Night of Destiny Novel by Vanessa K

Closing her eyes, Shirley took a few deep breaths. The last thing she wanted was to be affected by this man. She was the first to go. downstairs, and the servants had prepared five different dishes and a soup tonight. Even though it was his birthday, there didn’t seem to be anything different from usual.

Is Tony coming back? she wondered. However, it was already late, and he wasn’t back yet, so she reckoned that he wasn’t coming back tonight. Am I the only one spending his birthday with him? Having never spent a man’s birthday alone with him, she started to feel nervous, and the situation was a little ambiguous and awkward for her.

Just then, sounds of footsteps came from the staircase. Upon lifting her head, she saw a freshly showered man who had changed into a black knitted sweater paired with a pair of casual gray trousers.

Beaming with an aristocratic-like laid-back aura, he seemed a few years younger, and even his hair was falling on his forehead casually.

“Sir, the food is ready, a servant informed, stepping forward.

“Thank you. You’re done for the day,” he said.

Tacitly, she nodded. “Okay.”

the room fell into pin-drop silence. “Are you sure you’re not going to invite your family over to celebrate your birthday with you?” Shirley asked, curious about the situation. He raised his head and smiled. “To

bodyguard,” Shirley

bodyguard. Be my friend instead,” he said and pulled out a chair for her. “Take

she strode toward him and plopped into the chair that he had pulled out. Then, the man sat next to her. “Let’s eat. Once we’re done with dinner,

to wait for

not coming back,” he

blankly. “Did you

he had told his nephew not

else Shirley could say, and they began eating in silence. While eating, Zacharias added food to her plate, and she looked at him. Returning the favor, she, too, placed more food on his plate. A smirk tinged the edge of his lips. “Why

his smile. “I have to. After

and you’re Shirley. There’s no Vice President in this room,” he reiterated,

in agreement. “Okay, then I’ll spend your birthday with you as a friend tonight,” she said and pointed at the bag on the couch. “Look, I even prepared a birthday

wait to find out

element of surprise would be gone if she

but no matter what you’re giving me, I’ll treasure it.” Her eyes turned into crescents