Chapter 55: Return to Duty
Gabriel adjusted his watch as he walked down the hall of the Kardashian-Jenner home. The distinctive sound of heels and muffled voices indicated that the family's usual activity was already underway.
He had been back less than a week, but the impact of the welcome party and the media attention were still with him. Now, he was preparing to resume the work he had left months ago.
Kylie was the first to notice him in the hallway.
"Good morning, Gabriel," she said, with a warm smile. She was holding Aire in her arms, while Stormi ran behind her with a backpack. "Ready to get back into action?"
Gabriel gave a slight smile, discreet as always. "Ready. As always."
"You know we missed you a lot, right?" Kylie said, as she adjusted Aire's hair. "Especially these two here."
Stormi stopped running and looked at Gabriel with shining eyes. "You're going to stay forever now, right?"
Gabriel knelt down to her level. "I'll do my best to stay close, Stormi. I promise."
When Gabriel walked into the living room, he found the rest of the family gathered together. Kris was sitting on the couch with a tablet, probably taking care of business, while Kendall and Khloé were discussing a possible vacation destination.
"Look who's finally back to work," Khloé joked, looking up from her phone. "I hope you enjoyed your time off because, honey, we're going to put you to work."
"What about the beard?" Kendall asked, pointing at him with a smile. "I thought I was going to shave it off after the party."
Gabriel ran a hand over the short, well-groomed beard he'd kept even after the comments. "I decided I could keep it a little longer. As long as it doesn't get in the way of work, of course."
"You should keep it, by my reckoning," Kris said, looking up from her tablet. "It's a good branding strategy."
Gabriel chuckled softly, looking away. "With all due respect, Mrs. Jenner, my job isn't to be a brand. It's to protect you."
"And you do that very well," Kris replied, her gaze sharp. "But it doesn't hurt to look presentable, either."
The first task of the day was to accompany Kendall to a photo shoot in Malibu. The seemingly simple job required Gabriel to keep an eye on her as she interacted with photographers and assistants.
In the car, as they drove along the Pacific Coast Highway, Kendall glanced at Gabriel in the rearview mirror.
"You seem different," she commented.
"Different how?" Gabriel asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
"More serious. More... withdrawn. Even at the party, you seemed distant."
Gabriel thought for a moment before answering. "A lot has changed since I left. I guess I'm still adjusting."
Kendall nodded. "I understand. I just hope you know we're here for you if you need us."
The beach was packed with photographers, assistants, and onlookers. The set had attracted a small crowd, and Gabriel immediately went into work mode, watching every move around Kendall.
As she posed for the cameras, he positioned himself strategically, always on the lookout for any suspicious behavior in the crowd.
A photographer tried to get too close to Kendall while adjusting a reflector, but Gabriel was quick to move.
"Excuse me," he said, placing a firm hand on the man's shoulder. "You're too close. Please keep your distance."
The photographer held up his hands in a gesture of apology. "Okay, okay. No problem."
Kendall noticed the interaction and gave Gabriel a small smile. When the shoot was over, she walked over to him.
"You never lose focus, do you?"
"It's the job," Gabriel replied simply.
On the way home, Gabriel's car was surrounded by paparazzi at a traffic light. Camera lights flashed incessantly, and voices shouted questions.
"Gabriel! Gabriel! What was it like being away?"
"Were you really involved in that operation in Mexico?"
"Do you think you'll be around the Kardashian-Jenners for long?"
Gabriel kept his gaze straight ahead, ignoring the flashes and the questions. Kendall, in the backseat, watched the scene with a mixture of concern and admiration.
"They won't leave you alone any time soon," she commented.
"I'm used to it," Gabriel replied. "But the important thing is to make sure you get home safely."
When the light turned green, Gabriel sped off and left the paparazzi behind.
Back at the Kardashian-Jenner house, Gabriel made his usual rounds, checking the security systems and making sure everything was in order. He ran into Kylie in the kitchen, who was making a snack for Stormi.
"How was your day?" she asked.
"Quiet," Gabriel replied, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Well, quiet for you," Kylie joked. "It seems exhausting to me just to come."
Stormi ran into the kitchen and grabbed Gabriel by the leg. "You're going to be here forever, right?"
Gabriel crouched down to look her in the eyes. "As long as your mother needs me, I'll be here."
As night fell, Gabriel thought about his return. He knew that the media attention and public interest would continue to be a challenge, but that didn't change his purpose. He was here to protect the Kardashian-Jenner family, and he would do it with the same dedication and professionalism as always.
And, although he wouldn't admit it openly, the affection of his family especially Stormi and Aire made it all easier to bear.
Chapter 56: Return to the Spotlight
Gabriel's return to the Kardashian-Jenner family's security routine did not go unnoticed, especially by the media, which had already transformed the former Marine into a cultural phenomenon. From the first photos and videos of him alongside Kendall, Kylie and Stormi, tabloids and social media began to speculate about his return.
In the early hours of the morning, several headlines began to circulate:
"Gabriel's return: the most famous security guard in the world is back!"
"After weeks of mystery, Gabriel reappears with a new look alongside Kendall Jenner."
"Who is Gabriel Silva? The story of the man who protects the Kardashians and has become a global icon."
Gossip programs dedicated long segments to the subject. Photos of Gabriel with a beard, backwards cap and his imposing posture began to circulate, accompanied by videos showing him in action. A clip of Gabriel holding Stormi in his arms as he escorted her safely into a car went viral.
On TikTok and Instagram, fans reacted enthusiastically. Compilation videos of Gabriel's moments quickly emerged, edited to dramatic or romantic music.
"This man is not real, he looks like something out of a movie," read one comment on a video showing Gabriel fending off paparazzi during an outing with Kylie.
"Imagine being Stormi and having a bodyguard like him? I would be in danger all the time just for him to save me," joked another Twitter user.
Other memes began to emerge:
A montage of Gabriel alongside action heroes like John Wick and Jason Bourne, with the caption: "The real protector."
An image comparing Gabriel's beard to that of military movie characters, with the caption: "The best look ever."
On the morning talk show The View, the topic was discussed:
"Gabriel Silva is back, and he looks better than ever!" said the main host. "But let's be serious, what makes him so fascinating to the audience?"
"He's the whole package," replied another co-host. "A highly skilled professional, discreet, but with this aura of mystery. And we can't ignore the fact that he looks like a Calvin Klein model."
"I saw that he turned down several fashion campaigns," commented another. "That only makes him more interesting. He doesn't seek the spotlight, but the spotlight finds him."
Meanwhile, in the Kardashian-Jenner house, the impact of Gabriel's return was also being felt.
Kylie sat in the living room with Kendall and Khloé, all holding their phones and laughing at memes and videos about Gabriel.
"Check this out," said Khloé, showing a TikTok in which a fan compared Gabriel to a video game character. "They're really obsessed with him."
Kendall laughed. "He has no idea how famous he is. I bet he hasn't even seen half of it."
"Stormi saw it," Kylie joked. "She showed me a video last night and said, 'Look, Mommy, Gabriel's on TV!' She's so happy he's back."
Just then, Gabriel walked into the room, carrying an iPad with security reports. When he noticed his sisters laughing, he raised an eyebrow. "Anything funny?" he asked, serious but with a hint of curiosity.
"Nothing to worry about," Khloé said, holding back a laugh. "Just the whole world talking about you again."
Gabriel sighed and shook his head. "I'd rather people talk about you. That means I'm doing my job right."
That same day, Gabriel accompanied Kylie to the office for meetings about her cosmetics brand. Paparazzi were already waiting outside, and the flashbulbs started as soon as Gabriel got out of the car, opening the door for Kylie and Stormi.
"Gabriel! Gabriel! How does it feel to be back?"
"Were you really involved in that international operation?"
Gabriel remained silent, keeping his posture firm and his eyes alert. When one of the photographers tried to get too close, he raised his hand, signaling for the man to back off.
Stormi, in a moment of spontaneity, pointed at Gabriel and said to the photographers, "That's my friend!"
The phrase was captured by one of the reporters, who quickly posted the video on social media. Within hours, the clip went viral, with fans commenting on the adorable bond between Gabriel and Stormi.
Later, on a celebrity analysis show, the experts discussed Gabriel's growing popularity.
"What's fascinating about him is that even though he's so private, he's become such a public figure," said one of the commentators.
"And he still maintains his composure," commented another. "Nowadays, anyone with that level of attention would have signed fashion contracts or given interviews. But Gabriel seems genuinely focused on his work."
"This only makes him more appealing to the public," concluded one commenter.
Later that evening, Gabriel was in the kitchen checking the security cameras on his laptop as Kylie came in with a cup of tea.
"Did you see the video Stormi starred in today?" she asked with a smile.
"I didn't, but I heard the photographers," Gabriel replied, not taking his eyes off the screen.
Kylie sat down next to him. "She really likes you, you know? I think we all missed you while you were away."
Gabriel looked at her for a moment, his face softening a little. "I missed you too. It's good to be back."
The media would continue to follow Gabriel's every move, but to him, it didn't matter. His focus was exactly where it should be: protecting the Kardashian-Jenner family. As the public attention grew, Gabriel remained true to himself, knowing that his job was about more than looks or fame it was about duty and responsibility.
Chapter 57: A Game of Subtleties
Gabriel, as usual, stood at Kylie's front door, reviewing the information for the day's itinerary. He would be guarding her and Stassie, Kylie's best friend, for an afternoon of personal appointments and a private dinner at an exclusive Los Angeles restaurant.
Stassie arrived first, exuding confidence and charm as always. Her smile lit up the room as she walked over to where Gabriel stood.
"What's up, security? Doing your job impeccably, as always?" she asked, giving him a suggestive look.
"Doing my best," Gabriel replied, his posture serious but allowing a slight smile to creep across his face. "You guys have a busy schedule today, so we'll be on the move."
"Hmm, I love how focused you are," she said, leaning in slightly to peer at the tablet he was looking at. "But you know, sometimes it's good to relax a little, don't you think?"
Gabriel could hear the tone in her voice, but he kept his composure. He knew Stassie liked to flirt, but until now, it had never gone beyond that.
Later, in the car, Gabriel drove while Kylie and Stassie chatted animatedly in the backseat.
"Gabriel, you're always so serious. Don't you get tired of it?" Stassie asked, leaning forward slightly, next to his seat.
"Seriousness is part of the job," Gabriel replied, keeping his eyes on the road.
Kylie laughed. "He's not always like that, Stass. You should see him with Stormi and Aire. He's practically a cuddly bear."
"Bear, huh?" Stassie teased. "Well, I like serious guys, to be honest. Especially when they're... multifaceted."
Gabriel didn't respond, but he noticed the teasing tone. He was used to this kind of attention, but there was something about the way Stassie looked at him that was different. She was confident, charming, and, without a doubt, beautiful.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Gabriel helped Kylie and Stassie out of the car. Paparazzi were waiting outside, but Gabriel positioned himself strategically, making sure they both entered without any problems.
Throughout dinner, he kept a close eye on the two, although he could hear their laughter and conversations from inside. After a while, Stassie left to take a phone call, leaving Kylie alone at the table.
She approached Gabriel, who was standing near the entrance.
"Hey, favorite bouncer. Don't you get tired of being on your feet all day?" she joked.
"It's part of the job," he replied with a slight smile.
"You're so dedicated. But you know, I was wondering..." she glanced around, making sure no one was around. "Don't you ever relax? Don't you ever... enjoy the moment?"
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Enjoying the moment isn't part of the contract."
Stassie laughed. "You're really good at this. But come on, Gabriel. What's wrong with loosening up a little? You don't have to be so serious all the time."
For a moment, he was speechless. There was something disarming about the way she looked at him, as if she could see past the professional facade.
On the way back, Stassie teased him again. "Gabriel, you have to tell me: have you ever thought about getting out of this life and enjoying the good things? I know there's a lot hidden behind that uniform."
"I'm fine where I am," he replied, trying to divert the conversation.
"Hmm, maybe you just need a little push," she said, leaning forward again, with a mischievous smile.
Kylie, watching the interaction, laughed. "Stassie, leave Gabriel alone. He's trying to do his job."
"I can't help it," Stassie said, leaning back. "He's so... intriguing."
Gabriel, still focused on the road, couldn't help but smile slightly. Despite all the teasing, he recognized that Stassie was charming.
When they arrived at Kylie's house, Stassie got out of the car, but before going inside, she turned to Gabriel.
"Well, security. I think I'll leave you alone for today. But don't think I'm done trying to find out more about you."
He stared at her for a moment, unsure whether to respond or just accept her comment as another joke.
"Have a good night, Stassie," was all he said, but the look she gave him before she went inside made it clear that the conversation was far from over.
Later, as Gabriel reviewed the day's reports, he found himself thinking about Stassie. It was rare for anything to distract him from his routine, but there was something about her confidence, her carefree charm that was hard to ignore.
He sighed, shaking his head to clear the thoughts. His work required focus, and he knew that allowing personal feelings to interfere could be a mistake. But at the same time, he couldn't ignore the fact that, for a brief moment, he had actually enjoyed her advances.
"I need to stay on track," he muttered to himself, closing his laptop and preparing for the next day.
Despite his decision to remain professional, Gabriel knew that Stassie's presence would make the next few days a little more... interesting.
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