Chapter 3

Y esterday, I was alerted that Illeana would be off campus and returning home for the night so her father could explain the situation. Knox let me know the Senator didn't want me to follow her home or back, so I had last night to do more research on the campus and know the areas I needed to be concerned about.

Westhill University isn't a large school by any means. The only thing it really has going for it is its hockey team. The Hawks are rated as a Division One school with the hockey team making the Frozen Four six years running. The school is pretty decent and they provide a good education according to the school’s website and alumni reviews. It's not surprising the Senator's daughter chose to go here. The smaller campus also helps to hide her identity on top of using her mom’s maiden name. I'm hoping this will work in my favor and we won't have any issues. Per Dean James's email last night, we have a meeting set for ten this morning so I can meet Illeana and explain what’s expected.

Checking the time, I still have an hour before I need to be at the administrator's building, which leaves me enough time to grab some food from the coffee shop on campus. Anything is better than cafeteria food right now. I'm sure I'll be eating plenty of it since Illeana has a meal card to use. I went to a nearby pizza shop for dinner, recommended by some students in the dorm, since I had the night off. They said it was a go-to spot, as dinner in the cafeteria wasn't great. The guys were also kind enough to let me know the only good meal the cafeteria served was lunch. I could work with that, I suppose.

After grabbing my black leather jacket, I toss a beanie on my head for good measure, and grab the black backpack I put my laptop in earlier, and exit the dorm room. One night and I'm already over this arrangement. My body aches from the twin bed I'm sleeping on, and the extra-long mattress really isn't that much longer. I wonder if it would be suspicious if I had a larger bed delivered. There's enough room in the dorm if I did. Though maybe drawing attention to myself right now isn't the best idea. I need to remember that I'm supposed to look just like every other college student right now. I can't do anything that makes it look like I don't belong here. I can't draw attention to Illeana or myself. So I guess I’ll have to make do with the smaller bed and grab some meds from the store later for the inevitable muscle pain.

As I make my way to the bottom floor, I pull out my phone to pull up the campus map. Although the school is small, this campus is pretty big. Looking for the coffee shop I had seen while walking around yesterday, I found it on the map in the center of campus. That's perfect. It puts me close enough to the administration building so I don't need to backtrack at all and I can people watch until it's time to meet. It feels weird walking around with a backpack on, sort of reminds me of my days in the Marines. At least this bag is nowhere near as heavy as the one I wore back then. Small wins, I'll take it.

Less than ten minutes later, I’m at the coffee shop. At nine in the morning, it's already packed. I should have expected that. Damnit. Joining the line to order, I look around the shop and gaze around. Most people in line are bundled up as they wait. Those who are sitting at tables have shrugged off their jackets and hats and are either studying or conversing with whomever they are sitting with. I'm really hoping I'll be able to find an open table to sit at that won't put my back to the door. That's a habit that's stuck with me all this time. I need to always have my eyes on the door or I feel uncomfortable. You can't fight an enemy you don't see coming.

Surprisingly, considering how busy the coffee shop is, the line moves quickly, and in no time I'm standing in front of the barista. "Can I get a large hot coffee, black, please?" I order, watching her write the order on a cup.

"Sure thing. What's the name?" she asks, not even bothering to look up at me.

"Steel," I grunt. If she's going to be rude, then she doesn't deserve me being nice as well. Moving down the line, I wait my turn to pay at the register. When it's my turn, I hand over ten dollars and tell the barista to keep the change. By the time I'm handing over my money, my coffee is ready for me. I take the offered cup and move to the side where a collection of items are on a counter for patrons to add to their cups. I grab two sugar packers and two vanilla creamers, adding both to my coffee, and stir it well. When I'm finished, I turn to look around the shop to find an empty seat. I'd rather sit here than in the admin building.

Bingo. There's an open seat in the far back corner of the cafe tucked away. I rush to grab the seat, knowing if I don't it will be gone in an instant. Moments after sitting down a girl approaches me with her friend hiding slightly behind her. The girl looks like one of those preppy types who is used to getting her way at all times. She tosses her long blonde hair back off her shoulder as she straightens. Her hazel eyes stare at me like she is promising punishment.

"Excuse me, but we saw this table first," she demands. Ignoring her, I place my backpack on the table and pull out my laptop. I have about forty minutes before I need to leave. "Ahem," she clears her throat and stomps her foot.

Clearly, this girl can't take a hint.

"Ashley, it's fine. We can find another table," her friend prompts, grabbing her arm to pull her away. It's clear she's uncomfortable, but the first girl, Ashley, doesn't bother to move.

"Can I help you?" I ask with a sense of authority and annoyance. I don't like people hovering when I'm trying to do a job. "If you take a picture, it will last longer." I wink.

The wink does it. I watch Ashley become enraged. Pretty sure steam would come from her ears if it could. "You can get out of my seat. This is my table, and I saw it first," she snarks, completely ignoring the wink and photo comment. Her friend behind her takes a step back like she is afraid of being associated with her friend.

"I didn't see a reserved sign or anyone sitting here when I came over, so with these facts the table was available for anyone to use." I pause, looking around the room to find another one. Not for myself but for Miss Important here. "It looks like there's a table near the door. If you hurry, maybe you can grab it."

"You can take that one," she retorts, stomping her foot.

Okay, clearly we can't be adults about this today.

Rolling my eyes, I take a deep breath before answering. I'm over this chick and usually, I'm laid back enough to deal with them. However, today my nerves are on edge. "Listen, sweetheart, I was here first and all you're doing is making a scene that makes you look bad. Now, why don't you hold your head up high and walk away?" I don't bother to give her a chance to respond before I pull out my AirPods, putting them in my ears and hitting play on my phone. Damned Embers’ new song, thank you Sky for the pre-release hookup, begins to blast in my ears as I start pulling up my email on my laptop. I had asked Sky and her team to do a background check on the Granger family and their employees, as well as on Dean James and Illeana's teachers. It was a big task, and I did tell them I would help.

A hand slams down on my table but I continue to ignore it, instead reaching to take a sip from my coffee cup. Eventually, Ashley must have gotten tired of causing a scene because when I look up ten minutes later she and her friend are nowhere in sight. Good.

~

"Ahh, Mr. uhh," the secretary pauses in confusion, probably realizing I never gave her my last name when I was here yesterday. "Steel. You can go on in. Dean James is expecting you," she prompts, pointing toward the closed wooden door with Dean James written in white letters on it.

"Thank you, Ma'am," I state before doing as directed and entering the office. I arrive ten minutes early for our meeting, wanting to get here before Illeana. It may make her feel ambushed with me already being in the room, but I'd rather assist Dean James in explaining than hoping he will explain everything correctly and I enter after. Knox said that Senator Granger warned her last night that she would be getting security but didn't give her any further details so I'm going to need to explain everything to her. Let's just hope she is willing to listen and doesn't make this any more uncomfortable than it already is for us.

"Good to see you this morning, Mr. Steel. Illeana should be joining us shortly. Is the dorm to your liking? Do you need anything?" he asks, as I move to take a seat across from him. He doesn't seem worried, if anything he is calm which should help us progress this conversation. He understands the importance of what I am doing here and is supporting Rockport Security, which is more than I could ask for.

"The dorm is just fine. Hopefully, this is just for a short while because that bed is a killer. Almost makes me miss sleeping on the ground when I was in the military," I chuckle lightly. "Are the teachers aware that I will be in classes with Illeana?"

"They are. They will treat you just like any other student, but your work won't be graded. They shouldn't call on you either, but it may happen a time or two just to keep up appearances’ sake," he explains right before a knock interrupts him. "Come in," he calls out.

"Hi, Dean James," Illeana states as she enters the door. The picture I saw of her doesn't do her justice. In person, she is absolutely stunning. Her white scarf is hanging around her shoulders as she unbuttons her rust-colored peacoat. Her brown hair settles in soft waves hanging past her shoulders. My gaze is drawn further to what she's wearing as she adjusts her brown leather shoulder bag. Underneath the jacket, a white turtleneck sweater is paired with skin-tight black jeans and brown knee-high boots. "My eyes are up here," she huffs, pointing to her face. Her green eyes stare daggers at me as I watch her. Definitely not winning any points with that move.

"Apologies, Miss," I smile, falling back into my easy charm. "My best friend's sister would absolutely love your outfit." It's true. Rachel would go crazy to wear something like that. Despite her living in a motorcycle club compound, she always dresses to impress, and says it makes her feel better. To each their own,I suppose.

"Well, if she needs recommendations, give me her number and I can point her in the right direction," she retorts as she takes a seat beside me. "My father said that you had more information for me." I see we are jumping right into this then. Straightforward, interesting.

"Yes. Miss Granger, this is Steel," he points to me. "He works for Rockport Security and will be looking over you until the situation is handled. I'll let him go into details. Please don't give him a hard time. He is here to do a job and it won't get in the way of your education. I understand this is a big adjustment, for all of us honestly, but we all need to do our part. We want everyone to be safe while pursuing an education here at Westhill University. Mr. Steel does have a dorm room next to yours so he can watch over you and you can maintain your independence. We don't want this to interrupt your time here any more than necessary."

"Yes, thank you, Dean James," I respond before turning to look at Illeana. It's obvious she has thick skin based on the way she is sitting with her back ramrod straight. Living in the limelight for so long has made this an expectation That's both a good and bad thing in this situation. Good, because she can handle what life is going to throw at her, but also bad because she isn't going to want to listen to me. "I'm not here to completely disrupt your life, but it is my job to watch out for you and keep you out of harmful, or possibly dangerous, situations. I will be attending classes with you every day and if you go somewhere, I'll be right there with you. I won't try to join your friend group or anything like that, but I will be following you around. I ask that you don't tell anyone that you have personal security with you, for both of our safety. We can come up with a story together if that will make you feel better. I'll try to be discreet when possible.” I pause, letting her take all that I’ve said in. “Do you have any questions?"

The whole time I was talking, she sat there calmly staring at me. Her blank expression made it hard to figure out what she was thinking while I explained how this would go. I'm nervous that I couldn't read any of her tells. That isn't good if I'm to keep an eye on her. Hopefully, she lets her walls down and we can work together. I don't want to be here anymore than she wants me here, but this is the job and I'm paid to do it. So I'll keep the princess safe while we figure out who is threatening the Senator.

"Questions, no. Comments, yes. I will not have you following me around constantly. This campus is safe. No one will get to me while I’m here. If you must follow me around when I leave campus then fine, but it will be in a different car. I don't need a babysitter. My father said that I have to have you, so you will answer to me while you are here or you will quickly find yourself unemployed. Understood?" She stares me down, unblinking, as she watches me for a reaction that I don't give.

"Miss Granger," Dean James begins before I raise my hand to silence him. I don't need him to fight this battle for me. Illeana needs to learn to respect me, or this is going to go nowhere.

"It's cute you think that you call the shots. I am already giving you a lot more freedom than your father originally requested when he hired us to watch you. He wanted you to share a room with me, and for us to basically be attached at the hip while you took online classes. My team talked him down and convinced him that wasn't needed unless circumstances changed. I am giving you freedom and treating you like an adult. If you want to act like a child about this situation, then we can change this arrangement and take your father's option. Which would you prefer?" My tone is deadly serious as I watch her and see the moment reality sinks in. It's slight, but the rounding of the shoulders with defeat and acceptance is there. She understands that she is getting the better deal here, and if she continues to push, I will take that option away.

"He's right, Miss Granger," Dean James adds. "We want to ensure you are able to continue pursuing your education. But if you don't accept this option, I don't see you graduating on time next year. You can only attend online classes for a month at most. There's no telling how long this situation will go on for. Don't take the risk. You have worked hard with a double major to graduate in four years. Focus on that."

His words get through to her and she collapses in her seat, shaking her head. "I have seven months left of school. I don't want to mess it up when I've gotten this far," her voice is soft. Her head hangs down as she fidgets with her hands in her lap. "This is messing everything up," she sighs, taking a deep breath before she raises her head, her expression guarded once more. "We will do this your way, Mr. Steel," she acquiesces. "If there is an issue, then we will need to rethink the rules. Now, I have a class to get to and I don't want to be late for my test. Thank you, Dean James." She rises from her seat and begins to walk toward the door where she pauses and turns back to look at me. "Are you coming, Shadow?"

Oh, how true that nickname is about to be . She wants to be snarky about this then game on, Princess. I do love a good joke. "I'll be right behind you, Princess. Thank you, Dean James. If any issues arise, I will let you know." I rise from my chair at the same time he chuckles.

"Try to go easy on her. She's young and stubborn and thinks that she can take on the world. You were her age too once," he reminds me.

"When I was her age, I was overseas getting shot at daily. It's two very different things. I'll keep her safe. You have my word." With those parting words, I walk out the door, easily catching up to Illeana in the hallway. She definitely wasn't waiting for me to follow her as she quickly makes her way down the hallway to the stairs at the far end. Day one begins, and a million more to go. Hoorah.