Page 3 of Guarding the Billionaire

“Her attorney thinks whoever came for the parents will be after her next and with good reason,” Lois explained. “She’s gotten some threats, and the other day someone cut her brake lines. I’m guessing her security team is not exactly stellar.”

“What’s the motive to kill her?” I asked.

“Probably the usual. Money. Someone wants control of the company and its assets,” Lois said. “There’s an entire cast of characters who stand to make a claim if Flora Meyer bites it.”

My boss was nothing if not sensitive.

“Who’s coming with me?” I asked.

“We don’t want to alert current security that we’ve got another set of eyes on her, just in case they’re involved,” Lois said. “You’re going in alone. You can be her new personal trainer.”

“How am I supposed to protect her at work if I’m a trainer?” I asked. “Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to be her assistant or something?”

Lois shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out. Whatever you do, don’t pretend to be her girlfriend.”

“Why? Is she straight?”

“I have no idea. All I know is every time one of you idiots pretends to date a client you wind up falling in love with them.Let’s try to keep this one professional, okay Taylor? I’m running a security company here, not a goddamned matchmaking service.”

Flora

“Idon’t know about this Henry. Are you sure it’s absolutely necessary for me to hire a bodyguard?”

“Flora, we can’t ignore the threats you’ve been receiving. And that business with your car…”

“I remember,” I interrupted, not wanting to be reminded about the day last week when I pressed on my brakes at a stop light and nothing happened. I’d just narrowly missed having an accident in a major intersection before careening down a steep hill and through a city park before hitting a patch of thick shrubs that finally stopped the car. It was a miracle no one was killed. Especially me, given that we’d later found out that my brake lines had been cut.

“I already have a security team at home and the office,” I reminded him.

“Yeah, and they let your car get tampered with, so right now you have to assume that no one can be trusted,” Henry continued.

“Even you?”

I’d known Henry Shapiro my entire life. He was the best man at my parents’ wedding and had been our family’s personal attorney for as long as I could remember. He and his late wife were my godparents.

“Your father was my oldest and dearest friend. I’d protect you with my life and, as you know, I have more money than I know what to do with, so I don’t need yours. Even so, I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest you be cautious around everyone, including me.”

I sighed. “Okay, when does this bodyguard arrive?”

“She should be there by noon. Her name is Teresa Taylor.”

“What firm is she from?” I asked.

“They’re called Sapphic Security. It’s a well respected company with offices around the world. They’re a bunch of ex-military types, primarily women, but every one of them is tough as nails. They have a great success rate, probably because most of them are supernaturals.”

“Supernaturals? Wow, that’s unusual. I didn’t know they were allowed to serve in the military.”

Unbeknownst to most humans, there was a supernatural world that operated alongside our own. Vampires, witches, and even shapeshifters lived as humans, except when they didn’t. My mother had some shifter cousins, so we were a little more up to speed on the supernatural world than most humans. The average person was completely unaware of their supernatural neighbors, and my understanding was that the supernatural creatures preferred it that way.

“Oh yeah, they always have served. It’s encouraged, actually. Some of them are embedded with humans, but most of them are assigned to special units working on covert ops or the types of assignments the military likes to pretend they’re not involved in.”

“How am I going to explain this person’s presence if I can’t say she’s a bodyguard?” I asked.

“She’s going to be your personal trainer.”

I laughed out loud at that. “Henry, you know I don’t like to break a sweat.”

“Well I figured you could get healthy while we’re figuring out who’s trying to kill you.”

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