Page 40 of Not the Bodyguard's Baby
“Sven, you know you’re the only one I’ve ever—”
Slap!
September watched as her head whipped back before Sven lunged at her again, this time his hands around her neck.
“Turn it off! Turn it off!” September covered her mouth with her hands to keep from screaming and bringing all the Hastings into the room. “How could you? How could you know the whole time that I was telling the truth and not do anything about it? I can’t believe you were videotaping me! How often did you record me?”
Shyla put the tablet’s cover over the screen. “For security reasons, I monitor almost every hotel room you’re in and your dressing rooms. It’s all in your contract.”
“Did you video our kiss?” The private moment with Adam didn’t need to be shared.
“No. I don’t monitor your bedroom.” Shyla had the nerve to look slightly disgusted.
“No, not what I did with Sven. I can’t believe you knew and did nothing. My kiss with Adam was special. Please tell me it’s not on video somewhere.”
Her manager squirmed.
“It is, isn’t it? Is there any part in my life that’s been private?”
“I’ve shared nothing unless it was to protect you.” Shyla lifted her chin and slipped the tablet back into her bag.
“What did you share?”
“I showed this video to Sven when I got him to sign a nondisclosure agreement and paid him enough money to start his own firm.”
September didn’t want to hear any more about what her manager had recorded or who had seen them. The fact that the recordings even existed was enough.
“The video should be enough evidence to go to the police and charge him with assault.” Perhaps if she could focus on the main reason she’d agreed to meet with Shyla, it would help.
“I’ve asked a few discreet questions of a couple attorneys I know. I believe Sven can be charged on two counts of attempted murder. Since both of you signed contracts stating I could monitor you and the footage is legal, it will stand up in court. In the audio, he can be heard quite clearly yelling he will kill the baby as he repeatedly kicks you in the stomach.”
It was all etched in her brain. How many nights had she woken up hearing the things he’d said and clutching her middle, trying to protect herself and her unborn child?
“I didn’t play the audio for you because I figured it would be difficult to hear.”
September wiped her eyes. “Difficult to hear? I hear it almost every night. He left me unconscious on the hotel room floor, probably assuming I was dead. At the very least hoping I would miscarry my child. And you knew!” September got up to leave. She needed Jethro and Melanie. And Adam, wherever he was.
“Wait! If you agree, we can turn this in and file charges. You’re lucky it happened in Texas, where there’s likely to be a conviction.”
September shook her head in disbelief. “Lucky? How can you even say that?”
“Because other states only prosecute the assault on you. So you are lucky the attack happened in Dallas rather than on your next stop. And you’re lucky I took photos of you the next day. Sven should be behind bars for quite a while. And the evidence is so damning most trial lawyers will talk Sven into cutting a deal, saving you from appearing in court. If you play your cards right, you can keep most of it out of the public eye. Show the media your darling child at the right time. Release a new song about second chances and starting over. Your fans will love it. Instead of being a fallen woman, you’ll become a survivor.”
“I won’tbecomea survivor because I already am one. And as far as the rest, I don’t care what my fans think about me. I lived this life for ten years. I’m enjoying not worrying every moment what everybody thinks about me. Yes, I keep looking over my shoulder to make sure I’m not recognized because my daughter is worth more to me than every stupid blogger in the universe who is going to write derogatory articles. I’ll stand for her. I am already surviving.”
“I see motherhood is changing you for the better.” Shyla held out her hand with two thumb drives in it. “These drives contain identical copies of the video I showed you. The video goes until Sven leaves the hotel room. I’ve erased all other videos I have of you. It was one thing to keep track of you when you were fifteen; it’s another now that you are twenty-five. I’m not sure when you grew up and I couldn’t let go.” She gathered her bag. “I’m thinking now might be a good time for me to retire. Make sure you send me a Christmas card.” Shyla walked out of the conference room and out of the office.
September turned over the thumb drives in her hands, then ran into the arms of Melanie.
Adam! I need you.
21
Heavy snow was fallingby the time Adam pulled into his parents’ driveway around midnight. Only the security lights illuminated the house. The debriefing on what happened when September met with Shyla would wait till morning. Adam entered through the front door and re-enabled the house alarm. He took off his wet coat and shoes by the door. In the upstairs hallway, light seeped from the crack around the nursery door. He scratched lightly on it in case Harmony was asleep.
“Come in.” September’s voice drifted through the air like a lullaby. He pushed open the door to find September rocking a sleeping Harmony. “They say you’re not supposed to let them fall asleep in your arms once they get to be this age, but I couldn’t help it. She’s the sweetest thing in the world.”
She was wrong. The sweetest thing in the world was watching September rock her daughter.
