Page 39 of Guarded from Corruption

I feel guilty at the thought, but talking to my parents can be exhausting. Inevitably, my father wants to know if I’ve met any suitable men and if I’m ever going to focus on starting a family. Then my mother rambles on for ten minutes about whatever her upcoming party or benefit is.

Sometimes I feel like an obligation to them. Something to check off a list—talk to Jade, make thinly veiled comments about her disappointing life choices, and make sure she knows about the next company event. Then I’m shuttled aside so my parents can focus on more important things like ambition and money and appearances.

But. They’re concerned. Their only daughter was abducted and won’t stay at their estate for protection, like my father suggested. It would be selfish not to answer his call just because I want to stay in this safe and comfortable bubble with Niall.

With a steadying breath, I answer, “Hi, Dad.”

“Jade.” No affectionate greeting; just my name in the same authoritative tone he always uses. “Do you have any news?”

“Not yet.” I push away from the table and walk into the living room, suddenly too restless to stay still. “Niall and his team are working?—”

“Niall.” It’s said dismissively. “You mean your friend’s brother? I’d hardly call that protection. You should be staying here, with your family.”

“Dad.” My teeth grind together. “I’m perfectly safe where I am. I understand your concern, but?—”

He interrupts me again, this time with a derisive huff. “You mean the place you won’t let us visit? Won’t let us see you? And you expect us to just take you at your word that it’s safe?”

“I told you before. It’s safer if you don’t come. They could be watching. If someone follows you… it could be dangerous. But I’m completely?—”

“Jade.” This time his voice is a whip cracking. “This is just not done. Living with this man who fancies himself a bodyguard. More likely, he thinks he can get money from you. Convince you to let him protect you instead of real security like we can hire. He probably thinks you’re an easy mark. Attractive, vulnerable?—”

“Stop,” I snap. “None of that is true. Niall is trained. And I trust him.” Nervous energy is building inside me, making my stomach flutter and my hands shake. “He’s not taking advantage?—”

“Jade Bell.” His voice raises, and I wince as I pull my ear away from the phone. “I’ve tried to be patient with this independent streak of yours. Letting you live on your own. Watching you waste valuable years working when you could be starting a family. And now this? Stubbornly staying with this man because you’re, what, attracted to him? It’s enough, Jade. It’s time for you to come home.”

Frustrated tears burn behind my eyes. No matter how many times I tell myself not to let my father’s words get to me, when he gets like this, it’s almost impossible.

Don’t cry. Don’t yell. Be reasonable.

I’m an adult, and it doesn’t matter what he wants.

Jaw clenching hard enough to send jolts of pain spearing through it, I force my voice to stay calm. “No. I’m not going to the house. I’m staying where I am. You’ll just have to trust that I know what I’m doing.”

There’s a long pause, and then my father says coldly, “I don’t know how you can expect me to trust you when you make such bad decisions.”

Pain spears through my chest, and tears threaten to escape.

It shouldn’t matter what he thinks. I’m proud of myself. But still… it stings.

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” I reply flatly. “I have to go. Tell Mom I said hi and I’m safe. I’ll call when I have any news.”

As he starts to argue, I end the call; jabbing at the screen with way more force than I need to. Then I place the phone carefully on the top of the bookshelf even though I really want to fling it across the room instead.

Emotions are swelling inside me, a balloon expanding past capacity, ready to burst.

But I don’t want to break down in front of Niall, so I focus on meticulously lining up the books on the shelf, making sure they’re all perfectly symmetrical. I hate that I’m doing it—I know what this is—but it’s the only way I can keep everything in.

“Jade, honey.” Niall comes up beside me and gently stills my hand. He turns me around and gazes at me with such a tender expression, it’s nearly my undoing. “Are you okay?”

“I’m—” My voice catches. “I’m fine.”

“Ah, sweetheart.” Compassion fills his eyes. “Is he like that all the time?”

“You heard—” I stop myself. Of course Niall at least heard the end of the conversation. My father was practically shouting at me by then.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to. But I was worried about you, and then I couldn’t help but hear.”

“He’s… not always that bad. Most of the time… it’s just little comments. Things about my job, or that I’m not getting any younger. But sometimes…” My gaze shifts back to the books and my hand twitches to fix them again. “Sometimes he wants to make sure I know how disappointing I am.”

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