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Chapter 1
Jade's hands trembled as she held the envelope, its thick, coarse paper brushing against her fingers. The handwriting was jagged, almost as if the words were etched with a knife. She tore it open, her heart pounding against her chest. Her eyes scanned the letter, each word sinking like a heavy weight in her stomach.
"You think you're so special, don't you? I'm watching you, Jade. I know everything about you. You can't escape me. No one can save you. You're mine."
Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening with fear. She clutched the letter to her chest, feeling the cold sweat on her brow.
Matt, her manager, heard the soft rustle of paper and glanced up from his laptop. His eyes narrowed with concern as he took in her pale face, her body rigid with tension.
"Jade?" he asked, his voice full of concern. "What's wrong?"
She tried to speak, but her voice cracked. She handed him the letter, her hand shaking.
Matt's eyes flicked over the words, his jaw clenching. He looked up at her, his face a mask of controlled anger. "This is the third one this month," he said, his voice low and furious.
Jade nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I-I don't know what to do. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I'm afraid to go out."
Matt's face softened, and he stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Hey, it's going to be okay," he said, his voice gentle. "We're going to find this guy and make sure he never bothers you again."
Jade looked into his eyes, searching for reassurance. "But what if he's right? What if no one can save me?"
"We won't let that happen," Matt said, his voice firm. "You have people who care about you. We won't let this stalker win."
Jade took a shaky breath and nodded, trying to believe him. She looked down at the letter again, the words seeming to sear themselves into her mind.
Matt noticed her gaze and took the letter from her, folding it carefully. "I'm going to call Detective Morgan," he said, his voice strong and determined. "We'll give her this and see if there's anything new she can find."
Jade nodded, her hands still trembling. "Thank you, Matt."
Matt smiled, his eyes full of warmth. "You're not alone in this, Jade. We'll get through it together."
As Matt made the call, Jade sat down, trying to steady her breathing. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to push away the fear that threatened to engulf her. She knew she had to be strong, but it was getting harder every day.
In the silence, she could hear Matt's voice, calm and steady, as he spoke to the detective. She felt a small surge of hope, knowing that there were people in her life who would do everything they could to protect her.
A few miles away, Taylor's muscles strained against the weight of the barbell, her biceps flexing as she powered through her last set of deadlifts. Sweat glistened on her forehead, her breath coming in short, controlled bursts. Her home gym was her sanctuary, filled with the familiar scent of iron and the muffled thud of weights hitting the padded floor.
The phone rang, its shrill tone cutting through the steady rhythm of her workout. Taylor set the barbell down, a look of irritation crossing her face. She reached for her towel, wiping the sweat from her brow as she crossed the room to answer the call.
"Taylor speaking," she said, her voice curt and to the point.
"Taylor, this is Matt. I got your number from a mutual friend," Matt began, his voice tense. "I've got a situation here that requires someone with your particular skills."
Taylor's brow furrowed, her interest piqued. "Go on."
"My client, Jade, has been receiving threatening letters from a stalker," Matt explained, his voice laced with concern. "The police are working on it, but we need someone who can provide immediate protection and be discreet about it."
Taylor's eyes narrowed, her no-nonsense demeanor shining through. "You've called the right person. I can be there tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Taylor," Matt said, relief evident in his voice. "Jade is a high-profile actress, so discretion is crucial. We can't afford to have her reputation tarnished by this."
"I understand," Taylor replied, her tone confident. "You can count on me."
"Great," Matt said, exhaling heavily. "I'll text you the address and further details. I can't tell you how much we appreciate this."
"Don't mention it," Taylor said before hanging up.
Taylor's gaze lingered on the phone for a moment, her mind already shifting gears to the task at hand. She had a reputation for getting results, and she intended to keep it that way. She knew that being a protector wasn't just about physical strength; it was about being smart, resourceful, and ready for anything.
