger;

"Before you walk out of this

 door, I want to clear myself with you and I don't care if you believe it or not because what I'm about to say is true…"

Daniel said firmly and continues;

"… You wanted to know why I killed the man in that abandoned building… then hear me lady I killed him because he wanted you not because his master said; he wanted to keep you as his mistress. I hated the way he eyed you from head to toe like you were a thing. That’s why I blinded him for looking at you like that and I would do it to any man, who dares to hurt you or even look at you disrespectfully and if you think I am a bad guy just because I fight to protect a woman then yes, I am and most importantly if I hadn't killed those men then now both of us would have been dead and lying somewhere… 

Now about the strip club…,

No, I don't own any club let alone the thought of a strip club and why would you think I own a place which is nothing but wrongful. If it was up to me, I would ban such clubs…"

Daniel said exasperatedly with adding;

"And the reason I brought you her is because you were about to collapse in the restaurant and you are pretty exhausted by the events of tonight and most importantly you need to rest and calm your nerves. Besides, we are soaked in rain and you might get ill if I kept on walking you around the streets of Paris in this cold weather. You need clean and dry clothes. This is a costume store I… I… work for… I brought you here so you could change because those people have the idea of the dress you are wearing. So, I thought we could change our clothes and turn into disguise and besides, I am taking you to a cop friend of mine he will help you in this matter…"

He said with prodding his finger towards the lady who kept listening to him quietly. For the first time Daniel stammered while saying a lie and he felt strange for lying to this pretty woman about whom he cared more than he ever did for anyone. He never cared what others thought of him and it never bothered him to explain himself but the woman standing in front of him was getting under his skin. He felt the need to clarify himself to a woman who was nothing but a mere stranger yet he had the desire to be clean in front of her. 

"I don't know why am I explaining it to you but it is may be because I truly care about you and I really want to help you"

He said genuinely looking into her eyes as he stretched his hand with keys;

"If you still don't believe me,

Unlock the door and you are free to walk out of here and these are the keys"

Daniel said as he takes her hand and keeps the keys on her palm.

He unwillingly steps aside so she could unlock the door – he turns his back on her as he closed his eyes because he couldn't see her walking away and for the first time he felt he couldn't stop a woman while every woman in his life had wished for him to stop them after their heated argument. Daniel felt his heart dropped when he heard the sound of the door being unlocked and open then shut. A shiver ran down his spine when a breeze of cold air hit him;

I can't let her go, even if she survived in escaping the gangster, she won’t be able to survive in this weather especially now in the middle of the night when there won't be any cabs in this area…

He thought and abruptly opens his eyes and turns to stop her, but was surprised when he found the person standing in front of him… he felt sparks when she holds his wrist and hands him the keys.

*

Her entire life she has been fighting on her own from every hurdle destiny had thrown her way from the day her grandmother passed away but after all these years; tonight, a stranger was fighting for her. He wanted to protect her, keep her safe, a stranger whom she had never met before cared about her well-being, cared about her safety. 

I hated the way he eyed you from head to toe like you were a thing. That’s why I blinded him for looking at you like that and I would do it to any man, who dares to hurt you or even look at you disrespectfully…

And the reason I brought you here is that you were about to collapse in the restaurant and you are pretty exhausted by the events of tonight and most importantly you needed to rest and calm your nerves…

His words echoed in her ears as she looked at the English man who had turned his back on her, his shoulders slumped while his breathing was fast – he looked exhausted soaked in rain. 

Give him a chance Rania, you know he's not a bad guy and didn't deserve those harsh words from you especially after everything he did to protect you from those gangsters, he's been nothing but a true gentleman to you,

Her conscience reminded her.

He was doing everything out of humanity. His every little gesture was honest - it was Rania who had trust issues because she was the one who was scared to accept him. Rania shook her head from the thoughts and glanced in his direction for last time - her step freezes when her eyes fell on the droplets of water fall from his hair on his face trailing down till his light stubble jaw and dropping on his wet shirt which was sticking against his chest showing his well-defined muscles. His whole persona was tempting her, giving her the desires she never had for a man before in her life. His every move and action of chivalry were contagious for her mind and heart. She averted her gaze - scared what if he turns and opens his eyes and finds her ogling him. Rania took a deep breath and stepped towards the door.

You know he deserves an apology, you know…, you like him!

Her inner voice said - she ignored the voices inside her head and took another step towards the door – she inserted the keys and unlocked the door. Unknowingly she looked at him and felt her heart giving her the strangest feeling something she never felt before. Her gaze was fixed on his face when she opened the door, letting a breeze of cold air blew inside the shop giving the English man slightly a shiver. She immediately closed the door because the cold air gave her a shiver.  

Daniel opens his eyes and turns to stop the lady but was surprised when he found her standing in front of him. With shivering hand, Rania holds his wrist and hands him the keys. She felt her stomach in knots when he looked her intently – Rania lowered her gaze and bit her lower lip as she let go his hand as if he burned her;

"I…, I am sorry…"

She said hesitantly while fidgeting with her fingers.

Daniel was taken aback by the three words that came out of her mouth before he could utter a word the lady spoke again;

 “I am sorry… for the things I said earlier…”

She said meeting, his intense gaze which was filled with curiosity.

She took a small step towards him. Daniel felt his heartbeat increased at the way she swallowed the lump in her throat while taking a hesitant step towards him. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard her saying;

“I should be thanking you for everything you’ve been doing to protect me but I was being ungrateful… I hope you forgive me and forget the awful things I assumed about you, Please accept my sincere apology because I am truly sorry from the depth of my heart!"

Rania said honestly; as she hugged herself trying to stop herself from shivering by the cold. Daniel was stunned because he wasn't expecting the lady to apologize for her behavior – he wanted to jump out of joy for her not going but soon his train of thoughts was interrupted when she spoke again;

"I trust you and believe that you will protect me by being the best bodyguard mankind history has ever known"

Rania said with a hint of humor making Daniel chuckle;

"You sure know how to win a heart back lady"

He said as he grabbed a shawl from the rack and places it over Rania's shoulder making her smile. She wrapped it tightly around her shoulder;

"So, does it mean that I am forgiven"

She asked as she curiously looks his face for an answer meanwhile Daniel lit up the fire in the fire place and holds her hand. He gently pulls her towards the fire place and points towards a big cushion for her to be seated. The lady does as she was told – he knelt down on one knee in front of her;

"How could I not forgive the lady who just won my heart?

Hmmm"

He said while slowly letting her hand slip from his as he looks intently in her eyes awakening the butterflies in her stomach. 

Rania lowered her gaze with tightening her grip around the shawl the English man had given. She felt her cheeks burning – she wanted to think it was because of the heat coming from the fireplace but deep down she knew it was the effect of his words.

Daniel was falling for her and he knew there was no end to it. He loved every little thing she did but a part of him kept on reminding him that a lady like her must be taken and has someone waiting for her at home thinking of her while praying day and night of her wellbeing. He felt a strange feeling stir in his heart by the thought of her in someone else arms getting cozy and doing things he desired to do with her. He was getting jealous by

wondering how her daily life would be with the man who owed her heart. 

Lucky bastard!  

He thought but was pulled out of his reverie when he felt a soft touch against his cheek. He felt his heart stopped for a moment while his breath hitched in his throat. He couldn't believe the thing that just happened – he was stunned. The lady gently cupped his cheek and pressed her lips on his left cheek it. She let a soft kiss – her lips lingered on his cheek more than she intended to;

"Thank you…”

She mumbled against his cheek.

Daniel took a sharp intake of breath at her closeness and slowly exhaled through his mouth when she slowly pulled back while her fingers tips softly traced his jaw and continued with saying;

“… for everything you have been doing, you were right without you I might have been dead. Thank you for saving me and fighting for me when it has nothing to do with you.

You must have had plans to spend your night with someone but here you are helping me to get somewhere secure and safer far away from those goons,

Thank you"

She said softly while her thumb gently brushed against his chin.

Their faces were few inches apart. Rania had no idea from where she got the courage to kiss the man and thank him but she felt like he needs to know how truly thankful she was and will always be if she survived to escape from the gangsters.

The two of them were unaware that their entire conversation had an audience, they were being watched by someone who was enjoying way more than he should have but he had no plans of revealing himself until the right moment comes.  

*

Oh God please help us to win over those bad guys and get them behind the bars. Please let us win just like the way this fountain symbolizes the triumph of good over evil…

Rania prayed in her heart as she stood there looking at the Fontaine Saint-Michel;

"Amen"

Said the man with English accent as he came and stood behind her;

"Did I say it out loud?"

She asked him feeling embarrassed;

"Yes, only loud enough for me to hear it"

Daniel said as his lips twitched making the lady blush, he loved the way her cheeks turned a crimson shade whenever she blushed. He wanted to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her in his embrace but he knew he had no right to do that. Both of them stood quietly staring at the architectural beauty in front of them.

One Fountain that had given hope to them!