Bodyguard (YN x Beyonce)

Part Twenty-Five

My heart twisted. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my expression neutral.

"Come in," I said, stepping aside reluctantly.

Jay's smirk deepened. "I'll let you two talk," he said, then turned on his heel and walked off without waiting for a response.

The door clicked shut behind them, and I turned to Gabby.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep the edge out of my voice, but there was no mistaking the tension beneath.

Gabby looked caught off guard for a split second before composing herself. "I didn't know we were coming here," she said, her voice even. "Jay told me we were going to some Christmas party. I thought it was an industry thing."

I narrowed my eyes. "Did you really sign with him? You know the whole situation with Jay, Beyoncé, and me."

Gabby let out a short breath, eyes flickering with something I couldn't place. "Yeah, I know. But I needed the management. I can use the help right now."

"You don't need him," I said sharply, stepping closer. "You know what he's really doing. This is just about getting back at me."

Gabby shook her head, her voice cool but firm. "Not everything is about you, YN."

Her words hit harder than I thought they would. For a moment, the old feelings between us... the friendship, the heartbreak, the love all tangled up inside me. I struggled to breathe.

"I'm not trying to make this personal," Gabby said softly, eyes searching mine. "It's just business."

I swallowed my feelings, nodding slowly.

Behind me, the muffled sounds of the party reminded me of the world outside this small, tense bubble. Beyoncé's warmth, her love... it was all I wanted to protect.

Just then, I felt her presence behind me before she spoke. "Everything okay here?"

I step aside and turn to face Bey.

Beyoncé blinked, clearly processing it. "You've gotta be kidding me."

Gabby must've sensed the shift in energy, because she gave a polite, almost nervous smile. "I'll go find Jay," she said softly, before slipping away into the crowd.

We both watched her go. The moment she was out of earshot, Beyoncé turned fully toward me, her hand brushing gently against my arm.

"You good?" she asked, searching my face. "Because I'm two seconds from asking both of them to leave."

I exhaled, forcing a small smile even though my stomach was in knots. "I'm okay. Just caught off guard."

Her eyes softened. She knew me too well.

"Honestly," I murmured, "I didn't think she'd show up here... with him of all people."

Beyoncé scoffed lightly, a dry, almost amused disbelief playing on her lips. "Of course he brought her. Jay doesn't do anything without a motive."

I shook my head, frustration creeping in. "I don't want drama tonight. Especially not when everything's been so good."

Beyoncé nodded, then leaned in closer, her forehead gently pressing to mine for a beat, calming the storm in me with just that small gesture. "I won't let anyone mess up our night," she whispered.

Her words felt like an anchor. She always knew how to center me.

We stood there for a second longer, her hand finding mine and squeezing it. "Come on," she said with a soft smirk, trying to lift the tension. "Let's go eat."