Transmigrated: I Became My Nemesis's Woman novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Back to work

For a brief moment, none of them moved.

Then— Ivy tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint, almost amused smile.

"Well," she called out, her tone light but pointed, "if you’re going to discuss me, at least try not to make it so obvious."

The three guards stiffened instantly.

Percy cleared his throat, straightening his posture. Nico looked away as if the sky had suddenly become fascinating, while Benny pretended to check something on his watch that clearly did not need checking.

Teddy, however, remained where he was, unfazed.

Ivy pushed herself off the car and took a few slow steps toward them, her gaze moving from one face to another.

"I must be very interesting," she added, her voice carrying a teasing edge. "All that attention... I’m flattered."

"No, Madam, we were just—" Nico started, but the words died midway under her steady gaze.

"Just doing your job?" Ivy finished for him smoothly.

Silence.

Her smile widened just a fraction.

"Good," she said. "Because I’d hate to think you were slacking."

Benny swallowed, unsure whether she was joking or warning them.

Probably both.

Ivy then turned her attention to Teddy, her expression softening slightly.

"So, Teddy," she said, as if nothing had happened, "have they been this subtle all morning, or is this a special performance just for me?"

Teddy’s lips twitched, the closest he had come to showing amusement.

"They are usually more disciplined, Madam."

"Ah," Ivy nodded thoughtfully. "So I’m the problem."

"No," Teddy replied calmly. "You are the variable."

That made her pause.

For a split second, something sharper flickered in her eyes.

Then she smiled again.

"I like that," she said. "Sounds important."

Her gaze swept over the group once more before she turned back toward the car.

"Relax," she added over her shoulder. "If I wanted to run, you wouldn’t even realize I was gone."

The statement was delivered so casually that it took them a second to process it.

And when they did—

A chill ran through them.

Because she wasn’t bragging.

She was stating a fact.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier curiosity now replaced with something far more serious.

Teddy watched her quietly, his expression unreadable.

For the first time since meeting her, he realized something clearly.

Their job was not just to protect her.

It was to keep up with her.

"Anyways," Ivy said, clapping her hands lightly as if resetting the situation, "tell me—which food outlet should I go to?"

She pointed toward the four bustling outlets lined up ahead, each one equally crowded, each one equally tempting.

Teddy frowned slightly.

Nico, Percy, and Benny, on the other hand, exchanged blank looks.

"Madam... are you hungry?" Percy asked cautiously.

Ivy let out an awkward laugh.

"Oh, very observant—wait." She paused mid-sentence, blinking. "I just realized... I don’t even know your names."

Percy immediately straightened, clearing his throat like he had been waiting for this moment.

"I’m Percy, Madam," he said proudly. "And they are Nico and Benny."

Nico and Benny stiffened as well, nodding in unison like well-trained soldiers.

Ivy nodded thoughtfully.

"Okay... Percy, Nico, Benny," she repeated, as if testing the names. "And Percy, to answer your question—yes. I am extremely hungry."

Teddy’s gaze lingered on her for a second, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

When Xander had briefed him in the morning, he had mentioned breakfast with the family.

Then how is she hungry already?

The thought crossed his mind, but he said nothing.

"And now," Ivy continued dramatically, looking back at the food outlets, "I am deeply confused because all of them look interesting."

The three guards immediately leaned forward, their attention snapping back to the mission at hand.

"Madam, I’ve been to that one," Benny said quickly, pointing ahead. "They serve the best fried chicken. Crispy, juicy—top quality."

That immediately caught Nico and Percy’s attention.

I should not have brought them.

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