The Dressing Room: A New Glitch Appears
[Jay's POV]
The Master Suite's walk-in closet felt like a sanctuary. It was a massive, velvet-lined space filled with the scent of my perfumes and Keifer's leather jackets. Bridget was sitting on the ottoman, legs crossed, watching me go through a rack of silk dresses. For the first time in a week, we weren't talking about "Neural Stabilizers" or "Perimeter Security." We were just two women, the Empress and her Guardian, breathing in the peace.
"You look different today, Jay," Bridget said, her voice softer than usual. "The 'Glow' isn't just back—it's upgraded. 1,000% radiance."
I smiled, pulling out a champagne-colored slip dress. "It's because I'm not fighting for air anymore, Bridget. Keifer remembers. The 'Archive' is full. I feel like I've been rebooted."
I turned to look at her. "And what about you? You've spent seven days being the firewall for this family. When does the Guardian get a break?"
Bridget shrugged, a rare, shy smile touching her lips. "I'm a Watson Guardian, Jay. My system is designed for 24/7 vigilance. I don't need a—"
BEEP.
The sound of a notification interrupted her. It wasn't the sharp, repetitive "Alert" tone of her security comms. It was a soft, melodic chime—the kind people reserve for private contacts.
The Notification Breach
Bridget reached into her tactical pocket and pulled out her phone. I watched her face. Usually, Bridget's expression was a 100% unreadable mask of professional stone. But as she read the screen, something happened that I thought was statistically impossible.
Bridget blushed.
Her eyes widened, and she immediately flipped the phone face-down on her lap, her posture snapping into a rigid, defensive line.
"What was that?" I asked, my "Empress" curiosity spiking to 1,000%. "That didn't sound like a status report from Keigan."
"It was... nothing," Bridget muttered, though her fingers were twitching. "Just a system ping. Probably a spam bot."
"Bridget," I said, walking over and sitting next to her on the ottoman. "I've seen you face down armed intruders without blinking. You just jumped because of a 'spam bot'? Let me see."
"Jay, no. It's unauthorized data—"
I didn't give her a choice. I snatched the phone. Bridget could have easily stopped me, but I think she was too stunned by the "Glitch" in her own heart to react. I flipped the screen over.
The Unknown Message
The message was from an Unknown Number, encrypted and routed through a private server. It read:
"The perimeter might be secure, but your eyes tell a different story. You're the only 'Firewall' I've ever wanted to break through. Sleep well, Guardian. I'm watching the shadows for you tonight."
I gasped, my eyes darting from the screen to Bridget's crimson face. "Bridget! This isn't a spam bot! This is a Love Message! And a poetic one at that!"
"It's a security threat!" Bridget hissed, trying to grab the phone back. "Someone has bypassed my private encryption! I need to trace the IP and neutralize the source!"
"Neutralize the source?" I laughed, holding the phone out of her reach. "Bridget, look at the wording. 'Watching the shadows for you'? This is 1,000% romantic interest. Someone is crushing on the Watson's fiercest protector."
The Teasing Protocol: [Jay's POV]
"Wait a minute," I narrowed my eyes, a thought occurring to me. "This coding... the way the message is routed... it looks familiar. Bridget, do you think it's one of the security leads from the gala? Or... could it be someone closer?"
"I don't care who it is!" Bridget stood up, pacing the small space of the closet, her boots clicking sharply on the hardwood. "I am a weapon. I am a shield. I don't have space in my 'Hard Drive' for... for shadow-watching poets!"
"Oh, really?" I teased, standing up and handing her the phone back. "Then why is your heart rate currently audible from three feet away? You're glitching, Bridget. The Guardian has a secret admirer."
I leaned in, whispering with a mischievous grin. "Does Keifer know? Or should I tell him that his Head of Security is being 'Infiltrated' by an unknown romantic lead?"
"If you tell Keifer, I will personally delete your favorite Pinterest boards," Bridget threatened, though her voice lacked its usual lethal edge. She looked at the phone again, her thumb hovering over the message.
"Someone is watching the shadows for you," I repeated softly, patting her arm. "Even Guardians deserve someone to watch their back, Bridget. Don't 'Delete' him just yet. Let the data regain first.