Chapter Text
You stared at the mirror in the private dressing room, nose scrunched in distaste. “No. I’m not wearing this.”
“Why not?” Your aunt’s voice came from the other side of the curtain. “I thought you liked the color.”
It wasn’t the color that was the problem. You quipped back in disdain. “My boobs are on full display.”
Aunt Viv had dragged you out to go shopping for the upcoming charity event, the one your family hosted every year. You insisted that you didn’t need to buy a new dress every time, but she had looked at you like you had grown two heads.
“So? Let me see!”
You swiped the velvet curtain aside with more force than necessary. You stepped out into the waiting room where your frivolous aunt was sitting on the love seat. The dress was pretty, there was no denying that; it was floor length and the expensive material shimmered in the light, but it was way too tight and extremely low cut. The charity event was black tie, as it always was. You would hardly consider the dress appropriate, especially when so many important and high status people always attended. Your aunt appeared to think otherwise.
Her eyes lit up at the sight of you. “I don’t see the problem; you look amazing!”
“People are going to think I’m an escort.”
She huffed in amusement, “Oh please. Did you see what I wore last year? This is nothing.”
“Oh, I remember.” You muttered.
Her dress had been skin tight, low cut, and leopard print. It left little to the imagination. The media certainly had a lot to say about the Denali family’s provocative family member. Aunt Viv was a confident woman to put it mildly. She flaunted her wealth, used her charm for convenience, and was unapologetically herself.
You lost count of how many dresses she had you try on. The event wasn’t for another month, so you still had plenty of time to browse. Several dresses later, you tried one on that had you pausing in the mirror. The red silk draped over your body like it was made for you. The luxurious material cascaded beautifully to the floor, hugging you in all the right places. Your breasts weren’t in danger of showing themselves if you sneezed. It had a slit that wasn’t too high, allowing your leg to peek through as you walked. The dress radiated quiet wealth.
Your aunt was silent for a moment when you stepped past the curtain. “Oh honey…” She stood up from the couch and approached you, taking both of your hands into hers. “You look so beautiful.” Although she was smiling, there was a brief look of sadness that didn’t escape your notice.
“What’s wrong?” You asked.
She placed one of her hands onto her chest, over her heart as she said quietly, “Nothing’s wrong. It’s just… you look just like your mother.”
You smiled at her, mirroring her expression of muted sorrow. Your heart still ached when you thought of them, your parents. A year wasn’t nearly enough time to completely heal from the loss, but you were taking it one day at a time. You weren’t the only one who had lost someone important; Aunt Viv had lost her sister in that tragic accident too.
Her eyes began to water and she fanned her face with her manicured hands. “Dammit. I’m going to ruin my makeup.” You both laughed quietly and you gave her a gentle hug.
“I’m glad I still have you.” You murmured.
Her perfume embraced you right before her arms did. “I’m glad too, honey.”
The two of you left the store shortly after, your new dress packed neatly in the shopping bag in your left hand, while the other was looped around her arm. The noise of the city was a familiar hum; Chicago was your home, where you were born and raised. Together you made your way toward a jewelry store that Aunt Viv had her eye on. The chime of a bell alerted the jeweler of your arrival.
“Welcome, ladies!” A middle aged man in a crisp blue suit greeted you. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”
Aunt Viv gave him a dazzling smile, her velvety voice could charm anyone into doing her bidding. Maybe that’s how she managed to get three husbands. Not at the same time of course; she was divorced thrice, each marriage had ended on her terms. She was many things, but she certainly was the kind of woman who knew what she wanted.
“We’re shopping for a black tie event; show me something breathtaking.” She replied.
The man clasped his hands together, an excited gleam shone in his eyes. “Wonderful! Allow me to show you our best collection.”
You followed him past several glass displays. Your eyes wandered as you saw every colored gem you could dream of. He came to a stop in front of a low glass counter, pulling out a velvet lined tray. Several rings sat nestled in the soft lining, the gemstones were the size of large grapes that glittered in the light.
Your eyes widened at the sheer size of them. You don’t usually wear a lot of jewelry. You preferred subtly over grandeur.
The man aimed his polite smile toward you and asked, “What do you think, Miss?”
You raised your eyebrows. They look ridiculous. You didn’t want to dull the buoyant look in his eyes, but you didn’t want to lie either, so you settled on a half truth. “They’re…quite unique.”
“My niece is a kind soul. They’re tacky, is what she meant to say. Surely you have something better than costume jewelry?”
His lips parted, caught off guard by her honey coated jab. You smiled apologetically. “My apologies!” He said, “I most certainly have pieces that will meet your exquisite taste.” He put the ring tray away, opening drawers behind him as he searched for something that would please your picky aunt.
All of you had your backs facing the entrance doors, so none of you saw the three masked men enter.
“Hands where I can see them!” One of the men shouted.
You whirled around, eyes wide as you saw the men wielding assault rifles. A young woman who stood closest to the entrance screamed, and all hell broke loose. She was shot in the chest, her bright red blood splattering against the pristine floor. Customers pushed each other in a desperate scramble to escape or hide.
You stood frozen, eyes glued on the dead woman laying on the floor. Someone grabbed your arm and pushed you to the ground, away from the gunfire. Snapping out of your haze, you realized it was your aunt who shoved you to safety. Neither of you made a sound as you both crawled behind one of the counters.
The sounds of gunshots and breaking glass echoed in the air. The men barked orders and customers screamed in terror. The glass counter you were hiding behind shattered, showering you with broken glass. You gasped and Aunt Viv clutched onto you, using her body to shield you from danger. You squeezed your eyes shut, trying your hardest to stay quiet as your heart raced.
Your body was tense, waiting for the moment a bullet would find you. The robbers grabbed jewels by the handful, shoving their loot into bags, then dashed out the front door.
All was quiet except for the muffled sob of one of the hiding customers. Aunt Viv let go of you as you both slowly rose from the floor. She stayed silent for a brief moment, gauging whether it was safe to speak. The armed men were indeed gone, leaving death and chaos in their wake.
“Are you okay?” She asked you, cupping your face in her hands, searching for injuries.
All you could do was nod. You didn’t trust your voice. She dropped her hands from your face and turned to look at the damage that surrounded you.
Your heart dropped. Five people, including the salesman who was tending to you, lay lifeless on the floor. Blood and glass decorated the floor, the way the light shined on them just right, you could almost fool yourself into believing they were puddles of rubies instead of innocent strangers' blood.
“Don’t look.” She said as she guided you outside, but it was too late for that. The salesman was alive and smiling not even five minutes ago. The buzz of the city surrounded you, but the images of those bodies were seared into your memory. You barely registered the police sirens in the distance.
Aunt Viv was talking to a police officer, red and blue lights flashed in your peripheral. Sound seemed to be delayed, everything was muffled and rounded. One of the EMT’s looked at you for injuries. You didn’t bother telling them you were fine. Talking seemed like a greater effort than it should have been.
The woman’s scream from earlier reverberated inside your head, the sickening sound of lead penetrating flesh played over and over. You squeezed your eyes shut. When you opened them again, you were sitting inside a car. Tall buildings passed by as you looked out the window. You recognized the route; you were heading back home.
Your aunt was sitting next to you, she was holding your hand while the other was clutching her cell phone, speaking to someone on the other end. She sounded angry, but you weren’t paying attention to the words.
You’ve never seen a dead body before. It was surreal. You almost felt detached. Shouldn’t you be crying? Maybe you were still in shock.
The chauffeur looked at you through the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with concern. The black SUV turned down a long cobblestone driveway, lined with perfectly trimmed sphere hedges.
A large mansion came into view. The car swung around and came to a stop in front of your home, next to a grand circular water fountain. When you stepped out of the car, two people were waiting for your arrival: Uncle Marcus and a servant.
Your uncle approached, giving you a tight hug. “I heard what happened,” He said, his voice was firm yet gentle. “I’m glad you’re safe.” He pulled back and turned to the maid. “Bring her to her room. There’s some phone calls I need to make.” His tone darkened with the last sentence.
Aunt Viv hugged you before you departed. Your aunt and uncle usually didn’t get along that well. They weren’t a couple; Uncle Marcus was your father’s brother, and Aunt Viv was your mother’s sister. Marcus and Viv were complete opposites. He was serious and straightlaced, where she was fun and easy going. But they both shared a deep love for you, and you knew they were discussing your safety and well being as you entered the house.
You were silent as you followed the servant through the warmly lit hallways. You grew up in this mansion, the Denali family had lived here for as long as you could remember. You knew the way back to your room, but you let the servant lead you anyway.
You reached your bedroom that was located on the third floor, the familiar room was a welcoming sight. Like most of the rooms in the mansion, your bedroom was large. Sage green accents adorned the room; the bedsheets, the floor to ceiling curtains, the pillows on the couch. A fireplace was on the opposite wall of your king sized bed. A pair of beautiful french doors opened up to a small balcony that overlooked the garden below.
Your favorite part of the room was the bookshelf that took up one entire wall.
“Is there anything I can get you, Miss Denali?” The servant asked.
You politely declined, and you watched them quietly close the door behind when they left. You weren’t alone for long, for a knock came from the door not even five minutes later. You didn’t have time to address them as the visitor let themselves in.
Your cousin, Nobara, immediately rushed in and gave you a hug. “You’re alive!”
Her dramatic delivery made you smile and you hugged her back with equal fervor. You could always count on her to lighten the mood.
“Do you want to talk about it?” She asked after a few moments of silence, pulling away from you.
You walked over to the couch, collapsing on the cushions. “Not really.” You just wanted to forget about everything that happened.
Nobara nodded in understanding, “Do you want to be alone?”
You stayed quiet for a moment, thinking about her question. “No.” Even if you two sat in silence, which was rare in her company, Nobara’s presence was always a warm welcome.
Instead of joining you on the couch, Nobara sauntered over to your massive bookshelf. She hummed to herself as she skimmed the titles of the books.
“What are you doing?” You asked curiously.
She plucked a book off the shelf and read the back. “Just seeing what my dear sweet cousin is reading these days.” She slid the book back, continuing to peruse. “Boring. Bland. Pretentious…”
You rolled your eyes as she judged your books.
“Well, well, what do we have here!” She announced as she removed another book. “50 Shades Of Grey? You dirty dog.”
You leapt from the couch and rushed toward her. “Hey, that’s private.” You hissed, snatching the book from her hands. She laughed as you put the book back, heat creeping over your cheeks. “I changed my mind; you can go now.” You grumbled.
She was about to annoy you further by ruffling the top of your head, but something made her pause. Tiny flecks of glass were nestled in your hair. She frowned as a pained expression flitted across her face. She pulled you into another hug, the gentleness of it surprising you. Your eyes pricked with welling tears, but you blinked them away. You felt that there was no reason for you to cry; you were alive and safe. You wondered if the salesman had a family too.
Someone knocked on your bedroom door. You pulled away as you called for them to enter. A silver cart rolled in with a tea set and various baked goods on it. Frida walked in, one of your personal housemaids. The short, grey haired woman stepped away from the cart to hold your hands in a gesture of comfort. The pity in her eyes made you feel undeserving; you wished people would stop looking at you like that.
“I brought you your favorites. Would you like me to run the bath for you?”
You internally sighed. More sympathy and gentle concern. You knew everyone was trying to help, but you wished they would move on and stop hovering over you. You smiled tightly and said, “Thank you, Frida. That’s kind of you, but I’d like to stay in my room for a while.”
Frida’s eyes crinkled as she nodded, moving back to the cart to pour a cup of tea for you. Another knock came to your door and it took everything in you not to groan out loud. How many people were going to check on you? Before you could utter a word, the door opened and your aunt walked in, holding a bottle of vodka and two martini glasses. Your shopping bag was also looped around her arm; you had forgotten all about it.
She strolled in, giving you a sly smile. “After our fiasco today, I think we both need a drink.”
“It’s two in the afternoon.” You said with a raised brow, watching her plop down onto your couch.
“And? Oh, and Nobara, Marcus wants a word with you. Something about a credit card and over-spending?”
Nobara winced and you asked, “What did you do now?”
“I may have used his company card to go on a shopping spree yesterday.”
You smiled, not surprised in the slightest. Nobara snatched several lemon tarts from the cart as she walked toward the door.
Frida gave her a disapproving look. “Those aren’t for you, young lady.” She scolded.
Normally, the staff wouldn’t dare speak to any of the Denali’s in such a tone, but Frida has been with the family since you were in diapers. She was like a grandmother to you.
“Thanks Frida, you’re the best!” Nobara said over her shoulder as she dashed out of the room.
Frida sighed, rubbing her temples with her wrinkled hands.
Your aunt raised the bottle of liquor. “Want some?”
Frida chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, no, my old stomach wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
She left after that, leaving you and your aunt as you both lounged on the couch, popping open the fancy bottle. You didn’t drink often, but a near death experience certainly called for a drink or two.
—-------------------
Warm and familiar. Soft and green. Your sleeping form was curled underneath your bedsheets as the morning sun broke over the horizon. Streams of golden light filtered across the room and caressed your face, gently rousing you from sleep.
You rose and sleepily walked into your spacious bathroom that was connected to your room, to get ready for the day. You showered and dressed; you found Frida making your bed when you walked out of your walk-in closet.
“Good morning, Frida.”
She returned your greeting and then informed you that breakfast was ready downstairs. “Your Uncle also wants to see you in his office, once you’re done.”
Making your way through the grand hallways, you decided that breakfast could wait. If it was important, then you didn’t want to keep him waiting. Uncle Marcus was a busy man; as the head of your family’s company, business meetings and deal negotiations took up most of his time.
His office doors came into view. The large double doors were grand and ornate; The dark wood had intricate carvings on it, and there were two servants posted on either side.
They opened the doors for you with polite smiles, “Good morning, Miss Denali. He’s inside waiting for you.”
The first thing you saw when you entered the spacious office was your uncle, who was sitting behind a large mahogany desk. The second thing you noticed was the man standing beside him. You weren’t expecting another person to be present, let alone someone who looked so…intimidating. He was tall with dark hair and even darker eyes. Despite wearing a black suit, you could tell he had a muscular build. His arms were crossed over his broad chest as his sharp eyes watched you cross the room. The vertical scar on his lip stretched as he smirked, noticing you staring.
You immediately snapped your gaze back to your uncle, stopping just in front of his desk.
“You wanted to see me?” You could feel the mysterious man’s eyes on you, and you tried not to shrink under his piercing gaze.
“Yes. Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble. This is a matter of safety.” Marcus said, resting his elbows on the desk, lacing his fingers together. “The incident yesterday was eye opening. I’m sorry you had to witness such horrors. To ensure that never happens again, I’m assigning you a personal bodyguard.”
Your eyes shifted to the man again. He hadn’t spoken a word, yet his presence was loud, almost demanding. His stance wasn’t rigid or tense, he was standing with a casualness that you knew was deceiving. He could probably switch from lazy to lethal in the blink of an eye, especially if he was chosen by your uncle to guard you. But those eyes…those eyes of his were the most unnerving. His dark stare felt like he was dissecting you, weighing your worth. You refused to cower under his scrutinizing assessment of you. You lifted your chin slightly higher, keeping your posture straight. His smile widened.
“This is Toji Fushiguro,” Marcus explained, “He’s one of the best in regards to protection and surveillance. He’s as loyal and skilled as they come.”
You couldn’t see any visible weapons on him, but you’d bet good money that he was armed. A gun tucked behind his jacket perhaps? A knife hidden in his sleeve? Your eyes subconsciously moved to his waist, looking for said weapons. Toji noticed your gaze was lingering on his belt, and he winked at you.
Before you could stop yourself, you scoffed and rolled your eyes, causing your uncle to give you a questioning look. You stiffened, realizing how disrespectful that may have looked. You cleared your throat, hoping you didn’t just offend your uncle, who clearly went above and beyond to hire someone for your safety.
“Thank you; I appreciate you looking after me.”
He smiled, “Of course. Anything for my beloved niece.”
Your shoulders relaxed; he didn’t seem to be bothered by your display seconds earlier.
The arrangement made sense. Toji would act as your living shadow. Where you went, he followed. But to your surprise, he would also be shadowing you at home, not just in public.
“A bodyguard for city outings I understand, but at home?” You questioned. That seemed a bit excessive.
“You’re a Denali, which makes you a person of interest to those who might wish me or my company harm. We’re lucky those robbers didn’t know who you were, or they might have tried to use you as a hostage in exchange for money.”
“Yes, but do you really think anyone would try to break into our home? That seems unlikely.”
“Money makes people do crazy things. I’m not taking any chances.”
You simply nodded, deciding not to question it further. You didn’t want to appear ungrateful. You should be appreciative; not many people were blessed with a well cushioned life like yours. Even fewer had the means of having a professionally trained guard to watch your back.
You believed first impressions were important. You also tried not to judge a person’s character too quickly, but Toji seemed to be getting under your skin already.