Chanel

After my intense kickboxing workout with Nathan in his studio, I took a jog through Central Park with my earphones plugged in and Halsey’s voice powering through the speakers.

It was a chilly October day, the leaves tinged with hues of orange, red, and yellow. The wind stung my cheeks as I ran my six laps around the park.

I could see people with cameras, trying to blend in with the crowd. Their phones were up, mouths agape, eyes wide. So surprised to see me here.

I refused to give up my time in Central Park. I loved my jogs and workouts here, and paparazzi weren’t going to stop me from coming.

I guess it was a good thing the new bodyguard was here. I’d had to leave early the last few times I jogged here because the paparazzi kept getting too close, invading my space, which meant I couldn’t finish my workouts.

The new bodyguard was jogging along, several feet behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were ahead, focused. Determined.

People were always watching me. It was nothing new. I’d been in the spot light since I was six months old.

My mother made me a baby model, and then I became a toddler model, and eventually I got a modeling gig at five-years-old for Carter’s.

When I turned twelve, I became a model for some of the most popular retail and department stores. By fifteen, I was walking the smaller runways of Manhattan and by eighteen, I signed with Rogue Modeling Agency, the most popular modeling agency in New York.

Mom made it her mission to get me in front of cameras. At first, it seemed selfish because she chose this life for me, but with every passing year, I became more and more passionate about it—walking the runway, the cameras clicking, finding the perfect angle and place to put a certain body part or limb.

How to pose. How to smile with my eyes.

Modeling was like making art with my body.

When I was twenty, my mom passed away from breast cancer and since then, I’d made modeling my number one priority. Before, it was just a hobby. Now it was a career. I wanted to make her proud, be exactly what she knew I could be.

And I finally did it. I was now one of the most popular supermodels around, seen mostly in lingerie, and achieving that status at the tender age of twenty-four was very tough. But I did it. Every magazine wanted a shoot with me. Every designer wanted me to walk their runway or wear their clothes.

It was a gift and a curse, but only because being this busy and so highly sought after was exhausting. I hardly slept because I worked so much. I couldn’t get many days off. Today was my first day off in months, and even today wasn’t really an off day while training with Nathan, keeping in shape for this career.

Tomorrow, I was going to be back at it again, posing in front of many cameras, standing beneath bright lights, giving it all that I could, but feeling like it was never enough.

I finished my final lap, meeting up with Nathan beneath a tree, huffing as I dropped my palms on top of my thighs.

“Good run,” he said with a smile after I pulled an earphone out. “You still following the meal plan I gave you?”

“Of course I am,” I panted, standing up straight. “What makes you ask that?”

“I got a little text from Nicole this morning saying you were eating cereal. You know processed food is a big no-no, Chanel.” He playfully scolded me, wagging a finger.

“Wow. Of course, you did. No wonder you pushed me so hard today,” I laughed, swiping my forehead.

“Yep. Come on.” He cocked his head to the right, his brown ponytail swaying. “Over to the grass to stretch and then we can get out of here.”

He walked to a soft patch of grass and I followed his lead, grabbing the tip of my foot, and pulling back on my leg. Next, I bent forward to touch my toes.

As I stretched my arm, Nathan asked, “So, new bodyguard, huh?” I looked up but he was focused on Kobe, who was watching the entrance of the park.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “Dad and Nicole hired him. Claims he’s the ‘most sought after’ bodyguard in Manhattan, according to some bodyguard magazine.”

“He seems very serious about this job.”

“That’s what I said. It’s mind blowing.” I glanced at Kobe before focusing on stretching my other arm. “He’s really quiet too.”

“Maybe he’s just getting used to the whole thing,” Nathan shrugged. “He watches you, but not as closely as the last one.”

Yeah. The last one. Avoiding the conversation, I asked, “We all good here? I’m having a movie night with Skye and want to shower before she arrives.”

“Yep.” He walked to the water bottles, picking one up and tossing it my way. “All good. You did great today. See you next week.”

“I smiled. “Thanks. See ya.”

After chugging down a few gulps of water, I jogged to Kobe. “Ready,” I told him, and he didn’t hesitate. He just followed.

When we neared the car, he rushed past me, pulling open the back door of the SUV. I climbed in and he shut the door behind me, walking to the passenger door and getting in. Before I got in though, I could have sworn I felt eyes on my backside.

The ride was quiet and it didn’t take very long for us to get to the apartments. When we were on our way up the elevator, he didn’t even look at me and I know he didn’t because the elevators had mirrors and I was watching him.

“I guess I’ve got it from here,” I announced as I stopped outside my apartment door.

“Making plans to go anywhere else?” he asked.

I shrugged. “Not really.”

He narrowed his eyes a bit. “You sure? If you need me to go anywhere with you, just text me. I’ll be on the way.”

“I might go to the store or something for a small snack with Skye, but it’s only a block away. Not too far.”

He stared at me for a moment before coming closer. “Your dad told me not to let you go out alone, especially at night.”

“Really?” I folded my arms, meeting his eyes. “Did he also tell you that I should be watched while I eat, shower, and take a shit too?”

“No,” he responded brusquely, like he didn’t understand my sarcasm.

“I go to the store with Skye often. It will be okay. I usually wear a hat so no one notices me. No big deal.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you going to tell them?”

“Not if you don’t want me to,” he answered.

“I don’t want you to.”

“Text me when you leave and I won’t say anything. Nicole emailed you my number.”

“Sure thing, bodyguard.”

He turned, starting for the elevators again. He gave me a stern look and the doors of the elevator shot open. He stepped inside and, just like that, he was gone. Wow. That was a serious, hardcore man.

As I made my way towards my bedroom and stripped, I realized him being so closed-off and guarded made me want to know even more about him.

I had to get him to talk more.