Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 160782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 804(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 804(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“Talking to your mother. She’s safe. Relax.”
“Ben, I want the security doubled around Joshua and Natasha. Natasha is to have four bodyguards with her at all times,” Adrian asserts.
This is why I love this man, he’s a micromanager. He takes control of any situation and has the ability to make important decisions quickly. I smile, feeling better just having him here.
I look at Ben. “I want Max taken off guarding Natasha. You swap with him and I only want trusted long-term staff with her.”
“Why? Max is the best bodyguard we have. He is more qualified than me. Why can’t he guard Natasha?” Ben frowns.
“He just can’t,” I snap.
“Fuck off. Are you jealous?” Cameron spits.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Did you know that he has been staying in the house with Natasha? I am paying him to guard her, not cut my fucking grass.”
Ben bites his lip to stifle his smile.
“Yeah, this is hilarious, Ben…you ass,” I spit.
My phone rings and Cameron picks it up, glances at the screen and hands it to me, the name Amelie on the screen. I push reject and Cameron shakes his head.
“Have you had that conversation yet?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t had time.”
“How’s that going to go?”
“How do you fucking think?” I snap.
Adrian shakes his head. “You, Stanton, are a tosser. You’re jealous of her bodyguard, when you are the one who makes her have one. And now that she actually needs one, you want to take the best man off the job because you’re insecure.”
“I am not insecure. He’s just too.… familiar.”
“He’s twenty years older than her. Grow up,” Adrian replies flatly.
The door opens and Natasha breezes in. Her warm smile cuts through me. What if something happens to her because of me? I couldn’t bear it. She sits next to me on the bed.
“What did the police want?” she asks.
“Umm…nothing. They were inquiring where I got the drugs from the other night.”
Her eyes hold mine. She knows I’m lying but is staying silent while the others are in the room.
“Tash, Ben will be swapping with Max to guard you,” I mutter. She frowns as I pick up her hand and hold it in mine. She looks nervously at Ben. “Ben, I don’t mean to be rude, but I would rather stay with Max. I am only comfortable with Max.”
Ben and Cameron both smirk at me. I narrow my eyes at them.
“Then Max can stay with you, baby, that’s ok,” Adrian interjects. “Now that you are in the States, Tash, you need more protection that’s all. There is a nasty story in the paper today about you and you will be followed by photographers. They are really pushy. You cannot go anywhere without protection.”
“What kind of story?” Her eyes widen as Adrian hands her the paper. She slumps into the chair to read it.
A nurse enters the room. “Nurse, please let the doctor know I am checking out this afternoon.”
“Joshua,” Natasha snaps. “Your treatment.”
“Tash, I need to go home.” She frowns at me.
“I am going to find the doctor.” Cameron stands and leaves the room.
“Josh, I want you to do this drug rehab, it’s really important.”
“I know, Presh. I promise I will continue the treatment from home.” My eyes flick nervously to Ben. “The pap has access to me in here, baby. We are safer in a more protected environment.”
She rolls her eyes. “I think you are being a bit of a drama queen, Josh.”
“It is safer at Joshua’s house, Natasha. I will go and make arrangements for the transfer,” says Ben as he leaves the room.
I pull her to lie down next to me on the bed and I hold her tight. “You ok, baby? That was a pretty awful nightmare you had last night.”
She smiles warmly and kisses me, and her lips linger on mine. “The wake-up call I got has erased all bad memories, thank you Mr. Stanton.”
I squeeze her tightly. “Good…Tash do you want to go travelling for a while? Take a couple of months off, see the world.”
Her eyes widen. “You are serious about this? Could you take time off?”
“I don’t see why not.” I smile warmly.
“Oh, I have to go back to Australia this weekend. I need to be back at work on Monday.”
My eyes widen, “Well that’s not happening. I need you with me.”
“Joshua, I am going back to resign and there is not a thing you can do about it. My boss has been so good to me and two other staff are on holidays and I am booked solid all week. I will come back in two weeks.”
“I will come with you then. I am not letting you out of my sight.” Bloody hell, this is a logistical nightmare.
The doctor enters the room. “Cameron has just explained the situation to me. I understand you are checking out.”