Breath of Fresh Air
The car door opened with a soft click.
Bella looked up from her phone to find Dorn standing there, his massive frame blocking out the afternoon sun. He didn't say anything—he never did—just held the door and waited with that patient, watchful stillness that had become as familiar to her as her own reflection.
"Thank you," Bella said, gathering her bag.
Dorn nodded once. A slight dip of his chin that somehow conveyed both acknowledgment and vigilance.
She'd been terrified of him at first.
When Jack had assigned him to her over a year ago, she'd been certain it was surveillance disguised as protection. A way for Jack to keep tabs on her movements, her conversations, her life. Dorn was one of Jack's people—one of the underworld enforcers who operated in the shadows of King's Paradise. Big enough to break a man in half. Silent enough to disappear into a crowd despite his size.
But weeks had turned into months, and Dorn had never reported back. Never questioned her. Never judged.
He simply... existed. A shadow that followed her everywhere, opening doors and scanning crowds and standing between her and anything that might pose a threat.
She'd tried to get him to leave. Told him he didn't need to waste his life following her around. That he should go live his own life, find his own purpose.
He'd just looked at her with those dark, unreadable eyes and shaken his head.
So she'd stopped trying.
Now, as she stepped out of the car and Dorn fell into step behind her, she found his presence oddly comforting. Like having a guardian angel who happened to be six-foot-five and built like a tank.
The building was small. Unassuming. Tucked between a coffee shop and a dry cleaner on a quiet street in the business district. No flashy signage. No grand entrance. Just a simple glass door with "Lumière Skincare" etched in elegant script.
Exactly how Bella wanted it.
She pushed through the door, and the familiar scent of lavender and vanilla wrapped around her. The reception area was cozy—soft lighting, cream-colored walls, a few potted plants that somehow managed to thrive despite the lack of natural light.
"Bella!"
Sarah looked up from her desk, her face brightening. She was young—mid-twenties—with dark hair pulled back in a neat bun and an energy that reminded Bella of herself before everything had fallen apart.
"Morning," Bella said, managing a smile.
"We're in the conference room," Sarah said, standing. "Everyone's excited about the expansion pitch."
Bella nodded, following Sarah down the narrow hallway. Dorn stayed by the door, his presence a silent barrier between Bella and the outside world.
The conference room was barely big enough for the table and chairs crammed inside. Five women sat around it, laptops open, notebooks scattered across the surface. They looked up as Bella entered, their faces eager and bright.
"Bella!" Jessica, the head of marketing, gestured to an empty chair. "We were just going over the numbers."
Bella sat, setting her bag on the floor. "Let's hear it."
Jessica launched into the presentation. Sales projections. Market analysis. Potential retail partnerships. The others chimed in with ideas—social media campaigns, influencer collaborations, pop-up shops in high-traffic areas.
Bella listened. Nodded at the right moments. Asked questions that sounded engaged.
But her mind was elsewhere.
The business or me.
That's what she'd told Jack. Six months ago, standing in the penthouse that had once felt like home and had slowly transformed into a gilded cage.
Choose.
And he'd chosen the business.
Not because he didn't love her—she knew he did, in his own twisted, suffocating way. But because he believed the business was the only thing keeping her safe. That without King's Paradise, without the power and connections and fear it generated, she'd be vulnerable.
You don't understand, he'd said, his voice tight with frustration. The world we're in—the people I've crossed—they'll come for you if I'm not strong enough to protect you.
Then get out, she'd begged. Walk away. We can start over somewhere else.
There is no somewhere else. Not for people like us.
So she'd left.
Built this. A skincare company that had nothing to do with Jack or King's Paradise or the underworld that had consumed him. A place that was entirely hers. A reset button she could press whenever the weight of everything else became too much.
But even here, in this small conference room with these bright, hopeful women, she couldn't escape him.
Because Jack had offered to help. To use his connections to expand the business. To open doors that would otherwise remain closed.
And she'd refused.
Because accepting his help would mean accepting that she couldn't do this on her own. That she needed him. That she was still tethered to the life she'd tried so desperately to leave behind.
"Bella?"
She blinked, focusing on Jessica's concerned face.
"Sorry," Bella said quickly. "I was just thinking. These are all great ideas. Let's prioritize the social media campaign and the pop-up shops. I'll reach out to a few contacts about retail partnerships."
Jessica's face brightened. "Really? That's amazing!"
The meeting continued for another hour. By the time it ended, Bella's head was pounding.
She stayed at her desk after everyone left, staring at the spreadsheet on her laptop without really seeing it. The numbers blurred together. Revenue. Expenses. Projections.
All of it felt hollow.
She closed the laptop and stood, grabbing her coat.
Dorn was waiting by the door.
***
The bar was quiet for a Thursday evening.
Bella slid onto her usual stool at the far end of the counter, away from the handful of other patrons scattered throughout the space. The bartender—a middle-aged man with graying hair and kind eyes—looked up and smiled.
"The usual?" he asked.
"Please."
He poured her a glass of red wine without another word, setting it in front of her with a small nod.
Bella took a sip, letting the warmth spread through her chest. Dorn stood near the entrance, his arms crossed, his gaze sweeping the room with methodical precision.
She'd been coming here for weeks. Ever since the loneliness had become too much to bear alone in her apartment. The bar was close enough to her office that she could walk, far enough from King's Paradise that she didn't have to worry about running into anyone from that world.
It was neutral ground. Safe.
Or at least, it had been.
"Excuse me."
Bella looked up.
A man stood beside her, his hand extended in greeting. He was tall—not as tall as Marcus, but tall enough—with dark hair and a clean-shaven face. His suit was well-tailored but not ostentatious. Professional. Polished.
"I'm Daniel," he said, his smile warm. "I hope I'm not intruding."
Bella glanced at Dorn, who had straightened slightly, his eyes locked on Daniel with the intensity of a predator assessing a threat.
"It's fine," Bella said quickly, turning back to Daniel. "He's just... protective."
Daniel followed her gaze, his smile faltering slightly when he saw Dorn. "That's, uh... quite the bodyguard you've got there."
"He takes his job seriously."
"I can see that." Daniel lowered his hand, gesturing to the empty stool beside her. "Mind if I sit?"
Bella hesitated. Then nodded. "Sure."
Daniel sat, signaling the bartender. "Whiskey, neat."
The bartender poured the drink and set it in front of him. Daniel took a sip, then turned to Bella.
"I've seen you here a few times," he said. "Always sitting in the same spot. Always with the same drink."
"Creature of habit," Bella said.
"Nothing wrong with that." Daniel's smile returned, softer this time. "I'm a lawyer. Corporate law, mostly. Mergers, acquisitions, that sort of thing. I've been working on a case nearby, and this place has become my go-to after long days."
"Sounds stressful."
"It can be." He took another sip of whiskey. "But I like it. The challenge. The problem-solving. What about you? What do you do?"
"I run a skincare company," Bella said. "Small operation. We're trying to expand."
"That's impressive." Daniel's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "Starting a business from scratch is no small feat. How long have you been at it?"
"About 3 months."
"And you're already thinking about expansion? That's ambitious."
Bella shrugged. "I like to stay busy."
They talked for a while. About work. About the city. About the little things that filled the spaces between the big, overwhelming moments of life.
Daniel was easy to talk to. His questions were thoughtful without being invasive. His humor was light without being forced. He didn't push. Didn't pry.
And when he glanced at her left hand and said, "I noticed you're not wearing a ring," his tone was casual. Curious. Not presumptuous.
Bella looked down at her bare finger. "No. I'm not."
"Good to know," Daniel said, his smile widening slightly.
The conversation continued. Bella found herself laughing at one of his stories—something about a disastrous deposition involving a client who couldn't stop interrupting. It felt good. Light. Like breathing fresh air after being trapped in a room with no windows.
It was so different from the conversations she'd had with Jack in recent months. The tension. The possessiveness. The way every word felt like a test, every silence a trap.
This was easy. Comfortable.
When the bartender announced last call, Bella glanced at her watch and realized over an hour had passed.
"I should go," she said, standing.
Daniel stood as well, pulling out his phone. "Can I get your number? I'd like to do this again sometime. Maybe over dinner?"
Bella hesitated. Then nodded. "Sure."
They exchanged numbers, and Daniel's smile was genuine as he slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"It was really nice talking to you, Bella."
"You too."
They walked out together, parting ways at the door. Bella headed toward her car, Dorn opened the car door, Bella caught the expression on his face. Careful. Guarded. The same look he got whenever he thought she was making a decision that might put her in danger.
"Don't look at me like that," Bella said, sliding into the passenger seat.
Dorn didn't respond. He never did.
But as he closed the door and walked around to the driver's side, Bella could feel the weight of his unspoken concern pressing down on her.
"He's just a friend," she said quietly.