C4 FOUR

*******

I was still in a daze when I walked out of the bar.

"You, right?" Leon said.

"Do—do you know me?" I asked.

"Oh, it's the same guy from yesterday!" Ruth told me in a whisper.

"Come on, Kelvin," Leon said as he hurried away.

"No, please wait," I ran in front of him and stopped him from going.

He told her to move.

"No, please, I need your help," she said. I said.

"I'm sorry, I can't offer any help." He said it in a cold way and turned to leave, but I grabbed his arms.

"I'll pay you any amount. All you have to do is be my BODYGUARD!" I said.

Kelvin yelled, "What?"

"I-- I'm the real heir to the J corp business, and my stepmother is trying to kill me. Please…" I said something, but he didn't look at me again as he pushed my arms away and got in a taxi to leave.

The other guy just smiled and walked away when he saw me.

********** **********

When Leon got home, he stripped off and got in the shower. When Kelvin came in, he had just finished bathing.

He asked, "Dude, what do you think about it?"

"About what?" asked Leon.

"The girls say, "Leon, J Corp., and IM have been business rivals for decades."

I think this is a chance to get back at them." Kelv said.

Leon looked at him and said, "Bro, I don't get you."

"Look, no one knows that you are the IM's third son. You can get into the J corp if you get close to her."

"Are you suggesting that I use her?" Leon asked.

"Well, if that's the case, then yes, be her bodyguard and you know."

"Kelv, just shut up," Leon said.

"Leon, don't you know what your father's killer did to him? dude"

He yelled, "Kelv, I told you to shut the fuck up!"

"Think about it, I have to go," Kelvin said something that left Leon confused.

*********** ***********

Ruth asked Gem, "Why did you ask him that question out of the blue? You haven't even thanked him yet!"

"Sister Ruth, I'm scared, I'm really scared, and she won't stop until I die. This is the first time anyone has ever stood up for me and fought for me." I said crying.

"It's okay. Based on the way he moves, I'm sure he's a bodyguard who has been trained in IM. Let's go there tomorrow and see if we can find him.

hope you're all set?" I said yes when she asked.

"Thanks a lot, Sister Ruth.

Today, I'm going home "I said.

She yelled, "No, I can't let you go to that house today!"

"It's okay.

I have something important to do there. I'll be fine." She sighed after I said it.

When I got home, I did what I always do: I took a deep breath and went inside. When I almost died today, the family of three was eating and having a party. I knew that Dad didn't care about me at all, but it hurt my heart a lot no matter how hard I tried.

When I walked in, Marie gasped when she saw me, and Jolene dropped her fork but pretended to smile.

I said, "Hi," sat down, and started eating.

"Gem, what does this all mean?" Father screamed.

"What does it mean? Is it wrong to eat at the house of my own father?" I asked.

"I heard that you and your sister will be in a movie together. Don't be in that movie." He said, which broke my heart, but I still smiled.

Don't say that, honey! Marie said.

"Yes, daddy…

I'm happy to act with my sister, and maybe we'll get along well "She gave a smile.

"No, baby, what if she hurts you? We all know that she is a cruel psychopath." He said it again and hearing my father say such things broke my heart.

I said, "Maids, please give me more rice. This food is delicious," but he walked up to me and pushed the food away, which fell to the floor.

"Stop, honey!" Marie cried, but she was happy inside.

"Get out, you bad child! I'm giving up on you as of today..." He said that, and I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

I cried, "Father..." I won't go. Disown me all you want. I won't leave this house. I won't stay in the basement anymore. I'm moving into Mom's room today," I said.

He yelled, "All you've ever given me in this house is bad luck. You took everything away from me—everything I love."

"No, I didn't, but I promise you, Father, you'll one day regret everything you've done." I said, "Let's go!" and ran up to my mom's room.

I went to sleep crying.

******

A beam of sunlight came into Mom's room. When I opened my eyes, the room felt safe and calm. My phone rang.

"Hello, Ruth, my sister."

"Gem, get going! I found your bodyguard, and he is, in fact, one of the IM trainees." She told me, so I jumped out of bed and ran out of the house.

We didn't know it, but he wasn't a trainee— he owned IM. Ruth and I both dressed like famous people.

We got into the training centre for IM guards.

"Wow... Gem, everyone is looking at you." Ruth said.

"My name isn't Gem for nothing." We all laughed as I bragged.

"How may I help you, Miss?" A man came up to us.

"Take me to your most unique guards.

I have to choose one by hand." I told him, and he smiled.

We sat down, and lots of good-looking, muscled guards kept coming and going, but I couldn't find him.

"Is this the last one?" I asked, looking tired.

"Uh, yes, ma'am. You don't like any of them?" He did so.

"Are you certain that's it?" Ruth asked once more.

"Yes, madam." He spoke up.

.

.

.

…….