Page 154 of Sinful Games

I followed, trying not to laugh as we headed for the door. Angelo stopped next to Jade, but she was still deep in a French kiss with the guy, his hands all over her ass while she went at it.

He cleared his throat loudly. "Miss Whitenhouse, I need you in my office first thing tomorrow. If you’re late, you’re fired."

Jade, barely looking up from her make-out session, gave him a cheeky thumbs-up with one eye half-open.

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud.

Angelo’s anger was pretty obvious, his jaw clenched tight. "Perfect."

With that, he turned and stormed out, not even bothering to wait for me.

Chapter

Fifty-One

“Soldiers can sometimes make decisions that are smarter than the orders they've been given.”

?Orson Scott Card

Alexsei

I shook the man’s hand, surprised by how solid it was. I gestured for him to sit and took my place behind the desk.

“So, an ex-Marine from France?” I raised an eyebrow, glancing at his impressive résumé again. “Didn’t expect someone like you to show up here.”

He nodded. “Yep, ten years in the military. Needed a change of scenery. Volk sent me your way.”

I leaned back in my chair, giving him a once-over. After I got home last night, I called up Volk to see if he knew anyone who could actually handle being Scarlett’s bodyguard. Hepromised to take care of it. This morning, I woke up to a text from him bragging about the ‘perfect’ guy showing up at my office.

But I sure as hell didn’t expect to see someone like this guy. Normally, top-tier bodyguards are a bit older—like in their 40s. Théo LeRoy, at 36, looked more like he should be gracing the cover of Vogue than handling military or private security.

The big scar on his neck was the only sign he’d seen some real shit. Despite looking like he belonged on a magazine cover, he seemed solid and capable. Yeah, he had a bit of charm, but let’s be real—he wasn’t as hot as me. Still, I was betting he could handle the job just fine.

“Well, Volk’s got a knack for finding the best,” I remarked, tapping my fingers on the desk. “So, what made you ditch the military for private security?”

His gaze sharpened, a hint of intensity in his eyes. “After my time in the military, I wanted to keep serving and protecting, just in a different way. Private security felt like the next logical step.”

“Well, Mr. LeRoy,” I paused. “Why the States? A lot of guys would kill for a life in Paris and hang out at the Moulin Rouge every night.”

He smirked. “Been there, done that, sir. Needed a change.”

A man of few words.

For some reason, he had no French accent—sounded like he was born and bred in Brooklyn. Apart from his name, nothing would’ve made me guess he was French.

I sighed. “Alright, let’s cut the crap. Are you ready to be on call 24/7 for a junkie princess who’s more of a dragon than anything? Don’t get me wrong, Scarlett is my protégé, but she’s a real pain in the ass.”

LeRoy nodded, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. “I’ve dealt with worse in the military, sir. A spoiled, drug-addicted superstar? That’s a walk in the park compared to some of the crap I’ve handled.”

I studied him. “Well, let me tell you, Scarlett isn’t your average superstar. She’s like a hurricane on Louboutin heels, and her relationship with authority is a disaster.”

LeRoy kept his stoic expression. “Understood, sir. I’m ready for whatever she throws at me.”

“Good,” I nodded, relieved he seemed unfazed by Scarlett’s reputation. “Let’s hope your military training comes in handy. Welcome aboard, LeRoy.”

He stood, offering his hand. I shook it, rising to match his grip. “I can start whenever you’re ready, but I need to sort out a few things first.”

“Perfect. I’ll set up a meeting with Scarlett tomorrow at 4 p.m.”

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