“This girl is different. But no, she doesn’t know who I am. Not exactly at least.”
“Don’t you think she should know?”
“It’s not important. I’ll tell her when I’m ready.”
“But sir—”
“Mind your place, Stewart!” I growled at him.
“My place in this matter isn’t as your driver and head of security, but as your friend.”
I didn’t say anything. What could I say? Stewart was my confidant and had been there for me my entire life.
“Fine, you’re right. Maybe she needs to know, but not just yet. Please, let me just enjoy this date.”
“Did you do what I asked?”
“I know you’re trying to protect me, Stewart. Eventually you need to realize I need to have a life. I’m tired of being alone and I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since I met her. If someone is going to kidnap or attack me while I’m out then maybe its just meant to be. You can’t protect me from everything.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. I’ve dedicated my life to protecting you from harm. There are people out there you could never begin to understand.”
“I’m done discussing this. I am taking Deborah out on a date. This is the first woman I’ve ever wanted to know more than just physically. Will you back off?”
“Answer my question. As head of your security, did you do as I asked?”
“Yes, but not because you asked. It was the only way I could get the table I wanted on such short notice.”
“And driving?”
“If it will get you off my back, then drive. It’ll give Deborah and I a chance to get to know each other better anyway.”
Chapter Eight
Deborah
At 6:00 on the dot I made my way to the time clocks to check out of work. The employee only area was on the second floor, in the back of the store. After being in the bright lights and glistening floors of the sales floor, the employee area looked drab and dirty by comparison.
A dark rust colored rug lined the long corridor to the twin time clocks. As I approached them I saw an envelope taped to one and guessed it was out of order. I was wrong.
With neatly printed letters, the cover of the envelope had my name on it. I quickly looked around, but as usual there was nobody near the time clocks but me. Pulling out the off-white card inside, my heart raced in anticipation.
Deborah,
Please meet me at the main entrance.
Will
How did he get back here? I slowly realized he didn’t need to come back here at all. Just because the card was from him, didn’t mean he even wrote it. I knew how rich people worked, they always hired someone else to do their dirty work.
Geez, get a grip on yourself. I had to admit I was a little more than offended that he offered me money. Who did he think he was? Did he have to get his own way that much that he was willing to pay for it?
I sighed as I headed towards the main entrance. As usual I was overreacting. He was only trying to be nice. I just wish he chose a different way of going about it.
Easily spotting him standing in the crowd of people moving in and out of the store, all my annoyance melted away. Dressed in that chocolate brown three-piece-suit, with the buttoned vest peeking out from the jacket, he looked good enough to eat. Something about the suit made me think of couples going out to a speakeasy and sneaking some alcohol, but it suited him perfectly.
Will had the same cold expression on his face as he did when Sara tried to helped him. I began wondering if it was his normal expression and if the smiling, flirting man I was getting to know was something only I saw.
“Hi, I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
“Let’s go,” he grumbled as he took me by my elbow and guided me towards the door. “I hate crowds.”
“Sorry, its the time. There’s always an afterwork rush.”
He steered me through the double glass doors of Hargrove’s and outside where a long black limo waited at the curb. An athletic man in a black suit and driver’s cap opened the back door and waited.
“Is that for us?”
Will grunted. The driver nodded at him as Will took my hand and helped me get into the car. I slid over as far as I could on the long black leather seat that made up the rear of the limo. Along one side of the limo was another long couch, while across from that was a small bar. I had never been in a limo before in my life. I wasn’t sure if I should be impressed or not.
“Is this how you always travel?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Why do it if you don’t like it?”
Looking at me, he sighed as he thought about the question. His face softened slightly before returning to stone cold.