The event itself was the usual whirlwind of handshakes, polite smiles, and constant camera flashes. Billie knew how to work a room, even when her mind wasn't in it. Tonight, though, her focus kept straying—right back to the towering presence of Cedric Pierre.

He was never more than a few feet away, blending into the edges of the crowd like a shadow. The mask didn't just hide his face; it gave him an almost ghostlike quality, making him impossible to ignore. Even as Billie mingled with other guests, her eyes kept drifting to him, wondering what thoughts might be running through his head behind that impenetrable exterior.

By the time she'd made her way to the photo-op area, she couldn't resist anymore. After finishing a set of pictures, she turned to Cedric, who had positioned himself near a wall, his arms folded across his broad chest.

"Wow. Serious guy," she said with a grin. "You ever have fun, or is that against protocol too?"

His gaze didn't waver, though she thought she caught a faint flicker of amusement. "I'm having fun right now."

Billie raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "Oh yeah? Staring at walls and fending off camera flashes is your idea of fun?"

"Protecting clients," Cedric corrected. "That's what I enjoy."

His answer caught her off guard—not just the words, but the sincerity in them. It wasn't what she'd expected, and it threw her off just enough to make her stumble over her next reply.

"Well," she said after a moment, "glad I can provide some entertainment, I guess."

Cedric didn't respond, but there was something in his posture—something in the faintest tilt of his head—that made her think he was secretly amused.

As the evening wore on, Billie started paying closer attention to Cedric's movements. He didn't just stand there like some stiff security detail. He was present. She watched the way his eyes scanned the room constantly, his head tilting slightly whenever someone came within a certain range.

It was almost like he could sense things before they happened.

The thought was weirdly reassuring, though she wasn't ready to admit it.

When the event finally wrapped up and the crowd began thinning, Billie found herself lingering near the exit, waiting for Cedric to signal that it was safe to leave.

"You don't take breaks, do you?" she asked as he approached her.

"I don't need them," he said simply, gesturing for her to follow him toward the car.

"That's not normal," she pointed out, falling into step beside him.

"Neither is your life," he countered without missing a beat.

Billie blinked, caught off guard by the quickness of his reply. A laugh bubbled out of her before she could stop it. "Okay, fair."

They reached the car, and Cedric opened the door for her, his movements as precise as always. Billie slid in, watching as he rounded the vehicle to take his seat up front.

As the car pulled away from the venue, she leaned forward slightly, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"So, do you ever, like, relax?"

Cedric glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "I'm relaxed now."

"No, you're not," she said, grinning. "You're like a statue."

"Statues don't protect people."

Billie laughed again, sitting back in her seat. "You're impossible."

Back at her house, Billie was finally starting to feel the weight of the evening. She kicked off her Nikes as soon as she stepped inside, sighing in relief as she stretched her arms over her head.

Cedric followed her in, his presence as quiet as ever. He paused near the entryway, scanning the living room with his usual diligence.

"You don't have to do that," Billie said, gesturing toward the room. "Pretty sure the couch isn't hiding any threats."

Cedric's eyes met hers briefly. "I'll be the judge of that."

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Instead, she collapsed onto the couch, grabbing a throw pillow to hug against her chest.

She studied him, her head tilting as she tried to figure him out. There was something so deliberate about him—like every move, every word, was calculated to serve a specific purpose. It was impressive, but also exhausting to think about.

"You know, you're allowed to be human sometimes," she said, her tone softer than usual.

Cedric's gaze lingered on her for a moment, something unreadable in his expression. Then, without a word, he turned his attention back to the room, resuming his silent vigil.

Billie sighed, sinking further into the couch.

This was going to be a long adjustment.

Later that night

Billie woke to the sound of faint rustling outside her window. Groggy and annoyed, she grabbed her phone to check the time—2:34 a.m.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes as she listened again. The noise was faint but persistent, like someone moving around in the bushes.

Her heart skipped.

Sliding out of bed, she crept toward her door, cracking it open just enough to peek into the hallway. Cedric was there, standing near the stairs, his posture alert.

"Cedric," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He turned immediately, his eyes sharp as they locked onto hers. She gestured toward her window, mouthing, I heard something.

In a flash, he was moving. Billie barely had time to process it before he was at her side, his hand briefly resting on her shoulder as he guided her back into her room.

"Stay here," he said firmly, his voice low but steady.

Billie's heart pounded as she watched him disappear into the hallway.

Minutes passed, each one stretching longer than the last. Finally, Cedric returned, his expression calm but his movements brisk.

"It's handled," he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"What was it?" Billie asked, her voice trembling slightly despite herself.

"Just someone trying to get too close to the property," he replied. "They're gone now."

She nodded, swallowing hard as the tension in her chest began to ease.

Cedric's gaze softened just enough to be noticeable. "You're safe."

For once, Billie didn't have a quip or a joke. She just nodded again, her eyes lingering on him as he stepped back toward the door.

"Get some rest," he said, his voice gentler than before.