MY PERFECT BODYGUARD 2 CHAPTER THIRTY ONE: TENSION HERE AND THERE

After the tense supper, the entire apartment was cloaked in silence, with everyone retreating to their respective rooms, avoiding interaction. A knock echoed through the stillness, prompting Richard, with his bow and arrow in hand, to approach the door cautiously. "Who's there?" he called out, receiving no response. Peering through the peephole, he caught sight of a male figure in a suit. With a steady hand, he cracked the door open slightly, his arrow poised and ready. "Hey, hey, hey, it's me, Victor," the figure announced hastily, seeking to reassure Richard.

Richard let out a deep sigh of relief. "Gosh, I almost killed you. What the hell are you doing here?"

"Well, things have really gotten out of hand, and you guys are kind of all I've got," Victor explained.

"What are you talking about?" Emmanuel interjected as he stepped out of the room. "Can I come in?" Victor asked, and Richard gestured for him to sit down in the living room.

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Victor settled into a seat before opening up. "I'm afraid Gideon is threatening us to sell our shares to him so Linda can be voted out of the company."

"What? Why would he do that?" Richard exclaimed, rising to his feet in disbelief.

"He thinks if he can't reach out to Linda, he wants to take her out of the company, so he's threatening us to sell the shares to him," Victor explained.

"Sell what?" Linda's voice cut through the tension as she stormed into the sitting room. "What's going on?"

"It's actually nothing," Richard attempted to reassure her, but Nina followed Linda, asserting, "We heard everything."

Facing Linda directly, Victor affirmed, "Yes, you heard me right, Linda. Gideon is really targeting your company, and I don't think he's stopping anytime soon. He gave us two weeks to sell the shares. So, I decided to tell you. If you can stop him in any way possible, I will be glad," Victor concluded earnestly.

"Why do you care if we stop him? You stated clearly that you don't want to have a hand in anything concerning Gideon. Why the sudden change of heart?" Linda questioned.

"Well, I'm afraid his offer is not up to my taste and standard. With his offer, he's literally telling us to give him the shares for free, and I hate being overshadowed in business. For all I know, our only chance is Richard, so you guys need a way to stop him as soon as possible before he starts," Victor explained.

"I'm afraid we won't be doing that. I'm going to the company myself," Linda declared.

"I'm coming with you," Nina replied. "I can't stay here anymore, too."

"Hey, you girls, we can't just let you go off like that. We have to stick together," Emmanuel insisted.

Nina turned to Emmanuel and said, "Screw you."

Richard rushed to Linda, his voice urgent. "Hey, I know things are not really going well for us, but we have to stick together at this point. If we dare slack off, we are toast," he implored.

"I'm sick of you thinking that I'm just a girl you can toy with anytime you want, so stop it. It's no longer funny," Linda snapped back, her frustration evident.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but one thing I know for sure is that if Gideon sets his eyes on you again, he's not going to let you leave. Please, we have to stick together," Richard pleaded, reaching for Linda's hand.

In a fit of anger, Linda forcefully pulled her hand away. "Screw you, Richard! I said I don't have anything to do with you," she declared.

Immediately, chaos erupted, and the four of them started arguing and shouting in the room. Victor, just noticing the tension, couldn't help but observe the situation.

After minutes of heated arguing, Victor called them out. "Hey!" he shouted, trying to regain control. "Seems there is a bit of tension in this room," he said, attempting to diffuse the situation.

"Well, it seems I'm the adult here. I have no choice but to solve the situation the best way I can. The four of you should sit down at the dinner table, and Nina, make a jug of tea and five cups too," Victor instructed, taking charge of the situation.

As the three sat down, Nina went to the kitchen to prepare the tea and cups. They waited for her to return, and when she came out with them, she handed them to Victor, who then served the four of them the tea.

"In order to fight an enemy, there must be harmony in the group, which there is not," Victor stated, addressing the tension in the room. "You don't expect to beat Gideon when you guys are fighting against each other, especially Linda and Richard. You both have been down this road before. Why are you guys still finding it difficult to work together?"

he asked, seeking to understand the root of their discord.

"Why not ask Richard, who thinks he can play with people's emotions and act like he's the best ever?" Linda retorted.

"What do you mean? I came all the way here from my family just to help you fight a war that has nothing to do with me," Richard fired back, frustration evident in his voice.

"I never asked you to fight for me," Linda repeated, reigniting the argument.

"Silence!" Victor interjected firmly. "Okay, let's take it one after the other. First, Emma and Nina, what could be the problem between you both?" Victor asked, directing his attention toward them.

"Well, why not ask Nina, who clearly had a boyfriend but chose to go dance and party with other guys, knowing how angry I would get if I heard about it?" Emma retorted, his frustration evident.

Nina turned to Emma, her tone defensive. "Wow, just this one time I decided to have fun, and you're getting mad? What about you? You're every girl's favorite. In fact, how many girls did you date before you met me? And how many girls are flirting with you currently? Because you're so good-looking, yes, of course, Emmanuel can get any girl he wants, and i just does it onee. And you're acting like a child," she countered.

Emmanuel turned to Nina, his expression pleading. "We've talked about this before. All those things were in the past. Why bring it up all of a sudden? And it's not my fault girls ask me on a date. Clearly, you're the one acting like a child here now," he said, trying to reason with her.

Nina's voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes. "Yes, you might call it childish, but it makes me feel so scared, insecure, and like I'm not good enough. I'm just this fat, nerdy girl, and I can't remember when a guy really asked me out. Even you, I had to ask you for us to be in a relationship. And even in the relationship, I still feel like I'm not good enough. Girls insult me, saying that I have a charm on you, that there is no way I can possibly snag someone like you," she confessed, her sobs interrupting her words as she bent over the table, overwhelmed with emotion.

Emmanuel, finally understanding Nina's pain, pushed his chair closer to her and enveloped her in a warm hug.

"I know you love me and care a lot about me, but I just don't know why I feel like I'm not good enough, that you deserve better, and sooner or later, you will leave me," Nina confessed, her tears staining Emmanuel's shoulder as she poured out her heart.

"I'm sorry for making you feel these things, but I want you to know that I'm not saying it for you to feel better; it's just something I genuinely feel," Emmanuel responded, his voice sincere.

"You see, I also feel insecure about you, and I don't know who is feeding you with all these lies about yourself. For me, you're the smartest, hottest, and most beautiful girl I know. I don't care how others see you, and I'm glad no other guys ask you out because I just want you to myself alone. I don't need any competition," he continued, his words filled with reassurance.

"And I know one thing for sure: when other people start seeing the great and spectacular Nina, they will come running. And believe me, that's my greatest fear. So you just have to know you're not the only one feeling these things; I feel them too," Emmanuel concluded, hoping to ease Nina's worries and convey his love and support for her.

As they hugged tightly, Victor felt relieved, silently applauding himself for helping to mend the rift between Nina and Emmanuel.

Nina and Emmanuel stood up, ready to leave.

"Can we leave to have some time together?" Nina asked Emmanuel.

"Of course, why not? Let's make the most of it until we get back on track to fight Gideon," Victor said jokingly.

"Gross," Nina replied with a playful smile as they both left the room, leaving Victor Richard and Linda  behind with a sense of satisfaction at their reconciliation.

"Now, to the both of you," Victor said as he sipped his tea. "You guys are one of my favorite power couples. Believe me when I say this, but I don't know why you guys, of all people, would be fighting. You two are like two sides of a coin; one cannot function without the other."

"Well, not anymore," Linda said firmly. "I'm sick and tired of someone drawing me this close and then abandoning me again."

Richard looked at Linda, hurt evident in his eyes. "You call that abandonment? I can't believe you would say such a thing. Do you think it has been easy for me? You have always had it your way – the money, the kind of life you wanted. People like me, we had to strive to get what we want. My dad died when I was just 8; since then, I had to be the one to keep my family together. I started feeding them when I was 13. I made a promise to my dad that I will look after Mom and Cynthia until my last breath. But look at me, far away from my promise, doing what? Fighting your battles? And you expect me, after fighting it all, to stick to your side like glue? Do I look that shameless to you?" Richard's voice cracked with emotion as he confronted Linda.

Linda, seeing some truth in Richard's perspective, felt a pang of guilt.

"I'm sorry if I didn't reply to your letters. I was just scared that things wouldn't go our way in the future. You already have a billionaire company. Imagine what people will think if they see a wretched boy become your husband. No one will know that I fought alongside you to this point; they will all see me as one greedy boy who's hungry for your father's success," Richard explained, his vulnerability laid bare.

"I didn't actually think about that," Linda replied softly. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. It's not your fault," Richard assured her. "Believe me, I care about you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But I want to do it in a way that I would be confident about myself, and you would also be proud of me," he added earnestly.

With a sigh of relief, Victor stood up. "I'm glad things are settled here," he said.

Linda and Richard stood too. "Thank you for coming around and settling things," Richard expressed his gratitude.

"Well, it's nothing. Gideon must be stopped, and I have put my faith in you, Richard. I have seen you do it before, and I still believe you will do it again, so I'm not panicking," Victor said reassuringly to Richard.

"I don't think I can do it, but as long as I have help," Richard said, looking at Linda.

"We will make it work," Linda affirmed as Victor bid them goodbye and entered his car, leaving them to continue their preparations to confront Gideon.

"I know you wouldn't like what I'm going to say, but believe me, I don't care," Linda began.

"We can put up an article telling the world how you are the only reason why this company is in good hands. After all this ends, tell them that you're the company's savior," she suggested.

Richard smiled gratefully. "I'm glad and thankful you said these things, but don't worry about such things. I will help you get your company back, and we can talk about it later. For now, let's focus on fighting Gideon," he said, his smile widening as they found common ground once again.