"No," Yves said in a flat, finalized tone. "I don't want to be his bodyguard."
When he signed a contract under Rigma Protection Agency, he made it clear that he was willing to guard anyone from high-profile VIPs to businessmen with shady practices. But to work as a bodyguard for this man sitting cross-legged in front of him, Yves didn't think he could handle it.
He just can't.
Richard sighed dramatically, resting his chin over his palm like a sulking kid. "Ah, that's too bad. Can't do anything about it, I guess. I'm even keen on paying double to hire such an outstanding bodyguard. Maybe he's not as great as you think he is, Michelle. I mean, look at how... delicate he looked?"
Annoyance pulsated in Yves' ears at the belittling comment, but he ignored it because he knew what Richard was playing at, and he's not going to play along. At the sound of double payment, though, he swore he saw a peso sign flashed in Michelle's eyes, so he looked away with a grumble when she turned to him.
"Yves, dear. Can I have a word with you?" Michelle threw a polite smile towards their client. "Alone."
The chair gave a slight creak when the congressman stood, his grin widening as if he had won the election for the next two decades. He gestured to the door.
"We'll be outside," Richard said, then he strode out of the office with a confident gait, his secretary and sleep deprived-looking bodyguard following him. Before he closed the door, he cast another meaningful statement. "I look forward to having a favorable outcome, Michelle."
A soft click signified their departure. Yves had the sudden notion to follow and slid the man into a nearby trash bin. Just like what he did to his son.
But he refrained from doing so because unlike last night where he's a guest to a friends' wedding and not a bodyguard on duty, he's at work where his professionalism will be questioned if he did anything drastic.
Yves could feel a headache coming his way. An exasperated sigh escaped him.
"So," Michelle began, crisscrossing her fingers, then rested her chin on top of it. "You assaulted a politician's son. Let's try to reason with that."
Yves coughed an invisible phlegm of guilt to his fist. "You knew?"
"Angela filled me in," Michelle said, sending him a wink. "She also knew you're my employee, but Richard and Glenn don't, and let's keep it that way. She had her... reasons."
Yves blinked as his eyeglasses slid to the bridge of his nose.
So, Miss Secretary was aware of who he was all along, but pretended she didn't. He knew that prior to any event a client would attend to, it's important to know the names and a bit of background of the people a client might interact with to avoid getting into potential dangers. So, more than surprised, it baffled him that she left them in the dark.
Well, Michelle said she had her reasons, and that's none of his business.
Still, he refused to work for that man with a sexy smile that probably had made plenty of gay men orgasmed using just his facial hair.
Yves pushed his eyeglasses with his ring finger because he didn't just think about that stuff. He cleared his throat to distract himself. "What I did to his son is personal reason. But since I'm not on duty yesterday, I don't think I need to reason with that. And he started it first. God knows how much I tried to be patient with him."
Michelle hummed in contemplation. "Well, Glenn is my godson, so I know how problematic he could get sometimes, but he's not always like that. I'm sure he's just having a hard time."
Having a hard time over what? His father's sexual orientation? And here he thought homophobia already died in the early 21st century.
Yves could only roll his eyes because their generation should know better. "I'm sure he's just insecure because he has underlying issues with himself. But that isn't my problem and I'm not going to babysit a problematic child."
Michelle laughed. "Then why not just babysit his daddy instead? Richard is a little flirty, but he's not a bad guy. That much, I can assure. I'm sure you can handle an old man in need of care."
There was something about the way Michelle worded it that made Yves blush. What was she playing at? It was the money, wasn't it?
Yves fiddled with the temple tip of his eyeglasses. "I-I don't think I can work with him either. He's using money to get what he wants. That's sketchy enough to me."
"Not as sketchy as the people you worked for in the past when you're still a freelancer."
"Guarding people involved in syndicates is not as complicated as guarding politicians. If they die, it's just a bad day for the business. It's different when public servants are involved."
Michelle smirked. "Are you doubting your abilities?"
Yves held a grunt as he slumped on his seat. It's not that he's doubting his abilities. He's from the Mallari family.
For generations, they had been gifted with natural talents in weaponry, hunting, and combat. Even if he's the weakest amongst all his siblings, he possessed an incredible strength that can take on bigger opponents. And while he didn't want to sound boastful, they're all beautiful too.
His grandmother used to tell them when they were kids that it's because they were descendants of Mayari—the one-eyed moon goddess who fell in love with a mortal. That's the origin of their family name and it was a fun story, but that's what it was. Just an old folktale. Whatever skills he may possess in the present, he worked hard for it.
"Can't I just take on a different client?" Yves asked hopefully. "This is too much for my first project under your supervision, and I'm not comfortable with him. Rigma is a well-known agency anyway, so I'm sure he's not the only client we have."
Michelle sighed with the sound of golden coins flushing down the drain. "Well, I can't really force you if you're not comfortable to take on this project. Besides, bodyguards need to maintain a professional relationship with the client. We'll have a bigger problem if you end up falling for his charm."
"I will not!" Yves' cheeks heated up to the memory of his almost kiss with the charismatic politician at the altar. "I'm in a relationship. And I'm not the cheating type."
"Sure," Michelle said with a hint of a smile in her eyes. "I'll just schedule another client meeting with you then."
"Thanks, Mich. Just message me the time and date. I'll get going. I need to catch the sleep I lost because of a certain someone." Yves stood from his seat. At her amused raised brow, he clarified, "I mean, because they had me running away from the chapel like a madman."
"You mean, like a runaway groom."
Yves blushed again at how he sounded defensive, and how her statement almost fit the narrative. With a final wave, he went for the door and jumped a step back when he opened it.
Leaned against the doorframe was none other than Congressman Alonzo, who winked at him.
Yves glared. "You're such a creep."
"Is that how you act towards your clients?" Richard asked, then pointed to himself. "And to me, who will be your future employer?"
"No, just you. And no, I'm not working with you. So if you'll excuse me, I need to leave."
"What—?" Richard's grin fell, then sent Michelle a look of disbelief. "I thought we're great business partners? What's the meaning of this?"
Michelle shrugged dismissively. "He said he's not comfortable to work with you. I'm sorry, Congressman. I can't force him if he didn't want to. Don't worry, I'll just find you a new one."
"Yeah, just find him a new one," Yves said, as he side-stepped Richard and threw a smirk over his shoulder. "Preferably, someone his age or older."
Richard's indignant shout that he's not that old trailed after him as he made his way down the stairs. Yves chuckled because he didn't remember saying anything about the congressman being that old.