Bodyguard (YN x Beyonce)

Part Forty-Two

The air feels heavier than it should for a simple walk.

Sunny. Quiet street. Too quiet... until I notice the cameras down the block, lenses already lifting like they sensed us before we even stepped out.

Of course.

Jay walks a few steps beside me, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed like this is his idea of a casual Tuesday. I keep my shoulders back, face neutral, pace steady. Everything the publicist drilled into me plays on a loop in my head.

Don't get emotional.
Don't react.
Think about who you're doing this for.

Click. Click. Click.

The paparazzi don't miss a thing.

Jay breaks the silence first. "Didn't think I'd be doing this." he says, tone light, almost amused.

"Neither did I." I reply evenly, eyes forward.

He glances at me, probably checking for cracks. "But it's good. People need to see we're not at each other's throats."

I pause mid-step, eyes narrowing slightly as I glance at him. "Are we not?" I ask evenly, letting the words hang between us.

"We're walking." He says. "That's all they need to see."

I don't respond. I just keep walking.

Cameras follow us now, footsteps behind us like an echo.

Jay clears his throat. "Look... things got outta hand."

I stop walking for a second, letting the tension in my shoulders show just enough.

"I need to say something," I start, voice steady but firm. "This... all of this... it's unnecessary."

He tilts his head, pretending curiosity, but I can tell he's bracing for the blow.

"You brought Gabby around." I continue, keeping my tone sharp but controlled, "knowing exactly what it would stir up. Using her to get at me, to provoke a reaction. To make me look... messy. To make us all look messy."

He opens his mouth, but I hold up a hand. "Don't. I don't care that you two work together. That's fine. Do your job. But I thought we deaded our issues a long time ago."

Jay shifts uncomfortably, eyes flicking to the cameras trailing us.

Jay shakes his head, trying to look calm. "We did dead everything." he says, voice measured, "but once you found out I was working with Gabby, you made it weird. Made it a big deal."

"You... you brought my ex-girlfriend to our home... on Christmas." I say slowly, letting each word land.

He shrugs like it's nothing. I take a step closer, anger rising like heat in my chest. "You knew the history there. You knew exactly what that meant. And you still did it... so everybody would know."

Jay opens his mouth, but I cut him off, my voice sharper now. "I never made it a big deal. I never caused a scene. I just knew why you were working with her. And it was only because of who she was to me. That's the only reason. Not because I care. Not because I wanted drama."

He shifts under my gaze, and I can see the edge of something—guilt? Maybe. But not enough to undo what he did.

We continue walking and I keep my pace steady, but my chest feels tight, like I can't quite fill my lungs. Jay walks beside me, quiet, waiting. I don't break eye contact.

"Look." he says finally, voice low. "I'll be honest. I only wanted to work with her to... spite you."

I blink. The words feel like a punch. "Why?" I ask sharply. "Why, after we already decided to be cool? After everything we agreed on?"