Chapter 18 I've Got Your Back

Once the dust had settled after the interview, I'd secured my position and gotten a promotion.

Now, I was independently handling reporting tasks.

I was following the story of a high school girl bullied by rich, influential classmates for over a year until she leaped from the school's rooftop.

"Their families are too powerful to mess with," my boss hinted, attempting to dissuade me, "If you'd rather not—"

"Of course, I'll go," I cut in, taking the file. "As it happens, I'm organizing an anti-bullying campaign. I'll send you the proposal this afternoon."

Leveraging Lucas's stature and resources was not something I took lightly.

The interview and the subsequent anti-bullying campaign kept me occupied for two weeks. During that time, Lucas and I barely saw each other.

He'd sent twenty messages before I squeezed in the time to reply with an emoji, bread hanging from my mouth as I skimmed over the public's opinion.

That night, he teased me with the promise of a surprise, insisting I come home.

Pushing open the door, the night sky was filled with the twinkling stars .

The room, cloaked in steamy mist, held him propped up against the headboard, panting like a puppy, his gaze sticky with need, clinging to me.

" Madeline, you've been neglecting me for too long."

I watched him so intently that the usually decisive Mr. Xavier's ears turned red before I tossed my camera strap to him.

"Tie it yourself."

My voice was hoarse from a day out, "I'm going to take a shower first."

Lucas, ever the obedient one.

Returning with damp hair, he'd set everything up perfectly.

A single lamp by the bed remained, the moonlight pouring in like melted ice.

Yet, not even that cooled the sultry, humid mist in the room.

" Madeline, kiss me."

"You're too tense."

"Help me loosen up..."

Every word, every glance heavy with seductive intent, blended with the hues of romance.

The storm didn't break until the pale dawn.

A thought struck me suddenly.

"Next month, I've got a trip out of town—there's an important interview.

It's about a girl in the mountains, long abused by the villagers.

She walked through the night to reach an internet café in town and reached out to me.

The place is backwards, local powers deeply entrenched; it won't be easy to cut through. So I might stay a bit longer."

His grip tightened on my back. "There'll be danger."

"So there will."

Indifferent, I sat up, lighting a cigarette.

Noticing his gaze fixed on me, I reassured him, "I'll take good care of myself."

"But this... this is our mission as media professionals."

Lucas was silent, then suddenly said, "I'll go with you."

"But you have that major contract next week, don't you?"

"It can wait."

"Why? You don't really need to—" I attempted to reason with him, but his response sealed my unspoken objections with a passionate kiss.

The kiss descended, pausing at the sensitive hollow of my neck, his breath warm and ragged.

His voice was husky, "Because I'm your most loyal protector."

"Just chase your dreams, I've got your back."