Using CustomDocumentProperties (CDPs) is a good method to store user defined values in a relatively safe way within the same work book, but avoiding to show related cell values simply in an unprotected work sheet *).
Note: CDPs represent a separate collection comparable to BuiltInDocumentProperties, but allow to create user defined property names of your own instead of a fixed collection.
*) Alternatively, you could enter values also in a hidden or "very hidden" workbook.