♱ THE BODYGUARD: CH 1. THE CONTRACT.
summary: after years of your personal security being under your father’s thumb and subject to his watchful eye, you decide to take matters into your own hands and hire your own personal bodyguard: noah sebastian. he’s the best in the business and won’t let anything stand in the way of making you his number one priority.
cw: 18 + 𝖒𝖉𝖓𝖎. bodyguard!noah, heiress!reader, subtle to shameless flirting, negotiating contracts, noah is a pain in the ass, katana mention. tags will be included per chapter.
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Two weeks had passed since your job proposal, and not a word. You were beginning to think that maybe Noah wasn’t interested and wouldn’t call at all. That was until one late evening, when you received an unexpected phone call.
“I can meet with you tomorrow to discuss the arrangements.”
“I’m sorry?” The voice was familiar, that cool, impersonal tone easy to identify as Noah’s, but the abruptness of it, speaking as though he were the one in charge and you would simply answer to his beck and call, made it difficult to hide the disdain in your voice. Were it not for the fact that you were desperate to make a point, and that Noah was regarded as one of the best in private security, you’d happily take your business elsewhere.
“There’s no need for you to apologise. Send over your address and I’ll be there in the morning.”
You found yourself floundering for even the sharpest comeback, left momentarily speechless by a man who clearly knew how to act when it came to getting what he wanted.
“What makes you think I haven’t already found someone?” you challenged, hoping to remind him that he wasn’t the one calling the shots here.
“Because you haven’t. Or do you always take calls from numbers you don’t recognise?”
No matter how flat he kept his voice, you caught the faint huff of amusement on the other end of the line.
“It’s my personal phone, and I’ll do with it as I wish.”
“Is that so?”
Was he serious? It took everything in you not to let out even the slightest sound of frustration. Closing your eyes, you drew a slow breath, trying to compose yourself before his voice pulled you back.
“I’ll see you at ten am sharp tomorrow. And, ma’am.”
The formal address almost caught you off guard. Letting out a tentative, “Yes?” you felt heat prickling along the back of your neck.
“It would be best if you didn’t lie to me in the future. If you’re entrusting me with your life, I’ll need to know everything to ensure your safety. Do you understand?”
Whiplash. That was the only way you could describe it. One moment you felt irritated, the next a flush of heat swept over you, only to be replaced by annoyance all over again. Who did this man think he was, speaking to you like that? If he was lucky enough for you to hire him, then it was you he’d be answering to, not the other way around.
“Mr Sebastian, if you prove yourself to be a worthy hire, then—”
“Then we can discuss your demands for this arrangement to work tomorrow.” He cut you off, and any lingering warmth twisted straight back into irritation, only amplified by the sound of the line going dead as he hung up.
Suddenly, the arrogant attitude that had you chasing after him to accept the job had you reconsidering hiring him altogether.
As promised, Noah arrived the next morning at ten am, carrying two coffees.
“I have a coffee maker, you know.” You laughed, accepting one of the cups, the aroma of honey wafting through the slit in the lid. When he’d asked you to text him your coffee order, you hadn’t anticipated that he’d actually buy you one.
“I guessed as much, but I know better than to show up to a lady’s house empty handed.”
It felt like a complete one eighty from the man you’d spoken to on the phone. The charming gentleman standing before you was still reserved. While his tone was certainly lighter, it lacked any true emotion, and his face remained just as difficult to read.
Unlike the first time you’d met him, he wasn’t fresh from the gym. The citrus body spray had been replaced with something richer and bolder, carrying sharp leathery notes. It was unlike the familiar scents of the men who moved within your social circles, the ones who practically bathed themselves in Giorgio Armani or Christian Dior. You much preferred Noah’s. It was subtler than the overpowering fragrances that had always lingered around your former security detail.
He was dressed more appropriately, too. Though he still wore black from head to toe, the workout trousers had been exchanged for tailored slacks, paired with a fitted black t-shirt tucked neatly into them. A black leather belt pulled the entire outfit together, while polished leather brogues completed the look. Casual as he appeared, he radiated professionalism.
“Shall we discuss?” Noah’s voice burst the little bubble you’d drifted into, completely distracted by him, by the sight of him, and by how unexpectedly pleasant he now seemed.
“Oh—yes, of course.” Nodding, you led him into the living room, settling into one of the armchairs before gesturing for him to take a seat on the couch.
Even as he sat, he remained alert, his gaze travelling methodically around the room as though assessing every inch of it before returning to you.. “Is that your only entrance and exit?” He gestured toward the front door.
Your brows furrowed. “Uh… yes.”
He nodded, seemingly making a mental note.
Shifting in your seat, you set your coffee on the nearby side table. “You take this seriously.” A soft laugh followed, but when you looked back at Noah, there wasn’t a trace of amusement in his expression. Honestly, he looked just as unreadable as he had the first time you’d met him.
“And why wouldn’t I?”
“Oh, no, that’s not a bad thing. It’s just… you’re already more thorough than my former security team.”
“They worked for your father, did they not?”
“Yes.” You sighed, rolling your eyes.
“Then their loyalty was to him, not you. Even if you were the charge under their care, you weren’t their priority.”
“So with you…?”
“You’ll be my priority.”
That shouldn’t have had the effect on you that it did. Heat settled low in your stomach, your skin prickling at the thought of someone making you their priority.
“And your other clients?”
“I have a team of officers who can assume my duties whenever necessary.”
“So you’ll drop them for me?”
“If you become my priority, I’ll make the necessary arrangements to ensure they’re looked after.” He met your gaze evenly. “But that’s my concern. Here is what I expect from you.”
“What you expect from me?” Your voice rose, unable to disguise your surprise at the shift in conversation.
“If I’m to keep you safe and do my job, then I have a few rules I’d like you to follow.”
“Oh, of course you do.” It took every ounce of restraint not to roll your eyes.
“I understand you have a fairly full schedule.”
“How do you—”
“I do my research when it comes to potential clients.”
“Well… yeah. I help with one of the charities my family supports, along with a few other projects.”
“Then I’d like you to send me your itinerary for the week ahead, along with any day to day amendments. Unplanned deviations should be kept to a minimum.”
“I can add you to my calendar.”
The only acknowledgement he gave was a small nod before continuing.
“I’ll handle all pre clearances ahead of time. I assume you have a personal driver?”
“Yes. He’s been with me since I was a teenager.”
“Sentimental.” You weren’t entirely sure whether that was meant as a compliment or a criticism. Even the way he said it was impossibly flat. “I’ll be riding with you from now on. Front passenger seat.”
You had no objections.
“It’s imperative that you follow my advice. I know you may think I’m being overly demanding, but—”
“You have my best interests at heart?” You finished the sentence for him, one brow arching.
“You are my client. Whether or not I do a good job is determined by the fact that you remain alive and unharmed.”
“You really do take this seriously.”
“Is that a complaint?”
“An observation.”
“How perceptive of you.”
You could have sworn you caught the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth as he repeated your own words back to you, as though suppressing the urge to smirk.
“Any other requests?” you teased. “Your own room for sleepovers?” It was clearly a joke. Noah, however, didn’t react. Not even a flicker crossed his face.
“Staying overnight shouldn’t be necessary, provided I find nothing concerning during my final sweep of your apartment before I leave each evening. Should an incident occur that requires my presence overnight, the couch will suffice.”
Your eyes flicked between Noah and the couch he perched upon, sitting near the edge as though ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. It was difficult to imagine someone of his height and build finding much comfort on an oversized two seater, but you weren’t about to argue with him.
“If you say so.” You brushed the thought aside, glancing down into your lap before looking back up at him. “I suppose all that’s left is your fee.”
“Thirty thousand dollars a month.”
Your jaw nearly dropped.
“That covers daily expenses, specialised services, armed protection, travel, and accommodation when and where necessary.”
“And your lavish lifestyle.”
“Oh, you’ll come to find there’s nothing lavish about my lifestyle.”
Somehow, you believed him. Even the watch on his wrist caught your attention. The leather strap looked worn, and you were fairly certain the time hadn’t changed once during the entire meeting. Looking closer, you thought you spotted a faint crack spreading from the edge of the watch face.
“Am I right in assuming I’ll be billing your father?”
“No.”
The answer came so quickly that the subtle lift of his brows became the first genuine emotion you’d seen cross his face.
“No?”
“No.” This time, your voice was firmer. “You work for me. I’ll be handling your fee. You can bill me.” For the first time in your life, your father’s money wouldn’t influence someone responsible for taking care of you.
“Then I’ll send the invoices directly to you.” Noah nodded without argument or objection, though there was a distinct glimmer of curiosity in his eyes as they lingered on you. It made you squirm in your seat, feeling as though he were quietly trying to assess and understand you.
“Did you have any questions for me?”
“Just one.” He stood. “Did your apartment come with a storage unit in the garage?”
“Yes…?”
“Can I see it?”
Suddenly, you found yourself with far more questions as you watched Noah pace around the hundred square foot concrete storage unit.
“Do you need to be alone for a minute?” you asked, watching him lower himself to the floor, pressing an ear against the concrete.
A moment later, his gaze lifted to the ceiling before he sprang back to his feet, as though assessing whether the floor to ceiling height would be sufficient.
“No need. Though I do request that you allow me to make use of this space while I’m under your employment.”
Without giving it a second thought, you answered. “Go ahead. It’s all yours to use. Just don’t go upsetting any of my neighbours.” You could easily imagine his chilling demeanour causing some sort of issue. Not that you ever used the space yourself. Personally, you found this corner of the garage daunting. It was dark and dreary, tucked away from any natural light, with only the fluorescent fixtures overhead providing a dull, artificial glow.
“What are you going to do with it?” Curiosity gnawed at you as Noah continued to inspect the room, his gaze sweeping over the walls as though mentally filling the empty space.
“I enjoy working out in my downtime while with a client.” His attention shifted back to you. “I box.”
You nodded slowly, as though that somehow answered the question you hadn’t yet asked. “That explains the boxing gym.”
“That was a gift from an old family friend,” he explained, walking back toward you. “It doubles as an office rather well.” He gave a lazy shrug before looking around the room once more, nodding to himself. “But this will work perfectly. I can begin tomorrow.”
“Not today?” Your sardonic tone had slipped away, making the question sound far more eager than you’d intended.
“Well…” The corner of his mouth twitched. “If you’re that desperate.”
“I’m not,” you interjected quickly, wanting nothing more than to wipe away the metaphorical smirk you could already picture on his face.
“I’ll email the contract over later today. Once you’ve signed it, we can start fresh tomorrow.”
“And I’ll add you to my calendar.” It was your final attempt at getting the last word in, a small, snide jab.
All Noah did was nod, unexpectedly agreeable, the faintest trace of a smile lingering at the corner of his mouth. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” A beat passed. “Bright and early.”
“So, how did the meeting go?” The voice of your bestfriend, Brenda, chimed through the phone.
“Ugh… well, he agreed to take the job and starts tomorrow, so…” Balancing the phone between your ear and shoulder, you opened the fridge and reached inside, pulling out everything you needed to make yourself a sandwich.
Brenda had been the one listening to all your woes when it came to the security detail your father had insisted upon, and now she got to listen to you continue complaining about the one you’d chosen yourself. Maybe that was all you ever did, complain. Still, she was an angel for listening, never judging you, always finding a way to remind you not to get too caught up in the little things. A reality check was probably the nicest way to describe it.
“Is he hot?”
“What? Brenda!” You let out a startled squeal.
“Oh, come on! I just want to know if my bestfriend is in capable hands.” Rolling your eyes, you waited through the brief pause before she hurriedly added, “Now show me a picture. Come on, show me, show me.”
“Fine, fine.” Laughing, you slipped your phone from between your ear and shoulder and tapped the screen to switch the call to speaker. As Brenda waited impatiently, you searched for Omens Security’s website before finding Noah’s staff portrait and forwarding it to her.
“Oh my… hello, tattooed hunk.” She let out a low whistle, making you roll your eyes once more.
“Maybe I should hire a security guard if they all look that good.”
“Ha-ha. He’s okay.”
“Okay?!” Brenda exclaimed. “Have you seen those tattoos? Those muscles? Oh, yeah… you’re in very good hands.”
Shaking your head, you glanced back down at the photo on your phone, recalling how he’d looked in person earlier that day. Smartly dressed, his hair, though still overgrown, had been styled into something more professional.
“I mean…” Your voice softened, almost embarrassed to admit you’d noticed. “He did smell kind of good.”
“He did?” Brenda gasped dramatically. “How did he smell? Tell me.”
You laughed.
“I have to live vicariously through you, so humour me.”
“Okay… he smelled sort of… rich and leathery, but not overpowering. It was classy. Nothing like what every other guy wears.”
“Dior Sauvage,” Brenda declared in an exaggerated accent before making a theatrical retching noise.
“It was nice. And he looked… really well dressed in all black and…”
“You said his name was Noah Sebastian, right?”
“Yes…” You frowned. “Why?”
“Because Google tells me he has a medal.”
“What?” You almost didn’t believe her.
Looking down at your phone, you opened the link she’d just sent, setting the butter knife aside as your attention shifted entirely to the article.
“He was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor,” Brenda read aloud while your eyes skimmed over the article alongside her. “Sebastian and Ruffilo had been off duty at the time… their actions were deemed heroic.”
“Wow…”
You scrolled farther down until you found an old photograph of Noah, noticeably younger, standing beside a man you vaguely recognised: Folio. The caption beneath identified the four men from left to right as Sebastian, Folio, Ruffilo, and Karlsson.
“Sounds like he’s exactly the kind of guy you want protecting you,” Brenda said, breaking the silence that had settled.
You found yourself more impressed by the fact that you’d never heard him mention it. Most people in your social circles had a habit of boasting about their achievements, yet Noah seemed different. Completely self aware of his abilities, certainly, but humble enough that he’d never once mentioned receiving such a prestigious honour.
Just then, your attention was drawn away by an email notification.
From: Noah Sebastian. Subject: Contract Agreement.
You tapped the notification, opening the email to find a brief, impeccably formal message waiting for you.
Good evening, Attached you’ll find a PDF containing our agreed contract terms. Please sign and return it at your earliest convenience. Regards, Noah Sebastian Head of Security, Bad Omens Security Ltd No: ### ### ### Email: [email protected]
As you tapped the attachment to open and began scrolling through the agreement, Brenda’s voice faded into the background. Then one line caught your attention.
“I’m sorry, Bee. I have to go.”
“What? Did something happen? Is it hot security guy?”
“Oh, it’s something, all right…” The words came through gritted teeth.
Ending the call, you huffed before scrolling to Noah’s contact and pressing Call. It rang a couple of times before his voice came through the receiver, just as flat and devoid of emotion as it had been every other time you’d spoken to him.
“Hello?”
“Are you serious about this?” You didn’t even bother greeting him.
“That depends.” A beat of silence followed. “Am I serious about what?”
Clearing your throat, you held the phone up and read directly from the contract. “‘I must carry a katana on me at all times.’ You cannot be serious. And who even owns a katana?”
“I do.”
“Of course you do.” Letting out a sigh, you pinched the bridge of your nose.
“I suppose you disagree?” The evenness of his voice only fuelled your irritation, as though he genuinely couldn’t understand why you found the request absurd.
“Why would I need a katana? Why would anyone?”
“You can calm down now.” His tone remained infuriatingly level. “There is no katana, and there will be no katana.”
“Really?” The word came out cautiously, as though you weren’t entirely convinced you should believe him.
“Really. I include that clause simply to see whether clients actually read the contract in its entirety. Most people are far too comfortable skimming over it, or barely reading it at all, before signing something they haven’t actually looked through.”
“Well, I was always taught to read things before signing my life away.”
“Consider me impressed.”
You didn’t know why those three words made the corner of your mouth twitch into a smile, as though he’d somehow bestowed a rare compliment upon you.
“Was that a test, Mr Sebastian?”
“If it was, then you certainly passed.” Even though you couldn’t see him, you could hear the faint smile in his voice.
It should have annoyed you that the man you’d entrusted with your safety was finding little ways to toy with you. Instead, you found it strangely amusing, enticing even. There were more layers to Noah Sebastian than the cool, impenetrable exterior he presented to the world. You could only hope that, in time, you’d be fortunate enough to discover what else lay beneath.
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