Under His Protection

Michael stared outside the window praying to the good Lord that there would be no traffic and they would arrive their destination before he would lost his self control and do something really stupid inside the car.

Thankfully the driver was skilled avoiding the road that were filled with tourists, their drive to the estate was smooth and he could not help but reminisce in the part when he finally entered the private leading to their palace, he never thought he would be back to the palace and thesame place he decided to leave because of the woman who was ironically sitting next to him.

After few more minutes they finally arrived at the huge iron gate of their estate when the driver pulled infront of the imposing castle, her mother came out beaming with smiles upon seeing their car, “What the hell was all the unwanted attraction about mother?”

Her cunning mother raised her eyebrow with an innocent smile on her face, ” I thought it is the best idea to fetch you in the tarmac to avoid long line in the immigration, besides your father also wanted it that way”

Michael just saw Laura rolled her eyes, her face suddenly brightened considerably when she got a glimpsed of her younger brother ” Hello Mavey, did you miss big sister?” She scooped the little baby from the ground and gave him a hearty little kisses on his chubby cheeks as she went up the foyer, Michael’s vision of Laura with the baby in her hand was blocked by the Sly woman Infront of him.

“Long time no see Michael” she greeted with a devilish grin in her eyes, ” can I just say you become more handsome since leaving my husband employment, less stress I guess”

Michael permitted himself to smile lightly, dealing with a woman like Trisha needs care, she is not the type of woman who was easy to be fooled, if he didn’t know better she is a master manipulator, always steps ahead of everyone. He could bet his money that it was her doing why there were other people who picked them at the airport, she wanted to make sure that the front seat was already occupied so him and Laura would be trap at the back.

“Your Excellency” he slightly bowed in her direction, she frowned placing her hand on each sides of her waist.

“Wave the formality Michael, it makes me sick in the stomach everytime people do that. Trisha will be fine” she smiled.

“I hope you are doing well ma’am” he asked, contraditionaly with a gaurded smile in his lip.

“I have been surviving everyday, since you left Jadua has become cranky sometimes, I don’t even know what to do. He seems to be missing his trusted bodyguard, more like he has been missing the bromance” she announced with such sadness in her voice.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Err….”

Trisha surprised Michael by bursting into laughter, ” Relax iam just teasing you, Jadua is not acting like that. The look on your face is so funny, just take a break and don’t take life seriously or else you will die early, iam sure someone will not like it if you die too early”

Michael eyes narrowed in her direction, it seems to him that there is a hidden meaning to her word, he knew Laura’s mother to be the kind of woman who likes to play with people’s mind, he did not know what kind of witchcraft she used for his Excellency to fall under her spell

“Who are you talking about? Who will worry about my death if ever?”

Trisha shrugged casually giving him an innocent look, ” I don’t know, judau maybe.” When Michael did not answer, the devilish glint flashed in her eyes.

“Why are you thinking someone else Michael?”

He shook his head, Michael knew she was playing games with him and he needs to be careful around her, he have to remember that she is the woman who brought the Mighty Jadua Van-Lerie to his knees.

Michael shook his head, ” I can’t think of anyone your Excellency”

“Iam sure there is someone who cared for you if you perish from the face of the Earth” Trisha grinned mischievously, “iam glad that you accepted the job to protect Laura from this stalker of hers, I knew the two of you don’t get along that well but she really needs your safeguard from unwanted men. Tell me Michael, has there been any progress with your relationship? I hope at least the two of you are trying to be friends with one another”

He gave her a stoic expression, ” we are doing our best to tolerate each other’s company everyday, Don’t worry we are doing fine surviving everyday without Killing each other”

Trisha searched his face for sometime, ” let’s come inside I know you must be tired from your trip and you need to rest, you don’t have to shadow Laura around the estate, she is safe here”

“But…”

She didn’t let him finish his protest when she went inside their family home, leaving him alone staring at her retreating form, Michael knew this wasn’t a good idea at all to come back here with the princess Laura.

It seems that he dosed off a little, but after he took a shower once his his unsettling conversation Trisha Van-Lerie, he walked out from his room to get some food in the kitchen since he was a bit famished.

Michael stopped on his track when he was about to descend from the staircase, his eyes narrowed at the woman who was the subject of his sleeplessness nights, ” Where are you going to?”

Laura frowned in his direction as she study her riding attire, “iam going to take a ride outside, I miss being out in the field”

“Iam going with you”.

The stubborn woman merely rolled her eyes making him annoyed for no reason, ” there is no need to gaurd me around here Michael, iam perfectly safe hefe in my father’s palace, that man cannot harm me or unless he followed me all the way from NYC to Paris”

Her words irritated him, why does she like being difficult? Laura is the most exasperating woman he had met, she doesn’t like to take orders from anyone especially from him.

“Have you forgotten Laura? Your father hired me for your protection, so expect me to be around you always”

“Don’t you think that this protection program you installed for me is already gone overboard? Do you really need to trail behind me even with a simple ride outside with my horse? Am I not entitled with sometime alone away from everyone?”

Like hell would Michael allow her to be out of his sight again, ” Here is the thing princess, I don’t want you to take it personally but it is my job to follow you around for your protection, besides we are in your family home and your mum have eyes every corner of this palace, she specifically reminded me a while ago to never let you go out of my sight even for a second” Micheal knew he lied through his teeth and he sincerely hope her mother was not listening to them that moment or he would be a dead meat.

” Listen Laura, if the estate workers sees you riding alone, iam sure they will tell your father about it” he shrugged indifferently silently praying she would heed to his warnings.

Laura glared at him insolently, the way her eyes showed daggers in his direction was enough indication that she really hates his company that moment, ” Fine! Suit yourself, if you want to change your clothes you may do so but I will not wait for you”

Micheal eyes his jeans and shirt, ” No, it’s fine, shall we proceed?”

She huffed and angry breath and stormed off down the stairs with heavy steps, she is really kissed at him and he could not blame her since he ruined her plan to ride alone around the estate dressed that way.

He would rather have her hating him for always being by her side all the time than let her ride alone the estate with her refined splendor while the stable men admire her beauty, nope! As long as he was around Michael swore that no one would have the chance to appreciate her exquisiteness, they would rather kiss his fist If they look at her the wrong way.

Once they are outside the manor, a young man was sitting waiting for her with her favourite horse, ” Are you going to ride with her sir?” He asked Michael.

“Yes, will you get one for me on the stable?” He requested as he helped Laura to ride the back of her stallion, she effortlessly mount the beast without difficulty, she is one fine rider and that is not hard to guess since she grew up riding horses around the palace.

After a moment, the young man came back with the horse Michael requested, he mounted it easily and follow the woman who went for a stroll without waiting for him. He glanced back at the manor because he felt like someone was watching them, he wasn’t sure if he saw shadow move behind the window in the library or it is just his imagination.