The news about the attempted kidnapping of Artemis Clemonte has reached President Archer Clemonte's ears. Upon hearing the news, he was furious. He didn't expect that there was someone out there who got a grudge on his daughter.
Good thing, Artemis' mother wasn't in the office when Mr. Craig told about it. And he didn't tell his wife too that their daughter was hospitalized. Or else she'd faint.
As a father, he investigated on who's the culprit and if there was someone behind it. They both needed to be punished.
Artemis woke up and the first thing she saw was a white ceiling, then an IV drip on her left side. She raised her hand and there was the IV injected on it. She was really in a hospital.
"Seriously..." she sighed.
The worst room she could ever be was the hospital room. She hates it very much.
She stood up and checked for her belongings at a cabinet. She was just glad that all her belongings were there.
She quickly changed her clothes.
Born as a workaholic person, Artemis sneaked out of the hospital and went straight to the company. She didn't have time to slack off. She haven't contacted Ms. Wang yet and it was also necessary for her to check the materials they'd be using on the opening of the 30th anniversary that would be on the first week next month. So she didn't have the time to rest.
As she walked towards the elevator, she was terrified when reporters and medias came out of nowhere to her like predators just saw their prey, blocking her way.
She wasn't prepared and her head was starting to throb from the flashes of cameras.
"Was there really an attempted kidnapping that happened, Miss Diana Abbott?" one reporter said, making her mic closed to her.
"There's none," she just replied and tried to walk past them. But the reporters were so thickheaded and kept on blocking her way, making her suffocate in the middle of them.
"Do you know who is the culprit?" someone asked.
She kept on shaking her head as she walked. Her hands were covering her eyes from the flashes.
"Sorry, but I need to go," she declared.
"Miss Diana, is it true that you're Archer Clemonte's woman?"
"Are you his mistress?"
"Is that why you became the vice president of AC Apparel?"
Reporters kept on bombarding her questions. She wished that the company's security would stopped them from pushing her. They were too many for her to handle, and she was kept pushed in the center plus the flashes were hurting her eyes.
She wished someone would just come and saved her. She wished that person again to appear.
Until she felt someone came and shielded its blazer and escorted her out. She looked up to the person. When she thought it was one of the security, but it was him again. And her head was once again near his chest. She felt a sudden outage of air in her lungs.
She couldn't distinguish if it's because it was crowded or the fact that she was very near to a guy.
But one thing was for sure, the nerd guy saved her life again. And again. He kept on helping her out of the blue.
She remembered what happened that night and she thought he was amazing. And she was glad that he was there or else she'd end up dead or what somewhere else.
With the help of company's security also, she managed to get out from the crowd and entered an elevator.
She moved away from him, she was holding him tightly as they escaped.
She awkwardly glanced at him. "Thanks," she murmured.
"It's my job," he replied. His deep and husky voice was ringing in her ears. She stopped herself from the delusion.
The door opened and before going out, she checked the floor number out of habit and it was not the floor for her office.
"Mr. Clemonte wanted to see you," he said, and they went out.
She heaved a sigh. She knew her father very much and she was a hundred percent sure that he was worried. But she didn't know if he knew if she was hospitalized.
Come to think of it, she didn't know who took her to the hospital.
She gazed at Joseph's back. She was sure that it was him, but how? And how did the media find out about what happened that night?
"Artemis..." Mr. Clemonte hugged her as soon as she entered the office. "How come you're not resting at the hospital? I've readied the security already."
So he knew...Artemis thought.
"I'm fine. There's no big damage," she made sure. "But why...I mean, how come the reporters know about it?"
She was totally puzzled by that. By all means, her identity being Artemis Clemonte must be kept secret until the 30th anniversary.
She glanced at him then looked back to her dad. It didn't mind anymore. As long as the culprit was caught, she'd be relieved by then.
"Was there any police?"
"Yes,"
"So the culprit?" She was expecting he was caught. She knew there would be police right away.
"The police came late and they didn't find the culprit as per Mr. Reyes' instruction," Mr. Craig disclosed.
She let out a heavy sigh and sat down.
"Don't worry, my daughter. I especially hired someone to protect you," her father rubbed her shoulder. "He'll be there as we investigate about the incident."
"You mean a bodyguard?"
"He won't just be a bodyguard but also your personal secretary,"
"Who?"
"Mr. Joseph Markus Reyes," Craig answered. "He's a blackbelter in taekwondo and a gold medalist also. He is your secretary now and will accompany you wherever you go."
She turned around and took a gander at Joseph. He bowed down as a respect to her.
"Please don't reject Artemis," his father held her hands. "You're in danger and I don't want this to happen again. You even received a threat already the other day."
She nodded and gave an assurance to her father.
She went to her office together with Joseph. They were silent and it was awkward.
"You can leave now," she commanded when they're inside the office.
"Then, I'll be outside. Please just call me whenever you need me," he dismissed himself.
She slumped to the couch. She haven't started working yet but it was already a heavy day for her.
There was a white folder above her desk. She stood up and read it. It was Joseph Markus Reyes' resume.
The memories of continuous help from him went inside her mind. She haven't had the chance to thank him properly.
And when she thought that he was just a nerd but a blackbelter in taekwondo. That was unexpected. Maybe that was why his chest was that broad. Remembering it made her felt hot.
"You could tell me if you want to replace your bodyguard," a text message came from his father popped up.
"Joseph Markus..." she uttered, staring at his picture of his resume.
She just remembered his looks. She hurriedly went out and Secretary Reyes was on his desk.
She was surprised to see his new looks. He was not wearing eyeglasses and his hair was brushed up. He's even wearing a black suit.
"Yes, Miss Clemonte?"
She cut out from dazing. "A-Ah n-nothing," she stuttered and went back inside.
Wow. Just wow. How could one person became so handsome in just brushing up his hair and wearing a black suit? Anyways, he was already handsome, just nerdy. But his new look was really surprising.
She thought he was some celebrity.
"A celebrity adoring a celebrity-like person," she muttered and sat down.
A call came to her personal phone. It was unknown number. She was hesitant to answer it. It might be the culprit.
"Hello?" she slowly said.
"Diana?" an old voice cracked on the other line.
"Who is this, please?" Why some old woman called her, even has her personal number? It couldn't be--- "Ms. Wang?"
"How are you, dear? My niece received some missed calls coming from you the other day,"
She stood up, still couldn't believe that it was Ms. Wang who was just on the other line.
"Is this really Ms. Wang?" she made sure.
"Yes. Have you forgotten when we met at the villa and you modeled for my wedding gowns. That was for my last show held there," she told.
'Oh my gosh...' she mouthed.
It was really her.
"C-Can we meet perhaps, Ms. Wang? I would like to see your wedding gowns," she hastily requested. She was delighted when she called her, so she needed to take the chance.
"I'd be glad. We can meet at my own villa. My niece will text you the address, Diana."
"Yes, I'll be waiting. I'll call if I'm on my way,"
"I'll be waiting also," she sweetly said.
They ended the call with each other's goodbye.
While waiting for the text from Anna, Ms. Wang's niece, she tidied up herself. Then, she recalled she haven't had any shower and her clothes were still the same the other day. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked pale.
"This won't do,"
She got her phone and bag. She needed to go home first and take a shower before going to Ms. Wang.
She came out and walked hurriedly, almost ran towards the elevator.
"Ms. Clemonte," Joseph called.
She stopped and looked back. She forgot that she already have a bodyguard.
"Faster, come with me. I needed to go home," she demanded.
Puzzled, Joseph came out from his counter and ran towards her.
"What's the matter?" he asked, curioused. To see her in a hurry, there must be something.
"Ms. Wang contacted me and told that I can meet her on her villa," she excitedly told the news.
"Are you sure it's her? Maybe it's the culprit," Joseph was not convinced. As her bodyguard, he needed to be attentive and second thoughts were always there.
"Yes. You can call her and her niece's number to affirm," she proposed and went in the elevator when it opened.
Joseph got the numbers from her phone and tried to call each. But he couldn't make a call inside the elevator. He gave up and would just call once they're out.
Just then, the lights inside the elevator kept on fluctuating. And a sudden stop surprised them, and everything around went black.
Since it made a sudden stop, she was outbalanced and was leaned on Joseph's chest...yet again. And her arms were almost hugging him.
Her eyes widened and immediately stood straight. She was so close to him again. And what was wrong with her face that kept on feeling hot?
"Sorry," she said.
"Not a problem,"
"I mean, if I smell something bad or what. I haven't had any shower and my clothes were the ones from the other day. My hair might smells bad," she shyly said.
She heard a laugh afterwards. She looked at him confusely. "Why?"
"Nothing. We're stuck in the elevator yet you're worrying about how you smell?" he continued laughing.
She was in awe staring at him. He could laugh hard. She couldn't even imagine it before not until that moment. And he laughed so manly.
"You have a beautiful laugh," she mindlessly murmured. She saw him stopped. Oh no. "I mean, it's unusual to hear a laugh from the likes of you."
"I'm human after all. And you, I never imagine that you could be like a lost child. I thought your strictness is 24/7."
She let out an unbelievable sigh. He sure was teasing her. To avoid more of his tease, she pressed the emergency button.
Five minutes had passed and the elevator was working again. Thank goodness. She went out and she's glad that there were no reporters on the basement.
With Joseph following her, she climbed the car fastly. Cautious with the reporters might appear.
"I'll drive," he offerred.
She shook her head. "You don't know where I stay. But I'll let you drive on our way to Ms. Wang," she reassured him. She thought he might have some work complexity. That whatever his job role, he should compromise to it.
They arrived at her own house inside a subdivision. Joseph was amazed by the landscape and how wide her house's area was.
"You can go in and take a look around or drink water or sit in the living room. You can also grab a bite if you want. My kitchen can be found easily," she quickly instructed and rushed inside her house.
Joseph could not speak on how fast she spoke. But anyways, he went in and roamed his eyes around.
It consisted of minimals colors only. Mostly white. There was a big vase by the entrance, with a real Chinese bamboo. And going forth, there's a big family portrait. He knew who were the two adults but the little girl that Mr. Archer was carrying, he didn't know.
He came closer and it was Ms. Artemis. She was around five, he guessed. And her face hasn't changed at all.
The portrait was the Clemonte family.
Then, followed by it, was her self-portrait. It was when she was still a celebrity. When she was Diana Abbott. She was dashing her one million dollar smile. Her eyes were glittering.
He still didn't see those eyes of hers yet. But just a day, he was seeing another Artemis Clemonte already.