The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Theo’s penthouse, casting long shadows over the polished marble floors. Theo leaned back in his leather chair, an untouched cup of coffee cooling on his desk. His eyes were fixed on the tablet, where the ominous email still glowed on the screen.

“Rebecca,” he called, his voice sharp enough to carry over the faint sound of the city below.

She appeared within moments, tablet in hand and a crease etched into her forehead. “Yes, sir?”

“Tell me you have good news,” Theo said, swiveling his chair to face her.

Her hesitation was all the answer he needed.

“We traced the IP,” Rebecca said, her tone careful. “It was rerouted through dozens of proxies. Whoever sent this is... extremely skilled. IT has nothing.”

Theo’s jaw clenched. “And the threats?”

“They’re growing. One came through this morning.” She passed him a printed note, her hand trembling slightly.

Theo scanned the message:

“You’ve been warned. Ignore us again, and the consequences will be explosive—literally.”

The knot in his stomach tightened. The message wasn’t signed, but it didn’t need to be.

“Explosive?” Theo repeated, tossing the note onto the desk. “How original.”

“Sir, this is serious,” Rebecca pressed. “Our legal team has advised immediate action. We should be considering—”

“Canceling Orion?” Theo cut her off, his voice biting. “Not a chance. These people—whoever they are—think they can intimidate me? I don’t fold under pressure, Rebecca. I thrive on it.”

Rebecca bit her lip, clearly torn, but nodded. “Understood. But the security team feels strongly that you should have... additional protection.”

Theo raised an eyebrow. “What kind of protection?”

“They’ve already hired someone,” Rebecca said, almost too quickly.

Theo stood, his chair rolling back with a soft scrape. “They’ve what?”

Before she could answer, the sound of the elevator chiming cut through the conversation. Theo turned just in time to see the doors slide open. A man stepped out, his presence immediately commanding the room.

Dressed in a plain black suit with no tie, he moved with precision, like every step had been planned in advance. His close-cropped dark hair and sharp jawline gave him an air of no-nonsense authority. His eyes—cold, calculating, and piercing—locked onto Theo with unsettling ease.

Theo crossed his arms, his expression hardening. “And who’s this?”

Rebecca cleared her throat nervously. “This is Marcus Cain. Your new bodyguard.”

Marcus extended a hand, his face unreadable. “Mr. Montgomery. It’s an honor.”

Theo ignored the hand, tilting his head as he assessed the man in front of him. “You don’t look like the honor type.”

Marcus lowered his hand without missing a beat. “I’m the type that keeps people alive. Whether they like it or not.”

“Charming,” Theo said dryly. “But unnecessary. I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Good,” Marcus replied evenly. “Because I’m not here to babysit. I’m here to keep you breathing. I suggest you let me do my job.”

Theo’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t remember asking for your services.”

“You didn’t,” Marcus said. “But I was hired because your security team thinks you’re a high-value target. From what I’ve seen, they’re not wrong.”

Theo bristled. “And what exactly have you ‘seen’?”

“Death threats. Breaches in your company’s cybersecurity.” Marcus stepped closer, his tone unyielding. “You’re not invincible, Mr. Montgomery. And if you don’t take this seriously, you won’t last a week.”

The tension in the room was palpable. Rebecca hovered near the door, her shoulders tense as she watched the exchange.

Theo smirked, though the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Are all bodyguards this dramatic, or is it just you?”

Marcus didn’t flinch. “You’re paying for dramatic.”

“Not me,” Theo corrected. “Someone else is footing the bill for this little performance. And when it’s over, I’ll send them a thank-you card.”

Marcus didn’t respond, his expression remaining impassive.

Rebecca finally broke the silence. “Sir, Marcus’s credentials are impeccable. He served in Special Forces for over a decade, has a spotless record in private security, and specializes in high-risk scenarios.”

Theo turned to her with a look of exasperation. “You’ve already sold me the car, Rebecca. No need to keep pitching.”

Marcus’s lips twitched in what might have been amusement, but it was gone too quickly to be sure.

“Fine,” Theo said, running a hand through his hair. “If you’re staying, stay out of my way. I don’t need someone breathing down my neck every second.”

“You won’t notice I’m there,” Marcus replied smoothly.

“Doubtful,” Theo muttered, turning back to his desk.

As he sat down, Marcus moved to stand near the window, his gaze sweeping over the penthouse with practiced precision. Theo tried to ignore the man’s presence, but it was impossible. There was something about Marcus—something unyielding, immovable—that felt like a challenge.

Theo didn’t like challenges he didn’t set himself.

“Well,” Theo said, grabbing his coffee and leaning back in his chair. “Welcome to the team, Marcus. Let’s see how long you last.”

Marcus didn’t look away from the window. “I was about to say the same thing to you.”