I was seated in the conference room of our bustling office, surrounded by a sea of important documents and the murmurs of my colleagues, thoroughly engrossed in a pivotal business meeting when my phone rang.
The name flashing on the screen stopped my heart momentarily, June, one of Amanda's dedicated bodyguards, was calling.
There was an urgency in his voice that immediately sent alarm bells ringing in my head.
He informed me that Amanda was in trouble.
Caught in the midst of an important discussion with potential investors and juggling critical company strategies, my mind raced back to the most important person in my life, my wife.
No amount of money or professional success mattered if Amanda was in danger.
I couldn't just sit there while she faced whatever threat loomed over her.
As I stood to excuse myself, I caught Liam's gaze, who was lingering in the corner of the room.
"Hey, Boss, leaving already?" he sneered, a smirk plastered across his face that made my blood boil.
"I know very well that you can't handle things like this. Why not leave it to me?" he provocatively asked, clearly relishing the idea that he might play hero in my absence.
"Out of my way now; I have somewhere I need to be!" I demanded, my voice steady and firm, a tone that left no room for discussion.
Liam, still smirking, stepped aside, his expression dripping with malice.
I couldn't shake the feeling that he had some hidden agenda, especially since he had never shown much interest in the family business until recently.
With the inheritance from Dad, he was set for life, so why was he suddenly poking around?
I jumped into my car, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I raced toward Amanda's gym.
The streetlights blurred by as I drove, my focus unwavering. However, a quick glance in the rearview mirror revealed three black SUVs tailing me, closing the distance with alarming speed.
Anxiety gripped me for a brief moment, but I pushed it away; panicking wouldn't help anyone.
Instead, I swiftly dialed Reid's number, my trusted bodyguard.
"Reid, where are you?" I asked, my voice strained.
"Behind you," he replied without hesitation.
Just as I absorbed this reassurance, Reid and my other guards pulled up alongside us, effectively blocking the SUVs that had been intent on my disruption.
Gunfire erupted, breaking the tense silence as bullets ricocheted off the armored windows of my car.
Thankfully, my vehicle was equipped with heavy armor; each one of those shots found no purchase.
I accelerated, my heart pounding in tandem with the engine as I finally pulled up outside the gym.
I could hear muffled voices and the unmistakable sound of heated arguments coming from within, words sharp as knives.
With a deep breath, I crossed the threshold into the chaos.
June and Hab stood resolutely beside Amanda, their expressions a mix of concern and readiness.
"What's going on here?" I demanded, taking in the scene, my eyes narrowing at the hefty man in a tattered leather jacket who stood too close to my wife.
"Oh, is this your little rich husband, Amanda? Can he even compare to me?" the man spat, his arrogance suffocating.
"Hey, do you even know who you're talking to?" I asked, arching a brow, defiance radiating from every pore.
"Who on earth do you think you are, huh? You're not worthy to be my opponent, I'm going to beat you to a pulp," he sneered, arrogance oozing from his every word.
A chorus of laughter erupted from his associates, all too eager to escalate this confrontation.
"Killian, don't waste your time with him," Amanda said, her voice a calm but urgent plea amidst the chaos.
"What's your problem, buddy? Why are you causing a scene?" I asked, removing my tailored black suit as the tension in the air crackled like static before a storm, preparing for a showdown.
"No, Killian, please, don't! I'll just pay him back the money," Amanda interjected quickly, hoping to de-escalate the situation.
"How much does she owe you?" I inquired, directing my anger at the man.
"I'm taking her and her fitness center," he proclaimed boldly, and without a second thought,
I threw a powerful punch, breaking his nose cleanly with a satisfying crack that echoed in the stunned silence.
"Jeremy, don't you dare touch my husband or else..." Amanda warned fiercely, her fierce protectiveness catching me off guard.
I remembered all the times we shared as kids, how she would sometimes tease and bully me,
seeing her defend me like this stirred something protective in my chest.
"You're going down!" Jeremy yelled, charging at me.
With a confident smirk, I tapped into every ounce of my training,
countering his attack and swiftly breaking a few of his ribs, turning him into a crumpled mess on the ground.
Amanda stood there, transfixed, watching as I handled the situation.
Suddenly, one of his lackeys came rushing at me, but before I could react, Amanda intercepted him with a punch that sent him sprawling.
I watched in awe as she faced him like a superhero, this fiercely spirited woman, so capable and brave.
"How much do you owe him?" I asked, my curiosity piquing.
"Fifty thousand," she replied, her voice steady despite the chaos.
Without hesitation, I pulled out my checkbook and a pen, knowing that if she needed financial help, I'd be there without a second thought.
"If you need help with money, don't hesitate to ask," I said, sneaking a glance at her. Caught in a moment, I noticed Amanda staring at me, her eyes shimmering with something akin to admiration.
I wrote a check for a generous hundred thousand dollars and slipped it into Jeremy's pocket as he lay groaning on the floor.
Just then, Reid and the rest of my guards burst into the room.
"Boss, it's done," he confirmed, nodding toward the subdued threat.
"Yeah, take Amanda home. I'm heading back to the office," I instructed June and Hab, who seemed relieved by the turn of events.
I ambled towards my Rolls-Royce, flanked by Reid and my other guards, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.
This time, I was ready for any challenge that dared to cross my path.
I vowed to prove to everyone that I was not someone to be trifled with, especially when it came to protecting those I loved.