A L E J A N D R O   S E R R A N O 

They believed he wasn't privy to the looks they sent him as they spoke in hushed tones at the counter, choosing to believe that they were speaking quiet enough that he wouldn't overhear.

They were wrong.

He was trained to hear and observe things that most people didn't. Alejandro had always been more observant and visually aware than most people and with some tweaks to polish his skills, he made a top-notch bodyguard. One of the best in the business he would even dare to say, if he was tooting his own horn.

Turning on his laptop and fishing his phone out of the pocket in his suit jacket, he cracked his fingers and got ready to do some work. While his assistant handled most of the paperwork, he still needed to read over a lot of it and sign a few things. There was also the monitoring of the bodyguards and ensuring that they got their job done.

Usually, they were approached with more jobs than the 9 bodyguards that worked underneath him – 10, if he included himself, though he only tended to work very high-level cases the past couple years since handling the business itself kept him very busy – and were currently in the process of interviewing some new prospects. With the amount of cases that came flooding in, both private and from the local government and police, he needed more bodyguards.

But just because the quantity was lacking didn't mean that he was willing to compromise on quality.

Seeing as his company was still quite small, he made sure to carry out all the interviews himself. His assistant, Roberto, handled the whole application process and narrowed down the prospects, sending the best of the best to him. If the interview went well then, they would be leaving it with a job.

Unfortunately, even though he was technically on the job that didn't mean that he would be able to ignore his other responsibilities and today, that included interviewing a man at Abraham's. It wasn't ideal and far from the quiet, minimal office where he carried out all the interviews, but these were extraordinary circumstances and it would have to do for the time being. Plus, it would give Neil Lowry, he read from the email Roberto had sent him, an insight into what the job could entail.

Every time the doorbell rang, he made sure to glance at every newcomer. Other than the back door in the kitchen which Layla had mentioned they kept locked nearly all of the time, that was the only direct entrance into the establishment.

Keeping his eyes on it was in both their best interests.

He locked eyes with a familiar man, dressed smartly in a black suit and tie which closely resembled the many that he owed.

First impressions were important and so far, Neil Lowry was doing well.

Alejandro stood up and greeted the man with a nod and a handshake. "Alejandro Serrano of Serrano Bodyguards."

"Neil. Neil Lowry." He smiled and accepted the handshake. "It's nice meeting you Mr Serrano."

"Likewise. I apologise for the peculiar place for an interview. I'm on the job. Anyway, should we get started?" He gestured to the vacant seat across from him in the booth. They both sat. Alejandro closed his laptop and slid it and his phone across the table, leaving the table between them empty.

When Neil nodded and rested his hands on the table, they did just that, opting to start with some basic questions such as why he wanted to be a bodyguard and discussing some of his past experience. Before this job, he had worked as a police officer but wanted to get more out of his job, and so had been recommended to try out for a bodyguard.

Similar to how Alejandro had started out. He liked that.

"What would you believe to be a difficult client?"

Neil took a moment to think, pondering over the question. "Someone who doesn't want a bodyguard. They probably would think that they don't need one, or they wouldn't want a bodyguard to disrupt their normal life which would make protecting them more difficult."

The irony was real.

"And how would you handle that situation?"

"Patience." He answered, his answer just the thing Alejandro was looking for. "I would have to be patient and help them understand the seriousness of the situation. If they're scared then I would have to reassure them that I had their best interests at heart because my job is to protect them."

So far so good.

"And what would you deem as the most important job of a bodyguard?"

"To ensure that there's as little disrupt to their normal life as possible."

He nodded. Good.

"Can I get you guys anything to drink?"

Alejandro glanced up to find a familiar pair of luscious green eyes staring down at him, a polite smile on her face as she glanced between both men. With an apron tied around her waist, she looked adorable and Alejandro couldn't help but hold her gaze for a few seconds longer than necessary, her eyes captivating him.

"Neil?"

"I'll have a coffee, thank you."

He nodded. "Make that 2 coffees, please."

His eyes followed her as she turned around and headed towards the counter to get started on their coffees.

Alejandro turned back to find Neil was watching Layla too. He didn't like that.

"Is that your girlfriend?"

Alejandro couldn't help but hesitate at first. "No." He denied. His face remained passive and void of any emotion. "You asking for any particular reason?"

He grinned and spared another glance at Layla who was already making her way back to them, their coffees on a tray. "She's a pretty little thing."

Once she reached the table, she placed down the cups in front of them, along with a plate of various different biscuits and macaroons.

"Neil, this is Layla. I'm her bodyguard."

Neil's eyes widened and his face warmed, embarrassed with how he had reacted earlier.

"Nice to meet you, Neil." She smiled politely, unaware of what was going on between the men. "You guys look busy so I'll leave you to it. Call me over if you want anything else."

The man didn't dare watch her walk away this time.

"I want to apologise for my behaviour. It wasn't professional and it definitely won't happen again."

Alejandro pursed his lips but eventually nodded. He couldn't fully blame Neil. Layla Abraham was every man's ideal woman. With her gorgeous long blonde hair and green eyes that sucked you in and looked directly into your soul, she was a force to be reckoned with, and he suspected she didn't even know it.

"I don't blame you. She's an absolute beauty."

Neil chuckled uncomfortably, not daring to say anything more on the matter in fear of messing up for a second time.

"Human attraction is normal, especially when two people spend as much time together as a bodyguard does with their client."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, as long as nothing happens while on the job, everything is fine." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"And after the job?"

"None of my business." He smiled a little. "But if something does happen while on the job then you will be pulled from the case and replaced while an investigation takes place."

Neil nodded in understanding. This was standard procedure that he had read about, something which would probably be mentioned in more detail in the contract. If he got the job, that was. And of that, he wasn't sure. Alejandro Serrano was a difficult man to read which meant that he wasn't quite sure how this interview was going.

"I think that'll be all from me today," he said, fully aware that he had probably spooked the man. He seemed to have that effect on people. He just didn't have the patience to deal with most people. "Do you have any questions?"

He shook his head quickly. "No, I think you answered them all."

"Perfect, I welcome you onboard and I hope you enjoy your first day tomorrow."

"I got the job?"

Alejandro nodded. Neil may have slipped up by thirsting after Layla in front of him, but he couldn't blame the man. She was a beautiful distraction. Other than that, his resume had been brilliant, his answers had been thorough and detailed, and it was evident that he was very passionate and hard-working. He had no doubt that Neil would be an asset anywhere, and he was determined to have that asset on his team.

"My assistant Roberto will get in touch with you sometime later today, but I expect you to be in the office bright and early tomorrow. I have a low-level case lined up for you already."

Both men stood up and shook hands. "Thank you, Alejandro. I look forward to working with you."

"Likewise."

Neil walked away happy with himself and Alejandro sat back in the booth, satisfied with the new employee he had hired. Sure, there would be a two-week trial period to ensure that he was a good fit for the team, but he was confident that Neil's performance on the job would be nothing short of excellent.

That was his only interview lined up for that morning, but there would be another one later that evening which he planned to attend in his office. The interviewee had driven into town specifically for this interview and so couldn't reschedule – not for lack of trying – and when he had first scheduled it, he hadn't planned to have been working a job which only meant that he would be dragging Layla along with him.

He had yet to mention that to her.

"I hope you're hungry."

He glanced up from him laptop to find Layla standing at his booth with a plate of hot food and a beer to wash it down with. "Depends what's on the menu." He winked at her, his smirk widening when she rolled her eyes at the innuendo.

She hadn't seen that one coming, she had to give him that.

Layla nodded and smiled. When she turned away, his grip on her wrist stopped her in her tracks. She sent him a questioning look over her shoulder.

"Eat with me."

"I have to get back to work."

He quirked an eyebrow and tugged on her wrist, pulling her closer towards him. By this point, they had attracted the attention of a few customers but he couldn't bring himself to the care. "You're the boss."

"That's why I have to continue working. I can't slack off just because I own the place."

"Just half an hour." He urged her, his eyes hopeful.

She sighed and pursed her lips, glancing around the café. Customers were sparse and the orders slow, just as it usually was at this time of day. The rush during lunch hour had passed and only a few people were going to be coming in for the next hour or so for a late lunch, giving her just enough time to sit down and enjoy her own meal before more customers started piling in as the work day came to a close.

"Twenty minutes."

A slow, ghost of a smile spread across his face. He let go of her wrist and his fingers brushed over her skin in a tantalising manner to turn around and head into the kitchen to grab herself a plate, informing the kitchen staff that she was going on break for lunch.

Layla ignored the knowing smirks and advised them all to do the same since the next hour was usually quite slow.

Sliding into the booth opposite, she was surprised to see he had waited for her. Once she was sat down, they both stuck into their lunch of a chicken pie, vegetables and gravy. She had been busy working on her desserts all day, especially since there was a dessert order that would be picked up just before the café closed that night, so the delicious lunch was all thanks to her secondary chef.

"Were you interviewing that guy?" She asked, referring to Neil.

He nodded, too engrossed in his meal. It appeared the saying was true; food really was a way into a man's heart.

"Did he get the job?"

Another nod.

"So, what does it take to be a bodyguard?"

He glanced up from his meal, sending her a small, sly smirk. "Keep watching me and you'll have everything you need to learn."

She pursed her lips and stabbed at her knife. Over the past few days, she hadn't been able to learn much about her companion and bodyguard for the unforeseeable future, while he knew pretty much everything about her. that was starting to get on her nerves. "You didn't answer the question."

Alejandro shrugged and wiped his mouth on a napkin. "Can't have you learning all my tricks and taking my job."

She snorted. "I could never be a bodyguard. Plus, I love my café too much."

"Why is it called a café and not a bakery or diner?" He asked, something which he had pondered from day one.

She paused to chew her mouthful, thinking hard. "I actually don't know." She admitted. "I wasn't too sure what to classify it as and café just kind of stuck, but I'm hoping to turn this place into a restaurant."

"The food is great." He grinned. "I would stop by here for lunch every day."

"Thanks," she smiled, her heart warming slightly at his words. "I appreciate that."

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Why? You asking me out?"

His pale, grey eyes watched her, his lips twitching slightly, almost as if he was in on an inside joke with himself. She had no doubt that she was the subject of it. "Not yet."

She rolled her eyes and bit her lip to stop the smile. "I'm not doing anything this evening."

"Good. I need to swing by the office for another interview."

Layla perked up at that. "I get to see your office?"

"It'll be quick." He nodded. "Dinner's on me tonight."

"Pasta?" She tested her luck.

He couldn't hold back the grin. "Whatever you want."

They held eyes for a moment, a comfortable silence passing between them.

"I need to get back to work."

He nodded and watched as she gathered their empty plates and walked back into the kitchen, ignoring the knowing look that Hailey sent him after having witnessed them, what could only be described as flirting, over lunch.

Things had flowed smoothly over the next hour. While he worked on his computer, monitoring and checking up on the numerous bodyguards that worked under him in his company, his eyes were still trained on Layla. Especially when she would head into the kitchen. If she was in there for too long, he made sure to follow behind her to make sure everything was okay.

While he knew she felt safe here – the café being her safe haven – he had learnt from experience that one could never be too careful.

The peace was interrupted when the door bell chimed, indicating that there was a new customer. Upon instinct, he watched as a man walked in, just as he watched every other person who had walked into the establishment that day.

Unlike other customers, this man was interested in more than just a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.

Unfortunately for him, that made Alejandro very interested in him.

When Layla dropped the glass she was holding and screamed out his name in fear, he sprang into action and whipped out his handgun. He had the unknown man pinned against the wall and the barrel of the gun pressed square against his forehead within the next moment.

Alejandro snarled in distaste as the man raised his hands in surrender and closed his eyes, whimpering in fear and begging for his life to be spared.

-

You can read ahead on Inkitt for FREE: https://inkitt.app.link/RA__illuminating_

Support me to read chapters from Alejandro before they're released to anywhere else! https://www.patreon.com/LaylaKnight

L A Y L A   K N I G H T

12.05.2020