Chapter Two
Distance

Rain rages against the car window beside me. The skies are dark and dismal. It's muggy out and in the low seventies. It's truly a depressing day with no vibrancy. The overcast makes my thoughts go into a deeper mode of despair as I sit quietly with my eyes searching for any signs of light up high. It has been two days since the interviews. This is something I've been dreading. Meeting my new bodyguard my father hired without me present. The hopes of the bodyguard of being a woman are slim. I'm escorted through a corridor leading to the conference room. Agents open the door for me only for my eyes to see my father sitting at the large oval shaped table with a man standing with his back facing me. He stares out the window. He's tall.

"There's my girl. Thank you guys for bringing her. You all may leave," he speaks with enthusiasm as he rises from his chair.

Just relax… It's a guy… Just keep your cool…

My legs feel like rubber as I walk inside the conference room while staring at the guy who seems like he's in a trance while staring out the window. A smile is impossible when my father kisses me on the cheek and welcomes me with affection. All I could do was stare at the man who starts to move finally. For a moment, I thought he was possibly a statue.

"Ashley, my dear, I would like you to meet Leon S Kennedy," even when he speaks, I do not move my eyes away from the man. They are fixated on him now.

The man finally turns around and smiles warmly. At least he keeps his distance instead of walking up to me right away while outreaching his hand. With a slight bit of oddness, my head tilts to the left a bit when realizing that he's the same man I ran into accidentally.

He came for the interview… He got the job…

"Hello, Ashley. It's nice to meet you," Leon speaks with cheerfulness in his voice as he walks over to me with his hand reaching out to me.

My father clears his throat with worry when I take a step back as if the man is a disease. I have no desire to be with this man twenty-four-seven. The moment between us all becomes awkward and silent. Leon takes a step back suddenly as the awkwardness worsens. Not even my father knew how to react. This is upsetting. There are no words to express how I am feeling right now.

Why…? Why must you do this to me…?

It feels like a thousand years go by before I stand up straight and look at my father who seems nervous, "I don't need a male bodyguard. I don't want a bodyguard at all. I am capable of taking care of myself. Dismiss him. I have no need for him."

The words shoot through my dad like daggers. Leon is quiet but doesn't react to my harsh words. "Darling, you've been through a lot. It's for your own prote—" I cut him off by turning to the side, speaking with honesty, "this is for you. Not me. Please respect my wishes."

It becomes silent between us all again. The feeling in my chest grows hot as my heart races against my chest. If it weren't for me trying my hardest to not fall, my legs would've given out by now. The sight of seeing Leon staring at me as I become stubborn causes me to feel more anxious. He's tall, handsome and intimidating looking. It's upsetting that I didn't get a female bodyguard. When he speaks, it makes my skin crawl. Those words are filled with such cliché and corniness that I just want to jump off a cliff and succumb to my own injuries, "Ashley, I will protect you with my life. No harm will come to you as long as I am with you."

You got to be kidding me…

At this rate, my father is starting to sweat and look anxious himself. The two men watch as I move away with no words being spoken. Maybe they are exchanging bewildered glances when I exit the room. The silence sometimes isn't always a good sign. Could it be that my father is possibly furious? If he is serious, it will be impossible arguing with him about this.

Am I stuck with this guy…?

The next day arrives quickly. Unlike yesterday, it's more cheerful out. The vibrancy is relieving to see. The sun beats down on my pale skin as I slide my window up to inhale the fresh scent of the morning dew. I spend the next hour getting ready before heading downstairs for breakfast. The quietness is relaxing when I start eating by myself. If my father isn't present, he must be attending to urgent matters. As I gulp down my orange juice, I begin to get the urge to head outside to get some fresh air. It won't do me any good being cooped up in the most protected building in the world. Since I haven't seen Leon, I am hoping my father terminated him. It's a good sign since I haven't seen him yet. Besides, there's no need for a bodyguard to follow me around the White House like a lost puppy. Once I am finished eating, I open the door to the dining room and walk out into the hallway with relief. That relief is soon taken away from me when I see Leon's back pushed up against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Good morning. I was given instructions to not let you out of my sight," he speaks quietly as if he knows I am about to react harshly.

"I don't need you," is all I mutter before walking the opposite direction of him.

"I have my orders. Your father hired me to protect you. That is what I will do."

What is it with this man…?

I turn my head around to see him walking behind me. My fears come true. He's following me like a lost puppy. "If I need you, I will call for you," the words are spoken out of rage at this point.

"Your father requested that I take you to your appointment today. He suggested that I take you for all your appointments," his words were spoken quickly.

It was enough to make me stop walking to turn around and look at him. Appointments? Are you serious…?

"I can take myself," is all I say. It's exasperating to even speak to him now.

Leon runs his hand through his brown hair before clearing his throat, becoming rather stern and overly serious suddenly, "I am ordered to take you for now on. Are you always this stubborn?"

What…?

"Why would you ask me that?"

The tension rises as I take a step back. My fearless attitude is getting consumed by his words as he looks to the side to stare out the window. Once he starts speaking, that's when I knew he was going to be a pain in the ass. Not only is he serious, he also seems devoted and loyal to my father, "I can deal with your stubbornness. I was ordered to be with you at all times. Don't doubt my abilities to protect you, Ashley."

But… You're a man…

His head falls to the side for his eyes to be fixated on me now. When he walks closer to me, I only back up until the wall behind me stops me from going any further. Suddenly, I feel tightness around my chest. My breathing intensifies. The closer he gets, the worse my body trembles. Any moment now, I might start hyperventilating. He stops a foot away from me. He towers over me. His body blocks the vibrant sunlight from beating onto my frail and pale skin. Thankfully, he moves to the side when crossing his arms. I'm left breathless and unable to defend myself with words. My heart beats against my chest so viciously that if it doesn't contain itself, it's going to burst through it.

"Are you afraid of me?" he asks in a resonating voice. It suits him…

All I do is turn my head away from him since it's humiliating, "it's not you. Just men in general."

"Do you trust me?"

Why did my dad have to do this to me…?

"How old are you?" I ask finally, still avoiding his eyes by keeping my face turned away from him.

"Well," he starts, pausing as if he had to think about it for a bit, "I'm twenty-eight."

Twenty-eight…? He looks to be in his early thirties… He doesn't seem older looking through he is older than me…

"You look older," I admit. Daggers pierce me endlessly when I look up at him and wonder if he is possibly a womanizer.

He is bad news…

"You have an appointment in one hour. I will take you there. As your bodyguard, I am your personal driver as well. Your father requested that I give him reports. Just pretend that I don't exist."

I'm quiet when he walks past me after saying that. As I watch him walk down the hallway, I begin to wonder how people can devote themselves to complete strangers.