Page 375 of Hate Mates

“Where do you think we should begin? My wife, well ex-wife did all of that for me. I don’t think I really need this.”

“Let’s start with your schedule. What you have planned over the next few months and what you do an don’t have time to add to it.”

He let out a sigh, “well now that the strike is over with I can finally get back to work. But we film here in Georgia so it’s not a big deal.”

“Alright, and you have a daughter, correct?”

“Yeah, she’ll be popping in and out throughout the year. Mostly around holidays, well I think. I don’t really know how those will work now that she’s in college and her mother and I are divorced,” his voice trailed off.

“Got it.”

His phone buzzed from his pocket.

“So, am I allowed to answer my own phone, or is that your job?”

“You can,” I whispered.

He nodded and walked off with his phone pressed to one ear and his coffee cup in the other.

I pulled out his calendar and placed it above the notebook I was writing it. I had his entire filming schedule for the next couple of months. Even though I knew that they were sometimes to change, at least I had a general idea of when he would be working. Those days I would be with him on set I guess, maybe here? I wasn’t entirely sure where I would be needed, and it seemed like he wasn’t entirely sure either. It seemed like he and I were on the same page.

He walked back into the room a couple minutes later and took a seat across from me.

“Now what?” He grunted.

“Do you want anything specific from me?”

He shrugged, “I really don’t even think I need you, but I’m apparentlyrequiredto have an assistant and a bodyguard. I guess we need to hire someone for that?”

“Alright, I’ll start putting feelers out there and get you some applicants, also, you have a veterans meet and greet tomorrow for Veterans day.”

He nodded, “and you’ll be there as well I assume?”

“I uh, yes. I can be. I just need to get an outfit for that. It’s semi formal.”

“Okay, that’s all I need for today. See you tomorrow at wherever you live?”

“No, that’s alright. I’ll just meet you here. I’ll probably be out anyways, so it will be easier.”

“That works, thanks,” he said getting up and walking away.

“Yep, it was great to meet you too,” I muttered as I gathered all of my stuff and headed back out of the house. This wasn’t my ideal job at all, but it was my foot in the door, which is what I needed right now.

***

A week later I had a list of gentlemen who were more than qualified to be Jason’s new bodyguard.

“I thought you had a bodyguard?” I questioned as we sat down in his semi put together office.

“I did,” he replied.

“Alright… well you have Max Grimes first. He’s former military, looking for something to stay busy. I’ve spoken to some of the soldiers he served with, and he seems pretty good. You also have Tucker Davis. Also, former military. John Grant. He’s retired police, but didn’t seem overly thrilled about the position,” I explained.

Jason nodded, not even bothering to look up from his phone.

The men came in one by one, and we interviewed them. When I say we, I really mean me. I asked all the questions. Jason just sat in the corner listening or not listening. I really didn’t know.

“Do you have a preference?” I questioned after the last man had left.

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