Chapter One: Why a Companion?
Chapter One: Why a companion?
“Please, Mrs… I mean, Ms. Stevens. You need to be protected.”
“Why?” Sylvia asked as she folded the clothes from the dryer. “What would my ex-husband and his lover want to hurt me for?”
It was Sunday, and the only day off she had this week. Between work, rehearsals, and competitions, she had no time to do anything more than sleep and repeat, so here she was on Sunday, her only day off for the last three weeks, trying to get all the housework done that had piled up. She desperately wanted a break, but there was no one else to do the work since her husband had walked out on her after handing her divorce papers to sign. Off he went, flying across the world to live with his new partner somewhere in Asia. I think.
She did not really care. He was gone, and she was left to pick up the mess he had left behind.
Sylv let out a sigh. This time, his mess was more troublesome. Seems he had become the lover of the head of some mafia?
No, gang? Damnit, I cannot remember what they called it. What a pain.
Seems his lover didn't like loose ends, and she was one. Not only had she been married to Lucas, which pissed Ang off, but he also had this stupid notion that she could be used to get to him.
Which is straight up ridiculous! No one would waste their time on me. It is crazy for him to fall for another man! Okay, maybe not. I mean, he did like to wear stockings under his pants and had tried to get her to peg him on more than one occasion, so there might have been a few clues there. But for God’s sake, why did it have to be some bigwig, ‘mafia’ boss?
“Please, Ms. Stevens, we have even found the perfect protector...”
“I prefer the title companion, and I have not agreed to the job, Mr. Adams. Please do not make such brass assumptions.”
Sylvia turned from the dryer to see a new person standing in her laundry room doorway. She turned her sigh inward. Just one more person to say no to.
Six months ago, Mr. Adams and Mr. Smith had appeared on her doorstep and had not left. FBI wanted to put her in the witness protection program first, but she had downright refused. She had even refused them, but they continued to stay, insistent that Ang or a rival gang would come for her. She had almost lost her job over their appearance, finally convincing her school board members and the community at large that there was nothing to worry about. It took the head of the FBI to come and promise a resolution would be made within six months for them to allow her to continue her role at the school.
It had not been six months, and not one attempt had been made. When Mr. Adams and Mr. Smith had disappeared into meetings regularly this past week, she had hoped it was to prepare for their departure. She should have known it would not be so easy to get rid of them.
She turned to face this new person head-on, not hiding her perusal of him.
He was of an indistinguishable Asian descent with dark hair braided neatly down his back. His clothing was a simple black robe. His build was slight, standing only a few inches taller than her five-foot-two-inch frame, but he gave off an aura of authority and strength that Mr. Adams and Mr. Smith lacked.
Oh well. He will be gone soon enough.
“I will tell you, as I told them,” Sylvia stared directly at him, not backing down from his gaze. “I do not need a bodyguard. I am nothing to these people. So please let me continue with my life.” Sylvia turned and continued with her folding, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I am tired.”
“I see.” The man spoke just loud enough for her to understand his words and no more.
“Ms. Stevens. May I introduce you to Mr. Aki Liang? He is what is known as a companion.”
“Companion? You mean babysitter.” Sylvia snorted.
“I do not babysit.” Aki watched the proud back of the lady before him. When the FBI had made a contract with the Khan, he was the one the Khan had sent. He wished it were because he was the perfect companion, but he knew it came from the Khan’s deep jealousy of his abilities.
“Ms. Stevens. Mr. Liang comes from a very small community of people who… How would you put it, Mr. Liang?” He asked, turning to Aki.
Though Sylvia did not turn or stop her folding, she did pay attention to what the men were saying.
“My people are raised to serve one person, and only one person, with our entire being, till our death.”
He is a servant? Not a bodyguard?
“We are not servants, Ms. Stevens.”
He is a mind reader, too, it seems.
“We are trained to handle any style of living and any situation. We protect our person with our mind, body, and soul. Once we choose who we will serve, we obey only them until the day we die. It is a contract for life.”
“Sounds more like a contract of slavery.” Sylvia had no stomach for a contract of any kind with anyone, ever again.
“Slavery? No. Slavery is owning a person against their will. I am a slave to no one.”
“Yet.”
“Never.”
“You just said you choose to serve one person, ‘mind, body, and soul’. That does not sound like freewill to me.”
“It is if I choose it.”
“Do you?” Sylvia asked, her brown eyes meeting his without flinching as so many had done before her.
“When I find the person I wish to protect, I will.”
“Why?”
“Because I am the perfect companion.”
Sylvia could not tear her gaze away from his.
“Ms. Stevens.” Mr. Smith interrupted their verbal spar. “Mr. Liang is part of a pilot program we have created in the FBI for those who do not wish to be put into the witness protection, but are not currently in direct danger.”
“You are the perfect candidate for this type of ‘partnership’.”
“Really?” Sylvia raised an eyebrow at Mr. Smith, her gaze turning from Aki’s. “He just said it was a lifelong commitment on his part. I am not signing up for that particular program.”
“But you will be in danger for the rest of your life, and we cannot give you that type of protection.”
“And if my ex moves on from his current partner? What if he dies before me?” She gestured toward Aki. “According to him, he will still be with me. How is that fair?”
“That is why it is my decision, not theirs.”
Sylvia threw up her hands. Why did everyone think they had a say in her life?
Damn it, Lucas, you have really screwed me over this time!
“I refuse.” Sylvia turned back to her laundry.
“Ms. Stevens!”
“You may see yourselves out.”
Aki held up his hand to stop Mr. Adams or Mr. Smith from speaking.
“I ask for 24 hours.” Aki understood her emotions. She was strong, yet extremely vulnerable, hiding her pain and insecurities behind a facade of strength and bravado. He would give her twenty-four hours to prove she was worthy of him.
“For what?” Sylvia asked.
“To observe you. I want to know if you are worthy of me.”
Did he just say he wanted to know if I was WORTHY of HIM? Oh, this man has some balls on him. I do not need his ‘services’.
“I already told you. I refuse your services. There is nothing I can or will do that will make me ‘worthy’ of your services. So let’s not bother going through the motions.” Sylvia gave the other gentlemen a pointed look. “We all know how this is going to end.”
“That is not your decision to make.”
“I beg to differ.”
“I will observe you whether or not you wish it.” It was obvious these FBI agents had left her in the dark about how serious her situation was, but he had no such qualm. “Two men are watching this house, and they are not here to protect you.” C
