Travis had spent the past few hours lying on the small bed in his new quarters, staring at the ceiling and trying to make sense of everything that had happened since he arrived in New York.
The sounds of the bustling city outside the window were muffled, but still, it was a constant hum, a reminder of how different this was from the mountains where he spent most of his life.
He wasn't used to this kind of noise. The monastery was always silent, and serene, with nothing but the wind rustling through the trees and the occasional call of a distant bird. Now, the city never seemed to sleep. The horns, the engines, the chatter of people on the streets—it was overwhelming.
Travis closed his eyes and took a deep breath, centring himself as he had been taught. But even as he tried to calm his mind, the events of the day replayed over and over again.
Amanda Harrington, his boss's daughter, had made it clear from the moment they met that she didn't want him around. She was dismissive, hostile, and had gone out of her way to remind him how unnecessary she thought his presence was. Difficult as he had accepted this to be, Travis hadn't expected to feel so... out of place.
At the monastery, he felt in control—his body, his mind, his environment, all aligned with his purpose. But here, everything felt unsteady. He was navigating a world where nothing made sense to him. And on top of that, he was tasked with protecting a woman who clearly didn't think she needed protecting.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.
"Travis," came Liv's voice from the other side. "The chairman wants to see you."
Travis opened his eyes, blinking away his thoughts as he sat up. It was late, but he wasn't surprised that the chairman would call him at such an hour. This was a man who seemed to be constantly working, constantly in motion.
Travis had sensed it the moment they met—The chairman was a man with too many responsibilities and not enough time.
He stood, quickly straightening his shirt before opening the door. Penelope stood there, her sharp green eyes studying him.
"You ready?" she asked, her tone neutral but her gaze sharp. She was still assessing him, still trying to figure out what kind of person he was.
Travis gave a nod. "Lead the way."
The walk to the chairman's office was quiet. The mansion was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the marble floors, the aura of the estate almost overwhelming in its scale.
Travis had seen many impressive buildings in New York, but none of them felt quite like this. There was something cold, almost intimidating about the Harrington estate, as if it held secrets in every corner.
Penelope led him down a long hallway before stopping in front of a set of large wooden doors. She knocked once, then opened the door slightly and peered in.
"Mr. Harrington, Travis is here."
The Chairman's voice came from within, low and tired. "Send him in."
Penelope opened the door wider, gesturing for Travis to enter. As he stepped inside, she gave him a quick nod and closed the door behind him, leaving Travis alone with the man he had sworn to protect.
Gregory Harrington sat behind his massive oak desk, his suit jacket draped over the back of his chair and his tie loosened. He looked exhausted, the weight of his responsibilities visible in the deep lines on his face. Papers were scattered across the desk—financial reports, documents, and what appeared to be several confidential memos.
"Travis," The chairman called, his voice rough with fatigue, "sit down."
Travis did as he was told, settling into the leather chair opposite the Chairman's desk. And for a moment, the room was silent, the only sound the faint ticking of a clock on the wall.
"I'll get right to the point," The chairman began, rubbing his temples. "How do you think things are going with Amanda?"
Travis hesitated, unsure how to answer. He barely had a full day to assess the situation, but one thing was clear, that Amanda wasn't exactly the most cooperative. "It's... challenging," Travis admitted. "She doesn't want a bodyguard, and she's made that very clear."
Gregory sighed, leaning back in his chair. "She's stubborn, always has been. But I didn't hire you to be her friend, I hired you to keep her safe. Whether she likes it or not."
Travis nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling that this assignment was about more than just keeping Amanda safe. There was something else going on—something that the chairman wasn't telling him.
The chairman studied him for a moment as if weighing whether or not to say more. Then, with a deep breath, he leaned forward, his gaze hardening. "You've been trained in more than just physical defence, haven't you?"
Travis met his gaze steadily before responding, "Yes."
"Good." The chairman glanced at the door, as if making sure no one was listening, before lowering his voice. "I need you to keep an eye on Amanda. Not just for her safety, but for... other reasons. She's involved with some people I don't trust. People who might be influencing her in ways I can't control."
Travis frowned. "You think she's in danger?"
The Chairman's expression darkened. "I don't know. But I can't risk it. She's my only daughter, and there are people out there who would love nothing more than to use her against me. Business rivals, enemies I've made along the way... they're ruthless and won't hesitate to go after her to get to me."
Travis felt a cold weight settle in his chest. He had suspected that there was more to this assignment than simple protection, but hearing it confirmed only made the situation more complicated.
"I understand," Travis said quietly. "I'll make sure she's safe."
The chairman nodded, looking relieved. "Good. You're the only one I can trust with this, Travis. Everyone else... they're too close. Too involved. But you? You're different. You have no ties to anyone here. That's why I chose you."
Travis wasn't sure how to respond to that, he had never considered his isolation from the world to be an asset, but here, in the twisted world of high status and power, it seemed to be exactly what the chairman needed.
The chairman leaned back in his chair, his eyes drifting to the clock on the wall. "It's late. Get some rest. Tomorrow, I want you to start spending more time with Amanda. Get to know her routine, and the people she's spending time with. And report back to me if anything seems... off."
Travis nodded. "Of course, sir."
As Travis stood to leave, the chairman's voice stopped him. "Travis?"
"Yes, sir?"
The chairman hesitated for a moment, his expression softening. "Thank you. For doing this. I know it's not easy, but... I appreciate it."
Travis gave a small bow. "It's my duty, sir."
With that, he turned and left the office, the weight of the chairman's words pressing down on him as he walked back to his quarters.
---
Later that night, as Travis lay in bed, sleep far from him, his thoughts returned to the conversation with the chairman. There was more to this family than met the eye, more to Amanda than just a stubborn young woman pushing against her father's control.
He thought of Amanda's defiance, her insistence that she didn't need protection. Was it just youthful rebellion, or was there something deeper? Something she wasn't saying?
---
The next morning, Travis woke early. Despite the heaviness of the previous night's conversation, he forced himself out of bed and into the small training area that had been set up in the mansion for his use. It wasn't much—just a few mats, a punching bag, and some weights—but it was enough to help him clear his mind.
As he moved through his routine—fluid, disciplined strikes, precise footwork, controlled breathing—he felt the tension in his body begin to ease. The world outside the training room fell away, leaving only the simplicity of the movements. His muscles remembered the patterns, the years of training, and for a brief moment, he felt like he was back at the monastery.
But the peace was fleeting.
Just as he finished his routine, the door to the training room opened, and Penelope stepped inside. She was dressed in her usual sleek black suit, but her expression was more serious than usual.
"You've got company," she said, her tone unreadable.
Travis wiped the sweat from his brow, frowning. "Who?"
"Amanda."
Travis blinked in surprise. "What?"
"She's waiting outside," Penelope said with a shrug. "Said she wants to talk."
Travis wasn't sure what to make of that. Amanda hadn't spoken to him since their icy confrontation at the university, and now, suddenly, she wanted to talk?
Penelope raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Travis's confusion. "Good luck with that," she said before leaving the room.
Travis took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever was about to happen. He flung his shirt over his shoulder, walked to the door and opened it, finding Amanda standing in the hallway, arms crossed, her expression a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.
"You wanted to talk?" Travis asked, keeping his voice neutral.
Amanda's eyes flicked over him as if assessing whether he was worth her time. "Yeah," she said, her tone sharp. "But not here. Let's go somewhere less... suffocating. And… Put a shirt on!"
Travis raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He simply nodded and followed Amanda as she led him out of the mansion and into the sprawling grounds outside.
The morning air was crisp, the sun just beginning to rise over the horizon, casting a soft golden light over the estate. Amanda walked in silence for a few moments before finally speaking.
"Look," she said, her voice quieter now, "I don't want you following me around like some lost puppy. But... I know you're just doing your job. So, let's make a deal."
Travis remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"You stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of trouble," Amanda said, turning to face him. "I'll tell you if I need you, but otherwise, I want my space. Deal?"
Travis studied her for a moment. There was something different in her tone—less hostile, more... resigned. As if she was tired of fighting but didn't want to admit it.
"I can't promise I'll stay out of your way," Travis said calmly. "But I'll do my best to give you space when it's safe."
Amanda narrowed her eyes, clearly not satisfied with his answer. "That's not what I—"
"It's the best I can offer," Travis interrupted, his voice steady.
For a moment, Amanda looked like she might argue. But then, to Travis's surprise, she sighed and nodded. "Fine. Just... don't smother me, okay?"
Travis gave a small nod. "Understood."
With that, Amanda turned and walked away, leaving Travis O'Neil standing alone in the morning light, wondering if he had just made his job a little easier—or a lot harder.