BL- Shadowline
Chapter~1~
A private office on the top floor of a luxury high-rise in the city. Glass walls, gray sky, and the faint hum of traffic below. Luca stands straight near the door. Damien sits behind a sleek desk, glancing at a tablet. Silence stretches.
Damien West
You’re not what I asked for.
Luca Raines
I wasn’t given a choice.
Damien West
I asked for someone discreet. Older.
Less likely to breathe down my neck.
Luca Raines
Then maybe don’t get death threats.
Damien raises an eyebrow but says nothing. He slowly sets the tablet down.
Damien West
You always this pleasant?
Luca Raines
Only on my first day.
A pause. Damien stands, walks around the desk, stops in front of Luca. They’re close. Luca doesn’t move.
Luca Raines
Six years.
Private work after that.
Damien studies him—his stance, his expression, his tone. Something about him isn’t what he expected. And he hates surprises.
Damien West
You don’t look impressed.
Damien West
Most people are.
Or at least pretend to be.
Luca Raines
I’m not most people.
Damien walks a slow half-circle around him, hands in his pockets.
Damien West
You think you can protect me?
Damien West
Even if I don’t make it easy?
Luca Raines
I’ve had worse.
Damien West
You don’t flinch.
You don’t smile.
You don’t even blink when I’m testing you.
Luca Raines
Then stop testing.
Silence. Damien steps closer, now just inches away. His voice drops.
Damien West
You might find I’m harder to work for than you think.
Luca Raines
I’ve handled difficult men before.
Luca looks him dead in the eye. Unmoving. Calm.
Damien West
Good.
Because I don’t want a shadow.
I want someone who can watch my back… and keep their mouth shut.
Damien West
No personal questions.
No side comments.
No attempts to get closer than the job demands.
Luca Raines
I don’t get close.
Damien West
*quietly* We’ll see.
Damien turns his back and walks to the window. Luca remains still, but his jaw flexes slightly — just once.
Damien West
You’ll start full-time tomorrow.
Escort me everywhere. No exceptions.
Luca Raines
Where will we be going?
Damien West
Paris.
Business dinner.
Private jet leaves at 7.
Damien glances over his shoulder.
Damien West
Pack light.
And bring a suit.
You’re sitting at the table, not standing by the wall.
Luca Raines
That’s not standard protocol.
Damien West
I’m not standard.
Their eyes lock again. Something unspoken passes between them. Not warmth. Not yet. But interest.
Chapter~2~
A sleek private jet, interior dimly lit in soft golds and grays. Damien sits near the window, scrolling through emails on a tablet. Luca sits across from him — suit perfectly pressed, back straight, eyes unreadable. The engines hum.
Damien West
You wore the suit.
Luca Raines
You told me to.
Damien West
Didn’t think you’d listen.
Luca Raines
I follow orders.
Even annoying ones.
Damien smirks faintly, closing his tablet. He leans back, watching Luca.
Damien West
You clean up well.
Luca Raines
Is that your idea of small talk?
Damien West
It’s an observation.
I don’t do small talk.
Damien West
Hm.
We’re going to get along terribly.
A beat passes. The plane dips slightly, smooth. Luca doesn’t react. Damien’s eyes remain fixed on him.
Damien West
You always this stiff?
Luca Raines
You always this irritating?
Damien West
Only when I’m bored.
Luca Raines
Should I entertain you?
Damien West
That depends.
What do you do besides glare?
Luca Raines
Shoot things.
Break things.
Stop people from dying.
Damien West
Sounds thrilling.
Luca Raines
Sounds lonely.
Damien’s brow lifts slightly — just for a second.
Damien West
You think I’m lonely?
Luca Raines
I think you like the sound of your own voice.
And I think the silence bothers you.
Damien stands, slow and smooth, and walks over to the minibar. He pours himself a drink, then glances back.
Luca Raines
Not while working.
Damien West
Suit yourself.
He sips. Then steps closer, standing at Luca’s side. He looks down at him — unreadable.
Damien West
You’ve been watching me.
Damien West
But you watch me differently.
Damien West
Like you want to figure me out.
Like you think I’m hiding something.
Damien West
Aren’t we all?
The jet hits a small patch of turbulence. Luca shifts, steadying himself with a hand on the armrest. Damien doesn’t move, just watches.
Damien West
You’re calm under pressure.
Luca Raines
You don’t strike me as someone easily rattled either.
Damien West
Depends on the pressure.
He leans in, just enough for Luca to catch the scent of his cologne — expensive, clean, with something sharp underneath.
Damien West
You’re not what I expected.
Luca Raines
I get that a lot.
Damien West
I bet you do.
You act like you don’t care, but your eyes give you away.
Luca Raines
What do they say?
Damien West
That you want to touch something you shouldn’t.
Luca exhales once — sharp. Not amused. Not angry. Just enough to break the air between them.
Luca Raines
You talk too much.
Damien West
Then shut me up.
Silence. Long. Tight. Then Luca slowly turns his head, meeting Damien’s gaze dead-on. Neither of them moves.
Luca Raines
We’re landing in two hours.
You should rest.
Damien West
Can’t.
I’m wide awake.
He steps back with a faint smirk, glass in hand, and walks toward the back of the jet.
Damien West
Try not to stare too hard while I sleep.
The cabin door slides shut behind Damien. Luca remains still for a moment. Then leans back and exhales, barely audible.
Chapter~3~
A black luxury car glides through Parisian streets under amber lights. Inside: Luca in a tailored black suit, earpiece in, quiet. Damien beside him, phone in hand, scrolling. Outside, elegant buildings flash past like ghosts.
Damien West
Don’t hover behind me tonight.
Luca Raines
I wasn’t planning to.
Damien West
Good.
I want them to see you.
Damien West
Because they’re vultures.
And vultures hesitate when someone dangerous is near.
Luca Raines
Or they circle slower.
Damien West
Either way — stay visible.
The car stops outside a high-end restaurant glowing in candlelight and shadow. A suited doorman opens the door. Damien steps out first, Luca just behind him.
HOST
*smiling, French accent* Mr. West, bienvenue. Your guests have arrived.
They’re led inside to a private room where a long table waits. At the head sits Elise Laurent, 30s, elegant, French CEO of a luxury tech brand. Across from her: Julian Kwon, sharp-eyed Korean investor with too much charm and a playful smirk. Champagne is already poured.
Elise Laurent
Damien. You look more tired than last time.
Damien West
That’s what power does.
It eats your sleep.
Julian Kwon
*smiling* And sometimes your friends.
Damien West
*dryly* That too.
Luca stands just a step behind Damien’s chair, quiet. He scans exits, shadows, servers. Julian’s eyes flick to him.
Julian Kwon
And this?
Your new shadow?
Julian Kwon
He’s not subtle.
Luca Raines
Wasn’t hired to be.
Julian chuckles, intrigued. Elise watches silently, calculating.
Elise Laurent
He’s handsome.
That helps.
Damien West
He’s competent.
That’s what matters.
As the meal begins, Damien and Elise talk business — trade agreements, digital rights, and company shares. Luca remains silent, watchful. But Julian keeps glancing over. Eventually—
Julian Kwon
You’re ex-military, aren’t you?
Luca Raines
*without looking at him* Something like that.
Julian Kwon
No wonder Damien’s so relaxed.
He usually only smiles when someone bleeds.
They laugh. But Luca catches the brief glance Julian sends Damien. There’s history there — light flirtation, something unspoken. Luca doesn’t react outwardly, but Damien notices.
Damien West
You’re quiet tonight.
Damien West
Is that all you’re doing?
Luca Raines
Should I be doing more?
Their eyes lock for a moment. Across the table, Julian raises an eyebrow, amused. Elise pretends not to notice.
Elise Laurent
Mr. Bodyguard. Would you mind helping me to the bar?
I hate these heels and I need something stronger than wine.
Luca Raines
*glancing at Damien* If Mr. West approves.
Damien West
She won’t bite.
Much.
Luca nods once, moves to help Elise stand. They walk off. Damien watches them go, jaw tight. Julian leans closer across the table.
Julian Kwon
He’s pretty.
But I don’t think he’s just muscle.
Damien West
He’s not yours to think about.
Julian Kwon
*smirking* So he is yours?
Damien says nothing. Sips his drink. Across the room, Elise leans close to Luca at the bar — too close.
Elise Laurent
*softly* You protect him like it matters.
That’s rare.
Elise Laurent
Maybe.
But I’ve seen bodyguards who don’t look at their boss like you do.
Luca Raines
You don’t know how I look.
She smiles and hands him a drink. Luca doesn’t take it. She shrugs and sips instead. The tension never lifts.
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