“Good morning baby,” he says as he flashes me a wide smile.
“Morning Adrian,” I say in a quiet voice.
“Now I must dash to work,” he says as he rises from his seat. He walks over to me and kneels at my feet.
“Baby, I want you to have fun today. Go shopping with the girls and buy anything you want. The car is downstairs waiting and the security guards will be here any second.” I gently exhale at his words and I hate that I need security but I know better than to challenge Adrian on this matter. Just as I begin to respond there is, a firm knock at the door.
“This will be them now,” he says as he makes his way over to the door.” He opens it and in walk to two huge bodyguards. They are dressed in black and both of them have shaved heads. I glare at them and I feel instantly intimated by their size. Adrian walks over to me and he takes me gently from the seat.
“This is Mitch and Steven they will look after you baby.” I flash the two huge men a shy smile and they respond by giving me a professional nod.
“Now baby, I really must go. I will check in with you later and before I forget we are having dinner tonight with Mr Jenkins and his wife.” I widen my eyes at his words and I quickly think of Michael. I try to compose my dread as I respond to Adrian.
“Okay Adrian,” is all that I manage to say. He kisses me and then he makes his way out the room. I am left alone with two massive bodyguards and a looming fear of tonight’s dinner with Mr Jenkins and his wife. I smile at the men as I excuse myself. I rush into my room and I quickly begin to take a shower. I get dressed and then I make my back into the lounge area.
“My friends are in the next room I am just going to say hi.” I say to the bodyguards. They gaze at me and one of them opens the door for me. I watch as he follows me along the hallway and up to the door of Sophie and Emma’s room. I knock firmly on the door and Sophie instantly answers. As soon as she claps eyes on me standing in front of her with a massive guy by my side I can tell that she is shocked.
“Alanna what is going on?” She says in a confused voice. I glance to the bodyguard and I am sure that his name is Steven but again they look so similar and I could be very wrong.
“May I have a moment?” He again nods at me as I enter the room.
“Sorry about that,” I say as Sophie escorts me over to the sofa.
“Alanna, who was that guy?” I feel slightly worried as to what Sophie’s reaction might when I tell her that he is my bodyguard. I bite my lip as I begin to explain.
“He is my bodyguard,” I just blurt it out, as I cannot explain it any other way.
“Why do you need a bodyguard?” Sophie quizzes.
“After my attack Adrian is - overprotective - and he has insisted that I have two bodyguards with me all the time.”
“That’s a little weird Alanna,”
“I know but it’s just Adrian’s way of showing that he cares.” I try to reassure her.
“I suppose, anyway what are we doing today?” Sophie quickly changes the subject.
“Shopping?”
“Yes, you don’t know how glad I am that you said that. I was worried that you wanted to do some boring thing like visit a museum or something.” I giggle at Sophie as I glance around the room in search of Emma.
“Where is Emma?” I ask Sophie when I fail to see her.
“In the shower,” Sophie says as she slightly rolls her eyes. I sense that something is up so I begin to quiz her.
“How are you getting on with her?” Sophie exhales as she begins to respond.
“She is a nice girl,”
“I am sensing a, but?” Sophie again rolls her eyes and she glances around the room to see if Emma is anywhere in sight.
“I find her a little strange. She is very, I do not know how to put it, but I find her irritating. She is very silly and I feel that she is naïve.” I pout my lips at Sophie and I really wish that she were not talking about Adrian’s sister in this way.
“Sophie I need you to try and get on with her. She is Adrian’s little sister and she means the world to him. And it would mean a lot to me if you could make her feel welcome. She is young and maybe that’s why you find her naïve.”
“Okay, maybe I got her wrong. I will try to focus on her good points instead of her bad ones.” I smile at Sophie and I give her gentle thank you hug.
“Thanks Sophie,” I say as I pull back from her. “Do you mind if I invite my friend Jessica with us today?” I ask Sophie. She smiles at me.
“Sure, I would love to meet her.” I again smile at my friend and I make my way back to my room. I rush into the bedroom and I quickly take my phone from my bag. I look up Jessica’s number and I wait as the phone rings. She answers and her voice is ecstatic.