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It took them a little bit more than two hours to fly from Chicago to New York. The flight had been uneventful, just a quiet stretch of sky filled with steady engine hum and the occasional clink of beverage carts. As they waited near the baggage carousel, the loudspeakers overhead announcing arrivals and transfers in multiple languages, Hendrix turned to her with a firm expression.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKbdn3nDQR
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“They want to see you immediately,” he said, not bothering to hide the seriousness in his voice.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBMoBeyEhV
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“Yes, sir,” Valentina replied without hesitation, her fingers already moving to switch on her phone.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGy7p3fRwI
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Roger had made sure she understood how to use it well, taking time to explain each application, how to keep it charged, and most importantly, how to keep it on her at all times. But airplane rules were strict—she had powered it down during the flight like everyone else.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ9ZyCVu3H
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Her duffel bag, too large for the overhead compartment, had been stowed away in the plane’s cargo hold. She waited quietly beside Hendrix until it arrived, the worn green canvas marked with patches from countries most civilians had only seen in the news. The moment she spotted it, she grabbed the strap and followed Hendrix outside to the waiting car.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iFsaHP1AL
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“We’ll stop by your dormitory first,” Hendrix explained once they were seated inside the vehicle. “Drop your bag, and then we go straight to the Romano estate.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBmqvWcEtc
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“Aye, sir.” Her response was crisp, automatic. She didn’t ask questions, didn’t need to. She simply stared out of the window as the car moved through the rain-slicked streets of Manhattan.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFBq1qDm9L
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The dormitory for the bodyguard duty is located only a block from the Romano's manor, a simple three-story building with many single rooms. There is one bathroom for three rooms, and every room is equipped with an air conditioner, a heater, a single bed, a cupboard, a small kitchen corner with an old sink, and a table.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0CIK4wfb3
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Her room is far better than the one in the military camp or mercenary camp. She smiled, admiring her new room and putting the duffel bag on the bed. She locked the door on her way out and quickly got inside the car.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCxZZwPMSJ
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The city pulsed with energy even at this late hour. It was just past 9 p.m., and December’s early nightfall had already turned the skyline into a constellation of neon lights and towering silhouettes.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuYLOItKIT
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Raindrops danced across the car’s windows, blurring the streetlights and storefronts into watercolor streaks. Despite the traffic, the chaos of honking horns, and the constant buzz of urban life, Valentina sat quietly. Her eyes traced the shifting lights and unfamiliar buildings with calm detachment.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGT0iTlpow
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To her, this city, this loud, messy, vibrant city, is  really peaceful. There were no air raid sirens, no mortar shells, no children screaming in the distance. No smoke rising from burning rooftops. No blood-soaked streets. She watched a street performer juggling fire under an overpass and found herself thinking, No one is dying here tonight. No one is hiding in the dark.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HdVMCmF8X
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“What are you thinking?” Hendrix asked, breaking the silence between them.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoNoSWyzaL
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Valentina didn’t turn her head. Her voice was quiet. “It’s so peaceful here.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8ftIkWace
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Hendrix blinked, turning to look out the same window. A woman was yelling at a taxi driver on the sidewalk. A couple argued loudly by a bus stop. Traffic blared in all directions, horns and voices tangling in an impatient orchestra of urban frustration. He raised an eyebrow, baffled. “Peaceful?”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC1xPcKiHc
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She didn’t respond. She didn’t need to explain. Peace was relative. And Roger already told her that it would be better if no one knows about her background or where she come from.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNokGRN4jYC
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Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Romano estate, tucked into a gated corner of Manhattan that somehow felt older than the city around it. The moment their vehicle approached the wrought-iron gate, another uniformed guard—dressed identically to both her and Hendrix—stepped forward to verify their identities before waving them in.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlJ81NuXIy
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Most first-time visitors were stunned by the sheer grandeur of the estate. The Romano manor stood like something out of a forgotten time, its towering gothic architecture looming against the dark sky. Black spires and pointed arches defined its silhouette, with intricate iron railings and stone gargoyles perched like watchful sentries along the rooftop.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhDZFRuuRN
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The building was the centerpiece of over 3,000 acres of land—an astonishing amount of space in the heart of Manhattan—complete with dense trees, a private lake, and walking paths lit by antique lanterns. It was both beautiful and foreboding, a monument to old wealth and quiet power.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmv3rP0Iab
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"Why isn’t there a dormitory for workers on this enormous estate?" she asked, genuinely curious as her eyes swept across the vast grounds.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XDobuSh7H
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Hendrix gave a small nod, as if he had been expecting the question. “Only those who are fully trusted are allowed to live inside the manor. The new hires—what we call the outer ring—stay off the premises until they've proven themselves.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnpGlQFwMb
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Valentina simply nodded at the answer and back staring at the sight. She observed the details—tall windows, the steep rooflines, the slick shine of rain on old stone—but said nothing. No wide eyes. No admiration. Just silent acknowledgement.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo20qlK9rrv
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A sharply dressed man greeted them at the front steps, his demeanor formal but respectful. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked neatly back, and his voice carried the authority of someone who had worked in the household for many years. “Mr. Romano is expecting you. Please, follow me.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSe6r9gYjf
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They were led inside, past heavy wooden doors carved with intricate patterns. The interior was dim and warm, lit by chandeliers and wall sconces that gave off a soft amber glow. The air smelled faintly of old books and cedarwood.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWIAVyOYot
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They were ushered into a large office lined with tall shelves overflowing with books, leather-bound and dusted with age. A thick carpet muffled their steps, and the walls were adorned with oil paintings and antique weapons. Two men, both tall and muscular, stood guard near the entryway, their gazes sharp and unwavering.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJIn56XhoI
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Behind a massive oak desk, in a high-backed chair, sat the man they had come to see. Mr. Romano did not rise. He did not need to. His presence filled the room before he even spoke. He glanced up from a folder laid open on his desk and gestured for them to come closer.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9DePxgNQp
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Valentina straightened her back the moment she stepped into the room. Her hands moved instinctively behind her back, her posture firm, her chin slightly raised—not in arrogance, but in discipline. Her eyes, sharp and focused, swept across the room for a second before landing respectfully on the man behind the large oak desk. She didn’t let them linger. She knew better than to make direct eye contact unless instructed.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv9DA9eilH
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Hendrix stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of her, acting as both her guide and shield. His voice was calm and steady as he offered a formal greeting, “Evening, sir.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gPTx9B5gD
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The man at the desk looked up from the swirling amber liquid in his crystal glass. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed, his tailored suit creased in all the right places. Despite the relaxed appearance, the intensity in his eyes was unmistakable—this was a man used to power, and even more used to being obeyed.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTKLIBRKhv
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“Ah, Peterson. Finally. I’ve been waiting for weeks,” he said with a tone that was both amused and impatient. He lifted the glass to his lips and downed the remaining whiskey in a single, practiced motion. Then he motioned with the glass. “Is she the one?”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF2UOqbYZG
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“Yes, sir,” Hendrix confirmed with a small nod.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8OZucPxzl
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The man—clearly Mr. Romano himself—set the glass aside and reached for the decanter, filling it again, the sound of the pour a brief, elegant interruption. “Is it true then?” he asked, tilting the decanter slightly before placing it back. “About the news? That she lasted an hour with you?”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Zb7OKKf1g
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“It’s true,” Hendrix replied, a note of pride in his voice. “We have the full recording, if you’d like to review it.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeGk5RgZ7T
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Mr. Romano waved a hand, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “No need. I saw the footage just minutes ago. Impressive, to say the least.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfptLsu7i8
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“She’s the best,” Hendrix added, glancing at Valentina with the satisfaction of someone who had chosen wisely.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnHTKL789b
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Romano leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took a moment to really look at her. He studied her face, her slight frame, her quiet poise. A woman like Valentina didn’t look dangerous at first glance. Her body was lean, her arms slender, and her features delicate. But there was something else beneath the surface—an edge in the way she stood so still, the way she didn’t fidget or blink too often. She looked older than her own age, but she stood like she belonged there.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxSKyqbNK2
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“And where did you find her?” he asked, almost to himself.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4koxfCNR9
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“My friend Roger brought her in,” Hendrix answered without hesitation.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw70Sg7rJCr
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“Ah… the army man.” Romano’s gaze flicked briefly to the door. “Archie,” he called out, his voice raised only slightly, “bring my daughter. Bring Luiza.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtpy0XUoS5
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As he waited, he returned his attention to Valentina, his tone sharpening. “You’ll be responsible for my daughter. Protect her with your life. Make sure she is safe and sound at all times. Listen to what she says, and fulfill whatever she asks—within reason. The only thing you cannot agree to is if she tells you to leave her. That is the one request you must refuse. Is that understood?”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQudVWxaUZ
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“Yes, sir,” Valentina answered without hesitation. Her voice was steady, her eyes holding his for a moment before she gave a short, firm nod.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpVXtW04hC
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Romano studied her again, and this time there was the faintest flicker of curiosity behind his calm expression. “You’re not going to ask why? Why I need someone like you to guard her? Why I’m telling you to follow her whims as if she were royalty?”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMSv0jkP32
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“You gave me an order,” Valentina said simply. “That’s what I follow.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcOWe86r7Q
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Romano let out a low chuckle, amused by her simplicity and absolute clarity. “And if I told you to kill someone in order to protect her… would you do it?”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmS58tejGY
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There was no pause, no flicker of emotion, not even the twitch of a muscle. “I would,” she replied.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96SNDodmva
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Romano’s smile deepened—not out of joy, but satisfaction. Most of the women he’d interviewed for this kind of work faltered at that question. Some tried to dodge it, a few even flat-out refused. But not Valentina. She didn’t flinch.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCNe8rUteZ
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He leaned back, the leather chair creaking softly beneath him. “Good. Then let’s see how long you last, Miss Smith.”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAEPUSbNYt
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