Billie sat in a meeting waiting for her new bodyguard to arrive to take her to an event she had been invited to.

Her dark hair was tucked beneath a cap, the casual accessory softening the edges of her sharp Gucci button-up and the oversized shorts she'd paired with her favorite Nike 1s. Billie fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, glancing at her phone screen to check the time. Sully's absence felt weird—after years of his dad-like demeanor and steady presence, the thought of someone else taking over was... uncomfortable.

She got why Sully had to retire. He wasn't exactly in his prime anymore, and the last time a fan got too handsy, Sully had nearly thrown out his back trying to intervene. But still, it was strange imagining someone new stepping into his place. Someone whose face she hadn't even seen yet.

Her gaze shifted to the folder sitting on the conference table in front of her. The profile for her new bodyguard had been dropped off earlier, but she hadn't done more than skim the basics. Cedric Pierre. 26. Former military. No nonsense. The lack of personal details bugged her, but whatever—she figured it didn't matter. As long as the guy could keep her safe and not get in her way, they'd get along fine.

The sound of the door opening drew her attention. A sharp-looking agent walked in, clipboard in hand, giving Billie and her manager, Danny, a courteous nod.

"Evening, Miss Eilish," the agent greeted with a polished smile, before gesturing toward the tall man stepping in behind him.

Billie blinked, her head tilting slightly as she took him in. He was huge. Tall as hell, with broad shoulders and a muscular frame that seemed to fill the entire doorway. The guy moved with a kind of quiet precision, his steps purposeful and calculated. But it wasn't his size or his movement that caught her off guard—it was the balaclava covering the lower half of his face.

Only his eyes were visible: striking, vivid green against his dark brown skin.

"This is Cedric Pierre," the agent announced, standing to the side so the man could come further into the room. "One of the best the company has to offer. He's well-trained, very intelligent, has impeccable reaction time, and will definitely do the job he's needed to do."

Cedric gave a single nod, his movements economical and measured. He didn't say anything, which felt... odd. The room lingered in silence for a moment, save for the sound of Billie's nails tapping lightly against the table.

She leaned back in her chair, eyebrows raising as she broke the stillness.

"You don't talk?"

Cedric's eyes flicked to her, then back to the agent. It was the agent who responded on his behalf.

"Mr. Pierre prefers to maintain discretion during his duties. He communicates when necessary, but he focuses on the job above all else."

Billie tilted her head, her lips quirking in faint amusement. "So, I get a bodyguard and a mime. Lucky me."

Danny shot her a look, his expression screaming Behave, but she ignored him, her focus locked on the man in the mask.

Cedric didn't flinch at her jab. If anything, the faintest hint of amusement flickered in his eyes before it disappeared. He remained silent, his posture straight and unyielding as the agent continued rattling off his qualifications.

"He's got a spotless track record, both in his military career and his time in private security," the agent added. "We've placed him with high-profile clients across industries—celebrities, diplomats, CEOs—and we've never had a single complaint."

"Not even one?" Billie asked, her tone skeptical.

"No, Miss Eilish. Not even one."

She glanced back at Cedric, taking in the balaclava again. "So, what's with the mask?"

"That's part of his protocol," the agent explained smoothly. "It allows him to maintain a level of anonymity while on duty. It's also a deterrent—makes him harder to identify, harder to target."

Billie crossed her arms, leaning forward on the table. "Right. And how do I know he's not some kind of psycho under there?"

Danny groaned, muttering her name in exasperation, but Cedric's expression—or rather, his lack of one—didn't waver. Instead, he stepped forward, his voice calm and even when he finally spoke.

"You don't."

Billie blinked. His voice was deep, smooth, with just the faintest trace of an accent she couldn't quite place. There was no defensiveness in his tone, just a simple matter-of-factness that caught her off guard.

He continued, his green eyes meeting hers directly. "What you can trust is my record and the fact that I wouldn't be here if I wasn't the best choice to protect you."

There was no bravado in the statement—just quiet confidence. Billie studied him for a moment longer before leaning back in her chair again.

"Well," she said lightly, "guess we'll see if you live up to the hype."

Cedric didn't respond, only nodding once before stepping back into his previous position.

"Right," the agent said, clapping his hands together. "With introductions out of the way, shall we move forward?"

The car ride to the event was awkward, at least for Billie. She sat in the backseat of the sleek black SUV, fiddling with the rings on her fingers as the silence stretched on. Cedric was seated in the passenger seat up front, his body angled slightly toward the driver as if he were perpetually scanning for threats.

It was weird, having someone who didn't speak unless necessary. Sully had been the kind of guy who filled silences with dad jokes and random stories, making it easy to forget he was technically working. Cedric? He was like a brick wall. A tall brick wall with piercing green eyes that seemed to see through everything.

She tapped her foot against the floor, debating whether to say something to break the tension. Finally, she gave in.

"So, Cedric," she called out, her voice carrying through the car. "You always this quiet, or is it just me?"

He glanced at her briefly through the rearview mirror. "I speak when necessary."

"That's not an answer," she said, smirking.

"It is," he replied, his tone unbothered.

Billie huffed a laugh, leaning her head back against the seat. "You're kind of intense, you know that?"

Cedric didn't respond, which only made her laugh again. She wasn't sure why his lack of reaction amused her so much—it just did.

"You're gonna have to get used to me talking," she warned. "I don't do the whole quiet thing."

"Noted," he said simply.

Billie snorted. "Man of few words, huh?"

"That's correct."

She rolled her eyes, muttering, "This is gonna be fun."

By the time they arrived at the event, Billie had given up trying to get more than a handful of words out of Cedric. He stepped out of the car first, scanning their surroundings before opening her door and gesturing for her to step out.

As soon as she did, the familiar chaos of cameras and shouting hit her like a wave. Paparazzi had already gathered outside the venue, their flashes going off in rapid succession as Billie adjusted her cap and started walking toward the entrance.

Cedric moved with her, his broad frame shielding her from the crowd as they made their way through the madness. She caught a few murmurs from the photographers—comments about the "masked bodyguard" that only added to her already growing curiosity about the guy.

Inside the venue, things settled down a little. Billie let out a breath, adjusting her shirt as she glanced at Cedric, who was already scanning the room with sharp, focused eyes.

Who was this guy, really?