Page 10 of Finding My Bodyguard

“I’m sorry, Tessa. I… I… I don’t know what I’m going to do.” I was so upset I was stuttering.

“Why did the doctor deny the procedure again?”

“He said I didn’t need it… and then he started asking me all these questions I couldn’t answer.” I didn’t know why I’d frozen like that in his office. I knew what answers I was supposed to give, but I couldn’t find the words in his presence. He made me nervous, made me feel vulnerable… Like I was in a safe place. I didn’t realize he would cancel my procedure.

“You don’t need it, and what type of questions did he ask?”

“Stupid shit, like why I wanted the surgery and if Kashus was making me do it,” I whined. “You know, stuff I couldn’t answer!”

Tessa giggled, most likely from my dramatics.

“And if you can't answer them, then you don’t need to be getting surgery. I agree with the surgeon,” she replied, causing my mouth to drop.

“Tessa, you’re not helping.”

“What? You know I’m against this whole thing. If I’d known putting your body on an operating table was part of this deal, I would have never let it happen.” Tessa rolled her eyes. She was more pissed than I was when we found out what my father had agreed to. By that time, it was too late. I was living with Kashus, and he’d already started combining his business with my father’s.

“I’m sure it was nothing you could have done about the surgery arrangement. You know that man is stubborn. He wants me married to Kashus Grant, no matter the cost.”

“Please, your father may be big and bad to everyone else, but not to me. He’s really sweet and understanding. I’m going to talk to him,” she replied, making me roll my eyes. Something had shifted in Tessa and my father's marriage since I’d left. They seemed to be in a real marriage. It made my skin crawl sometimes when she tried to discuss their love life, but most of the time, it made me angry. She spoke of my father in a way I’d never met him. He wasn’t any of the things for me or my mother growing up that he is for her, and it pissed me off.

“Don’t bother, Tessa.” I huffed. We sat in silence for a moment as I thought about what was next. If I couldn’t get the surgery, would the wedding be called off? Would it be pushed back? My father had made it clear that my only option was to marry Kashus or be forced into the real world alone. Sometimes, I thought about taking all the money I could and fleeing but staying in the familiar beat out the unknown every time in my head.

“You know anybody that ever left this life behind, Tessa?”

“Nobody that survived.” Tessa sighed.

“J-I…”

A knock on the door caused me to stop talking. My head swiveled to look at the front door of my hotel room. I tapped my phone to glance at the time. It was nine o’clock at night, and everybody who knew I was here, except for Rah, was thousands of miles away. I stared at the door for a moment, contemplating if I should open it. Rah had his own key, plus his room was a conjoining one.

“Was that a knock?” Tessa questioned, causing me to jump.

“Yes, I don’t know who it could be,” I replied. Another round of knocks rang out, forcing me to stand and move to the door. Whoever it was wasn’t going away without an answer. I leaned over to peek out the peephole as I approached the door. What? I pressed my head into the door as if it would give me a better look at the tall, chocolate masterpiece waiting for me to answer. Dr. London? My eyes had to be deceiving me. What was he doing here?

“Who's at the door?” Tessa’s voice thundered through the phone, making me jump back from the door.

“It’s him!” I was nervous. I didn’t understand why. My heart suddenly was beating uncontrollably.

“Him who? Monroe, stop speaking vaguely!”

“The doctor. Dr. London. My plastic surgeon.” I pressed my forehead back to the peephole. This time, I was met with his handsome smirk. He knew I was looking. Oh my God, he could hear me through the door.

“Are you going to open it?” Tessa questioned. “Maybe he changed his mind.”

Was I going to open it? I didn’t know. Dr. London showing up at my suite was strange. How would he have known where I was staying? I didn’t accept his offer to stay at the recovery house. Instead, I’d gotten a presidential suite at a luxury hotel. I didn’t need any reminders of the surgery that wouldn’t be.

“Your father just walked in. Answer the door. I’ll call you back.”

“Maybe you should stay on the phone. What if he’s some psycho killer?” I whispered.

Tessa laughed. “I doubt it, Monroe. The man is a doctor.” She huffed, probably tired of my theatrics. “If I don’t hear from you in five minutes, I’ll call Rah. Ten, and I’ll send a team.”

Dr. London knocked again.

“Answer the door, bye.” Tessa disconnected the call before I could say anything else.

“Open the door, Monroe,” I coached myself, letting the air in my lungs release into a deep breath. Without any more hesitation, I opened the door.

---