CHAPTER 24

Marcus's pov

"Everything is going to be okay, I am here now," I tell Julian as she continues to cry in my arms. I will make sure that bastard pays for scaring my baby girl. I have never seen her this scared. She is even more scared than she was when she freaked out the first time I kissed her.

"I am so scared Marcus, I don't want to see that man ever again," Juliana whispers with a shaky voice. I feel like reaping the person who has done this to her apart but first I need to take care of my babydoll.

"Where is your friend?" I ask her.

"I think she is in her room, I knocked on her door but she did not respond. Maybe she is sleeping." I want to tell Juliana that her friend might be the person who gave that bastard her number but I decide against it. I need to calm her down and then figure out what to do.

"Okay, you are coming with me to my house, you will stay with me until I am sure that you are safe," I tell her getting off the floor still holding her.

"What about Maggie, I can't leave her alone here, what if he comes here and finds her alone? He might hurt her." I look at Juliana and see genuine concern in her eyes, she doesn't even know that her friend doesn't deserve her care.

"Don't worry about your friend. I told Eric to call two of my men to keep watch on your apartment. I am sure they are almost here if they are not here already." 

Juliana looks at me with relief and gratitude. "Thank you, Marcus. I appreciate everything you're doing to keep us safe."

I lean down to kiss her forehead gently, assuring her that everything will be alright. "You don't have to thank me, babydoll. Taking care of you and keeping you safe is my top priority" I hold her close, protectively wrapping my arms around her, determined to make her feel safe again.

"I still want to thank you, because you are doing things for me that no one has ever done." She says still holding onto me.

"Juliana, I promise you that I will do everything in my power to make sure that bastard never comes near you again," I vow, my voice filled with determination. "No one hurts my baby girl and gets away with it."

She looks up at me with her wide, vulnerable eyes. "I believe you, Marcus. I trust you."

The sound of the doorbell interrupts our conversation, and I briefly leave Juliana's side to answer it. Standing at the entrance are two of my most trusted men, Jake and Alex.

"Marcus, we are here," Jake says, his voice steady. Jake and Alex have been working for me as part of my security team for seven years now. Apart from Eric, they are the only ones who know a lot of things about me and I know that they would rather die than betray my trust. I haven't called them here just to Protect Maggie, I want them to put an eye on her too. I am sure she is working with Juliana's ex-boyfriend, I just have to confirm my suspicions.

"Good. I need you two to keep watch on Juliana's apartment. Maggie, her friend, is sleeping in her room. Make sure no one gets in or out without your knowledge," I instruct them firmly.

They nod in understanding, ready to carry out their duty. The one thing I love about these two is that I don't have to say things twice. They always make sure to do the job well.

 With them on the task, I can focus solely on protecting Juliana.

"Everything's going to be okay, Juliana. My men will ensure your friend's safety while we plan our next steps. We won't let anything happen to her or you." I tell her.

She gives me a weak smile, grateful for the support. "Thank you, Marcus. I don't know what I would do without you."

Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her close, vowing to never let her go through such fear again. "You will never have to find out, babydoll. I am  here now, and I will do whatever it takes to protect you."

"Okay, let me try to knock on Maggie's door again, and let her know that I will be going with you," Juliana says, knocking on her friend's bedroom door. The door opens after two knocks.

"What do you want? I have a headache so if you are looking for a fight, wait until tomorrow." Maggie says, touching her forehead and trying to close the door on Juliana's face. What's wrong with this woman? She can't even notice that her friend looks shaken up.

"I didn't come here to fight, I just wanted to let you know that I am going to Marcus's place. David called me telling me that he was back, I was really scared Maggie. I knocked on your door but you did not answer. I guess you were sleeping. There will be two men outside our apartment. If anything strange happens please let me know." I see a smile on Maggie's face the moment Juliana mentions that David called. Is she happy that bastard called? Is she behind the call? And if she is, why is she doing it?

"Oh, okay," Maggie says, closing the door before Juliana can say anything more. I can tell that Juliana wanted to say something to her friend. My babydoll doesn't deserve an inconsiderate friend like her. 

"Let me pack clothes to wear at work tomorrow," Juliana says and heads to her bedroom wiping tears from her eyes.

I watch as Juliana hurriedly packs a small bag, trying to regain some semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos that has invaded her life. I can't help but feel anger bubbling inside of me as I think about the person responsible for her fear and distress. I will make sure he pays for what he has done.

Once Juliana finishes packing, I lead her out of her apartment, holding her hand tightly to offer her some comfort and reassurance. We make our way to my car, and I open the passenger door for her, ensuring that she's settled before I get in the driver's seat.

As I start the car, I steal a glance at Juliana. Her eyes are still red and puffy from crying, but there is a flicker of determination in her gaze. She is been through a lot, but I know that she is strong. I will do everything in my power to protect her and make her feel safe.

We drive in silence for a while, the only sound in the car is the soft hum of the engine. Juliana's hand grips mine tightly, seeking comfort in my touch. I can feel the weight of her fear and vulnerability, and it only fuels my determination to keep her safe.

Eventually, we arrive at my house, and I help Juliana out of the car. As we step inside, I guide her towards the living room, where I will make sure she's comfortable. I can see the exhaustion etched on her face, a result of the emotional turmoil she's been through. I sit her down on the couch and kneel in front of her, gently wiping away her tears with my thumbs.

"Are you hungry?" I ask her gently, hoping to distract her from her thoughts.

She shakes her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just want to be with you, Marcus. I don't want to be alone."

I pull her into a warm embrace, holding her tightly against me. "You will never be alone, Juliana. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

She buries her face in my chest, her tears soaking into my shirt. I hold her, gently stroking her back, offering her the comfort and love she needs at this moment. I will do everything I can to keep her safe from harm.

Juliana slowly calms down, her sobs fading into soft sniffles. I continue holding her, silently assuring her that I am there for her and that she can rely on me. Eventually, she looks up at me with red and puffy eyes, her expression filled with a mix of gratitude and vulnerability.

"Thank you, Marcus," she whispers, her voice wavering. "I don't know what I would do without you."

I give her a gentle smile, my heart full of love for her. "You don't have to go through this alone, Juliana. I will be here for you, every step of the way. Just lean on me whenever you need to."

She nods, her grip on me tightening. At that moment, a sense of determination washes over me. I won't let her face her battles alone. Whatever it takes, I will support her, protect her, and help her heal.

As the night progresses, I make her a warm cup of tea and sit beside her on the couch. We exchange small talk, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere that lingers. But deep down, we both know that the wounds are still fresh, and healing will take time.

Juliana rests her head on my shoulder, a gentle sigh escaping her lips. "Thank you for being here for me, Marcus."

I kiss her forehead softly, my voice full of sincerity. "You don't need to worry about that, Juliana. I am not going anywhere. We will get through this together." I tell her.