30. Valerie
“Ithought you were meant to cook me dinner?” I tease AJ from where I am standing in his kitchen, stirring the pot of spaghetti I found in his pantry.
“You look much better doing it than I would have,” he says from where he sits on his sofa, just having gotten off the phone with Brady to check in about Club Vine security tonight. My cheeks heat as his eyes travel up and down my body. We spent all afternoon and early evening in his bed together, and now as I stand in nothing but his t-shirt, my hair pulled back and my makeup all gone, he still looks hungry for me.
I hear my phone beep with a notification. “Can you check that for me?” I ask him since I see my cell on the coffee table next to where he is. My phone has been blowing up all afternoon. I have ignored most things, so who knows what it will be this time. He hesitates, and I wait. I have nothing to hide from him, and I trust him, so I don’t care if he accesses my cell.
“Notification from socials…” he murmurs.
“Oh, it’s probably the girls. Or a new article in Society News,” I say, grabbing the pasta sauce I found in the cupboard and trying to open the jar.
“What the fuck?” He stands up abruptly.
“What?” I look at him, startled, as he strides over to me.
“What the fuck is this?” he asks, thrusting my cell at me. Grabbing it, I look at the screen and see the message.
I am going to enjoy ending you, you stuck-up little bitch.
I swallow. These messages are getting worse and worse. “It’s just keyboard warriors,” I say to him as my fingers move across the cell quickly, and I delete and block Valisdead123 from my social media.
“How often do you get them?” I can feel his anger rolling off him.
“Oh, you know, occasionally.” I try to act like it is no big deal, but my hands shake around my phone, and I hope he can’t see it.
“Look at me,” he growls. I toss my cell on the kitchen counter and look up at him. His nostrils flare. “How often do you get messages like that?”
“It was just every now and again, you know, whenever there was something in the press, or maybe if I uploaded a pic to socials…” I start, swallowing over the lump in my throat. “But it has been more and more lately.”
“And do they all say the same thing?” He looks at me inquisitively.
“Pretty much. All call me a whore and then tell me they want to end my life in some way, shape, or form.” I watch his jaw pop.
“What does your security team say about it all?” His eyes thin.
“You don’t have to worry about me, AJ. I’m perfectly fine,” I tell him, hoping to see him relax.
“What. Does. Your. Security. Team. Say?” He repeats the question slowly and with purpose. He is angry. I let out a breath, knowing that I need to be completely honest with him.
“I don’t have a security team,” I tell him.
“Yes, you do, those guys out front,” AJ says, looking confused.
“They are my father’s team. I don’t have a team. I don’t have anyone.”
“Why the fuck not? You are one of the richest women in the fucking country. Who has some sickos threatening you. You get harassed by the media and cameras every day.”
“My father always told me I didn’t need it. I had a stalker back—” I start to say, but he cuts me off.
“A fucking stalker? You had a stalker, and your father still didn’t give you security? Un-fucking-believable.” He releases a growly breath and runs his hand through his hair, shaking his head.
I turn off the stovetop so the pasta doesn’t boil over while we talk about this.
“AJ, it is fine. I’m fine.” Taking his hand, I bring it to my chest. “I’m safe. I’m healthy. I’m okay.”
“Those messages are not fucking fine. Your father hurting you is not fucking fine. None of this is fine, Val.” He is right, it’s not.
“Okay. I will organize some security,” I tell him, nodding to confirm it, and that seems to settle him a little.
“Good.” With a nod, his shoulders deflate the slightest bit, and his hand squeezes my hip like an extra reassurance.
“In fact, I will call them right now, see if they can start this week,” I suggest.
“Even better.” He watches me as I grab my cell and put it to my ear, listening for it to ring.
In that moment, AJ’s cell rings from where he left it on the coffee table, and he walks over to grab it. Picking it up, his head then whips in my direction.
“Security people these days… never answer their phones…” I murmur to him.
“Val,” he growls in warning.
“Does Fortress want the job of looking after me or not? Because I don’t trust anyone else,” I say, putting my cell back on the kitchen counter and crossing my arms over my chest.
His scowl is deep, his eyes piercing mine as he walks back toward me. “Your father will not get close to you again. Your penthouse access will be managed better… You will do everything I tell you to do…” He stops right in front of me, then continues. “And I will protect you with my life,” he says, softer now, and I know he means it. My heart thuds. This man is everything I ever dreamed of, and I am falling for him more and more every day.
“Looks like you got the job, then,” I say, before turning back to the pasta so he doesn’t see my eyes water. Because I believe in him when he says he will protect me with his life. I just hope it doesn’t come to that.