Close Protection

Epilogue Milosh

Five years later

‘I delivered three babies today!’ Daphne gloats as she dips into the car. I close the door behind her and round the car to sit in the driver’s seat.

‘Well done, baby,’ I praise, placing a chaste kiss on her lips and watching as she slips her engagement ring back on.

‘It was two girls and one boy, and they were all healthy with no complications!’ She sighs contently, as I start the car and pull out.

It’s been six months since Daphne started her new job at the Howard Memorial private hospital and I’ve yet to fail to pick her up after her shift. I had a meeting with a new client today so I’m in the Tom Ford suit Daphne chose for me the day I accepted the job as CEO of Greenway Security. With Amelia’s business, admin and finance background she joined, along with Henry, and, with the support and guidance of the Greens, in the last five years Greenway Security has become the top private security company in England.

While Daphne was training to be a midwife, I attended university part time to get a Business degree so I could do my job to the best of my ability.

Daphne’s phone rings and she puts the caller on speakerphone.

‘Hi, Daddy, you’re on speaker.’

‘Hey, Milosh. Hey, Daph, you on your way?’

‘Milosh just picked me up. I’m gonna go home, change, and then I’ll be right over.’

‘All right, but you know this is a surprise baby shower. It won’t be much of a surprise if you arrive at the same time as Amelia, will it?’

‘Yes, Daddy, I’m aware.’ She sighs.

‘Okay, well, I’ll see you in a bit then. Love you.’

‘Love you, bye.’

She hangs up the phone just as we pull into the parking garage of her apartment.

‘How did the meeting go?’ she asks me as I open her car door.

‘It went well. They ended up signing on for three years and they need a lot of security. They’re now one of our biggest US clients.’

Once Daphne finished university we decided to move to Chicago so I could be more hands on as we opened up the US division of Green Security. I proposed six months later and immediately bought land to start planning our for ever home. We’re getting married in four months and will be back from our honeymoon three weeks later. By then the house will be complete and we can officially start our lives together.

‘That’s amazing, Milo!’ Daphne says as we make our way up in the lift.

‘Thank you, Miss Green.’

‘You know, one of these days you’re going to have to get used to calling me Mrs Petrova?’

‘Mrs Petrova does have a nice ring to it. But you’ll always be Miss Green to me.’

She smiles, walking into the apartment, heading straight for her dressing room.

I go to the kitchen to get a drink just as my phone starts buzzing.

‘Yeah?’

‘We have a problem,’ Henry’s voice says.

‘What?’

‘We’re on our way back now, and not even half the guests are here.’

‘Well then, stall her,’ I suggest, opening a bottle of water.

‘Wow, aren’t you a genius,’ Henry quips. ‘I’ve already tried that. I’m at a smoothie bar now getting her a drink.’

‘Go and look for a pushchair or something then, that’ll take ages.’

He pauses, probably mulling over my brilliant idea. ‘Okay, that could work. I’ll text you when we’re on our way.’

I hang up and finish my drink, leaning against the counter and scrolling through my phone answering a few emails and smiling at a picture Susie, George’s new wife, sent the group chat of them on their most recent holiday. After the Daveeno case, George completely gutted his house, wanting to be rid of any bad memories, and started over. He hired Susie as the interior decorator, swiftly fell in love – for real this time – and proposed within two years. They got married last year and often go on long holidays, exploring the world together. She sent the photo now to throw off any suspicions Amelia has about the surprise baby shower that’s being thrown for her.

Henry and Amelia moved with me and Daphne to Chicago and have the house right next to our soon-to-be home where the surprise party is gonna be held.

‘What do you think?’

I look up and Daphne has effortlessly transformed from Midwife Daphne to regular Daphne.

She’s wearing a pale pink midi dress with the diamond earrings I bought her as a graduation gift. Her hair is in a curly half-up, half-down style and she’s applied a light coating of make-up to her face, just highlighting her beauty.

‘I think you look hot, Mrs Petrova.’ I walk over to her and grab her waist, my hands costing her soft curves.

‘I wasn’t going for hot, I was going for classy.’ She pouts.

‘Fine, then you look regally hot, Mrs Petrova,’ I murmur against her neck, dotting soft kisses down her throat.

‘Regally hot,’ she sighs. ‘I like that, you should say it more often.’ Her hands find my hair as she directs me where she wants me.

‘Will do, Mrs Petrova.’ I stop kissing her and look up at her. ‘You’re right, by the way, Mrs Petrova is better.’

She laughs. ‘I never said it was better, I just said you should start calling me that.’

‘Well then, Mrs Petrova , let’s go before we’re late.’

‘Good idea, Mr Petrov. ’

She takes me by the hand as she leads me out of the apartment, back to the car.

All I can do is smile.

This girl transformed my black world into one of love, laughter and pink. Every day she finds a new way to amaze me and every day I remind her of that fact.

I stop her short of the door, spinning her around to look at me. ‘I love you, Mrs Petrova.’

She smiles softly. ‘I love you too, Mr Petrov.’