Chapter 3: Safety Personified

“Aiana Serenity—”

“Sephiro, calm down.”

The tension was palpable in the air within the office of the Lopez family’s head, Sephiro Lopez. Everyone in the room feigns familiarity with the situation, as if today would be the first time Serenity has to be forced into seclusion.

Every member of the Lopez family has to live in the shadows, occasionally going out of their offices to attend conferences and meetings across different countries. And whenever they walk out of their very own doors, there’d also be people who are out for their heads.

This definitely isn’t the first time Serenity has faced such grave danger, but for some reason, things have gotten out of control. The majority of the threats have shifted to her rather than to Sephiro, along with the sudden rise of marriage proposals.

Nothing new, really.

And yet Sephiro began to act strangely…

“Dad, I’m sorry. I swear I was careful—”

“Serene, you weren’t careful. I don’t know whatever the hell was going on in your head, but I won’t be condoning your behavior any longer.”

Is this a facade in front of Mom? Or so Serenity thinks.

Amora Lopez, her mother, was never one to agree with forcing her into hiding. Serenity deserves to live her life as she desires, after all. That’s what all of them believe, except Sephiro would rather take a bullet right through his head than let his daughter walk in a room of predators waiting to devour her alive.

The trust Sephiro and Amora had placed on Serenity was far stronger than Serenity thought, but times had certainly changed. A big organization is after Serenity.

“Estella is after you.”

“Estella?”

With a single tap on the table, the door made way for Vince’s entrance. He quietly made his way beside Sephiro, holding a folder with documents containing information about Estella.

The room had gone silent as the folder was handed to Serenity for her to read. It was a profile of a person with different faces, changing depending on the place they take refuge in.

Confused, she handed it back to her father. “Who’s that?”

“Estella, or maybe not. No one knows their true identity, but they’re known to own our biggest and the shadiest competitor out there. Their company shows no signs of corruption, but we know damn well.”

Vince let out an exhale, shaking his head. “They have spent decades with one purpose— taking us down.”

“I had an agent that was able to infiltrate their base and take a snap of their target board.”

“And where is that agent?” Serenity asked carefully, afraid of what her father would say next.

“We don’t know, but what we do know is that they’re after you.”

Once again, Serenity flipped the pages open and found the blurry picture of the target board. Despite it being vague, she was pretty sure the pictures taken were hers. And every single one seemed like a picture taken by paparazzi.

Serenity shivered in fear as she closed the folder, aware that she was already being watched while she was hiding in the Philippines. And she had no idea…

“You’re lucky I sent Lionel your way, Serene.”

“But…” she stammered as she looked at Vince. “You were there the whole time?”

The lack of response from Vince made her realize she was not the least bit careful the entire time. She had only been kept safe by Vince, who knew exactly how to move in the shadows. Of course, Serenity was unaware that he never left her side.

Up until now, Serenity hadn’t realized what kind of situation she would be put in. Laying low had deluded her into thinking the dangers were nothing but a couple of empty threats.

“I don’t think I can still live my life the way I wanted to…” Serenity grieved inside her head as she looked down on her fidgeting hands.

Fear had crept into her very veins once again. After a long time, she’s been free of anxiety. Now, this is where it ends…

“Okay…” she muttered as she wiped the tear that fell from her eye, toughening herself up for what was coming. “A deal is a deal, Dad. I’ll get ready to go.”

Sephiro sighed. “I’m sorry, Serene…”

She simply shook her head as she walked out of the office, and made her way to the room that she once called hers. Soon enough, Vince was trailing her.

“Why are you following me?”

“Orders, ma’am,” Vince simply replied.

“I don’t want you following me.”

“Can’t do.”

Serenity’s head was more clouded than it ever was. She didn’t want anyone in her perimeter, but she knew damn well that she couldn’t be too far from the guard that was assigned to her by her father.

A sigh escaped from her lips as she plopped on her bed. “How the fuck is this even close to the life they wanted me to lead?”

Agony was written all over Serenity’s pretty face. Knowing she had no control over her very own life frustrated her down to the core, but what could the only heiress of the Lopez wealth do besides listen?

She has always adored the life her parents had given her. But growing up, she realized her wings had been cut off by the responsibilities that had been mounted on her back at a very early age.

Serenity was once a kid as well. She really was. And yet she had to grow up faster than most. Otherwise, her life would have been a total mess.

At the age of six, Serenity had already begun to gather a whole lot of identities just so she could go out. She didn’t have anything permanent. Friends, a house, a life, her identity. Everything changes just so she could remain safe from the guns being pointed at her head.

If there was something permanent, it was probably Vince.

“Vince…” she called as she covered her eyes with her arm.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Come close.”

As if a robot that only moves via controller, with it being Serenity herself, Vince walked closer to the bed. He stood by Serenity, who was discreetly weeping as she kept her eyes covered.

Vince didn’t say anything. After all, he already knows what it is that Serenity wants to say. How could he not when he was the only one that’s ever remained constant in the latter’s life?

“Do you need something, madam?”

“Don’t you ever leave me, Vin.”

“I won’t.”

It was a statement that was always too familiar with both of them, almost identical to a curse that’d been etched on each other’s souls. Like an invisible string that binds them for all eternity.

Serenity doesn’t care whether promises are meant to be broken. It wasn’t meant to be one, anyway. Neither of them has ever thought about it as a promise.

It was a vow, a pledge of loyalty. Something a tad too intense to be called a mere promise. Rather than that, Serenity would rather call it ownership.

“Do you hate me?” she asked, feeling her heart ache from the question.

“Never, Serene.”

“Not once did you hate me?”

“I guess you’re still the same old Serenity, after all.”

Serenity shut her eyes tightly as she finally felt all the pain wash over her. The physical pain, the emotional one, everything.

“Well, I hate you,” she lied as she allowed herself to sink into her sheets.

The pain she was feeling was palpable, but it’s all because she was already at peace. Her body had stopped tensing up, perhaps because Vince’s presence neutralized her system.

Safety, if you put it into words.

Amidst the utter chaos of their relationship’s nature, Serenity only ever feels safe when Vince is in her presence. Despite how they treated each other, she could never deny it. Perhaps that explains the inexplicable obsession between their relationship.

Silence reigned across the room, with Serenity forcing herself to forget what she had done once again. It is only now that it’s sinking in to her how much she fucked up.

“Hey…” she called, shutting her eyes tightly as she thought about it even more.

“Hmm?”

“Do you think Dad knows?”

“About what?”

“Us. The things we do when no one’s looking.”

Vince had been fighting the urge to let his emotions spill out, his tone remaining a monotone. He’s nothing more than Serenity’s bodyguard, is he not? Of course, he’d have no need for extra emotions.

And yet when it comes to her and the things she says, he can’t.

“What things, ma’am?” he asked, smirking.

Serenity removed the pillow that was covering her face. “Oh, now you don’t know?”

Vince shrugged, chuckling at her expression. “Perhaps I don’t.”

“Did you lock the door?”

“I did.”

Never have they ever done it in any of the Lopez manors. But the expression Serenity wore was far more ruthless and dangerous than it was the previous night.

Can I resist? It was the only thing going on inside Vince’s mind, but he was sure as hell that he was going to end up wrapped around her palm once again. She hasn’t even done a thing, yet he’s already struggling to hold his rationale.

Slowly, Serenity stood up until she was face to face with Vince. “You don’t remember?”

“What am I supposed to remember?”

No one turned the air conditioner up, but it was as if the heat just kept on going up as Serenity drew closer to him. Fury was written all over Serenity’s face, but all Vince could think was how majestic she looked despite her eyebrows being furrowed.

Vince knew he was bound to lose when Serenity started to strip herself of the many layers she had covered her body in. She angrily tossed her clothes aside until she was left with her undergarments.

Red and purple marks laced across her neck and chest, going down to her thighs and legs. At that point on, Vince could no longer suppress the crazy grin on his face. Despite him trying to keep a straight face, it was impossible.

If this is the only way I can own Serenity, then let it all be damned.

“I hope you fucking remember now,” she spat at him as she pushed him aside, causing him to fall on the bed. “I’ll take a bath.”

“Can you? Would you like me to help you clean up?”

Serenity halted from walking, then looked down at Vince’s bulge. “I’d like to die another way, Vince. Now, stay there and shut the fuck up.”