Chapter 2 - The men in suits
Something hard but still very comfortable.. and it smelled like a man's perfume. Was I at home? With Jack? I remember how I had answered my phone with a stressed Charles on the other line telling me to come home. I was on a flight home! I opened my eyes to see that I was resting my head on that strangers shoulder. I immediately sat up straight, looking embarrassed towards the stranger beside me.
"I'm so sorry... I fell asleep."
"it's fine, it was quite comfortable " he said and smiled at me.
I looked at him totally speechless. What kind of guy was this? He cares about strangers problems and now he flirts with strangers? Because he did flirt,right? Why else say something like that to a stranger? Of course I had to flirt back, he was a nice guy , no need to hurt his feelings.
"well, it was quite comfortable for me too."
he laughed. " yes, I noticed , you've been sleeping through the entire flight."
I laughed innocent. " I was tired..."
"it didn't bother me.. " he said and smiled.
And that smile was followed by a awkward silence. Lucky for me the captain started talking in the speakers. He told us that we should put our seat belts on and that we are landing in 5 minutes. I sighed in relief , which the guy next to me OF COURSE noticed .
" you want to hurry home ?"
"yea...to see what's going on.."
"I bet it's nothing terrible... " he said with a comforting smile
"Thanks.." I smiled at him.
The plane made a good landing and we both stood up fast since we both were in a rush. Somehow I found myself pressed against him in that small airplane. I was reaching for my bag, and he was reaching for his. Since none of us let the other get his/hers bag first we both reached over our shoulder causing our faces to be only inches away from each other. Our lips were inches away. He looked down at me without saying a word. I couldn't take my eyes of his lips for a second. I felt the sudden urge to kiss a stranger. Curious of what it would feel like. Exciting maybe?
We both turned away from each other, grabbed our own bags and walked out of the airplane. I never looked back at him. That magical moment was over and reality was here. Reality reminded me that I was home for a reason. I had only been gone for a week but it didn't matter.. I left my cousins for a week and they got in trouble.
I called a cab and he didn't arrive until 30 minutes later. I told him where I wanted to go and got in it.. it took me 15 minutes to arrive but when I stepped out of the car I was shocked.
There were loads of cars on the driveway and none of the guards at the gate were there.
I looked around for any guards but I didn't find them. It was dark and I walked towards the house with a bad feeling. 2 men , looking like guards , stood by the door but I didn't recognize any of them.
"Hello?" I yelled when I entered the house.
2 kids ran out of the kitchen and into my arms. They were both crying.
I wrapped one arm around Nick and the other around Bella. I kissed the top of Nick's head and then bent down to Bella. I lifted her up and carried the 5 year old crying girl on my hip. These kids had been through enough. Their father is , according to me, a workaholic. He cares about the job, the job and only the job. He owns this BIG company that he lives for. He has cleaning ladies working for him, chefs, and LOADS of money. And nannies of course , even though they never stay very long.
Ever since the kids' mum died giving birth to little Liam , he had berried himself in work leaving me to take care of his kids. There has been nannies and they have left as soon as they got here.
And my story ? I lost my parents to cancer . My mum died when I was 6 and my dad died when I was 15 . I'm the only child so I was left alone. My dad had never good contact with any of his brothers but when he died it said on my papers that I was going to live with one of my uncles . His name is Mike but he didn't want me so I was given to childcare. Paul Warner, (my fathers half brother) was kind and wanted to adopt me even if he already had 3 kids (Liam, Bella and Nick). To be honest it was his' wife that wanted to adopt me. It took 2 years to make it happen. I was 17 when I first moved in there. Now it's 8 years later and I'm 25, still living here.
I love them but 2 years ago when their mum died I all of a sudden had the responsibility of 3 kids.. that's a big shock for a single 23 year old. Liam is more like my own then my cousin, to him I'm the closest he got to a mum. Maybe I am capable of taking care of one now we are talking about 3!
The kids have their Nanny but I still don't have the guts to leave. I CAN'T leave them! I don't want them to grow up with hired people and no family... I'm the only family they have except for their dad, who's NEVER here.
"Nessa... something is wrong and " Bella sobbed, in my arms.
"Sch... It's okay now..."
I bent down and put her down. I held her hand and we walked in to the living room. The room was filled with men in suits. Nick , 12 years old, pulled in my hand and whispered:
" they are security guys..."
I looked down at nick and faked a smile. "Nick... can you take your sister into the kitchen..?"
" okay..." he said with a sigh.
The tired boy took his sisters hand and walked away.
About 10 strangers were sitting on chairs and in the couch and Paul was standing in front of them. Charles who was leaning on the wall behind Paul saw me and walked towards me. He saw I was scared of the situation and hugged me. He was more like my dad than Paul will ever be... Yes he is a employe but I like him very much. 10 faces was turned to us and Paul said.
"Vanessa ! I'm so glad you're here ! "
"Liar..." I thought to myself but instead I said : "can someone please tell me what the fuck is going on ?"
The 10 men looked at me as if I said something awful. Have they never heard a bad word before?
" uhm.. we are having a meeting..." He said, obviously uncomfortable by the situation.
"Fine, continue." I said, stubborn. I wanted to know what was going on and I wanted to know it now!
"Nessa. Please just go upstairs."
"I'm not leaving"
" Nessa.."
That was enough: " don't "Nessa" me. We both know you will leave tomorrow or the next day and I will be living here. So I deserve to know why I get a 911 call and hurries here, for what ? "
Charles peacked in from the kitchen and turned to Paul. "She's got a point , Paul."
Paul sighed. " Fine. The meeting is done anyway."
"So no one is going to inform me about what's going on ?" I said frustrated. And since no one answered me they only pissed me of more. " Who are these guys and what are they doing here !"
"They are security guys, drivers and body guards. " Paul answered.
" B... body guards `?"
"yes.. 4 guys at the gate. 1 guard inside the house (not concluding bodyguards) , 2 drivers and you'll have your own body guard. Nick and Bella will have their own too... "
" BODY GUARDS ? Are you out of your mind ? WHY ? "
"Nessa... it's for the best."
" and where will you be ?"
"I have to work..." he said a bit quiet. I could see he was a little bit ashamed by it. But apparently not ashamed enough to stay.
"Paul.. body guards ? What kind of life is that ? " I said.
" Vanessa... This is your body guard "
I looked over the 10 men and one man stood up and I immediately recognized him. It was the guy from the plane. The handsome sexy guy I met and wanted to kiss earlier ! Great . Could this day get any worse?
" I'm Zachary Efron and I'll be your body guard.. I'll make sure no one get's close too you and - "
I turned to paul, ignoring Zachary or what ever his name was. "Tell me why you hired body guards ! "
Zac sat down again and no one answered. Paul sighed , and then he opened his mouth and explained that he got threats from someone. When he went to call the police the phone was broken and his receptionist was unconscious. The threats were about his family and now he had called in the entire FBI to keep his "family" safe.
"unbelievable... I knew that the kids would have to pay for your lifestyle! I just hoped they would be older!" I said , angry. He deserved the truth from atleast someone!.
" Get some sleep, Vanessa..." he said, hopelessly.
" I will... except for all this guards, what else will change?"
"I will have to cut down on the staff in the house too... " he said, and I could see on his face that he knew my answer before I opened my mouth.
" You won't fire Charles right ?"
" I'm not in charges of who's going... these security guys are in charge now.. "
" Paul ! If Charles go, so do I. I don't care what the hell my body guard says. I'm out of here if you fire Charles.."
" I'll do my best..."
" you better. I'll go to bed."
I stormed out the living room and in the corner of my eye I saw that my "bodyguard" followed. I pretended that I hadn't seen him until I reached the stairs. I rolled my eyes at him.
"I'm not going to get shot on my way up the stairs... so you don't have to follow me"
"Hey... I know you're upset with the situation but you and I have to cooperate." he said while leaning at the wall. He seemed awfully confident.
"don't have to do anything for you..." I said, leaning towards him.
"I will do my job. That's what I'm here for. Now don't be so difficult." he said while standing close to her, looking her straight in her eyes. I decided to ignore him and pretend he didn't exist.
"Nick... Bella. Time to go to bed ! "
we walked up the stairs and I ignored him completely. I got the kids into bed and since it was 6 in the morning they fell asleep FAST. I looked inside my baby boy's room but he was asleep and clueless. I walked up the second stair to my room and Zac opened my door. It was 6 in the morning and I was in a awful mood...
"can I sleep now?"
" Yes. A man will be walking in the hall of all floors, all night. I will be sleeping in the basement with the other body guards." he said, like he was reading from a script.
"whatever.."
"I'll be here when you wake up.." he said, clearly not to happy about the way I was treating him.
" oh yey..."
"Goodnight miss Hudgens.." he said, still trying to be polite. I shut the door in his face, leaned on it and sighed.
"Night Zac … "SO! that was my next chapter and I hope you like it. The surprises have only started ;)
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