"I saw that slanderous story in the paper against you Lara, so I thought I would come and see how you were holding up." The deep but friendly voice spoke. Lara sat in front of the tall, muscular man, her legs wrapped underneath her on the cool metal of the garden chair. She wiped her forehead with the back of her bruised hand.
"I wish I could say that things were ok." She sighed heavily and took a sip from the glass of ice water in front of her. "I wish I could make this whole thing just disappear. You've had experience in the armed forces, how much is it to make someone disappear?"
"Oh honey, I know that James has hurt you, I can see that you still bear the scars from his bout with you." He leant over to reach his own drink.
"It wasn't him I wanted you to make disappear." She said under her breath.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Oh nothing, do the bruises really look that bad?"
"Well I won't lie to you honey, you don't look as amazing as what you usually do. Although put it on Milan's catwalks and it would be all the rage." Lara smiled at him. "I bet you get some comfort knowing that he probably looks just as bad as you do."
"How do you mean?" She asked.
"Well you did give as good as you got didn't you?"
Lara sat swilling what was left of the half melted ice around her glass. "No, he overpowered me." She said almost in a whisper.
"You let him overpower you? Lara he's a weed. Even Hillary is bigger than him. How did…"
"He just did, I wasn't expecting him to do that. I didn't think he had followed me…" Lara started to get worked up and the glass slipped from her hand smashing into pieces on the floor. The ground drinking up the precious liquid that had been spilt. Immediately the tall stranger knelt down to stop Lara picking up the pieces. Grabbing both her hands in his.
"What really happened sweetheart?" He asked gently. Lara shook her head as though trying to clear her mind.
"I'm sorry was I babbling? James must have hit me harder than what I thought." She smiled, she sounded convincing but he had known her far too long to let her try and fool him.
"Tell you what. I know a way you need never be in that situation again. I'm meant to be retiring the end of this year so how about I leave early and come over every day and train you."
"How do you mean?" Lara asked.
"Well, we could do some strength training, I could show you some boxing and karate techniques. Maybe do a bit of yoga."
"You do yoga?" Lara let out a small laugh.
"Hey cheeky, come on what do you think?"
Lara thought about how empowered she would feel, to know that the next time Neal tried to come near her that she would be able to fight him off. Make him feel the way she had felt, in pain and afraid. She felt instantly better, she would be improving her own situation. She had never done anything like this before, had never took charge of any aspect of her life and it thrilled her.
"I think you better hand in your notice. I want to start tomorrow. Is that ok?" She held out her hand. He took it in his and shook it.
"It's a deal!"
From inside the house Hillary was looking outside the window at his young employer. A smile spread along his face. David Donaldson was the best in his business and had known the Croft family for years, his father had served with Lord Henshingly in the forces and he had followed in his fathers footsteps. After an injury David had decided to retire from the heavy works of training and just do his own thing. Maybe do some travelling, see the world but after hearing from Hillary about Lara he knew this was his calling. He was retiring for a better reason than his own.