A thousand eyes…
A Revolution fic (No blackout Au): Sebastian (Bass) Monroe/Charlotte (Charlie) Matheson; Charloe.
Charlie is used to the limelight… as a daytime TV weather girl, she is used to being sent all over the world, talking about the weather in Chicago and the US while climbing mountains in Canada, snorkelling in the Bahamas, feeding pelicans in Tasmania, bungee jumping in New Zealand or swinging on a trapeze in Venezuela… Unfortunately, somewhere along the way she had acquired an obsessed and obviously very disturbed admirer. Her boss insists on hiring her a bodyguard, turning to the best in the business, her ex boyfriend and former Marine turned private security operative, Sebastian Monroe…
Rating M
Authors note: Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy! The title is taken from the lyrics of the song 'The night has a thousand eyes' by Wayne, Weisman and Garrett and recorded by Bobby Vee. It is also written for the lovely LoveForTheStory – who gave me some delicious prompts… so I hope you like this Love… Cheers, Magpie
A thousand eyes
Chapter 1. The eyes have it…
'I don't want a bodyguard, I don't need a bodyguard and I'm not going to have a bodyguard… and that's final…' Charlie gave her boss her most determined glare… Which didn't have quite the effect she intended given that Duncan was several inches taller than her, even with Charlie in her highest heels…
Duncan gave a long-suffering sigh and glanced longingly at the cup of coffee sitting over on her desk, she'd made the mistake of coming out of her office without it…'Charlie… it's the bodyguard or a desk job here in the office where I can keep an eye on you, its your choice…' the anxious look in her rich brown eyes and the tightness around her full lips were tell tale signs of how worried and determined she was – she was usually unflappable…
Charlie frowned and opened her mouth to speak again…
Duncan got in first…'It's just until the Police find that madman, Charlie… then you'll be fancy free again' her eyes softened, and she reaching out, putting her arm around the slim waist of the other woman…'I know you don't like it love, but please? For me…?' she steered Charlie towards the desk where her coffee was wasting away without her… 'And besides, what would your parents think if I was to let something happen to Chicago's favourite ever Weather Girl…'
Charlie sighed and felt herself caving…Duncan was very hard to resist at her most persuasive. Her friend and drinking buddy as well as her boss, she and Charlie had watched each other's backs in the cutthroat world of prime time television as well as the even more ferocious battleground of modern dating… 'Alright, alright, I guess I can put up with some hulking no neck hanging around the set for a little while, as long as he or she keeps out of the way…' They reached Duncan's desk and Charlie picked up the coffee, handing the cup to Duncan who took a grateful sip…
Charlie turned around and leaned her svelte tailored self against the desk, her white silk blouse clinging lovingly to her breasts, the gold circled M swaying on its delicate chain in the shadowed valley between them, her honey gold hair swinging in its carefully smoothed waves round her shoulders… she tilted her head, smiling up at Duncan…'So when does someone start guarding my body…?'
Duncan arched a beautifully shaped eyebrow and checked the time on her vintage Chanel wristwatch… 'He'll be here in half an hour…' she smiled back, a strange glint in her eyes…'He's very good, Charlie, but be careful; he's very…' her tongue snaked around her lips…'very… attractive - and very dangerous' she put the coffee down and put her hands on Charlie's shoulders…'and I'm only letting him near you at all because I know that he'll keep you safe…'
Charlie stared, intrigued…'Who is he?'
Duncan looked away, out of the picture windows at the panorama of the city spread far below, her eyes a little sad, a little pensive, a little angry…'an ex boyfriend of mine… a guy called Sebastian Monroe…' her head swung back, the dark hair swinging gracefully around the pale pink collar of her suit jacket…'and I mean it Charlie, don't let him get to you, he's… amazing… but he's a predator, that's part of what makes him so good at what he does…'
Charlie frowned…'I've heard his name before somewhere…'
Duncan nodded and dropped her arms, stepping back…'I thought you might have…' she picked up the coffee and took another sip… 'He was in the Marines with your Uncle Miles, and when they left the service they started up a private security firm together…' her eyes were distant, remembering….'They were good friends then, good fun too…' she chuckled…'we had some wild times… then he and Miles had a falling out over something in the past and Bass went out on his own…'
'Was that when Miles started drinking more…?'
The older woman sighed 'yeah…' she frowned again, 'everything went a bit sour then…' she stared into Charlie's eyes…'Do what he says Charlie, forget who he is, just think of him as your bodyguard, someone we're paying to look after you…nothing else…'
Charlie nodded…'ok…' she reached out and took Duncan's free hand…'you really are worried about my crazy stalker guy aren't you'
Duncan looked at a file sitting on her desk…'this creep went to the trouble of sending real letters to us, Charlie, through the post… no emails or tweets or dirty facebook messages that we could trace – he sent real letters...' her disgust was plain on her face…'and he's definitely crazy, some of the things he says about you are…just… crazy…' she heaved a breath and squeezed Charlie's hand…'and the police can only do so much, so yes, I'm worried… you're my friend and I'm worried enough that calling Bass is the best option I can think of…'
Charlie stood up and pulled her friend into a hug…'I'm sorry, Duncan…' she stepped back again and smiled up into the worried face…'I'll be good, I promise…'
Duncan huffed…'just do what he says Charlie, he might be a stone cold bastard but he knows what he's doing…'
….
Charlie spent the next few minutes in her own, smaller office a couple of doors down from Duncan's going through her travel itinerary for the next two weeks – she sighed, if it wasn't for having a crazy stalker and the bodyguard from hell she would have been really looking forward to this trip… She and the crew were heading off to Scotland, Ireland and the Hebrides the day after tomorrow, doing the castles, the great Glen, Loch Ness… Charlie spent a lot of time polished up like a city girl but she loved nothing more than getting out in the wild and the open air, and the history over there – wow, she was salivating just thinking about it…
Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door and her PA, Penny, opened it without waiting for anything as prosaic as a 'come in', sticking her head inside, her hair a wild, frenzied sideways mix of bright pastel strands; her lovely, kohl dark eyes searching for and riveting on Charlie, her full lips a sheer gleaming, smiling scarlet, vivid against the lustrous warm darkness of her skin… 'Hey sugar, you want to get your butt out here right now…you won't believe what just walked in, I swear it's a gift from God…' and she disappeared again, leaving the door open…
Bemused and wondering what had turned her usually serene elf wannabe PA into an excitable child, Charlie put her tablet down on her desk and went outside – then stopped and stared… Cluttering up the hallway outside Duncan's office were three of the executive PA's, as well as her own Penny, the quartet hovering like exotic butterflies around a tall, dark blond, figure, his body visible as a black shadow behind them, the muscular frame forbidding and unnervingly warlike in well worn, black motorbike leathers, helmet hanging from one hand, like something from the Terminator or Arrow – or Mad Max…
The guy seemed to sense her looking at him and he turned towards her, the cold blue eyes set in a spectacularly handsome face looking her up and down, appraising her, then sweeping like twin searchlights around the offices, open reception area and scattered, untidy work stations on the rest of the floor… He turned and spoke through the open door into Duncan's office, not bothering to go in or lower his voice… 'How the flying fuck do you expect me to protect anyone from anything in this place, Duncan?'
Charlie felt the blood fall away from her face … what the hell? Who did he think he was? She stalked down towards him… putting on the smile she used when her script called for her to do something that ended up being particularly nauseous, like getting her back poked by the dick of a randy tandem parachutist at ten thousand feet and falling while calmly and cheerfully reading the rainfall measures for the day from her auto prompt… She held her hand out politely for him to shake… her eyes meeting his with calm and deliberate politeness, her lips delivering a standard and meaningless 'Hello, you must be Sebastian, Duncan's told me so much about you….'
The PA's, including Penny, scattered, fluttering, to a safe viewing distance back with the gathering crowd of temps and assorted minions…
He seemed to loom over her as she got closer, those eyes watching her, strangely shuttered…the firm lips, framed by the moustache and light beard, curling in a smirk as he glanced down at her fashionably sky high heels and the slim, form fitting skirt, both items making her walk carefully, acutely aware of the risk of tripping, falling and looking totally stupid... He ignored her hand, pinning her with his eyes instead… 'Hello Charlotte, its nice to finally meet you…' then he dismissed her and turned back to Duncan, who stood in the doorway looking coldly furious but holding it together… 'Well, Duncan… shall we talk in your office or do you want the whole world to hear how badly you want me back…'
At that moment, absolutely the very last thing in the world that Charlie wanted to do was go into that office with that man and the only reason she was even considering doing it was that there was no way she was leaving Duncan alone to deal with a bastard like him – because even though she had every faith in Duncan – a friend just didn't do that...
Then he made a sweeping gesture with the hand not holding his helmet, one eyebrow raised and his lips twisted in a smile that managed to be completely offensive 'Ladies first…'
Charlie ignored him and turned to Penny…'Coffee please, Penny, five minutes...? Two skinny latte's…' she swept an impersonal glare up and down the leather clad figure… 'And a long black, no sugar for Mr Monroe…' the girl nodded; turned and ran… then Charlie gave Sebastian Monroe her tightest, most honey sweet smile and walked calmly past him into Duncan's office.
His eyes narrowed and a sort of amused appreciation came and went almost too fast to catch in the blue depths… 'Good guess' he murmured as she passed him, then he followed her in, shutting the door firmly behind them.
There was a moment of deathly silence then a hushed hubbub of conversation erupted that rose and fell excitedly round the big room, from work-station to work-station…
…
Inside, Duncan was already seated, her long legs crossed at the ankle and drawn to the side. She looked elegant in pink Chanel on her favourite white, wing backed leather chair in front of a large painting of huge and lusciously voluptuous crimson and vermilion flowers in the lounge area set in the far corner of the office. The glass topped wrought iron coffee table in front of her held a bowl of fruit, and a tray with a jug of iced water and tumblers. The soft, generously proportioned white leather sofa and firmer wing backs provided tasteful and comfortable seating, and a huge, white plush rug curled luxuriously underneath everything, defining the space and loudly proclaiming the wonders of wealth and position… the only jarring note was the plain manila folder lying on the table in front of her.
Sebastian Monroe bent down and placed his helmet on the floor just inside the door, then stalked across the room, dropping heavy and careless onto the sofa, spreading his tall frame out, the black leather startling against the white, one leg with a booted foot stretched out under the table, the other knee bent, the fingers of the hand on that side tapping, restless, on the well-muscled thigh… He looked as glaringly out of place in that setting as a timber wolf at a picnic… his eyes moving systematically around the room, cataloguing exits, windows, furniture… narrowing slightly as he noticed the balcony that ran along the outside of the room, accessible through double French doors behind the desk…
Charlie walked across to join them, her steps shorter than his by a long way, keeping her head high and her expression as blank as she could, hoping she looked as half as calm as Duncan... She couldn't help the flush that brightened her cheeks though, nor slow her breathing…. She hoped he couldn't tell but she wouldn't bet on it - she was pretty sure that Sebastian Monroe knew exactly what effect he was having on her…
She hadn't actually believed the things that Duncan had said about him… a predator? Really? But now she'd seen him… he had a brooding edge and an aura of sheer masculine power that sent shivers up her spine and even though she was still furious with him after what he'd said, she understood now why Duncan had warned her about him… the fact that he was drop dead gorgeous didn't help either…
She sat gracefully down in the other wing chair, although the effect was slightly spoiled when one of her heels caught in a loop of the rug and she had to lean down to untangle it - giving him an eyeful of her cleavage, the golden M of her necklace swinging and catching the light… his eyes drawn to it, his gaze falling on her breasts with the weight of torches and his lips twitching into a little smile… She frowned and blushed despite herself, carefully avoiding his gaze, and sat back up as quickly as she could, very straight, her tongue running over her lips… and he looked at them too, shit…
Duncan cleared her throat…drawing the eyes of the other two to her… 'Thanks for coming Bass, I appreciate how awkward it must be for you….'
He chuckled, a light brown brow lifting… 'Not nearly as awkward as it must be for you, Duncan…'
She shrugged and gave him a tight smile… 'Not at all…'
The tapping fingers stopped…'I'm glad…' he tipped his head towards Charlie…'So you've got a problem…?'
Duncan passed him the file across the table…'you could say that. Take a look and tell me what you think…'
He sat up straight and opened the file… then looked over at Duncan without touching the pages, 'are these the originals?'
She shook her head…'the police insisted on taking them…'
He frowned, fanning the pages out…'Copies aren't good enough - I'll need to see the originals…'
'I thought you would, I've arranged for you to have access whenever you want'
He nodded 'Good, we'll go down today...' he let out a breath…'are the Fed's involved or is it still just Chicago PD'
Duncan leaned forward, her hands tightly clenched on her lap, her eyes worried…'the Chicago police think that he's someone local, but I'm not so sure…'
Bass turned a few of the pages over…'the phrasing is consistent with that of a native English speaker, and the threats are not religious or judgemental… He…' he chewed on his lip… 'Yeah, I'm sure it's a he… He seems to be obsessed with the idea that Charlotte loves him but has betrayed him, abandoned him for money and fame and that to get her back he has to make her see that they're soul mates, meant to be together…'
Charlie shrugged, uncomfortable …'I'm sure everyone's making a fuss about nothing, I mean, I haven't abandoned anyone…'
Bass turned to her…'No old boyfriends, no lovers left at the alter, no disgruntled meteorologists…?'
'No…' Charlie shook her head…'no…of course not, that's ridiculous…'
His mouth twitched again…'well, something sent this guy's temperature soaring…'
Charlie glared at him, her eyes stormy… 'Will you please stop making stupid references to my job, Sebastian, you don't know me…'
He nodded to her, acknowledging that…'It's Bass… and you're right, Charlotte, I don't know you and I'm sorry, I haven't even seen any of your work yet….'
She hesitated 'That's ok, I guess, and I prefer Charlie…' then she looked over at him, confused 'Yet?'
He closed the file and relaxed back against the high cushions of the sofa 'Well, as I'm going to be your bodyguard…Charlie, there's going to be plenty of time for us to get to know each other…' he leaned forwards again and smiled at her, the sun catching in his hair, his leather jacket gaping at the throat, giving glimpses of little golden hairs curling above his tee shirt … 'In fact we'll be spending a whole lot of time together…'
Charlie suddenly found herself netted and caught by bottomless, sea blue eyes that drew her into their depths with the inevitable pull of tides…
Duncan cleared her throat…'Charlie?'
She tore herself away with an effort that she knew he saw, damn it….'Sorry Duncan, what did you say?'
Duncan sighed…'Charlie… I think that maybe I've made a big mistake…'
Charlie frowned… 'Now I'm confused, you were the one who said I should have a bodyguard and that he was the best'
Duncan glared at Bass…'yeah, I did, but I'd forgotten just how good he was…'
He smiled back at her…'Too late to back out now Duncan, you need me' he tipped his head towards Charlie… 'And she needs me, you know it…' the smile fell away until there was just a little trace of it left…'but don't worry, I'll be a complete gentleman…'
….
AN: I wanted to write a hard, strong Bass and a strong, vulnerable Charlie, and am having a lot of fun with this! I also liked having Charlie independent of her family, but having Duncan there worked. And don't worry Love, your lovely prompts are coming up (you know what they are…) and I think at least one of them will be in the next chapter… all the best, Magpie