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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqcu1MZOFQ
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“They want to see you immediately,” he said, not bothering to hide the seriousness in his voice.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBt0kIgAWq
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“Yes, sir,” Valentina replied without hesitation, her fingers already moving to switch on her phone.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBJMSQuAKM
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tPlis7IdV
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2j8enATMW
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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.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3R1ygpgNS
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YjEgDLqxU
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSnv7Z3ydT
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmvz2MChcu
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tYUMQ2cxk
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6oivHxpob
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB82GjzbqM
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“What are you thinking?” Hendrix asked, breaking the silence between them.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltPsDYYq1B
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Valentina didn’t turn her head. Her voice was quiet. “It’s so peaceful here.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfESQuDfyv
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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?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ei3R1HqCZ
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAiepTDwUX
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhQ0XKtotq
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg1wQOuCkX
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9ElLkdIgb
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoqEqV9tqo
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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.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVXHBsDQye
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJxg79ehZb
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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.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2V4GtPddPY
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZq4ny4XZG
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PXmtmY7NN
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaOgphhBmH
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3svkN4Mk5s
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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.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRipiqwZfv
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ07Pkq0HlU
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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?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnBNPzS2GF
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“Yes, sir,” Hendrix confirmed with a small nod.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpoa85BQFb
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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?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1RedAxFSH
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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.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiWpHhCXgn
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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.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLNePrkcpI
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“She’s the best,” Hendrix added, glancing at Valentina with the satisfaction of someone who had chosen wisely.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLkAcEYpgY
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGisd7vYtk7
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“And where did you find her?” he asked, almost to himself.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQFHlt0Cne
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“My friend Roger brought her in,” Hendrix answered without hesitation.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lXuuCaVzn
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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.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A4hwasrB7
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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?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u8gNQxtdg
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxejygUkFJA
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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?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cAgKEBwhZ
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“You gave me an order,” Valentina said simply. “That’s what I follow.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC41G6U7q3I
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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?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQGCFXHiAQ
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There was no pause, no flicker of emotion, not even the twitch of a muscle. “I would,” she replied.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGVe9VmljX
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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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGSUM1PcAX
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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.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXaz1nOk2l
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