The penthouse gleamed in the soft light of the New York skyline, its minimalist design a sharp contrast to the energy buzzing below. Billie wandered through the spacious living room, tossing her hoodie onto a chair. Cedric was already scanning the area, his sharp green eyes darting from corner to corner as he conducted his usual sweep.

"You'd think I was a target in a spy movie or something," Billie teased, watching him.

Cedric didn't reply immediately, stepping toward the large windows to glance at the street below. Once he seemed satisfied, he turned back to her.

"Just doing my job," he said, his tone neutral.

Billie smirked, flopping onto the couch. Cedric remained standing, his posture still rigid even in the relaxed setting.

She watched him for a moment, curiosity flickering in her mind. Despite his constant presence, she realized how little she actually knew about him.

"Do you have any family?" she asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Cedric hesitated, the question clearly catching him off guard. He walked over to one of the armchairs and sat down, leaning back slightly.

"Yeah," he said after a pause. "I have an older brother."

Billie perked up, intrigued. "Oh? What does he do?"

"He's an actor. Aaron Pierre," Cedric said simply.

Her eyebrows shot up in recognition. "Wait, Aaron Pierre? The Aaron Pierre? From that one sci-fi series? That guy is your brother?"

Cedric nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That's the one."

"No way," Billie said, leaning forward. "He's so good. I binged that show in, like, two days. Did you always know he was gonna be famous?"

Cedric shrugged. "Not really. Our dad wanted us both to join the military. Aaron left before that could happen."

Billie tilted her head, sensing the weight behind his words. "And you didn't?"

Cedric shook his head, his green eyes distant. "No. Someone had to stay behind. Dad wasn't exactly thrilled about Aaron's decision, but I never blamed him for leaving. He's a good person, and he needed to do what made him happy."

There was a flicker of vulnerability in his voice that Billie hadn't heard before. It softened something in her, making her see him in a different light.

"You ever think about leaving?" she asked gently.

Cedric chuckled, a low sound that rumbled in his chest. "Every now and then. But this..." He gestured vaguely to the room around them. "This is where I ended up. And I'm good at it."

Billie nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. "Yeah, you are."

For a moment, the room fell into a comfortable silence. Billie leaned back into the couch, her gaze still fixed on Cedric. The way he sat—his broad shoulders relaxed yet still commanding—held an ease she didn't often see in him.

Feeling impulsive, she got up from the couch and crossed the room. Cedric raised a brow, his eyes following her every move.

"What are you doing?" he asked as she stopped in front of him.

Without answering, Billie plopped herself onto his lap, catching him completely off guard. His hands instinctively hovered at her sides, unsure of where to place them.

"Billie," he started, his voice low and warning.

"Relax," she said, smirking up at him. "I'm just curious."

He stiffened beneath her, his jaw tightening. "Curious about what?"

Instead of replying, Billie reached up and rolled the edge of his balaclava upward. Cedric's hand shot up to stop her, his fingers lightly gripping her wrist.

"Billie," he said again, more firmly this time.

"C'mon," she teased, her voice soft but insistent. "Please just let me see you."

Cedric hesitated, his green eyes locked on hers. There was a moment of silent tension, the air between them charged.

Slowly, as if testing the waters, Cedric loosened his grip on her wrist. Billie took that as permission and rolled the fabric upward, revealing the sharp line of his jaw and the faint stubble that shadowed his skin.

Her breath hitched slightly as she continued, exposing his full face.

"Whoa," she said softly, her eyes widening.

Cedric had always been intimidating, but seeing him without the mask was something else entirely. His sharp cheekbones, strong jawline, and his bright green eyes seemed even more striking without the barrier.

"What?" he asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

Billie shook her head, a grin spreading across her face. "Nothing. Just... didn't expect you to look like that."

Cedric raised a brow. "Like what?"

"Like someone who could model for, I don't know, Hugo Boss or something," she said, still grinning. "It's almost unfair."

Cedric rolled his eyes, but there was a faint flush creeping up his neck. "Are you done?"

"Nope," Billie said, leaning in closer to inspect him. "I think I just found a new hobby: annoying you."

"You already do that and certainly didn't need my face to do that," he replied dryly.

Billie laughed, the sound light and genuine. She leaned back slightly, still perched comfortably on his lap.

"You should show it more," she said after a moment.

Cedric tilted his head, confused. "Show what?"

"Your face," Billie said, gesturing to him. "I know you have this protocol but I'm not a king waiting to be assassinated so...."

Cedric's expression softened, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "I'll think about it," he said.

"That's all I ask," Billie said, giving him a cheeky grin.

For the first time since they'd met, Cedric allowed himself to relax fully, the tension in his shoulders melting away. Billie leaned against him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest as they sat there, a rare moment of quiet connection between them.

And for once, neither of them felt the need to fill the silence.

By the time the evening rolled in, Billie had moved back to the couch, her feet tucked under her as she scrolled through her phone.

And for the first time since they'd started this strange partnership, Billie felt like she wasn't just stuck with another bodyguard.

She was stuck with him.

And, surprisingly, she didn't mind it one bit.