"No, that'll not happen. I won't let Maya be exposed to such Ever." Xavier glared at the man who'd suggested something so outrageous and satisfied with how hard he'd gulped in fear, he tucked his hand into his pocket about walking out when he saw Maya.
Her hair was disheveled. She was just waking up from sleep. She was barefooted which explained why they had not heard her come in.
"What won't you let me be exposed to?" Her voice was tiny and her eyes wide.
Seeing Xavier in such a mood was not really a new sight but knowing he was this riled up because of something that was connected to her, was a whole new foreign land.
A land she was scared of exploring and figuring out. So she'd allowed it to remain a patch of just green grass and dirt in her head.
"Maya, you are up?"
His Rolex shiny watch caught her eyes and then she took in his white shirt, tucked into grey pants.
He was dressed to go out and she wondered why. It was just past 4.
"What is happening?" she cast a glance at the fidgeting sulking man at the corner, "Who is he?"
"No one, Maya."
She heard a throaty light chuckle which caught her off guard. Someone else was in the room but has been hidden from her sight by Xavier's broad shoulders and frame.
It was Mrs. Laura Roberts.
"Maya, there is an issue and that is why we all are ruffled and troubled. We've been here since past 3." Laura stated ignoring Xavier's warning glare.
Maya stared in confusion at Xavier, "What happened?"
"It is nothing."
"It's best you tell her. She already has an idea that things ain't fine."
"Thanks to you!" He snapped angrily and Maya could notice the teeny tiny flinch in Mrs. Laura's composed features.
"Just tell me, how bad could it get?" His lips were in a tight line confirming how bad the situation was. It was worse than the normal bad could get.
Her eyes widened, "Just tell me what's wrong already, please." Curiosity killed her more than her scare as she peered into his face.
He huffed defeatedly, sitting down. "A letter bomb parcel was sent to your desk, yesterday morning. The sender of the package must have thought you still come to work as my personal assistant."
Her mouth widened as she held the couch for support, "So this isn't some sick joke? I do have a serious murderer who might want to really kill me, like finish me off, like blow me off__"
Xavier was already at her side before she could finish, ending her trembling rant, "Nothing will happen to you, Maya. I'm here. Shhh... You are safe with me." He coaxed, his hands wounding tightly around her body.
Mrs. Laura blinked wondering if her eyes were disturbing her. She also, like everyone had heard the news of their engagement but she'd rolled her eyes and considered it a joke, an arrangement of some sort.
The sweet Maya she knew and a cold man who only believed in figures and affluence, they probably had nothing in common and should in every possible way avoid and loath themselves could not be getting married for real.
But as she watched the way he becomes powerless in front of her, became less disrespectful which she was grateful for by the way, when she was around, how easily she fitted into his arms and how ruffled his features became at just the sound of her name alongside danger, she was beginning to admit that she just might have been wrong and had concluded quickly.
She could see what everyone had seen, why everyone had believed. Could notice how his blank unmoving body, shivered and expressed immense love and care.
Mr. Black, the man who Xavier had given a tongue-lash some minutes gave her a look of disbelief, of course not believing that the man who was seconds away from snapping both their necks in two was the calm man who now cradled a worried Maya in his arms.
"What are you staring at!" His outburst made Maya jerk and Laura watched with a smirk as he apologized, deciding that she couldn't have chosen a better sight to watch.
Seeing her arrogant disrespectful prick of a boss bend over for just one woman. Love was a humble potion, a pie that works wonder.
"So what had you suggested we do?"
Mr. Black had to blink thrice to come to terms that Maya was talking to him, her eyes set on his expectantly.
"Maya, please. His idea is completely foolish and a risk."
"No, I can't. What if someone had gotten hurt?" She gasped as Mrs. Laura looked away, "Had anyone gotten hurt Mrs. Laura?"
Xavier cursed under his breath, loathing the current turn of events. "The parcel had been moved out of the premises on time by the head guard. No one was injured or hurt." He lied glaring at the two workers behind him, thankful that Maya had their backs towards them in the position which he just maneuvered her into while he dared them to say a word that was rival to his.
He couldn't possibly tell Maya, that though the parcel had been taken out since she wasn't on seat, the trash guy was in the hospital, alive but had sustained injuries.
"You sure?"
He nodded, not feeling at all guilty that he was lying. He'll do anything to protect her, even from herself.
"So what was your idea?" She couldn't look at him but Mr. Black already knew she was referring to him.
Xavier shook his head slightly at Mr. Black, the latter confused and torn between what to do and what not to.
"Huh?" Maya coaxed, leaning more without even knowing into Xavier's warm touch.
"Let him tell me his solution you are so pissed about." She pleaded after a few minutes of silence already aware of what was going on behind her.
He groaned, "He wants to use you as bait."
"It is better than hiding forever, Xavier. I can't do this all my life. Going out with bodyguards and not allowed to work, have a crazy girl's night or go clubbing." She cupped his jaw as he made to look away, "Please, Xavier. I want my life back and although staying in with you have been filled with really good memories." She moved away from him, keeping her distance, "I feel caged in here, and knowing that the person who is so into killing me, is hovering all around even while inside, scares the shit out of me."
Xavier paced around the room, his hand at the back as he contemplated on her words.
"Please." She muttered once again.
"Why can't you just stay safe and let me do the worrying?"
She grinned, "Because you have been teaching me a thing or do about being so stubborn."
He chuckled lightly, "I don't want anything to happen to you." He rubbed his eyes with his hand making Maya wonder how long he has been up, "I won't forgive myself."
"Nothing will." She grinned, "I have you beside me all the way and I trust you with my Life." Her gaze was serious and fixated on his, "I really do."
Xavier nodded at Mr. Black, "What'll she have to do?"
"An interview."
"And I know just who to pick amongst the numerous reporters dying for an interview from future Mrs. Salvador." Mrs. Laura smiled at Maya, a smile she returned.
As crazy as it sounded, she loved the ring of Xavier's surname used to Address her and it had nothing to do with the wealth and recognition that comes with the name but everything to do with the man, who gazed at her like she was his whole world.
"I don't have a good feeling about this." He confessed and then she stepped into his arms taking and giving him comfort.
They could discuss how they have overstepped the line of friendship and how intimate their gestures were another day, but not just today, Maya decided.
They both needed the clinging, the reassurance, the warmth of another.
"Book the interview, let's get this over with." She mumbled, her voice a bit muffled as she was still in Xavier's embrace.
Mrs. Laura beamed. She has heard her.