Page 15 of The Bodyguard

He slides his hands into the pockets of his – and I’m assuming here, but I can tell decent tailoring a mile off – expensive suit pants, and stalks my office floor, his head flitting this way and that as he takes it all in – the view from the walls of glass that overlook the Quayside; my oversized desk; the seating area with two dusky-brown couches either side of a dark wooden coffee table; the large-screen TV currently playing a rolling news channel. The walls – those that aren’t made entirely of glass – are painted light grey and feature a mixture of family portraits and photographs of some of our finished developments. Buildings we’re extremely proud of, including the apartment block overlooking the River Tyne that Ollie lives in. One of the most expensive residential buildings in the city. And one of the few developments we’ve built for people with more money than sense. I like to concentrate on affordable housing, that’s what I, ultimately, want this business to do. Make a difference.

“You’ve got yourself a nice place here.” Bodie looks at me, but I can’t read his expression.

I get up and come out front of my desk, leaning back against it and folding my arms, my eyes locking on his. “You think I’m some kind of princess.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You imply it. Sometimes.”

“Then I apologise.”

Does he, though? Because I’m not feeling a whole lot of sincerity coming from him. “I’ll ask again, what are you doing, in here?”

His blue eyes stare deep into mine, and I pretend I didn’t feel that shiver. “I wanted to see what you do.”

“I’m sure you already know what I do.”

He shifts his gaze and walks over to the wall of glass, staring outside. “There’s been a change of plan.” He turns around and leans back against the floor-to-ceiling window, his hands still in his pockets. “That’s why I’m here. Why your father’s here.”

Oh, Jesus, what fresh hell could possibly be happening now?

“I don’t understand. What kind of change?”

Or, maybe my father’s suddenly seen sense and decided I don’t need this man trailing me everywhere I go. Oh, God, I hope that’s the case! I’m all on board forthatkind of change.

“You and me,” Bodie continues, glancing back over his shoulder, “we’re about to get a whole lot closer.”

Huh? What’sthatsupposed to mean? And then I notice Bodie’s gaze shift to overmyshoulder, and I turn around to see my father standing in the doorway.

“He’s right. You are.”

My father moves further into the room, and I feel my stomach sink. Whatever the fuck is happening now, I’m really not going to like it. It doesn’t take a genius to work that one out.

“How long has it been since you and David split up?”

I feel my brows knit further together as I stare at my father. “A couple of months.”

“Good.” He starts pacing the room, hands in his pockets, his eyes flitting from the photographs on the wall to the TV screen, to the view outside, and then back to me. “That’s a decent amount of time between relationships.”

I have no idea what’s going on here, but an impending sense of doom is slowly starting to take over.

“And becausehewas the one who letyoudown…” My father’s eyes meet mine, the corner of his mouth turning slightly upwards. “That makes it so much more believable, that you would move on without a second thought. The man cheated on you. He’s no great loss.”

“What the fuck is going on here?”

“You and Bodie, you’re a couple.”

“No, we’re not.”

“I need you to be protected at all times, at any cost, and that means Bodie needs to be with you wherever you go.”

“Yeah, I get that. But where’s this we need to be a couple shit coming from?”

“People are going to question why you suddenly have this man by your side…”

“Well, maybe you should’ve…”

My father holds up a hand to silence me, and I widen my eyes and stare at him.

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