Cedric sat in front of the bathroom mirror, the faint hum of the clippers in his hand filling the silence. He was halfway through buzzing his hair when his phone buzzed on the counter. He sighed, glanced at the screen, and saw his brother Aaron's name flashing for the third time in the last hour.

Grabbing the phone, he pressed the answer button with a resigned groan. "Hello?"

"You quit your job?" Aaron's voice was sharp, almost accusatory.

Cedric rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Um, hello to you too, Aaron?"

"Cut the bull, Cedric," Aaron snapped. "What the hell's going on? You finally link some girl and decide to throw your life away for her? What are you thinking, man?"

Cedric rolled his eyes and went back to buzzing his hair. His reflection stared back at him, the growing short beard on his face catching his attention. He tilted his head, debating whether to shave it or let it grow out a little more.

"Cedric? Are you even listening to me?" Aaron's voice rang through the speaker, pulling Cedric out of his thoughts.

"I'm listening," Cedric replied flatly, setting the clippers down and leaning closer to the mirror.

"Then answer me!" Aaron demanded. "What's going on? Why'd you quit the agency?"

Cedric exhaled deeply, resting his hands on the sink. "I've been ignoring their calls and emails for weeks now, Aaron. They got the hint. It's not that deep."

"Not that deep? You've spent years building your career with them, and you're telling me it's not that deep?"

"Yes," Cedric said, his voice sharp now. "Because it's my life, not theirs. And definitely not yours."

Aaron sighed heavily on the other end of the line. "Look, I get it. You want to do your own thing. But this isn't like you, Cedo. You don't just quit without a plan."

"I have a plan," Cedric shot back.

"Does it involve this girl you're working for?" Aaron asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

Cedric clenched his jaw, refusing to rise to the bait. "It involves doing what feels right for me. That's all you need to know."

Aaron fell silent for a moment, then spoke again, his voice softer this time. "I just don't want you to regret this, man. You're one of the best at what you do."

"I won't regret it," Cedric said firmly. "Trust me."

Aaron sighed again but didn't push further. "Alright. Just... don't shut me out, okay? You're my brother. I'm here if you need me."

"Thanks," Cedric said, his tone softening.

They ended the call, and Cedric stared at his reflection in the mirror, his thoughts racing. He ran a hand over his freshly buzzed hair and decided to leave the beard for now.

In the other room, Billie sat cross-legged on her bed, her laptop perched in front of her. She scrolled through her emails absentmindedly until a subject line caught her eye: Cedric Cruz Pierre - Resignation Letter.

Her heart skipped a beat as she clicked on it, scanning the message in disbelief.

Cedric had officially quit the agency they'd hired him from.

Her mind raced with questions. Had he quit because he didn't want to be her bodyguard anymore?

She closed the laptop, her hands trembling slightly. This wasn't like Cedric. He was always so composed, so professional. The thought of him walking away from his job—and possibly from her—left her feeling unsettled.

An hour later, Cedric stepped into the living room, freshly showered and dressed in a fitted black t-shirt and joggers. He found Billie sitting on the couch, staring at her laptop with a furrowed brow.

"Hey," he said, his voice breaking the silence. "You good?"

She looked up at him, her expression unreadable. "You quit your job."

It wasn't a question.

Cedric froze for a moment, then shrugged. "Yeah, I did."

"Why?" she asked, her tone more curious than accusatory.

He walked over and sat down on the armrest of the couch, his eyes meeting hers. "Because it didn't feel right anymore."

Billie tilted her head, studying him. "What didn't feel right? The agency? Or working for me?"

Cedric's gaze softened, and he leaned forward slightly. "Not you. Never you."

Her shoulders relaxed a fraction, but the tension in the room lingered.

"Then what?" she pressed.

Cedric ran a hand over his head, exhaling deeply. "The agency's all about control. They send you where they want, when they want, and you don't get a say. I've been doing this long enough to know I'm not okay with that anymore. Especially not now."

"Not now?" Billie repeated, her heart skipping a beat.

He hesitated, searching for the right words. "Because of you."

Billie blinked, her breath catching in her throat. "Me?"

"You," he said simply.

Her lips parted, but no words came out. The weight of his admission hung in the air between them, and for a moment, all she could do was stare at him.

"I don't want to overstep," Cedric continued, his voice quieter now. "But I adore you."

Billie's heart raced, and she felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her—relief, fear, excitement.

A small, almost shy smile tugged at Cedric's lips. "And i want to see where the Billie train takes me."

Billie chuckled softly, the tension in her shoulders finally easing. "Okay."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the unspoken understanding between them stronger than ever.

"So," Billie said, breaking the silence. "What's next for you, Mr. No Agency?"

Cedric smirked, leaning back against the couch. "Guess I'm a freelancer now. But my first priority will always be to make sure you're safe."

Billie rolled her eyes, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Of course you'd say that."

He reached over and gently tapped her knee. "It's the truth. Deal with it."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Fine. But if you're going to stick around, you better get used to me being a pain in your ass."

Cedric grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

And for the first time in a long time, Billie felt like everything was exactly as it should be.