Chapter 2 CHAPTER
SIMON POV
I walked up to the towering glass building, taking a moment to glance up at its sleek, reflective surface. Another meeting with Felix Hartmann. Another job. I didn’t know the details yet, but I had a good guess.
I’d done my homework. I knew everything about Felix—more than he probably knew about himself.
Stepping inside, I made my way to the reception desk. A blonde woman, bright-eyed and all smiles, was on the phone, nodding along to whatever the person on the other end was saying.
I tapped my fingers on the counter, waiting.
She finally hung up, turning her attention to me. “How can I help you?”
“I have a meeting with Mr. Hartmann.”
“Do you have an appointment?” She glanced down at the open planner in front of her.
“Linden.”
“Very well, Mr. Linden. The elevator is on your right, top floor. His secretary will be waiting for you.”
I gave her a curt nod and walked off, muttering under my breath, “Bloody Americans, never getting names right.”
Inside the lift, I pressed the top button and reached into my suit jacket, silencing my phone just as it buzzed with a message.
11:27 AM - Mate, who’s the blonde?
11:32 AM - Keep it in your pants.
I smirked. Johny was watching, as always. Our surveillance cameras were nearly undetectable, blending in like second skin. That’s how he’d spotted the receptionist.
Johny and I went way back, trained together in the SAS. If there was one person I trusted in this world, it was him.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Stepping out, I was immediately greeted by another woman, this one with sleek, dark hair pulled into a sharp ponytail.
“Mr. Linden, welcome back.” She extended her hand.
I shook it. “Always a pleasure.”
“This way.” She led me down the corridor toward the meeting room.
“Mr. Hartmann will be with you shortly.”
I took a seat, leaning back into the chair. The room was all clean lines and dark wood, the kind of setup that screamed wealth and power. I pulled my phone out again, flicking through messages until another came through from Johny.
11:40 AM - Seriously, though, who is she?
I shook my head and shoved the phone back into my pocket.
The door swung open, and Felix Hartmann strode in. He was a man who carried power in his posture, the type who commanded a room without saying a word.
“Simon. Good to see you again.” He reached out, firm handshake.
“Felix.”
“Apologies for the delay, got stuck in a video conference.”
“Not a problem.”
He took his seat at the head of the table, fingers tapping lightly against the polished surface.
“I’ll get straight to the point.” His voice was smooth, confident. “I need you for a job. Just you.”
I raised a brow. “Go on.”
“I want you to be personal security for my daughter.”
My jaw clenched slightly, but I kept my expression neutral. “For how long?”
“No end date. Forever, if necessary.”
I exhaled through my nose. This was different. A permanent bodyguard detail? That wasn’t usually my line of work.
“She’s traveling to Vienna
tomorrow for business. I know you have connections there. I trust you can keep her safe.”
I nodded. “What time is she leaving?”
“I’ll send over the full itinerary once we sign the contracts.”
“Will she know?” Most of my jobs required me to protect people from the shadows.
“Yes. She’ll be aware.”
“Alright.”
Minutes later, contracts were signed, and my bank account was set to look very happy.
As I walked out of the building, I grabbed my phone and called Johny.
“Well, well,” he answered. “What’s the job?”
“I’m going to Vienna tomorrow.”
“Nice.”
I sighed. “I’ll be babysitting the princess.”
He snorted. “I wouldn’t mind protecting her ass.”
“She’s probably some spoiled Upper East Side brat,” I muttered.
“She’s hot, though.”
I frowned. “How the hell do you know that?”
“Mate, you seriously think I wouldn’t peek at your emails?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”
“You coming over?”
“Yeah, half-hour.”
“See you then.”
I ended the call and, for the first time, opened the folder Felix had sent me.
The moment her photo filled my screen, I stopped walking.
Juliana Clara Weiss Hartmann.
Fuck me. She was beautiful.
This job just got a whole lot more complicated.