Chapter 11

Under His Protection:::

"Well this is a bit awkward, don't you think?" Japhet chuckled as he looked up to Laura then to Michael, smiling inwardly Michael removed his eyes from the fancy menu in his hand and looked at the man who just spoke breaking the silence from the quiet table.

Japhet had finally saved him from ordering from the ridiculous pricey menu and equally absurd names for food.

"Are you comfortable Laura?" Japhet asked with a smile on his handsome face.

Michael shook his head and gave japhet a sanguine smile, there was really something about japhet that he did not like, well not really but even if he had to admit it is probably his first time dining with a woman and her bodyguard, something was off about the guy.

"I don't seem to like the fact that you are here, no offense though" he looked at Michael with a small smile.

"None taken" Michael shot back briefly glancing at Laura sideway, she had been silent since they arrived for dinner, but he would not blame her. She might appear to be silent and collected with the whole ridiculous situation but he knew deep inside she was fuming mad with rage and it is probably directed to him. She still hasn't accepted the fact that he is her bodyguard.

"So,shall we order?" Japhet asked, he gestured to call the attention of the waiter and waited for Laura to order before placing his, then it was Michael's turn. Michael randomly selected the first thing he saw on the menu,  japhet did not hesitate to show off his Wealth when he ordered a bottle of the most expensive wine in the restaurant for exuberant price.

When the waiter left Michael narrowed his eyes when japhet smiled adoringly to Laura.

"You look beautiful tonight princess" he complimented.

Michael rolled his eyes preventing himself from scoffing, " what a charmer" he thought silently. Does he think he could get Laura Van-Lerie using such charismatic demeanor? He would be happy to inform japhet that it would be frutile.

"Thank you" Laura replied.

 Michael looked fascinating at the woman in question as she replied japhet's compliment demurely, when she caught Michael watching her, she threw him her sharpest look.

Michael hid his smile as though she was still smarting that he tag along with her to her dinner date, he silently smiled at the thought that she is still the Laura he knew before, the young princess that hated her father's ex bodyguard from the first moment they met.

"How long did you work for his Excellency again?" Japhet asked as he sip a little amount of his champagne. Feeling his lip twich with smile as japhet dragged him out of his reverie forcing him to remove his eyes from the woman sitting in front of him, "Five years. I met his Excellency when I was 23"

Joahet  eyebrow shot upwards " wow that is quite a long time because I guess you might me 35 now, if iam right. Now I understand why he trusted you so much in taking good care of his daughter"

Michael shrugged indifferently " maybe"

He nodded " and iam sure you guys get along so well" he commented innocently placing the white napkin on his lap, he looked up to Michael " You both seem very close"

"Yes" Laura answered.

"Nope" Michael said at thesame time, her eyes shot dagger in his direction Making him threw a goading smile at her then to japhet.

"Quite the opposite to tell you honestly japhet,she could not stand the sight of me and infact the moment I stepped my foot in their palace I was already labelled an enemy" Michael watched the pink stain spread through her cheek.

Laura scoffed " I beg to disagree japhet, if I still remember correctly the  moment you arrived you labelled me the annoying daughter of your employer, you never let the opportunity to pass to remind me of it Everytime" she rolled her eyes.

Michael's mouth opened at her " I never......."

"You are" she cut him off giving him an accusing look.

Michael shook his head, he has never treated her as she thought. Yes he had to admit that sometimes or most of the time he was giving her a cold shoulder back then because of the fact that he have to remember she is off limit, and way out of his league. He never thought of her as an annoying spoilt little daughter of Jadua Van-Lerie.

"Wow!" Japhet said in amazement, " I think I can breathe comfortably now I don't have to worry about the special bond I thought you have back home, I have to admit when I first saw the two of you in Laura studio you seem like old couples"

"Iam sure you got it wrong japhet" Laura replied sipping her goblet of water, " when you saw us a while ago arguing it means that we cannot stand each other. Oh believe me, it is our favourite past time when we are within twenty feet from each other".