Marlene you need a body guard, Joe screamed at her “not that I care” he muttered, if not for political reasons you think I'd be this concerned?
I'm not the one contesting so why should I hire a body guard, I need my privacy and wouldn't want anyone following me around, she screamed back at her husband.
This isn't up for discussion, my decision is final. I'll send about 10 men up here for you to decide which one you'd want to be your guard . Marlene raised her brows and before she could say anything, Joe stormed out of the room.
Marlene sitting on the white sofa trying to process what just happened, this man has never cared about my existence, why now, she wondered. Her thoughts were cut short by Agnes the maid, ma'am the guards are out waiting for you .Tell them to leave, mmmm you know what , I'll be down in 5 minutes she said.
with her arms crossed round her chest, she reluctantly stood up and headed downstairs. Marlene's brows scrunched up at the sight of the able bodied men standing in black clean suits all in a straight line .
After staring at them for a few minutes, she rubbed her forehead with her hand and finally said “you can all go” with that being said she left. The men looked confused but had no choice than to leave.
Marlene collapsed in her favourite white
Sofa, “I can finally have some peace she muttered” before she could close her eyes to take a short nap, her phone rang .
The caller was Marlene’s friend . “ Hey girl” Zoe said at the other end of the phone. I'm in town for a short visit and I'd like to see you, without hesitating Marlene said okay see you soon.
She decided to wear one of her favourite gown with a flowery pattern. She headed out immediately. Marlene was enjoying the cool evening breeze while driving, with her hair tucked behind her ear and an old school love song being played on the radio. She wondered if she'd ever experience love in its purest form.
Just about when she was turning a corner, she saw a group of people protesting on the street, “oh I have to go through another route she said” a group of angry mob approached her car and almost attacked when a tall well built man showed up to save her.
“Leave the woman alone” he screamed, she's not the cause of your problems. They left without arguing.
*You should leave here now, he said. Marlene threw her card at him, please call me , I'd like to thank you properly.
Marlene’s fingers trembled slightly as she slid the car into gear and pulled away from the chaotic scene. Her heart still hammered against her ribs, but her mind stayed fixed on the man — the stranger — who had stepped into a mob without hesitation.
Tall. Broad shoulders. A voice that cut through fury like a blade.
For a moment, she felt… safe. Something she hadn’t felt in years.
Her phone vibrated on the passenger seat. A text from Zoe popped up:
“Where are you? Should I order drinks?”
Marlene exhaled shakily.
“On my way. Got delayed.”
She didn’t add by almost dying.
As she drove off, the man bent down to pick up the business card she’d thrown at him. He watched her taillights vanish into the evening fog — an unreadable expression in his eyes.
Later That Evening
The café Zoe picked was small but loud — people laughing, glasses clinking, décor full of plants and badly drawn quotes. Normally, Marlene liked it, but today her nerves buzzed like electricity.
Zoe noticed instantly.
“You look like you just saw a ghost,” Zoe said, leaning forward.
“Not a ghost. More like an entire mob,” Marlene muttered, taking a shaky sip of her drink.
Zoe’s brows shot up. “What?”
Marlene told her everything — the protest, the angry crowd, the stranger who stepped in. Zoe listened with a slow, knowing smirk spreading across her face.
“So basically… the universe dropped a superhero in your lap.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Marlene protested weakly.
“It never is until it is.”
Marlene rolled her eyes, though her pulse fluttered at the memory of him shouting, “Leave the woman alone.”
But the warm feeling faded as quickly as it came.
Because reality hit her again: Joe.
Joe, who barely looked at her anymore.
Joe, who suddenly insisted she needed a bodyguard.
Joe, who was running for political office — and whose temper had grown unpredictable.
Why now? Why the sudden obsession with keeping her safe?
Zoe’s voice cut into her thoughts. “Marlene. Seriously. Why would Joe even send ten men to your house? What’s he involved in?”
“I don’t know,” Marlene whispered.
But she felt the lie burn in her throat.
She had a pretty good guess.
Midnight
When Marlene returned home, the house was too quiet. Agnes had gone to bed. The hall lights were dimmed. And yet… something felt off.
She slipped off her shoes, heading for the stairs — until she noticed the study door standing slightly ajar. Joe always locked that room. Always.
A chill climbed her spine.
She pushed the door slowly.
Inside, the desk lamp glowed. Papers were scattered everywhere. But what caught her attention was the open laptop on the desk — emails highlighted on the screen.
Her breath caught.
Security threats.
Reports of planned attacks.
Her name was mentioned more than once.
Then something worse:
“If anything happens to my wife, we must spin it to increase public sympathy. The media should already be prepared…”
Her stomach dropped.
Joe…
was using her as a pawn.
Not protecting her.
Not loving her.
Just preparing her as a possible tragedy for his campaign.
Her vision blurred.
She stumbled backward, covering her mouth.
A sound behind her made her whirl around—
A floorboard creaking.
A shadow moving past the doorway.
“Marlene?” a voice said.
Low. Firm. Too familiar.
She froze.
