T H E  P R I N C E S S  A N D  T H E  B O D Y G U A R D

It was the beginning of Spring, freaking finally.

The air was still a bit crisp yet but it was a relief that the freezing days of Winter were over. Imagine if I had to be standing here dressed in an all-black suit on a cold day. I’d probably lose my temper before I even start with things I have to lay my hands on.

I watched people, no, actually the wealthiest of people in the country enter the prestigious Seoul Museum. I clicked my tongue, tilting my head in displeased just imagining how boring this event would be.

Don’t get me wrong I don’t despise exhibitions, in fact, I’d probably be generous to give it about 30% of my liking. However, I wasn’t here to leisurely stare at some of the most expensive paintings in the world. I was here to do my job. An assignment I openly disagreed with if not for my Father’s guilt-tripping. I just hope that it wouldn’t be as boring as I thought.

I exhaled loudly as I fixed my tie before I took the flight of stairs toward the entrance of the Museum. As soon as I passed the event’s security procedures, I proceeded to the main hall which was an ocean of, again, filthy rich individuals.

I immediately roamed my attention around as I searched for the face of the name I had in mind. Technically, this would be the first time I’d ever see her since I had only seen her face from the photo on her file yesterday as soon as I landed from Germany.

Leaving my spot, I walked around the area as I searched for my subject.

Kwon Yeona.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

I recalled how my father, the owner of our family security company, handed her file to me. Our company was in charge of the security for the number one business tycoon in all of Asia, Kwon Tae Ho. Of course, I asked him why he would send me to be her bodyguard when we had plenty of people who could do the job well.

“They asked for my best man.” My father told me, seated in front of me in his office. “And we all know who that is.”

“You summoned me here from Germany just so I could look after some spoiled brat heiress?” I reasoned out, refusing to check the file he gave me. “C’mon Dad, this isn’t what I would have expected from you. You could have sent Junho instead.” I added, referring to my cousin who was already in the country.

“Baekhyun.” He called my name, authority evident in his voice. “You know what my relationship with Tae Ho is. He’s more than just a client. He is a friend of mine. A family.”

There he went again, guilt-tripping me which I was immediately displeased with.

“Just do this favor for me. Once this is over, I won’t get you to any assignment you don’t want to take part in again.”

I took a deep breath, knowing that I wouldn’t have any choice anyway. Opening the envelope, I took out the profile. The first thing that caught my attention was her photo and acknowledged the fact that she had a face any man would want to stare at all day.

Kwon Yeona.
Twenty-Nine Years Old.
The only daughter of Kwon Tae Ho.
Previously based in the US but will stay in South Korea to manage one of his father’s businesses in the country.

“If you’re worried about spoiled brats,” I heard my dad say. “She’s not one of them. She’s an accomplished woman. I met her a few times and she seemed nice.”

“Seemed nice?” I smirked, raising an eyebrow as I was not convinced by his remarks. “She can be an accomplished woman and still be a , Dad,” I told him in a matter-of-fact tone with an eyebrow raise.

“Watch your words, son.” He quickly reprimanded me. “You are not to treat her like the women you meet in your past time.”

“Wow you made that sound like I’m some garbage of a man,” I smirked at his remark which earned a stern look from him. I sighed, raising my hands in surrender.

“Okay fine,” I replied. “What’s her deal anyway? Aside from being Kwon’s heiress?”

“She got kidnapped in the US once, and a lot of attempts followed after.”

“The attempts.” I pointed out. “In the States or here?”

“Both.” My father answered. “And Tae Ho had been receiving threats of harming her for the last few months. Tae Ho’s enemies know how much his daughter meant to him.”

“What happened to her previous bodyguards?” I asked nonchalantly. “Killed?”

He nodded.

“So, you want me to be next?”

“Byun Baekhyun!” He raised his voice a bit.

“Chill Dad.” I scoffed. “I’m just kidding.”

“This is why I want you to take the job, son. You’re the only one I can trust on this.”

“Yeah, if she doesn’t get me killed anytime soon.” I was blatantly sarcastic.

 To my surprise, my father ignored my intentional sarcasm.

“The fact that I had to pull you out from your current assignment in Germany and send you back here in the country means that she’s in absolute danger and could really use our help, your help.”

He was right. He never does something like that unless it’s utterly urgent. But I still hated the fact that I had been dragged here when Germany was so good to me. But then again, I was already here and I should just get this over with.

“How long is this whole thing going to be?” I asked. “I won’t be babysitting her for the rest of my life, wouldn’t I?”

“Let’s see what happens in three months.”

Three ing months. It already sounds like a decade to me. I would have argued more and tested my father’s patience but I was kinda tired from the flight. I decided to concede.

“Fine.” I finally agreed to want to avoid further ted talks with my father. “But once she’s being a pain in the , you’d better get Junho ready to take my place. I’m going straight back to Germany.”

My father laughed at my remark.

“I doubt that will ever happen.” He replied, tilting his head sideways. “I’m more worried about you being the pain in the .”

“C’mon, Dad.” I let out a small sarcastic laugh.

“I know you very well son.” He added with a subtle grin as he left his spot and headed to the door. “Wait for Tae Ho’s phone call.”

“Right,” I muttered under my breath as soon as I was left alone.

I stared at the photo for a few good seconds as I let her name roll over my tongue for the very first time.

“Kwon Yeona.”


ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

I couldn’t say she was easy to spot but she was undeniably standing out from the rest of the women population here tonight.

The moment I found her, she was standing alone in front of a huge painting facing the other way. Just seeing her back profile, her presence already screamed class and elegance. She was an heiress after all.

She was donned in a plain, long-sleeved, white gown that reached barely a solid centimeter above the floor covering her footwear. Her dark, long, straight hair was neatly done. I could already imagine how she must have looked while staring at the masterpiece in front of her.

I was about to approach her and introduce who I was when a man about her age joined her. I walked to stand in front of the painting next to them so I could observe. I was a few feet from them and was able to see her side profile. I was convinced she exactly looked like the photo on her file when she turned to my side.

We exchanged looks for about two seconds. Two seconds was enough to prove me wrong. She didn’t look exactly like the photo. In fact, the photo didn’t do her justice at all. I must say and acknowledge she’s one of the most beautiful faces I had ever seen.

One thing though, she didn’t look very welcoming. In a way, there was something cold about her.

The man next to her leaned to say something to her ear which retrieved her attention. From where I stood, they exchange a few words and instantly judged that she know him. They looked like two normal, rich people, who were harmlessly talking to each other.

I took the time to dart my attention to the man and was only able to look at his face clearly as he was slightly facing my direction. I thought for a second, scanning the written profile my father gave me before. I searched his profile from head to toe. Yes, obviously loaded. I focused on his face and concluded that he was Choi Jihoon.

He’s the eldest son of Choi Industries. He’s known to be a womanizer and I could perfectly see why with the way he was subtly flirting with her. If she was indeed romantically affiliated with this man, I’d be disappointed with her taste in men.

The way he kept looking around as if he wanted to leave the place or something and take her somewhere private was obvious too. Then he placed a hand on her lower back which I concluded that she didn’t find quite pleasing as it caused her to immediately make a step away from the man.

I smirked at the sight. Yes, this one’s a .

She didn’t make slap him or did something that could have made a scene. Again, one classy move. It could be the way she looked at the man that made him unhappy about her actions.

Choi Jihoon stayed with her for the next few minutes as if nothing happened. He continued to talk but her eyes were on the painting, not bothering to give him a glance.

An unstoppable smirk crossed my lips. It wasn’t so hard to notice her reserved demeanor. I know and have seen a lot of her kind and I could already imagine how y she could possibly be.

“We need to talk.” She told him.

I thought her voice matched her face and her seemingly cold character.

“Yes, I’d like that very much.”

I scoffed at how he wasn’t hi