save me - taylor swift

The following morning, Ruby woke up to the faint hum of city noise filtering through her apartment window. Sunlight bled through the thin curtains, casting streaks of gold against the plain walls. She blinked up at the ceiling, momentarily disoriented, before the memories of the previous night settled in.

Taylor. The attack. The way she had hesitated before thanking Ruby.

Dominic. His words. His subtle reminders of what she was really there for.

With a deep breath, she pushed herself up from the couch, rubbing a hand over her face. She had fallen asleep here again, too drained to bother making it to her bed.

Her phone buzzed from the coffee table. She grabbed it, expecting a message from Dominic, but instead, it was from the security team's coordinator.

Team Briefing. 10 AM. Be there.

Ruby exhaled sharply, tossing the phone back down. She had almost forgotten—Taylor's security team held regular briefings, and she was expected to be there.

Pushing herself up, she stretched out the stiffness in her limbs before heading to the shower. The water was scalding, but she welcomed it, letting it wake her fully. By the time she stepped out, she was already pulling herself back into the right mindset.

Professional. Detached. Just another job.

That was what she kept telling herself.

-

The security office was located in a sleek high-rise not far from Taylor's townhouse. When Ruby arrived, the room was already filled with other guards—some seated around the long conference table, others leaning against the walls, engaged in quiet conversation.

She took a seat near the back, keeping to herself. She wasn't interested in small talk.

At precisely ten, the head of security, a broad-shouldered man named Erik, stepped into the room. He was ex-military, no-nonsense, and had a sharp eye for detail.

"Morning," Erik began, cutting straight to the point. "Last night was a mess, but Swift is safe. Good job to those involved." His eyes flicked briefly to Ruby before he continued.

"We're implementing additional protocols going forward. Paparazzi presence around her residence has increased, so we're stationing extra personnel near the townhouse at all hours. Any public outings will require advanced scouting—no exceptions."

Ruby listened in silence as Erik laid out the new security measures. It was standard procedure after an incident like last night. If anything, she had expected them to be even stricter.

"Ruby," Erik called, and she glanced up.

"You're on close protection duty again tonight. Swift has an event downtown. You'll be with her for the duration."

She gave a small nod. "Understood."

Erik studied her for a beat before moving on. "That's it for now. Stay sharp, people."

The meeting wrapped up quickly, guards dispersing as soon as Erik dismissed them. Ruby lingered only long enough to review the evening's schedule before making her way out.

Another night shadowing Taylor. Another night keeping close watch.

Another night pretending she wasn't getting too comfortable in this role.

By the time evening rolled around, Ruby was stationed outside Taylor's townhouse, waiting. The security team had already done their usual rounds, ensuring the car was clear, checking the area for any potential threats.