The following morning Albert knocked on the doors to Rose's wing. She was accompanied by a beautiful tall young blond lugging a suite case behind her. Dimitri greeted them at the door. Alberta quickly excused herself after introducing the blond simply as Ms. Hathaway's guest. Dimitri knew this woman wouldn't be allowed on the grounds, let alone Rose's wing, if she hadn't been thoroughly checked and approved by Pavel.
As soon as Alberta was gone the blond whirled on Dimitri. "I assume you're the bodyguard".
Dimitri nodded and extend his hand. "Dimitri Belikov".
"Lissa Dragomir", the blond shook his hand with a small smile. "Where is she?" Lissa asked, excited to see her friend.
"Still sleeping".
"Rough night?" She asked sympathetically.
"No. Why?" Dimitri asked, eyebrow raised.
"She didn't wake up screaming?"
Dimitri shook his head, "No".
"She slept through the entire night?" Lissa continued her onslaught of questions.
"Yes, she's been asleep since 10PM. What is going on?" Dimitri got the distinct feeling that he was missing something.
"Rose never sleeps through the night. She wakes up screaming when she doesn't take her meds, which are currently in my suite case". Lissa looked panicked. "And she never sleeps in, either. Something's wrong. Where's her room?"
Dimitri lead Lissa to the bedroom at the end of the hall. When they reached the door Lissa raced into the room and found Rose's bed unmade and the room empty. "No no no no!"
Dimitri still wasn't fazed. "Lissa, can you fill me in please?"
"I should have know this would happen", Lissa mumbled to herself. "We have to find her before she does something stupid!"
Lissa's panic was contagious, but before Dimitri had a chance to go full Hulk Smash, the door to Rose's ensuite opened and the bleary eyes brunette step out.
"Lissa?" She asked, stifling a yawn and wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Rose!" Lissa lunged at Rose in a bear hug, nearly toppling them both over.
Relief flooded Dimitri. "Are you alright?"
"Never better, why?" Rose was utterly confused.
Lissa answered. "Rose's it's 9 AM. You slept through the entire night without your meds". Lissa was almost incredulous. She looked back and forth between Rose and Dimitri several times. "What happened last night?"
The girls sat on the bed. Dimitri would have left them to their privacy, but after the near scare he didn't want to let Rose out of his sight just yet. Instead he opted for the traditional bodyguard position, blending into the wall behind him.
"I watched a comedy central special on Netflix. I think I fell asleep on the couch. I must've gotten up at some point and come to bed". Rose theorized, looking a bit miffed.
"If I may," Dimitri interjected. "You did fall asleep on the couch, but that didn't look too comfortable so I carried you to bed".
Rose was surprised but the gesture. A flutter went through her at the thought of being in Dimitri's arms. "Thanks comrade", she said shyly.
"So, Dimitri here tucks you in at night and you don't have nightmares?" Lissa was sceptic, to say the least.
"Whatever", Rose brushed it off. "I'm late for my workout so I'm going to hop in the shower. Dimitri will you please show Lissa her room?"
"Of course".
As soon as the door to Rose's bedroom was shut, Lissa gave Dimitri a glare that would've frightened him if he hadn't grown up with 3 sisters.
"What the hell happened last night?" Dimitri didn't like the accusation in Lissa's tone.
"Nothing", he answered.
"That's crap. Tell me exactly what happened. And I'll know if you're lying." Lissa never thought she'd use the same tactic her mother used on her just a few years ago.
"Nothing happened. When whatever the hell Rose put on Netflix was over I saw that she was asleep. I picked her up, carried her to bed, laid her down and pulled the covers over her."
Lissa narrowed her eyes. "What aren't you telling me?" Lissa had a nose for lies. She could sniff them out a mile away.
Omission was not the same as lying. But Dimitri was no liar so he told Lissa the truth, looking only a little abashed. "I tucked her in, pushed the hair from her face, kissed her forehead and said good night and sweet dreams in Russian".
Lissa looked taken aback. This was not the response she was expecting. Looking at Dimitri then her features softened. "Look, for some reason she feels safe with you. Having only know you for a day, she trusts you. So I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, for now". Then the glare came back. "But know I'm watching you. So you better do your job and do it well. She's my best friend, sister even. If anything happens to her because of you, you won't have to worry about what Abe will do to you because he'll never find your body when I'm done with it." For the first time in a long time, Dimitri was scared. Not because he believed that Lissa could dismember him but because of her conviction. She believed it.
With her threat still hanging in the air, Lissa turned cheerfully to the kitchen. "Now that that's settled, I'll make Rose her morning coffee otherwise she'll be bitchy all day", Lissa giggled.
Dimitri was concerned by Lissa's behavior. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde came to mind. Couple that with the fact that Rose needed medication just to sleep thru the night, he was beginning to wonder if he'd ever live with a woman that wasn't a handful.
Dimitri followed Lissa to the kitchen, hoping to eventually shed some light on Rose and her nightmares. "Rose doesn't make her own coffee?"
"No! Rose isn't allowed in the kitchen!" Lissa answered as if Rose doing anything in the kitchen was absurd. Which it was, but still. "Last time she tried to boil an egg, she charred half the cupboards in the kitchen and singed off one of her eyebrows".
"Good to know. So how did you two meet?" Dimitri asked a seemingly small-talk question, but he was, in fact, fishing.
"Two years ago I was on a date with some guy. Believe it or not, Rose was our waitress". Lissa smiled at the memory. "Anyway, this guy was obnoxious, I don't even know why I agreed to go out with him. He got drunk and handsy. I wanted the date over with. Reluctantly I let him walk me to my car. There were no spaces in front of the restaurant so I had to park in the alley". Lissa took a deep breath as if to prepare herself for what she was about to say. "When we got to my car he got violent. Pushed me against the car, ripped my dress, slapped me." Lissa let out a shaky breath. "Lucky for me, Rose was doing the busboy a favor and stepped out the back door to toss the trash. She stopped him before he did any real damage. Other than the damage to my psyche". She got a far off look in her eyes. "I'll never forget the way she looked as she lent me her hand to help me up from the ground. She was like an avenging angel, complete with a halo".
Just then Rose emerged from her room and joined them. "And we've been besties ever since", she completed the tale in a mocking tone. "You know I hate that you make me out to be the hero of your story. And that halo was the street lamp behind me".
"You saved me from that asshole. That pretty much makes you my hero, Rose". Lissa said adamantly.
"Anyone would have done the same". Rose mumbled.
"Don't sell yourself so short, Rose". Dimitri intervened. "You did a brave thing".
"I guess". Rose tried to shrug it off.
"Plus you ruined his Armani suite when you threw his worthless ass in the dumpster," Lissa added. "You closed the lid so he'd stay in there for safe keeping till the cops showed up". The girls giggled.
"Some avenging angel. You forget the part where the asshole busted my lip". Rose shook her head in annoyance.
Hearing that someone had harmed Rose stirred something in Dimitri. The grip he had on his glass of water tightened so much that he shattered it in his hand. The sound of it caused Lissa and Rose to gasp. Lissa sprang into action clearing the glass from Dimitri's hand and checking for injuries. Rose brought the bin and collected the shards. Thankfully, Dimitri didn't damage his hand.
"Are you okay?" Rose asked worriedly.
"Fine, I guess that glass was just extra thin". Dimitri brushed it off as nothing.
Rose could tell he wasn't comfortable with two girl doting on him, though he probably should have been used to it, having grown up with two older sisters. "I am going to finish my coffee and head to the gym. You joining me?" Rose asked Dimitri, who nodded gratefully for the escape from his embarrassment. "Great, that'll give Lissa a chance to unpack". Rose smiled.
Fifteen minutes later, Rose and Dimitri where in the gym. Rose told Dimitri her regular routine - 5 miles on the treadmill followed by weights. On the odd days, she'd finish with a couple of boxing rounds, provided that she had someone to spar with. If not she'd assault a punching bag.
"What do you do on even days?" Dimitri asked.
Rose smirked. She loved even days. "Lucky for you, today's an even day. I'll show you later. And tomorrow we spar", Rose smirked at Dimitri's raised eyebrow. She then asked, "How about you? What's your routine?"
"Even days I run 10 miles, which I already did while you were sleeping. And on odd days I run 5 miles and lift weights. I try to spar as often as I can, always looking for a partner." Rose smirked, thinking of the ways she could surprise Dimitri with her skills when they spar.
"Maybe," Rose pondered, "I should ask Abe to get another treadmill in here, so we won't have to alternate and actually work out together. What do you think?"
"I think that's a good idea. Though, I usually run at 6AM, so I'm not sure that'll be a problem".
Rose scoffed. "I work out at 6AM, I just overslept today. It was a complete fluke!".
Dimitri raised his hands in surrender. "Okay then. 2 treadmills. Do you work out every day?" Dimitri asked as Rose got on the treadmill to start her run.
"No. Saturdays are my day off. Though I do go swimming on those days. And as luck would have it, there's an indoor pool right under us". Rose smiled.
Dimitri's mind instantly wandered to Rose in a swim suite. He mentally slapped himself.
"Do you swim?" Rose asked.
"I do, but I didn't bring swim trunks when I took this assignment". To save himself from any unnecessary humiliation as his mind wondered to swimming with Rose on Saturday, he quickly changed the subject. "You know some claim that running outside is more effective than running on a treadmill. And the perimeter of the grounds is 5 miles."
Rose smiled. "That actually sounds like fun. I hate treadmills". Then her smiled failed. "I don't think Abe would like it if I was out in the open like that".
"Well technically, you'd still be within the walls of the compound. And you wouldn't alone. I'd be with you all the time".
Rose smiled widely at the thought. Even though she knew it was Dimitri's job to hover, she liked imagining that he enjoyed being around her.
Dimitri continued after Rose's hesitation, "If that's something you'd like I can consult with Pavel about running outside tomorrow".
Rose bit her bottom lip to conceal her excitement and nodded. She felt silly getting excited about running outside, but it probably had more to do with running with Dimitri and less to do with the scenery.
When Rose was finished with her run and weights, it was time for the fun part.
"Throwing knives?" Dimitri asked incredulously as Rose showed him her assortment of knives.
"Not just knives. I throw ninja stars too". Rose smirked. She lifted a knife in her left hand and threw it at the target missing it spectacularly.
Rose threw another knife, then another. Even when she hit the target the knife didn't penetrate the target and got tossed back. One time her knife ricocheted and almost hit Dimitri in the foot.
"How long have you been doing this?" Dimitri asked carefully.
"A few months", Rose shrugged. "Why?"
"No offense, but you're not very good at it".
Rose stopped with her arm lifted mid way before releasing her next knife. Instead she flipped it about a foot into the air and caught it in her right hand. Without taking her eyes of Dimitri's, Rose flung the knife from her hand. It landed dead center with a loud thud. "I'm right handed, comrade." Dimitri returned her hundred watt smile.
"I'm also pretty proficient with a bow and arrow, and a crossbow. Don't even get me started on my gun skills".
That just made Dimitri smile grow wider and his eyes grow lustful. The only thing finer than a fine woman holding a gun, was a fine naked woman holding a gun. Dimitri was quick to wipe the emotion from his face, but not quick enough. Rose bit her lip at the look he got. She turned back to the target and flung another knife with her left hand.
When Dimitri was done silently chastising himself, he started giving Rose pointers on how to throw using her left hand. He was quite skilled at hitting his target. He didn't graduate top of the academy for nothing. Rose had a sneaking suspicion that Dimitri excelled at every thing he did.
After they practiced for hours Lissa called Rose and Dimitri for lunch. Alberta brought a tray pilled with hot sandwiches, fries and condiments.
While they were eating Lissa told Rose that Abe had invited the three of them to dinner at 7 o'clock in the main dinning hall.
"If he expects me to put on a dress he is sorely mistaken", Rose huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Alberta didn't say anything about a dress code, sweetie", Lissa tried to calm Rose. "Let's just go with casual". Rose nodded.
"Rose, I was wondering if we could discuss your schedule", Dimitri asked. "It'll be easier for me to do my job and you'll be safer if I know where you are at all times".
"I don't really have a schedule. I get up early, eat breakfast, train, have lunch, watch tv or play video games, then it's dinner and I'm off to bed. Not very glamorous". Rose shrugged and took another bite of her sandwich.
"That sounds like you don't leave the compound much", Dimitri speculated. Rose nodded. "Don't you go out to restaurants, meet friends? Shopping?" Dimitri almost didn't want to know about the shopping. He hated shopping.
"Abe has a five star chef on staff who makes me anything I ask for. The few friends I have know I hardly get out, they always come to me. As for shopping, I do that online."
Lissa testified, "Rose hates shopping, I've never met another person with a bigger aversion to shopping than her". Lissa directed the next bit at Rose "What kind of girl are you?"
"One that doesn't like to shop", She muttered.
"It's not healthy to stay cooped up, even if it is in a mansion", Dimitri said quietly. "You need to interact with other people".
"I really don't", Rose smiled darkly. "Other people are just complications. I have everything I need here".
Dimitri was puzzled. Rose met Lissa while she waited tables, she used to have sparring partners, she learnt how to throw knives from some one, her technique was too good for it just to be amateur. It seemed to him that Rose being a recluse was a new development.
"What if you want to do tai chi or yoga? You'd have to leave to go to class, wouldn't you?" Dimitri asked. He was baiting Rose to see her response.
"I'd get Abe to hire an trainer who would come here", Rose said, matter of factly.
"Let me guess, you have Alberta do your grocery shopping as well?"
"What groceries?! All I eat is junk food and food that the chef prepares". Rose really wasn't getting Dimitri's point. She was young and she needed to get out and interact with the world. The longer she stays hidden away the more difficult it will be for her later on.
Lissa stepped in and stopped where ever it was this conversation was going. "That's enough Dimitri. Rose doesn't have to go out if she doesn't want to".
Trying to lighten the awkwardness, Rose deflected the same question back to Dimitri. "What's your schedule?"
Though he didn't know why this would interest Rose he answered anyway. "I wake early, check the wing before breakfast, exercise, have lunch, check the wing again. Then I check the surveillance footage, have a daily update meeting with Pavel. Dinner. And I do a final perimeter check before bed".
"Can I join you next time you do your rounds?".
"Sure", Dimitri answered too quickly. Her interest in the matter intrigued him.
Then Rose realized something. "Wait, you don't take time off during the day?"
"I wouldn't even know what to do with time off during the day", Dimitri tried to joke. His job doesn't afford him too much down time.
"You have to have a hobby". Rose said.
"I like to read".
"Weirdo", Rose said under her breath.
Lissa rolled her eyes, "Rose thinks skimming through a magazine counts as reading".
"You can take time off during the day, Dimitri. Seriously, you're guarding someone inside a compound that has more security than Fort Knox. Nothing will happen".
"I'll think about", Dimitri said to appease Rose. He wasn't really going to think about. Not after what happened. He couldn't and wouldn't take time for himself while he was guarding her. Period.