Being at work with Marcus went more smoothly than I thought it would. He stopped for a mont to chat with the security guy that worked at the front desk on the floor where my office was located. The story about Lauren’s recent (imaginary) stalker who had been threatening her and her family had gotten around the company, so no one questioned about Marcus or paid him much attention. Marcus did a quick sweep of my office before allowing to enter. He doubted that the phones would be tapped, and he suspected that I would likely be most vulnerable going to and from the front doors of the office building.
While I worked on my usual business transactions and accounts, I let Marcus use his laptop in my father’s office since I didn’t expect my father to show up for any reason. There was no need for Marcus to be in my space while I discussed personal matters about the business. Near the end of the workday, I received a text from Nick.
’Want to et up with us for dinner? Bernard wants to apologize,’ Nick’s ssage said. I rubbed a hand over my face. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to deal with Bernard, but I did want the opportunity to et up with Nick, Gabe, and Wade.
I sent a ssage to Marcus to let him know about possible dinner plans with the guys and Bernard. A few seconds later, there was a knock on my office door.
"It’s open," I called out. Marcus entered my office, closing the door behind him.
"Bad idea," Marcus said, seating himself in one of the chairs across from my desk. "This Bernard Sullivan could certainly be acting as a spy for Fitzgerald."
I frowned. "Good point," I said to Marcus. "Bernard did give the impression that he has been a patron at The Auction House for a while."
Marcus leaned forward. "Think about it, Roman," Marcus said. "If Bernard is reporting back to Fitzgerald, then they’ll both know sothing is up when Bernard finds out you have bodyguards."
"But you’re guarding us against a crazy stalker," I reminded Marcus. "Besides, Hannah and I are married. We have nothing to hide from Bernard. I honestly don’t believe Bernard is smart enough to pick up on anything outside of what we tell him."
"He’s bad news, Roman," Marcus insisted.
I thought for a mont. If Marcus was right and Bernard was a spy for Fitzgerald, it could potentially be a dangerous risk.
"You’re right," I agreed with Marcus. After all, he was the FBI agent. "I’ll invite my real friends and have them call off Bernard."
"Good," Marcus said.
’Stop by my place for dinner at 6. No Bernard.’ I sent the text to Nick.
A mont later Nick responded. ’Bernard has been kicked. The rest of us will be there at 6.’
Marcus and I left the office a little after five in the evening. I found Ed out back lounging by the pool when I got ho, while Hannah, Lori, and Lauren were inside the guest house. When I stepped inside the guest house, Hannah greeted with a hug and a kiss. My body responded to her closeness with longing, and I was looking forward to taking her to bed tonight.
"How’s it going in here?" I asked Hannah.
"As expected," Hannah said to . "This place is going to look completely different when they get finished with it." The guest house was a small bungalow with one bedroom and one bathroom, a full kitchen, and a cozy living room. Everything was decorated in black and white from the countertops and cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom to the upholstery on the furniture. "It looks fine to the way it is," Hannah said with a shrug, "but Lori wants to put her personal touch on it."
"I can’t bla her," I said. Hannah was facing Lori and Lauren with her back to , watching the two of them discuss ideas over an open laptop. I pulled Hannah toward , her back to my front, and wrapped my arms around her midsection. "Lauren will certainly train Lori to be an amazing interior designer."
"I have no doubt about that," Hannah said.
"I invited the guys over for dinner," I said to Hannah. "They wanted to bring Bernard over to apologize."
Hannah glanced over her shoulder to et my gaze. "That guy who caused a scene at our reception?" she asked .
"Yes," I said. She visibly cringed as she undoubtedly rembered the way that Bernard had drunkenly grabbed her ass on the dance floor.
"That guy gives the creeps," Hannah said. "I don’t want him here."
"You’re right not to trust Bernard," I agreed. "I don’t trust him either. Marcus said he could be a spy for Fitzgerald."
"That wouldn’t surprise in the slightest," Hannah said before turning around to kiss . I got a rundown of the changes that Lori and Lauren were going to make to the guest house before we all made our way back into the main house. Not long after we gathered in the dining room, the doorbell rang. Marcus and Ed hung back in the corridor where they were out of the way but could keep an eye on our guests. Nick, Gabe, and Wade arrived in their usual fun-loving moods. We all passed around hugs with laughter and a few jokes.
"Let’s eat," I said to everyone in the dining room. I took the seat at the head of the table with Hannah on my right and Nick on my left. Wade and Gabe sat next to Nick. Lori was next to Hannah, followed by Lauren. The staff arrived with our al as we all chatted and laughed together.
Halfway through dinner, the doorbell rang. A mont later, Marcus entered the room and whispered to that it was Bernard.
"What the hell," I said under my breath as I put my utensils down.
"Who is it?" Hannah asked , concerned.
"Bernard," I said to her in a low voice. Hannah frowned.
"Sothing up, Roman?" Wade asked .
"I’ll handle it," I said to Wade as I stood and excused myself. When I walked to the front door, Ed was holding it open, and Marcus was staring Bernard down.
"What the hell do you want, Bernard?" I asked him. "You’re not exactly welco here."
"Are these guys guards or sothing?" Bernard asked, narrowing his gaze at Marcus and Ed.
"Yes," I said dismissively. "You have sothing to say to , Bernard?" I asked him impatiently.
"Can I talk to you out here for a minute?" Bernard asked , indicating the front porch.
"Just say what you need to say and get the hell off of my property," I said to Bernard.
"Look, I’m sorry about what happened at your wedding," Bernard said unconvincingly. "I was drunk."
"I know," I said. "Anything else?"
Bernard glanced at Marcus and Ed, who hadn’t moved from my side. "What are they, like bodyguards?" Bernard asked .
"Apology accepted," I said to Bernard. "Have a good night." I indicated that Ed could close the door, and he did, cutting off whatever Bernard had to say.
"I’ll send a couple of security guys to keep an eye on him," Marcus said before walking off down the corridor to make a phone call. Ed stood near the dining room door as I reentered the dining room. All eyes were on as I took my seat. I t Hannah’s gaze.
"What happened?" she asked .
"He apologized," I said to her. "He’s gone. Marcus is keeping an eye on him."
Nick, Wade, and Gabe were watching expectantly. "You have security guards now, Roman?" Nick asked .
I shrugged. "Precautions," I said to them before eating a piece of my pork chop that I had left waiting on my plate.
"Actually, it’s because of ," Lauren offered. Now all eyes were on Lauren. She flipped her hair over her shoulder before she continued. "Stalkers," Lauren said. "This one has been the craziest one I’ve dealt with so far. Showing up lurking around my place and asking my neighbors about ." She speared a piece of broccoli and ate it, pausing her story to chew.
"If you’re the one with the stalker, why does Roman need bodyguards?" Gabe asked, confused. I eyed Lauren, who took a sip of her tea. I had no doubt that Lauren was capable of spinning a tale for the benefit of my friends.
"I certainly have security too," Lauren continued, "but before we could figure out who the guy was, he started calling Roman and leaving threatening ssages. While Roman and Hannah were gone for their honeymoon, security caras caught so guy lurking on the property here. The guy even started a fire at the far end of the lawn one night. We haven’t caught him, but clearly he’s a threat."
Hannah glanced at with her brow raised as if to say, ’damn, she’s good.’ I nodded at Hannah in agreent.
"We thought it was best for to hire bodyguards until the guy is caught," I added to Lauren’s tale.
"We actually think there are two of them now, working together," Lauren said to . "Maybe three. My security has picked up on so intel that leads them to believe it’s not just one guy."
"Sh*t," Nick said. "I didn’t realize that people still dealt with stalkers these days."
"I know plenty of other influencers who have stalker problems," Lauren said to Nick. She started naming off other won that she knew in the fashion industry and on social dia. I smirked as I noted how intently the guys were listening to Lauren. I t Hannah’s gaze and we shared a look of knowing. Every small victory counted in our efforts to keep our plans under wraps as much as possible.
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