Chapter 02

Greetings sweet people....
How are you?

Please ignore the typo mistakes

Enjoy!!
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Hermione walked out of her bedroom, her sharp features softened by the sleek business attire she wore. She was typing something quickly on her phone, her fingers moving with precision. As she neared the staircase, she spotted Eli standing by, waiting for her. He greeted her with a firm nod and a warm smile, but she only offered him a curt, polite smile before walking past him.

“Eli,” Hermione’s voice cut through the silence of the penthouse, cold yet commanding, “Has the contract been reviewed properly?”

“Yes, Queen,” Eli responded confidently, his voice steady. “I personally checked it. No loopholes.”

Hermione hummed in acknowledgment, descending the last step. She paused briefly, her sharp blue eyes catching sight of Sam, standing still like a statue in his black suit, his posture perfectly controlled. She cleared her throat, grabbing his attention. Sam responded with his infamous blank expression and a firm nod.

“You can return to Milan, Eli,” Hermione announced, her tone leaving no room for debate. With that, Eli nodded, and Hermione turned her attention fully to Sam.

“Sam, I expect you to not disappoint me.” Her voice dropped an octave, becoming icier. “You are my personal guard, not my babysitter. Remember, I’m not weak. The only reason you’re here is because my father insists on his overprotectiveness.” Her words hung in the air, a clear warning.

Sam’s face remained devoid of emotion, his brown eyes locked on her. He had learned long ago that emotions only betrayed you.

“You’re not inferior to me,” Hermione continued, “But I expect formality. You are a stranger to me, after all. And let me make one thing clear—if you ever try to go against me behind my back, my father will make sure your bones are broken before I even get the chance.” Her words were laced with a quiet threat.

Sam’s blank expression didn’t falter, but inwardly, he absorbed every word. It was a strange feeling, this cold command coupled with a fierce independence. It was… unsettling.

As she finished her instructions, Eli offered a parting smile to Sam. “Hope you’ll have a great time working here.” Eli’s warmth was in stark contrast to Hermione’s cold demeanor.

Sam just gave a curt nod in response, and as Eli left, his gaze followed Hermione. She had moved on to the kitchen, talking to the maids. Even when giving orders, her tone softened slightly, showing a trace of respect toward them. It was small, but noticeable. Unlike most powerful people, she didn’t belittle those beneath her. The maids responded with equal respect, meeting her eyes instead of looking down.

She’s earned their respect, Sam thought. A queen in more ways than one.

Hermione returned to him, her earlier warmth completely gone, replaced by her business-like air. She headed for the elevator, not saying another word. Sam followed her closely, his steps silent but sure.

As the elevator doors slid open, a guard in a grey suit nodded respectfully and swiped the card for her. The doors closed behind them, leaving them in cold silence. When the glass doors of the building opened automatically, Sam instinctively moved forward and opened the back door of the car for her. But when he looked back at her, he froze.

Hermione was glaring at him as if he had committed a grave offense.

“I said you’re not inferior to me,” she snapped, her blue eyes ablaze with irritation. “I don’t need this princess treatment. Don’t ever do that again.” Her tone was cold and sharp, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

Hermione slid into the back seat herself, slamming the door behind her. Sam blinked, recovering from the unexpected rebuke, and quickly moved to sit in the front passenger seat, trying to mask his shock.

The car ride was silent. Hermione’s eyes were trained outside, where the familiar sight of an elderly man handing a single red rose to his wife caught her attention. She watched them every morning, a silent observer to the love and devotion that had lasted decades. The simple gesture made her heart soften, though her face remained impassive.

Sam, however, was lost in thought. He had guarded many powerful figures before, but none quite like Hermione. Her strength, her unyielding demeanor, intrigued him. There was something about her—a force that made people respect and fear her in equal measure.

As the car pulled up to the office, Hermione exited with her usual grace, her aura commanding. Sam followed, a few steps behind, maintaining his professional distance. The employees greeted her with reverence, and a few curious eyes lingered on Sam. He was new, and his presence only added to the mystery surrounding the Queen.

Hermione walked through security, her ID scanned effortlessly. Sam followed her into the private elevator, and the silence between them stretched as the elevator climbed the building. Hermione was engrossed in her phone, while Sam glanced down at the city from the glass walls of the elevator. He remained alert, watching everything, anticipating nothing.

Once in her office, Hermione took her seat at the desk, her attention immediately on her phone and the files in front of her. Sam sat on the grey couch in the corner, positioned so he could keep an eye on her without being intrusive.

“Had breakfast, Sam?” Hermione asked suddenly, without looking up from her work.

The casual question caught Sam off guard. It was so… normal. So human. He had almost forgotten what it felt like to be asked something like that.

“Yes, Queen. Thank you for asking.” His voice was as cold as ever, but internally, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of something. Care? No. He crushed the feeling immediately.

“If you want, you can explore the floor,” she added. “There’s a small pantry at the end of the hall. You don’t have to sit around me all day.”

Sam gave a short nod and left the room, grateful to escape the stifling atmosphere.

Hermione took her mobile and dialed Eli's number, the call got connected on the fifth ring.

"Do you think this plan will work, because this sounds so lame," Hermione's cold hushed voice made Eli shake his head in disbelief.

"Oh child don't worry he has been with a lot of business people and it is important to know if he will be loyal or not," Eli explained to her. "Whatever Eli I just want it to be over," Hermione spoke and after again talking about the steps of the plan Hermione cut the call.

Sam who sat on the outside couch area busy with his thoughts felt his phone vibrate. He picked the unknown caller ID, Jenny Hermione's secretary passed a polite smile to him before knocking on the cabin door of Hermione's office. Sam cut the call without any expression and leaned his head back staring at the ceiling.

The day went with a lot of meetings, where Hermione would shout at the employee at their great work and at every meeting Sam sat with a boring face.

It's better to jump off this large glass window.. At least I would not have to listen to this boring people's annoying voice.

Sam's mind only played this like a repeat song. By the end of the day Sam was tired and he only could imagine what Hermione is dealing with in her daily life.

......................................................................

As the day wore on, Hermione’s meetings dragged endlessly. Sam sat in each one, his expression never changing, though inside his mind, he wished he could throw himself out of the building just to escape the monotonous voices drowning on about business deals and logistics.

By the end of the day, both Hermione and Sam were exhausted. As they headed out,

"Queen!..." Mr. William, the project manager, rushed out towards Hermione. Sam looked at the man with his narrowed eyes. "Queen the blueprint file of the new hotel." Mr. William passed the file and Hermione just gave a polite smile to him.

"Thanks Mr. William, I couldn't have sent this file to dad by tomorrow, if you had not reminded me, you can get back to work." Hermione acknowledged his kind work and the man walked with a grin on his face.

Who wouldn't grin after getting to hear thanks from the Queen?

Both Hermione and Sam sat in their respective places and the car started to move. Sam looked at the night view and suddenly he frowned seeing the driver turn right after the signal which is the opposite way to the penthouse. Sam was an expert in the directions and before he could question and confront him the car was led in a dark alley. Even before Sam could react or do something the car jerked to the front with a great force. Sam turned back to see a big black van continuously hitting their car from behind.

Sam turned his gaze as he heard a loud gasp only to see Hermione having a red wound on her right corner of her forehead because of the very bad jerking of the car. Sam turned to the driver and twisted the steering but his hands held up in the surrender as the driver held the cold gun on his head.

Sam could not risk as if he gets hurt then Hermione would end up in grave danger. So he just stared at the driver with his venom-cold brown orbs.

There was a loud screech and the car was pushed to the right side of the alley hitting a wall with great force. Sam's side got smashed lightly to the window then with another unannounced push of the car caused him to harshly jerk his head with force but the airbags prevented Sam's head from getting smashed on the dashboard.

By the time he regained his composure, he could hear small mumbling like,

get the blue file'
'the girl also'

And putting two and two together he knew that this was an attack to steal the new plan of the hotel construction which had to be started next month in Milan.

Sam saw a masked man walk to the back seat but he was fast enough to kick him and the man fell back with a loud huff.

Sam took the blue file which the man had picked and pushed it under the seat. Sam walked out to witness Hermione being held at gunpoint. Though the lights were dim but even a fool could see under the bright moonlight. Sam walked to the driver.

The driver held his gun in a very tight grip and he knew this man was not experienced nor the black figures standing in a circle around them.

"If want your head attached to your body then fucking leave her and walk out, or you won't be able to crawl out of here," Sam knew that he would get scared by only some cold line. And that is what happened. The driver whose name was Marco looked at his eyes, holding a hint of fear. He averted his gaze to Hermione who stood calmly watching the scene unfold in front of her.

But Sam did feel a presence behind him and with a swift move he punched the man's stomach making him stumble back, not satisfied Sam punched him square on the jaw and even before the man could get stable on his feet he kicked the man's ankle and he fell on his face, laying flat on the ground crying out loud.

Sam then turned to Marco, the driver whose gaze was fixed on the man who was groaning and screaming bloody Mary....

With a snap, Marco turned his gun to Sam but Sam did not stop, he walked with his calculating steps daring Marco to shoot him..

Sam with just one hand move had Marco's gun in his hold and pointed to him.

But, Sam felt a cold hand pull the gun from his hand.

It was Hermione who pulled the gun from his hand and tossed it back to Marco.

"For a minute I thought I was going to meet Lucifer..." Marco mumbled out making Sam stare at him with a weird expression. Because this voice was the same as the person he had a call from in the morning.

Hermione looked at Sam's shocked expression, and this was the first time she saw an expression on his face.

"Still up for being the guard?" Hermione spoke pulling Sam out of his thoughts.

Sam nodded, still processing everything. So this had been a loyalty test. She had orchestrated the entire thing.

"Clean the mess," with that Marco drove in the direction of their penthouse.

"You passed our loyalty test," Hermione told him...

"Ok then did I pass..."

"Do you think with only one test I will declare you pass?"

"Are there more tests?" Sam spoke so casually but he was shocked internally. He sat calmly knowing that Hermione is not very easy to deal with...

"I am not called the devil queen just for name's sake..."

Sam felt a chill run down his spine. The Devil Queen wasn’t done with him yet.