Page 112 of Law Of Love

“Can we talk to you two for a second?” I asked.

“Am I correct in guessing that it has something to do with the fact that you two are holding onto each other like your lives depend on it?” my mother said, arching an eyebrow.

“Yes.” Kaleb's voice was calm and collected.

Jackie laughed, slapping her hands down on her knees before standing up. “Well, it’s about time. Sarah and I were getting tired of pretending we didn’t know something was going on between you two.”

My mouth popped open, and I stared dumbfounded as my mother released her own throaty laugh.

“What? How did you—“

My mouth ceased its movement as Jackie held up her phone, a photo of Kaleb and I kissing on the front porch flashing up on her screen.

The porch cameras. Shit. I’d completely forgotten about them.

“I wasn’t sure if you actually used the login I gave you," Kaleb said, fighting a smile.

“Well, I did. Once, and this was what I saw.”

My eyes narrowed up at Kaleb. “It doesn’t seem like you to forget about the cameras.”

He shrugged, a smile creeping up onto his face. “I didn’t. I just didn’t care if they saw. Nothing was going to make me hide the fact that I love you.”

Jackie and my mother gazed at us with adoration, and my shoulders sagged with relief, a small laugh bubbling up my throat.

“Does anyone fancy a celebratory drink?” suggested Jackie, pulling out a bottle of wine from the cabinet. “It was hard work playing the naïve moms who didn’t suspect a thing.”

Fifty-one: Freya

Abigail placed her hands on my shoulders as we stood backstage, forcing me to look into her enthusiastic eyes. “Freya, you’ve got this. All you need to do is head onto the stage and collect your award. There’s no need to make a big speech or anything.”

“I’m going to say something,” I told her, nervously twirling my hair around my finger. “Being given this award is a big deal, and I don’t want to disrespect Robert by acting like it’s not.”

Abigail shrugged, smirking at me before she leaned over to swipe a bottle of tequila from the table next to us, pouring me a shot. “For the nerves.”

I gulped the battery acid-like liquid down, holding back a gag. “Well, if I didn’t feel like I was going to throw up before, I do now.”

She shushed me, pointing out onto the stage, where Robert continued his speech about the company before he clicked a button on the controller in his hands. The slideshow behind him switched to the next slide, where a large photo of me beamed out at everyone.

Oh, fuck.

“Now, it's time to move on to our coveted Designer of the Year award!” Robert beamed. It was one of the first times I'd seen him smile properly, and I wondered if it was because Abigail had also forced him to take a tequila shot with her earlier. “I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone who it’s going to. Freya Henderson has been with us for just over eight months, and she’s received the most positive feedback from clients to date! Not only that, but the traffic she’s gained for the company is admirable. We’re busier than ever because of her designs. Freya, come on out!”

Abigail squealed from next to me, and I straightened my cream-coloured blouse before striding out on stage, grasping Robert’s hand in a firm handshake.

The spotlight beaming down on me was blinding, but Kaleb's grin caught my attention as I squinted out at the crowd below. He cheered loudly, and I blushed.

Beside him were Hannah, Josh, Brent, Kaylee and Ty—who all whooped loudly, embarrassing me further. Madison had also been invited since she and I had become friends—I'd designed tattoos for a few of her celebrity friends, and my waitlist was now in the months—but her manager had decided against her attending. He claimed my company wouldn’t appreciate dozens of paparazzi trying to force their way into the hotel building to get a snapshot of her at an event, and as disappointed as I was that she hadn’t made it, I knew her manager had a point.

Kaleb had signed another year-long contract to remain her bodyguard. He’d learned to enjoy the role, and it was a major plus that Madison had offered him a shit tonne more money to stay.

Although, his chief had been on his back about rejoining his team, letting him know he could pull a few strings and get Kaleb a job on the frontline again for next year—since he had been promoted due to Frederick’s… disappearance.

Kaleb wasn’t keen to take him up on the offer, though. He missed the work but claimed nothing was worth being away from me for. He was settling into the low-risk life of being a bodyguard, and I could tell he was a lot less stressed since he wasn’t worried about being killed every time he left the house—the house we now shared.

I'd also taken up public speaking, and I visited different trauma recovery groups every other month to share my story. It was liberating knowing I was helping others who had fresh trauma. It meant I hadn't gone through it all for nothing.

Robert thrust a shiny gold trophy into my hands, gesturing for me to approach the microphone.

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