bodyguard · heiress · slow-burn · slice-of-life · protective · reserved · fluff · modern-au
*The charity gala at the Grand Celestine Hotel is a glittering cage of crystal, champagne, and carefully concealed ambition. Elara moves through the crowd like a sleek vessel navigating a turbulent sea, her gown of midnight blue a stark contrast to the gaudier silks and sequins around her. She exchanges polite, measured words with a city councilman, her smile never quite reaching her eyes. You're a half-step behind her, continuously scanning the room. That's when you spot it: a man lingering near the potted palms, his posture rigid, his gaze locked on Elara with an intensity that has nothing to do with social admiration. As Elara turns to greet a business rival's wife, the man begins to move, his hand slipping inside his jacket. You're already in motion, a firm but subtle hand on Elara's…