Page 54 of Lavish Loving

“Clarisse, honey, this is too serious to ignore. We are not going to allow you to remain where it’s unsafe.”

London fell into a side chair. “Please, guys. Mom, Dad, I know you’re concerned. I understand. But I’ve got a job to do, and I’m not going to run away.” She fixed her parents with a determined stare. “Drakes don’t run.”

It took an hour, but London and Ace teamed up to convince her parents that every precaution would be taken to make sure nothing else happened. Another hour before they agreed to continue seeing all of Italy as previously planned. They attended the show. No one watching would have guessed the ordeal London had experienced the night before. She was flawless. Electric. Bravissima! Sei unica! These words dominated the next day’s headlines as the hailed her as beautiful, unique, a woman on top.

Early the next morning, London invited Ace to lunch with her parents before they left Milan.

“I’m counting on you to protect my daughter,” Ike Sr. said as the two men shook hands. “If anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me.”

“I understand, sir.” Ace confidently returned Ike Sr.’s firm handshake. “I’ll deliver her home safely. You have my word.”

As he watched London’s parents walk away, Ace would have been lying to say he wasn’t extremely concerned about making sure that London stayed safe. But he did know one thing—he was the man for the job.

CHAPTER 22

One more show. By the time they arrived in Paris, this phrase was London’s mantra. She’d done hundreds of fashion shows. Had logged thousands of flight hours, crossed several time zones in one day. But the added responsibility as the face of the line, a de facto spokesperson, was another beast altogether.

With every show, requests for guest appearances and interviews doubled, then tripled. Two company-hired photographers followed her constantly. Oh, and there was that little incident of being taken from a hotel, dropped into a black hole for hours and awakened by a stranger driving her back to a hotel she’d not remembered leaving. Like any trouper would, she assured everyone that she was fine. That was 70 percent true. The other 30 percent was groggy, paranoid and scared out of her mind. What happened in those hours she couldn’t remember? Where’d she go? How’d she get there? Who had taken her? Why? The detectives wanted answers to these questions. But not more than she did.

The day after the show in Milan, Ace had insisted she take the day off. She had, and aside from too many questions about the packages, they’d had an enjoyable visit. In fact, her father hadn’t stopped asking questions until she refused to answer another one. Talk about overprotective. But after being in Ace’s “care” for the past twenty-four hours, she was sure he’d invented the word. Tyler and Lucien had taken over all preparations for the Paris show. Guest appearances were set up at the house—no, fortress—OTB had rented. No more hotels, doormen or concierges. Ace became all of them. He had a new title. Bodyguard.

“London, what are you doing?”

“Oh, my God, Ace. I’m using the bathroom, what do you think?”

“Why do you have the door locked?”

London’s face showed the incredulity she felt. “Seriously?”

Did that door handle actually just rattle? Yes. It did.

“Leave me alone, Ace. You’re like a warden trying to arrest an inmate already in jail.”

“Ha! I’m here for a reason. Your last taping is in an hour. Entertainment International. They’re a big deal. We’re setting up in the parlor. Hair and makeup are already down there. The stylist is readying your wardrobe.” He rattled the knob again. “Don’t be late.”

London shook her head and began to chuckle. His antics were so ridiculous she couldn’t even be mad.

Her phone rang. She exited the bathroom and rushed to catch it. If it was her parents and she didn’t answer, they’d be on the next plane.

“Hello? Hey, Max, hold on. You can go on down, Carly. I’ll meet you down there.”

“Someone is supposed be with you at all times, London. Ace’s orders.”

“I’ll handle Ace. Go on down.” London walked with Carly to the bedroom door and closed it behind her. She hit the speaker button and fell back on the bed. “Jeez!”

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