Page 15 of Be With Us: An Urban Foursome Love Story

He brought Emilia forward, who was now feeling so shy she feared that actual butterflies might escape her mouth if she opened it.

‘This is my wife, Emilia.’

Amy reached out a hand to her, and said. ‘Well you are stunning, no wonder you found yourself a handsome man like this.’

‘Thank you,’ managed Emilia, grinning like a school girl. She had to stop herself from chewing her hair.

‘So what brings you two here then?’ said Mark.

Emilia tried to keep herself from stuttering, but as Cassian began to speak, she managed to interrupt him and get a hold of herself.

‘My sister gave us the tickets,’ she said. ‘She works for Berkshire Radcliffe, but they sent her out to Germany this week and she wasn’t sure if she would make it back in time.’

‘What does she do?’

‘Corporate solicitor and accountant,’ said Emilia. ‘What do you guys do?’

‘I’m a struggling artist, and muscles here thinks he’s Kevin Costner.’

Emilia frowned and look confused, but Cassian stepped in.

‘Mark is a bodyguard.’

Emilia’s eyes widened. ‘What sort of artist are you?’

‘Oh gosh, sorry, he’s not my bodyguard. Mark and I are married, but he works as a bodyguard.’

‘Oh, I see,’ said Emilia, embarrassed by her mistake.

‘As for your question, I’m a shit artist, but Mark gets paid a silly amount of money, so I’m fortunate enough to spend my days exploring my creative side, although I'm starting to wonder if I have one. What about you two?’

‘Marketing,’ said Cassian.

‘I’m a physiotherapist.’

‘So how does a physiotherapist and a marketing guru meet?’ she laughed.

‘How does a bodyguard and an artist meet?’ said Emilia, not quite ready to share their story of meeting at the age of fourteen.

‘Touché,’ said Amy. ‘Fine, I’ll go first.’

She leaned in closer, so she could talk a little more quietly. ‘I was dating the lead singer of a rock band and Mark was leading his security detail. One night, Mr Rock Star got fucked up on cocaine and whiskey and beat the shit out of me. Mark stepped in, and I began questioning my life choices.’

‘Oh shit,’ said Emilia, stunned.

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ said Cassian, taken aback.

‘And apparently, my life choices led me here,’ she swept her hand around the room and Emilia laughed.

‘So how did you end up with an invite?’ said Emilia, trying to divert the conversation.

’Through Mark’s company, his security team is working the event and they had spare tickets. Although I’m pretending that I’m a world famous but completely unheard of contemporary artist and that Mark is my elite bodyguard for the night. Mark, do the thing where you speak into your arm.’

Mark shook his head and laughed and then feigned looking serious, holding his wrist to his mouth. ’PPO-five to TFT, unauthorised members of the public in close proximity to priority one, request take down. Over.’

Amy smiled and bit her lip, ‘It turns me on more than I care to admit when he does that.’

Emilia let out a long slow breath in agreement, thankful for the mask which was hiding her blush. Amy reached out and touched her arm and laughed, then she took her hand and started pulling her towards the bar.

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