MY PERFECT BODYGUARD CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE : CLASH OF FATE AND SACRIFICES

Revisiting a moment from the past, Richard made a return to Truto Village to meet with Damian, seeking weapons for their upcoming challenges. Engaged in conversation within the store's anteroom, Damian's timepiece, adorned with a metallic dictator, began emitting a beeping sound. Notably, the anteroom lacked any metallic objects since it served as Damian's designated resting place. The intriguing aspect was that the watch's dictation range was limited to 12 yards, raising questions about the unexpected activation in this seemingly metal-free environment.

"Hey, Richard, do you have anything metallic with you?" Damian inquired.

"Not really, just here in my clothes with some money," Richard responded.

"Well, I sense metal on you, and it's beeping so hard, which means it's within you somehow," Damian observed.

As Richard stood up and searched himself, he couldn't find anything metallic. Even his clothes, a polo and track suit, had no form of metals. During the search, Damian noticed a peculiar scar on Richard's chest.

"Where did you get that wound?" Damian asked, intrigued by the unexpected discovery.

"I don't know. I'm a bodyguard, so getting wounded doesn't strike me as something new," Richard stated.

"Well, how did you get it?" Damian inquired once more.

"I don't actually remember, maybe from gunshots or knives. I don't remember, to be honest," Richard admitted.

Damian brought his watch close to the scar, and it started beeping intensely.

"If this was a wound done out of accident, why would you bother to sew it?" Damian questioned.

"Maybe it was to stop the bleeding or something," Richard speculated.

"I know it's hard to break it to you, but I think something has been implanted in your body, Richard," Damian revealed, a revelation that cast a shadow of mystery and concern over their conversation.

"Are you serious?" Richard asked in fright.

"Well, there is only one way to find out," Damian said as he brought out a table and cleaned it. He instructed Richard to lie on the table, then proceeded with tools to cut through Richard's scar. As Damian cut through, Richard began bleeding profusely. Eventually, Damian extracted a chip that looked alive and was blinking.

"I knew it," Damian said as he brought out the first aid kit to stop the bleeding. After nursing the wound, it finally ceased bleeding, and Richard, eager to know more about the chip, inquired.

"This is a chip with electronic radiation. Once the control beeps on it, it will cause severe burns under your skin, and you will die instantly."

"Who could have done that?" Richard pondered aloud, then recalled that it was Gloria. "Wow, she never trusted me for once, though."

After removing the chip, they proceeded to build the weapons, and Richard, now free from the dangerous device, returned to the city. The revelation adds a layer of intrigue and betrayal to the unfolding narrative.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Back in the present, Richard found himself inside his room, contemplating the recent events. As he decided to check on Linda, he discovered her sleeping in the corridor with traces of dried tears on her face. A sense of guilt washed over Richard, recognizing that he might have been too harsh, but he remained steadfast in his decision.

Gently lifting Linda, he placed her back on her bed and covered her with a blanket. Standing behind her, Richard took out a handkerchief to delicately wipe away the remnants of tears from her face.

"In as much as I have made my decision, a large part of me still roots for you. A large part of me still wants to spend the rest of my life, even if it means being your bodyguard. But you know what will I be then to my family. I'm really sorry, Linda," Richard expressed, his words carrying a mix of regret and sincerity. After sharing his thoughts, he tenderly pecked her forehead before leaving the room.

Unknown to Richard, Linda had been awake, listening to his heartfelt words. Despite the hurtful things said earlier, Richard's recent words and the comforting gesture brought a sense of solace and peace to Linda. 

In the morning, Richard awoke with determination, ready to confront Prime Tech and bring an end to everything. Dressed in a casual jacket, he opted for a minimalistic approach, only carrying his tranquilizer. As he suited up and headed out with his bike, Linda watched from the window, a sense of anticipation evident in her gaze. She could already sense where Richard was heading and the gravity of the situation unfolding before them.

At Prime Tech, Gloria entered the building, only to be met with an unexpected sight. Approximately 15 men lay unconscious on the floor, creating an ominous atmosphere. Though a sense of fear crept in, Gloria maintained an outward calmness as she proceeded to her office. To her astonishment, upon opening the door, she found Richard comfortably seated in her revolving chair.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here," Linda remarked, her presence adding an extra layer of surprise and tension to the already charged atmosphere. The confrontation between Richard and Gloria seemed inevitable, setting the stage for a decisive moment in their ongoing struggle.

Amidst the tension in Gloria's office, she addressed Richard with a smug smile. "At first, the men on the day I was going to execute Linda said that the person that attacked them was fast, strong, and flexible. I guess maybe it might be you. Seems I was right," Gloria remarked, her words laced with a sense of satisfaction. The acknowledgment hinted at the escalating stakes and the acknowledgment of Richard's formidable skills.

"Yes, you were right," Richard conceded. "You are a woman, but you seem to have more balls than a lot of men in this world," he remarked, acknowledging Gloria's audacity. "Hanging her and making it look like it was her that did it was a spectacular idea. I have to give you that."

"Prime Tech is the biggest company in this city. If you want to own an empire this big, then you have to be decisive and wicked. Weaklings like Jim were a big mistake to this legacy. So, am I the only one that isn't that weak Gloria said 

"At first, I just wanted to go back to my family and leave this country for good. I had decided not to help Linda anymore, but you're too bad. Men like you are so bad that I can't have a one-night sleep knowing too well that you're the CEO of this company. Sometimes I wonder how many more will die because of your actions, you psycho," Richard declared, 

"So, what are you going to do?" Gloria asked, reaching for her phone. As she initiated the call, the sound of approaching helicopters, buses, vans, and the commotion of various security bodies filled the air – CIA, FBI, CIS, SSS, along with representatives from different press companies. Gloria, surprised by the sudden influx, questioned, "What's going on here?"

Richard calmly revealed, "Well, let me say a video clip of you trying to hang Linda was sent to the FBI, CIA, CIS, and SSS, and they came to arrest you."

Immediately grasping the severity of the situation, Gloria rushed out of the office, attempting to call Mike. However, to her dismay, his phone was turned off. Before Gloria could fully comprehend the turn of events, the security bodyguards of Prime Tech found themselves outnumbered. Despite their attempts to resist, the combined force of various law enforcement agencies and press outlets overwhelmed them, signaling a significant shift in the power dynamics at Prime Tech.

As they were circled, a black, tall man in FBI jackets emerged from the crowd to approach Gloria. "Mrs. Gloria Jim, you're under arrest for different murder cases, including Jim and Sam, and an attempt on killing the rightful heir to the Prime Tech company, Linda," he declared. Linda, stepping forward from the crowd, added, "I told you you were going to pay for everything you have done," staring directly at Gloria.

The director instructed, "Put your guns down or we open fire," prompting the Prime Tech bodyguards to drop their weapons. However, out of frustration, Gloria picked up a gun from the floor and aimed it at Linda. "If I can't have this company, then you definitely won't have it," she declared. As she was about to shoot, Richard, having observed the situation, raced to Linda. Just as Gloria pulled the trigger on Linda, Richard dove in front of the bullet, taking three shots to the stomach.

Immediately, a security personnel rushed at Gloria, kicking the gun out of her hands. Before they could comprehend the turn of events, Richard lay on the floor, losing a significant amount of blood.

"Hey, Richard!" Linda knelt beside him, using her hands to try to stop the bleeding from multiple places. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, "Please stay with me. Don't leave me yet. Can someone please take us to the hospital?" Richard, weakly raising his hands, gently held Linda's cheek for a moment before passing out.