Malayah Smith and Selena Stewart were both orphans, raised by their mentor, whom they admired deeply as both a father and mother figure. Growing up, they often heard tales of their mentor’s past, learning that he was once a national boxing champion known for his practical fighting skills before becoming a renowned, top-tier bodyguard. However, those days were long gone, and now he was just a grumbling old man.
"Hurry up, Slowpoke! If we're even a minute late, mentor will be mad at us!" Selena called out, waving to Malayah from the entrance of a grand mansion.
Malayah quickly reassured her, "Okay, okay, mentor. We're sorry. We’ll definitely come back to visit more often, but you have to tell us why you wanted us here. It can’t be just to say hello, right? I cleared my whole schedule at the daycare for this. If you don’t give us a good reason, I might just get upset." As she spoke, her pretty face scrunched up in mock annoyance.
The old man, doting on Malayah like his own child, chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Haha, I’m just kidding. Of course, I wouldn’t call my two precious students back without a good reason. I have an important task for you." He then retrieved a stack of papers from the cabinet behind him, placing a photograph on top of the documents and sliding it toward the two young women.
Malayah glanced at the photograph, noticing a man in his twenties with features so precise they seemed sculpted by a master artist. His eyes held a faint mistiness, reminiscent of a mysterious, bottomless lake. In the photo, the man was lightly touching his forehead with his long fingers, appearing deep in thought.
"Wow, who’s this handsome guy? He’s gorgeous!" Malayah had always appreciated beauty, especially when it came to striking men. The photograph captivated her instantly, and she picked it up, looking starry-eyed.
In stark contrast, Selena was indifferent to men with overly delicate looks. She preferred more rugged and masculine features.
Seeing Malayah’s infatuated expression, the mentor chuckled mischievously. "Malayah, since you like the man in this photo so much, how about you take on this task?"
The happiness on Malayah’s face vanished as she heard the mentor’s suggestion. Her heart tightened, and she quickly tossed the photo back on the table. "No way! No way!" she protested, waving her hands dismissively. "Tell us what’s going on first, mentor. I’d rather know what I’m getting into than fall for one of your tricks!"
Selena, seated beside her, was equally curious. "Mentor, who is this man, really? What has caught your attention about him?"
The mentor picked up the photograph again, his expression becoming serious. "The man in the photo is Ricardo Patterson, the son of the person who once saved my life. Now, his own life is in danger. My savior has reached out, asking me to protect his son." He then glanced between Malayah and Selena, a sly smile playing on his lips. "But as you can see, I’m not exactly in any shape to protect anyone these days. So... I was hoping one of you could handle this for me."
