Implored 175_After the divorce, he begged

The car soon pulled up to the restaurant.

 Reba hadn’t said a word the whole way. She seemed indifferent to everything Jeffrey did, like a puppet

 without emotions.

 While Reba went to the restroom, Gregory leaned in right away. “Mr. Hanson.

 “What is it?” Jeffrey asked.

 Gregory reported. The bodyguards for Ms. Jensen are ready. They’re good talkers, good–looking, and know how to fight. Do you want them to start today or wait a few days?”

 It hadn’t been easy to find men who fit all those requirements. Gregory had spent quite some time on it.

 Jeffrey paused, then quickly replied, “Send them to Reba’s Manor first. If she likes them when she gets home, keep them. If not, give them some money and either let them go or keep them on as bodyguards for the group.”

 Gregory hesitated, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if he should.

 “Something else?” Jeffrey asked casually. <fnea90> Original content can be found at FindN0vel</fnea90>

 “Aren’t you worried Ms. Jensen might fall for one of them?” Gregory asked honestly. “They’re really good- looking and know how to charm women. The HR was so excited after the interview she couldn’t hide it.”

 “Guess she just hasn’t met anyone real yet, Jeffrey replied, unbothered.

 Gregory didn’t quite get it.

 Jeffrey looked at him. “What, you also got excited when you saw them?”

 Gregory’s lips twitched. He thought, I’m a guy–if I get excited over handsome men, wouldn’t that be kind of weird?’

 Jeffrey didn’t bother continuing the conversation. Seeing that Reba still hadn’t returned at this hour, he was about to get up when she finally walked back and sat across from him.

 The dinner passed in silence. Other than Jeffrey asking if the food suited her taste, Reba only gave half- hearted replies.

 prepared a surprise for you at home,” Jeffrey said on the way back, trying to strike up a conversation, his tone still casual. “I think you’ll like it,”

 Reba ignored him, showing no interest at all.

 When they got back to Reba’s Manor, she was stunned to see a neat row of young men, all about twenty, handsome and standing in the garden.

 As soon as they saw her, the bodyguards spoke in unison. “Good evening, Ms. Jensen.” 

 “Last time you said you liked young men who were good–looking and knew how to talk,” Jeffrey exined slowly at her side “So I had Gregory hire ten of them. From now on, they’re your personal bodyguards”

 Reba stared at him in disbelief, thinking he hadpletely lost his mind,

 “As long as you’re happy here. I’ll give you whatever you want,” Jeffrey said.

 “You’re nuts” Reba tossed the words at him and walked straight into the house.

 Gregory nced at the energetic young bodyguards, then at Jeffrey, who remained as calm as ever. “Should we keep them?”

 “Wait until Reba gives her answer. For now, have them wait over there, Jeffrey said before heading upstairs.

 Reba was fuming

 Just then, Jessica called to ask how she’d been these past few days. Reba said she was fine.

 As her best friend, Jessica instantly picked up on the off note in her voice. “You don’t sound fine. What’s wrong?”

 “Nothing. Just tired after a full day at work.” Reba didn’t want her friend to get upset along with her. Lately, Jessica’s moods had been more vtile because of her.

 Jessica was about to press further when Reba’s bedroom door opened.

 Jeffrey walked in, eyes on Reba by the window. “You didn’t like those guys? Was it that they weren’t hot enough, or are you worried they’re not good talkers?”

 Reba turned around, still holding her phone.

 Before she could speak, Jessica’s voice came through the line. “Hot? Good talkers? Who are you talking about?”

 “Last time at the club, you said I ruined your fun. Jeffrey stood in front of her, unnervingly calm. “To make it up to you, I asked Gregory to find those bodyguards. If you don’t like them, I’ll get you another batch.”

 Reba was about to snap at him, but Jessica’s excited voice came through the phone. “Say you like them! Keep them.”

 Reba stayed silent.

 Jessica went on, “He’s betting you won’t. That’s the only reason he dares pull this stunt. Keep them, and let’s see if he can really stick to his word. He knows you well–this is just another way to manipte you.”

 Reba froze. Thinking back on everything that had happenedtely, she thought Jessica was right.

 10:34 Mon, Sep 29

 Jeffrey knew her too well. He knew she hated being treated like this beading her a pack of bodyguards under the excuse of making up for that night at the bar he was bunking on her refusing the

 “Does it even matter whether I like them or not?” Reba lowered the phone from her ear, shifting her strategy. “If you get tired of them, you can kick them out with a single word:

 “As long as you like them, they can stay,” Jeffrey said. He hadn’t heard jessica’s words–Reba had kept the phone volume low,

 “Fine,” Reba said.

 Jeffrey paused for a moment. 

 Reba added, “I hope you keep your word.”

 In the days that followed, Reba spent every evening after work either ying with Samuel or having fun with the bodyguards Jeffrey had found for her.

 After just a few days, Jeffrey hadn’t cracked yet–but Gregory already had.

 “Mr. Hanson, Ms. Jensen seems to really enjoy theirpany, Gregory warned kindly. “If this keeps up, you really might lose her.”

 Jeffrey’s unreadable gaze slid toward Reba and the group of bodyguards lounging in the attic of Reba’s Manor. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he said nothing.

 Knowing Reba, she wasn’t actually going to hook up with those guys. More than likely, she was putting on a show just to get to him.

 Still, watching herugh with them–her eyes lit up in a way they never were with him–stirred a suffocating irritation inside his chest.

 Just because she didn’t like something before doesn’t mean she won’t like it now, Gregory pressed, trying to spark some sense of urgency in Jeffrey. “If you keep letting this go on, Ms. Jensen might actually start liking these young men.

 Jeffrey’s eyes went back to the attic window. Through the ss, he could see Rebaughing, clearly entertained.

 ? 

 And the truth was, she was entertained.

 At first, Reba only meant to expose Jeffrey’s little game. But she hadn’t expected these young men to be genuinely funny.

 Once they realized she wasn’t some wealthy woman trying to keep them as boy toys, but just wanted them around as bodyguards, they loosened up and started sharing stories.

 “You think that’s bad? My roommates tried to make me chip in for takeout by stuffing food in my mouth while I was asleep. Almost choked me to death.”

 “My roommates froze me outpletely. Then, when my girlfriend dumped me and I was single like them,

 suddenly we were best buddies again

 “My roommate froze me out too–wouldn’t even let me sleep in the same bed with him.”

 24

 That one stopped everyone cold. Reba included. The other guys instinctively shifted away from him.

 They all thought it was pretty weird for a guy to want to sleep in the same bed with another guy

 “Don’t look at me like that. If I actually wanted any of you, do you really think you’d get away?” the same quy added. “Come on–who here could take me?”

 With no doubt, that set the rest of them off, and the nine of them ganged up on him in mock outrage

 Watching them banter and roughhouse, Reba was hit with a wave of nostalgia. For a moment, she felt like she was back in her school days.

 Back before she’d ever met Jeffrey, life had been easy, carefree. Even when the Jensen Group went under and people mocked her,ughed at her misfortune, at worst, it had just meant a drop in her standard of living.

 But what she was dealing with now was a whole different story.

 “Good evening, Mr. Hanson. The bodyguards greeted Jeffrey in unison, snapping Reba out of her thoughts.

 She turned her head and saw him walking over in a ck shirt, the cor slightly open. His long strides carried him straight to her side, where he sat down and casually slipped an arm around her waist.

 Reba frowned, her body tensing at the unwanted closeness.

 Jeffrey’s eyes flicked over the row of bodyguards standing neatly in line. Then he leaned close, his voice low against her ear. “Having fun?”

 Reba shot back without hesitation. “More fun than being with you.” 

 Jeffrey leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. “So, don’t you think it’s time you started up

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