Page 9 of Protect Your Queen

“Hello, I’m Christopher Ambrose. Chris. I’m new here…”

The man raised a brow. His head tilted as his eyes raked my body with a judgment that made me uneasy.

Jesus, did he hate my clothes too?

His eyes stopped at my shoes. Yup. He was judging my outfit. He pursed his lips with a nod as if he approved of what he saw, then looked over his shoulder before turning back to me.

“I’m Jareth Barkada,” he said with a posh British accent.

His name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. His deep, smooth tan made me wonder if he was one of those lesser known royals – AKA, not the British, but maybe he was a Thai prince or something? I wasn’t sure. He was most definitely a “client”, and not an “employee” type.

“I’m looking for Callum.” He looked over his shoulder, his almond-shaped eyes darting from closed door to closed door. “His office was locked. Is he at work today, or on assignment? I can talk to George Campbell instead, if he’s available.”

“Do you have an appointment?” I have no idea why I asked. I wouldn’t have the first clue on where to find the appointment book.

“No, just dropping in, I’m afraid.” He threw out his arm so that the sleeve of his wrist rode up to reveal a blue-faced Rolex Watch.

“Of course.” I don’t know why I said that either, but I definitely felt like the butler in one of those fancy BBC shows. I came around the desk as he turned his body to let me slip past him. “Let me just see if he’s in Mrs. MacLachlan’s office.”

I glanced up and down the small central conference area, and almost sighed with relief when I saw Lea’s door was ajar. That definitely meant she was in, so I went over and knocked.

“Ma’am?” I asked tentatively as I pushed the door open.

“Lea,” she corrected, and I could hear the eyeroll. She twirled a butterfly knife in her hand, the metal scraping together as the blade flew. It was a habit she had. She didn’t fidget. She just opened and closed that butterfly knife in a round, sweeping rhythm, over and over again.

“Someone’s looking for Callum…”

A high back chair in front of her swung around, and her husband’s redheaded mane poked up.

“I’m right here, just trying to spend some quality time with my wife.” The Baron smirked up at me. “Having twins at home means I rarely see her, so I figured I’d work in here to stare at her lovely face through my workday.”

“Fucking creep…” she grumbled, though she couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at her plump lips.

“Callum!” The man I had escorted there brushed past me, his arms out as the two embraced like old friends. “Good to see you. Where’s Geordie?”

“Handling something in Greece! You’ve just missed him. What can I do for you Jareth?”

Without invitation, the newcomer took the other seat on this side of the table as Lea looked at him like he was some kind of bomb, ready to explode.

“This is my wife,” Callum said, turning slightly in the chair so that all three of them were staring at each other.

I wanted to leave. I wanted to slowly back out like Homer Simpson into a hedge, but I hadn’t really been dismissed, so I wasn't sure if that would be seen as rude. I was scared of breaking some ridiculous social norm and attracting the ire of my bosses.

“Filipino?” Jareth asked of Lea, apparently that one word was a question in itself.

“Ah!” she smiled. Probably the first real genuine smile I had ever seen. “Marunong ka ba magtagalog?”

“I do!” He stood up and rounded the table, and the two embraced like old friends as well. Whatever she had said apparently made them the best of friends. “But for the sake of Callum, who looks like he’s about to punch me in the face, I think I’ll stick to English.”

Jareth chuckled as he went back to his seat. I took a look at the Baron of Strathlachlan, who was, indeed, staring daggers at his friend.

“No harm meant, old man. Though it’s funny to see you so protective. You were never this way with Pippa.” He leaned an elbow on the armrest, bringing a pensive hand to his chin.

“Pippa was…” The Baron started, but his wife cut him off.

“Don’t you dare say anything mean about her.”

Callum wiped his large palm over his face in agitation. “They’re now the best of friends.”

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