Page 16 of The Bodyguard

“Surely it’s nobody’s business,” I say, defying my father’s request that I keep quiet.

“You’re right, it’s not. But it makes everyone’s lives easier if we have a simple explanation, should people start to become curious.”

Not sure it’s going to makemylife any easier, especially as I’m slowly starting to realise exactly what’s about to happen here.

“And what would that simple explanation be?” I’m asking a question I already know the answer to, I just want to hear somebody say it out loud, so I can actually believe it’s happening.

My father leans back against my desk and folds his arms. “You’re going to pretend to be together.”

And there we go.

“Bodie is an old family friend you haven’t seen in a while, someone you almost had a relationship with in the past, and now, seeing each other again after all this time…”

My father leaves that sentence hanging, his eyes still fixed on mine, like he’s expecting me to finish it off.

“You want us to pretend to be a couple.”

“That’s what I said, was it not?”

I was right. I don’t like it.

“It doesn’t have to be difficult, Lena. Bodie knows the score, and I trust him to play his part. Can I trust you to do the same?”

I glance over at Bodie, but he just looks at me and smirks. And if I thought he was a cocky prick before I’m even more convinced now.

“Can I do that, Lena?”

My father’s eyes are still on me, and I look at him, and I nod. “Yes.”

“Good. By Saturday you should be comfortable enough with the situation to make everyone around you believe it’s for real.”

“Saturday?”

“The charity dinner on Saturday night. At the Marchant Hotel.”

Shit!Is that this weekend? This proves how distracted I’ve been, because this particular charity dinner, it’s one of the biggest events in our calender, with Nielsen Construction front and centre, supporting over a dozen local causes throughout the region.

“Many people will see you there, it’s the perfect place to make your new relationship public. And from then on, Bodie can look after you the way I need him to. You pretend to be in love, and no-one will question why you’re always together. And I need you to always be together, do you hear me? I need you to do this for me.”

Saturday is four days away. Is he fucking kidding me? What kind of shit-show is this?

“This isn’t what we agreed…”

“Circumstances mean we have to play it this way.” My father looks over at Bodie, but I keep my eyes on him. “Bodie understands what has to be done.”

I’m fucking glad someone does. “Why can’t you just tell me why we have to do this at all, whyhehas to be here, at all, because I…”

“I suggest you start honing your acting skills, Lena.”

And that’s it. As always happens, my father decides when a conversation is over, and he’s done with this one, even if I’m far from it. He leaves my office without another word, and I’m left trying to work out what the fuck just happened here. And then I look over at Bodie, who’s still leaning back against the wall of windows, his mouth slightly upturned, is he enjoying this? It’s beginning to give me an unwelcome headache, how the hell has my life suddenly turned into this fucking circus?

“And you’re okay with this, are you?”

Bodie shrugs. “I do whatever I’m told to do. This is my job. I don’t get the luxury of choice.”

“Welcome tomyworld.”

He pulls himself away from the window, his hands still buried deep in his pockets. “You hungry?”

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