High within the glass-and-steel monolith of the corporate headquarters, Madison's grandfather sat at his desk, his eyes scanning a mountain of legal documents. A sharp knock echoed through the quiet office.
"Come in," the patriarch called out without looking up.
His lead bodyguard entered. A man of imposing stature who rarely left the old man's side, he carried a fresh set of files.
"Good morning, Colonel," the old man said, finally leaning back.
The bodyguard offered a faint, respectful smile. "Good morning to you, sir. It's been a while since you used that old rank as a nickname."
"So it has," the old man chuckled, though the warmth didn't quite reach his tired eyes.
"Time is moving too fast, sir," the Colonel remarked, placing the files on the desk. "The details for the summit have arrived."
The old man reached out, his fingers tracing the edges of the paper as he studied the briefing. After a few silent minutes, he spoke. "A gathering of the powerful and the infamous. It's going to be a crowded room."
"Indeed, sir."
"The summit is set for May 6th in Los Angeles," the old man noted, looking up at his companion. "Yuri and him will be going to represent our interests." He paused, watching the Colonel, who had instinctively snapped into a rigid, soldier-like stance. "Colonel, what is the status of the two of them?"
"Ms. Yuri has been briefed," the Colonel reported. "As for him... his movements are harder to track. There is a possibility he may attend as a representative of his own empire."
The old man gave a slow, calculated nod. "Send a message to Madison. Have her inform Ethan."
The Colonel hesitated for a second. "Boss, may I ask a question?"
"Always."
"Why Ethan? You're choosing him to be Ms. Yuri's primary shadow in California, but Allen is available. Not to mention Smith or Victor. They are seasoned."
"You're right," the old man admitted. "But Yuri and Allen have never seen eye-to-eye. Smith and Victor are tied up with the rest of the family. More importantly, Ethan has proven himself in ways the others haven't. He has a gift for using his surroundings, and his instincts are purely protective. Besides," he added with a hint of pragmatism, "the boy needs the money. He came to me looking for work; I'm giving him a career."
"I understand, Boss," the Colonel replied. "But perhaps we should test him? A warm-up, so to speak."
The old man's expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened. "Go on."
"If the existing security team hears a newcomer is joining them, there will be friction," the Colonel explained. "If they see what he can do with their own eyes, they'll acknowledge him. It'll make the integration smoother."
"Agreed," the old man said. "Tell Madison to inform Ethan that he meets the team this evening."
The Colonel nodded, pulled out his phone, and sent the text.
Ethan's Apartment.
In the quiet of the small apartment, Madison's phone vibrated on the coffee table.
Ten minutes had passed since she had collapsed into Ethan's arms. Her tears had finally dried, leaving her feeling drained and slightly mortified. Ethan gently pulled back from the hug, giving her space. Feeling the sudden weight of the silence, Madison stood up and retreated to the sofa, reaching for her phone to hide her embarrassment.
Grandpa's bodyguard? she thought, seeing the notification.
She read the message, her face going pale. She looked up at Ethan. "My grandfather says you're meeting Yuri's security team this evening. He called it an introduction."
Ethan simply nodded, his expression unreadable. "Okay."
Before they could discuss it further, the front door swung open. Ethan's mother, Selena, walked in with young Daisy in tow.
"Madison! You're still here," Selena said brightly. "Are you hungry, dear?"
"No, thank you, Auntie," Madison said, trying to smooth her hair. "I should probably head out."
"Nonsense, you'll stay for breakfast," Selena insisted with the kind of motherly authority that allowed no argument. "Ethan and Daisy were just about to sit down."
Madison had no choice but to follow them to the table. The meal was a quiet affair. Ethan ate quickly and was the first to excuse himself, heading to his room. Daisy followed shortly after, leaving Madison alone with Selena.
As Madison moved to stand, Selena spoke in a low, gentle voice. "Madison, why were you crying?"
Madison froze. "How did you know?"
"A mother knows a look of exhaustion when she sees it," Selena said, resting a hand on the table. "You came here to talk to Ethan, didn't you? Listen, he spent so many years overseas... he's still adjusting to being back. If he said something to offend you, please forgive him. He doesn't always know how to show what's in his heart."
Madison's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, no, Auntie. It wasn't Ethan. He actually helped me. He helped me with a very difficult problem."
Selena's face transformed into a proud, relieved smile. "Is that so? I'm glad my boy could be of use to someone like you."
Madison nodded, feeling a lump in her throat. "I really should go now. I have a lot to prepare for."
"Of course," Selena said, standing up to escort her to the door.
As they reached the threshold, Madison turned back. "Thanks for the food, Auntie."
Selena leaned against the doorframe, her expression softening. "And thank you for being friends with Daisy. She's had a hard time with bullies lately."
Madison offered a small, confident smile. "She'll be okay now. We have already dealt with it and now it's solved."
Selena blinked, surprised by the conviction in the younger woman's voice. She watched with a thoughtful smile as Madison walked away.