*Extended chapter

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ethan woke up late the next morning as he was running around hectic trying to sort himself out before going to work.

Because he went straight to bed last night, Ethan forgot to sort out his dirty laundry. He had to make sure that all of his bloodied clothes were thrown into the laundry basket, so that his maid would come and pick it up later to clean it. He felt slightly guilty that there was more than usual, but Ethan couldn't change the fact that he was attacked last night.

Ethan was running so late that he didn't have time to even make a quick breakfast, because he had a large role in the upcoming fashion show in a couple of weeks, and Ethan had work he was already late to do.

Shelton was the leading brand in the fashion world, with the family name being bestowed on a pedestal in Europe. With several items from their latest clothing line already blowing up, Shelton had to keep the momentum going, and Ethan was determined to help in doing so.

Helping run operations for the upcoming showcase was a big responsibility for Ethan, and he didn't want to be the one to screw it up. Turning up late to work constantly certainly wasn't going to help either.

With this frame set in mind, Ethan settled for a simple home brewed coffee in a thermos, and a ripened banana to eat on his way to the office.

Ethan opened the front door and was taken back to see someone waiting for him.

"Hi," Ethan mumbled as he was already eating the banana. "Can I help you?"

The man on the other side of the door smiled brightly as held a familiar object in his hands. "I think you dropped this last night."

Ethan's eyes shot open when he was face to face with his wallet again. He was relieved to see his wallet being returned to him, "Oh my god, you're a life saver! I must have dropped it last night."

"You're welcome."

Ethan reached his hand out to grab his wallet, but the guy seemed to pull it away from him at the last minute. The look of confusion on Ethan's face wasn't missed as the other guy began to fiddle with Ethan's wallet instead of returning it to its owner.

"How did you find my wallet?" Ethan asked nervously, as he felt the atmosphere around them change suddenly.

Over the next couple of seconds, two more guys came out of the hiding space from round the corner. Recognising the red and bushy beard, the same guy soon stood in front of Ethan - with a wicked smile emerging from his face.

"I'm Kent, and I'm pretty sure you recognise me from last night."

Ethan's wallet was thrown at him as it landed squarely on his chest. Ethan didn't have to time to even try and catch it, because Kent and his sidemen forced their way inside of Ethan's home - slamming the door behind them.

~~~~~~~~~~

It was already lunchtime and Kristen couldn't help but constantly look towards the door whenever someone would walk through.

Even though her brother was late to the office most of the time, she knew that Ethan would never skip lunch.

Time continued to pass by as Kristen had her lunch, and curiosity reached its peak when she asked Lewis about her brother's whereabouts.

"Have you seen Ethan today?" Kristen asked politely, "He would hate to miss the donuts Tamsin brought in earlier."

Lewis scoffed after hearing his name, "No, I haven't seen the liability unfortunately. I guess that's why my day has been brilliant so far."

The older sister didn't miss a beat when scolding her employee. "I would like to remind you that as we are both your superiors, I would suggest you would refrain from talking like that ever again."

Kristen didn't necessarily enjoy one of her employees flinching and recoiling because of her, but she wasn't going to let anyone insult her little brother.

Kristen pulled out her phone from her pocket and began to seemingly type away on her phone. This was the cue given for Lewis to be dismissed, because she was done talking to him.

Several of her texts to Ethan were left on read, and Ethan hadn't even bothered to respond to her. After Ethan repeatedly declined her calls, Kristen chose to use a different medium instead.

"Dad? It's Kristen."

Javier Shelton smiled softly into his phone as he talked to his daughter. "Hey sweetie, how are you?"

"Given that you called me sweetie, I guess you're not in the office?" Kristen laughed, as her father's professionalism in the office didn't disrupt Javier's loving nature.

"I'm just coming back from a doctor's appointment," Javier explained. "Everything's good."

Kristen then told her dad about her concerns regarding Ethan. "I'm probably just overdoing with the bigger sister thing, but Ethan's not talking to me."

Javier tried to lighten the mood and ease Kristen's nerves. "Maybe it's like the time when he was ignoring you because you added food dye to his shampoo when you were younger."

Even though Javier couldn't see her on the other end of the phone, Kristen simply shrugged her shoulders as her tone was calm. "He loved Avatar."

After hearing her father laugh, Kristen coughed slightly to bring the conversation back on track. "Could you just swing by his house before you get here? Something just feels... wrong."

After telling his driver to go towards Ethan's house, Javier was travelling towards the opposite direction of the Shelton building. "We'll both see you shortly. Love you sweetheart."

"Love you too."

~~~~~~~~~~

Javier told his driver to wait inside the car as he didn't expect this interaction to take long. His polished shoes were treading on the pebbled path that was leading towards Ethan's house, and Javier briskly walked towards his son's home.

When Javier made it to the entrance of Ethan's home, the door was slightly ajar. Javier gently pushed it open as he called for his son. "Ethan? Ethan are you here?"

Because Javier was looking straight ahead, he heard his shoes scrapping along the broken glass on the floor before he could see it. Javier felt confused, worried, and scared at the same time.

"I really hope that you were just drunk last night, and that's why your home is a mess." Javier light heartedly sang, but it was laced with fear underneath.

When Javier made it to the living room, his heart dropped when he saw his son bracing himself on his couch. "Ethan!"

Ethan was slightly beaten with a few cuts and bruises showing, but his home looked like a tornado came storming through. Ethan was sitting on the ground defeated, and he was resting between the torn couch and the broken coffee table.

As quick as a 56 years old man could move, Javier ran towards his son and gently held his face in his hands. "Are you okay, son? What happened here?"

Ethan brushed his dad's hands away from his face. He didn't want his dad to worry over him, but Ethan knew it was too late given the state he was found in. "It just looks worse than it is."

Javier was shaking his head as he put his arms around Ethan. Helping him onto the couch, Ethan hissed as he automatically held his ribs in pain.

Javier attempted to lift Ethan's shirt and see the extent of his injury. Ethan was hesitant to let his dad see it, but Javier's fatherly stern look didn't give Ethan a choice.

Once Javier uncovered the concealed area, the air in Javier's throat choked him when he saw a large purple patch beaten onto his son's body.

"At least they didn't touch the money maker." Ethan chuckled, as he pointed towards his bright and beaming face.

Taking another look around them, Javier asked even more seriously what happened. "Who did this?"

"I ran into some trouble last night," Ethan explained. "They found my address and thought it was best to intimidate me, since I reported their attempted kidnapping to the police last night."

Javier had several different expressions displayed on his face, and he was visibly stunned after learning about Ethan's bravery when helping a stranger in their desperate hour of need.

"This was all just to scare me so that I won't meddle with their business again." Ethan laughed, "After all, I did break a guy's nose last night."

Javier felt the fear and concern of any parent when learning about their child being attacked, and he swallowed nervously because Ethan seemed to be taking the situation too lightly. "This all sounds too dangerous, Ethan. Maybe you should move back with me and your mom until this all settles down."

"No way, Dad!" Ethan protested, "I'm not letting those thugs drive me away from my own home. Fuck those pieces of shit, I'm not going anywhere."

"But they know where you live!" Javier tried his best to reason with his only son, because he had his best intentions at heart. "I don't want to see you injured again, Ethan."

Ethan carefully stood up from his seat as he slightly clutched his ribs again. "I couldn't defend myself because I was ambushed and outnumbered earlier. But I'm not going to let those bastards scare me out of my own home."

Watching his stubborn son tend to his wounds in the second bathroom, Javier disappointingly shook his head because he knew Ethan wasn't going to change his mind.

Javier was worried that his son would end up being hurt even more than right now, and he knew that Ethan wouldn't move back home despite his parents' pleas.

It didn't take long for Javier to think of some sort of solution to both of their concerns. Javier pulled out his phone as he called a phone number that he hasn't used in a very long time.

After waiting a while, Javier was able to speak to his old friend Giles in private. "I need your help."

~~~~~~~~~~

Giles Miller was the owner of Noble Guardians & Protectors. The renown bodyguard company was a well sought out necessity for those in a higher class, or those that could afford them.

After training men and women of all ages, different backgrounds, various linguistic skills and physical builds, Giles built his company from the ground up.

For over 20 years, Giles has spent those years doing his service and building connections with powerful people - this all accumulated into NG&P being the number 1 bodyguard company in North and South America.

The phone call he received from his old friend, Javier Shelton, was a blast from the past. They briefly reminisced over how Javier was Giles first contract, and the success of this was why Giles was called.

"Now that the formalities are out of the way..." Javier chuckled on the other end of the phone as he lightened up the mood briefly, "I need your help with my son. He's been in a bit of trouble lately."

Giles was already on his computer as he started looking into the company's database. "Keep talking while I bring some information out."

"There's been some bandits who have been hassling Ethan lately. In less than 24 hours he's been assaulted in his home, as well as having his own home ransacked."

Giles sympathised to the other father over the phone, "I'm so sorry to hear that Javier. I'll send over one of my best people for the job."

Relief washed over Javier as he further elaborated what he wanted from NG&P. "My son is too stubborn, and has too much pride to get help for himself. I only need someone for 2 weeks - just until everything settles down."

After finishing typing away on his computer, Giles confirmed the hired service. "I'll look and see which one of my elite bodyguards are available later tonight, and then I'll send someone over as soon as possible."

Javier spoke earnestly as he further elaborated on his desperate need for NG&Ps help. "My children are my world. They may be old enough to run a business, they may be able to drive a car, and they're grown up enough to live on their own, but they're my family - and family is everything to us old men."

"I'll send my best guy on the job." Giles informed his client, "We won't let anything happen to your son."

~~~~~~~~~~

Very early in the next morning, it wasn't even the crack of dawn when the bright light from a phone was accompanied by a piercing ringtone.

Thomas Miller was the first one awake as he stretched his arms on the king sized bed in his own home. Rolling over the warm and sleeping body besides him, Thomas looked at the caller ID before answering it.

"Hello?"

"Thomas? It's your dad." A sleepy Giles whispered, "Pack your bags, because you're going on a plane in just a few hours time."

Thomas completely understood his orders as he shot out of the bed. Immediately bringing out the suitcase from the closet, Thomas began to pack his essentials inside.

"I'm sending you across the sea to the state of Ohio, in America. When you land in roughly 14 hours time, look out for the sign 'Miller', and that's when you will be further debriefed."

Thomas hummed over the phone as he listened to his dad describe the type of job he had. "I know I'm used to being sent all over the world at last minute, but this one seems extremely out of the blue."

"The client is an old friend of mine, and he was also my first client when I started my business." Giles then added, "As a fellow father, I assured him that we could be of service."

With both of them clear on his mission, Thomas hung up the phone call as he then zipped up his suitcase - ready to leave. 

Because he was still naked, Thomas brought out his freshly ironed suit from his closet to get dressed.

All of his actions, and the phone call, woke up the warm body that was still in Thomas' bed. "Where are you going?"

Thomas looked over at Xavier, and told the fellow bodyguard about his next mission. "My dad is flying me to America for some rich family."

Xavier was jealous as he learned how Thomas was flying abroad once again. "Damn it! Why couldn't I be sent there? I would love a trip to explore the country."

"Because I'm not going to be sleeping around while I'm there," Thomas laughed. "I'm going to be doing my job, and who else to send over than the best in the service."

Xavier scoffed at the little wink Thomas sent him. Quickly changing back to his stoic demeanour, Thomas adjusted the watch on his wrist before grabbing the suitcase handle.

"I'll see you in 2 weeks." Thomas said as he quickly waved goodbye.

Xavier quickly told Thomas goodbye, as he then went back to catch some shut-eye in Thomas' bed. "See you later Thomas."

~~~~~~~~~~

The 11 hour flight gave Thomas the opportunity to rejuvenate and catch up on some sleep. It was around 4pm when the plane landed, and Thomas took his carry on with him towards the gate.

Riding down the escalator, Thomas knew he had to look for someone holding up a card with his last name on it. His eyes eventually landed on an older gentleman in the near distance, and Thomas walked towards the guy with his head held high.

"Mr Miller?"

Thomas nodded his head when he stood in front of the older gentleman. "Yes that's me. Just call me Thomas, sir."

Shaking Thomas' hand, the firm handshake was met with a smile on both of their faces. "I'm Javier Shelton, and I really appreciate you taking your time out of your life to help me and my son."

"That's just part of the service," Thomas explained as he gestured towards the exit. "Shall we get going?"

When they got inside the private car together, Javier gave an address to the driver. "I can take you to the apartment that you will be living in whilst you're in the States. I also have a hired car for you parked there so you can take it wherever you want to go, and I'm going to give you some cash in hand to spend on anything you need during your stay."

Thomas didn't expect such a generous hospitality from the man sitting next to him. He was extremely flattered that this client was providing him with so much. "Thank you so much sir, but this is all too much."

"Nonsense," Javier dismissed with a genuine laugh. "Anything for the only child of Giles Miller. And especially for the person that will be protecting my son - now that doesn't have a price tag attached."

Thomas didn't get the chance to further decline Javier's benevolent kindness for his 2 week stay. He accepted it as the older gentleman was assertive and assured with what he was giving Thomas.

"I can give you a little time to settle into your new home, and then afterwards Ethan should still be in the office by the time you get to the building."

Thomas was given a portfolio that had the information about the person he was protecting. Thomas picked out the several files that he had to study, and this was when he learned all he needed about Ethan Shelton.

Thomas began reading the report in his head, absorbing the information about Ethan that he needed to know.

'26 years old, Chief Operating Officer at Shelton, lives alone, described as rebellious, narcissistic and lazy.'

Thomas blinked a couple times out of disbelief. "This is how you describe your son?"

Javier had a nice laugh as he pointed out he was preparing Thomas for the worst. "If I tell you the worst now, then you can see the good things about Ethan yourself!"

Once Thomas saw the picture of Ethan, he turned to Javier looking visibly confused. "Forgive me for asking this sir, but this guy is clearly in great physical shape. Why hire me when this guy looks like he can take care of things himself?"

"My son can be a handful sometimes. I love all my kids, but I worry about Ethan more than my other child." Javier then took out his phone and showed the screensaver of his family to Thomas. "He's a very... carefree... and laidback person. Ethan likes to play around most of the time, and I'm worried that he's not taking these threats seriously enough."

Thomas nodded his head as he understood Javier. "So that's why you hired me..."

"Your dad says you're the best in the company - strong, disciplined, and capable." Javier mentioned as he then turned to Thomas. "So if I'm going to trust someone to protect my son, then it has to be the best of the best."

Even though he didn't show it, Thomas was slightly blushing on the inside. Not only did the compliments raise his self-esteem, but it realigned his ego which showed Thomas that he was perfect for the job.

"Rest assured, I will make sure no harm comes to Ethan. And I'll also make sure to keep him in check whilst I'm around."

"That's what I like to hear." Javier cheered as he patted Thomas' shoulder.

Thomas nodded his head as he absentmindedly looked out the window of the car. "I'm looking forward to meeting him."

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