It was a gloomy day on Monday as if it was attesting to the events of the day already.

I could feel the cold wrap itself around me as I pulled my comforter around me, trying to keep it at bay.

Just as I was convincing myself to not go to school today, I heard my father's voice yell. He was in one of his moods and despite how big our mansion was, his voice carried when he was angry, loud enough for it to be heard at the main gate.

I sat up instantly, forgetting the cold as I remembered that I still hadn't talked to him. I hadn't seen him in the past three days and so I still hadn't given him my list of reasons on why Jace Frost was the last person on Earth that should be charged with protecting me.

I knew that my father was avoiding me, but today I knew that I had to talk to him because he  was starting today and I definitely didn't want him around me.

After quickly getting myself to look presentable, I ran out of my room, almost pummelling down Owens who was on his way to wake me up before I ran towards my father's study.

"Ms Holden, good morning," Bruce said as he stood in front of my father's study. He was a big man and he towered over me easily as he blocked the door.

"Morning Bruce," I give him a quick smile as I try to push him away unsuccessfully.

"He asked to not to be disturbed," Bruce said as he placed his arms on my shoulder to push me back slowly.

I sighed, "I haven't 'disturbed' him in the last three days," I bit out. "I think that's long enough to leave him alone. Given the bomb he's just dropped on me, I think I've been more than generous, don't you think?"

Bruce still looked at me, his face held worry but apparently not enough that he would move away and let me through.

"Bruce, move!"

He didn't.

"Bruce!"

Before I could contemplate whether I should kick him in the balls to incapacitate him or try my hand at pushing him again, I heard my father's voice echo from the room, "Let her in Bruce."

Bruce steeped aside instantly, making a grand gesture of moving away.

I shot him a dirty look as I walked past him and shoved the doors unceremoniously open.

My father said behind his Parnian desk, reading the paper as he drank his cup of coffee. He looked up when I walked in.

I stopped short as I took him in. His shirt was not pressed, his hair messy and despite his reading glasses, I could see that that his face was pale and that he had dark circles as if he hasn't slept in a long time.

"What is it, Phillipa?" he asked as he watched me. His voice was still strong and steady despite his appearance. If anything it sounded rougher and angrier than before.

"I need to talk to you," I replied, shaking off the shock as I remembered that I still had to do what I came here for.

"If it's about your claimed lack of freedom, then leave. I don't have the time, nor the patience to entertain your childish tantrums right now."

Those words hit me hard and all I wanted to do was yell back at him. However I knew that wasn't the best course of action. That would just further prove whatever he was claiming, that is that I was a child.

"I am not a child anymore," I said trying to keep my tone in check. "I'm 21 for goodness' sake and I have every right to make my own decisions and have a conversation with you about things that involve me."

I saw a look I couldn't quite place cross my father's eyes before it disappeared and his eyes darkened again.

"Phillipa Lianne Holden!" he thundered as he got up from his chair and towered over his desk. "This is not a matter that you can just change and make go your way. This is something that involves you life! Yours! I will not discuss this anymore with you. You will have security with you everywhere you go. No questions asked."

I swallowed nervously, not seeing him this angry even when I stole his sports car. "Fine," I snapped after a while of us just glaring at each other. "But not Jace."

My father's expression changed from anger to confusion. "Why not Jace? I thought he was the best option given your history."

Once again, I regretted having not mentioned to him the falling out I had had with Jace Frost. Of course I wouldn't have mentioned that Jace had broken my heart.

"Given our history, he is not the best option."

"And why is that?"

I shrugged. "I just think anyone else would be a better option."

"I think he's the best. He's someone I can trust, he's got training, he's respectable and he could easily pass of as a college student and won't stick out like a sore thumb." My father listed out his reasons and if it was anyone else that wasn't Jace, I would've agreed.

But he was Jace and that outweighed all the good reasons.

"Owens is the same. We can get him instead. Besides, I'm comfortable around him."

"Owens... I don't think he's best for solo assignments yet. What do you have against Jace? Is there something you're not telling me?"

I shook my head hesitantly wondering why I wasn't saying anything about Jace. I guessed it was just because I didn't want to be reminded of what had happened and talking about it was just as bad as having him around.

"Then I don't see why Jace shouldn't be assigned. Now leave and get ready for school. Jace will be here when you're ready."

I cast him a glare, hoping that it would convince him somehow. Instead he stared back at me and motioned for me to leave.

I left the study, shoulders slumped as I dragged my feet back to my room.

* * *

My phone was ringing by the time I got back to my room.

"Hey E," I said as I answered the phone and started getting ready for school.

"Where have you been? You've been AWOL for the past week and suddenly I see the tabloids talking about a hookup? You better have a good reason why you haven't been answering my calls." E bombarded me with words and sentences that left my head thundering.

"Dude, calm down!" I snapped into the phone in between brushing my teeth.

Elliott Michael Kors was someone that had forced himself into my life. We took the same classes together at school and despite my lack of civility towards him, he stuck around.

His family owned a chain of shopping complexes all over the country and when we first met at a black tie event, he thought we were a match made in heaven. His exact words were "we have a lot in common and we're made for each other."

"How do you expect me to calm down woman?"

I chuckled at him, his voice making me smile brightly for the first time in a while. "I'll see you in school. I have to shower now."

"What? Don't leave me. Just talk to me as you shower."

"That's weird."

"Yeah but it helps me with picturing you in the shower all n-"

"Perv," I cut him off, laughing. He was always flirting and making lewd jokes at me but he never tried anything that I found myself uncomfortable with. He was actually a sweet guy under the playboy exterior that he liked to put up, that still liked to the Backpack song whenever Dora came on.

"You will realize you love me Phillipa. One day you will and once you do, you will regret treating me this way. Eventually you will even if I'm on my deathbed when you do."

I didn't reply, I just laughed it off before I hung up.

When I finally walked out of my room, Bruce was waiting for me with Owens in the family room. I brightened up when I saw that Jace wasn't around. Maybe he had realized that this whole thing was stupid after all and had decided to quit.

Just before I could say anything, I saw him walking down the corridor towards me a backpack in hand.

He was dressed in a pair of fitting black jeans and a navy blue button up shirt paired off with black boots that finished off his ensemble. His fashion would blend in with every other guy in school even if his looks wouldn't. He still looked like he belonged on a runway.

I instantly got annoyed realizing that my heart had slipped a beat when I saw I good he looked. However, I knew that it wasn't really my fault. Any girl (and some guys) would melt at seeing him. He was handsome and even with the amount of hatred I had for him, I knew that.

He waved at me, his eyes lighting up with a smile.

I rolled my eyes, ignoring him before I walked over to where Bruce and Owens were.

"So I'm guessing that I'm not going to be taking my car?" I arched a brow at Bruce. I had been taking my car to school because school was the only place I had to myself. It was the only place I experienced a semblance of normalcy. But since that was gone now, I didn't know whether I still had my car privilege or not.

Bruce shook his head. "No you can still take your car," he replied.

I was skeptic at first, my eyes tracing him before I cast a look at Owens who was smiling brightly at me. I looked back at Bruce, honing my eyes at him. "Really? So what? How are we doing this? Is he driving or do you trust me not to drive us into the nearest ditch?"

Owens burst out laughing until Bruce glared at him before turning back to face me.

"As far as the everyone in the school is concerned, Jace is a transfer student from England and you two have never met each other before today. He's got the accent down and he wouldn't be suspicious to whoever it is that has been blackmailing the CEO."

I felt Jace standing behind me, waiting for me. I felt annoyed by the entire situation but it had slowly sunk in that I couldn't do anything about this. I couldn't change things right away.

But that doesn't mean I couldn't make him quit or get him fired though. Besides if what Bruce was saying was true that that meant that I didn't have to face him or talk to him the entire day. He was just going to be a fly on the wall, if anything.

"As long as he doesn't get in my way and he doesn't act like he knows me at all, I'm good," I said before I walked out of the door and to my waiting car.

I saw Jace rushing out of the house after me and getting into a Nissan Frontier before following me.

I sighed. This was going to be a long day.

* * *

As soon as I entered the University of Southern California, I released a sigh of relief, taking in the fresh air and the sight of students running past to get to their classes.

This had been my home for the past three years and it was a safe haven. I hated that now it wasn't anymore.

Even though I didn't see him, I knew he was there in the crowd of students watching me, his eyes taking in the crowd and trying to pick out any threats to my safety.

I tried not to look for him, even when I felt his eyes burning into the back of my head.

I hadn't said a word to him yet. Nor did I want to or feel like I could.

Just as my eyes involuntarily start to search out for him, I felt myself being lifted up and spun around.

"Phillipa!"

I glared at Elliott and motioned for him to put me down. "Nice to see you too, Elliott," I said once he put me down.

But before I could get out another word, he pulls me into a crushing hug.  He doesn't even let go when I feel like I can't breath, hitting him to let me go.

Before I could suffer anymore from the lack of oxygen, he's pulled away.

"Let her go."

No. No. No, I think as I look up.  He couldn't have possibly thought I was in danger and blown his cover already.

I internally slap myself as I look up to see Jace grabbing Elliott by the back of his shirt. A crowd having formed as soon as they sensed drama unfolding.

How the hell do I explain this?

•••|||•••

What do you think of this chapter?

What do you think of Elliott?  😊

Thank to designgirl01 for the fanmade cover below and for your continuos love for Douglas and Krystal... ❤

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