The Billionaire Babe

37. AJ

“Istill can’t believe this is her place,” Brady says, whistling low in appreciation, looking over Valerie’s penthouse apartment before he sits on the sofa next to Levi. He slumps in exhaustion. It’s day two of lockdown and we just got back here after walking the perimeter, ensuring everything is tight as dusk approaches.

The media are still camped outside, which itself provides protection because no one is coming in the front entrance for fear of being photographed. So far, we have updated all the locks and installed extras, and we have coded new passcodes into the entry of the complex and common areas. We’ve conducted daily security briefings with Victor and the security team from the complex down in the foyer and now have full access to their own security systems and processes. Considering this is our first full-time personal security gig, the boys and I have it under control, and I am not cutting any corners.

“Stop being a dick,” I tell him, as Cody sits at the kitchen counter, tapping on his laptop. Valerie is in her home office on a call, as her phone hasn’t stopped all day. I don’t know how she does it. Her world is imploding, yet she is calling staff from Van Cleef Corp to ensure they are all okay, speaking to business associates, trying to get in touch with board members. It is full on.

“So I have secured an overnight team. I have our top ten guys. One will always be downstairs, and I have another two always at the Van Cleef Corp office. Incognito, of course, and then we will work in rotating shifts with Valerie from there,” Cody says, having put the people together.

Her doorbell rings, and I strut to the wall and pick up the phone.

“Victor?” I ask. We have gone through this with him all day, practicing exactly the key words he needs to say so he remains inconspicuous to anyone else. We need Val secure and protected, and that includes anyone who has access to this building.

“AJ. George is here. Miss Van Cleef’s associate,” he says. I run my hand over my face, because there is still so much I need to know about her contacts. I look at the time, noting it is almost six, not late, not early.

“Send him up,” I say, putting the phone down and going to the front door to wait.

“What about comms?” I ask Cody. All three of us went through training years ago to become the security team we wanted to be. In addition to working in the field either at shopping malls or recently Club Vine, and the physical training we do, over the years we have completed everything from defensive driving training, first aid and medical, to various gun licenses, and terrorist training. This kind of job, protecting Val, is the kind of job we always wanted to do. The shopping malls and nightclubs were merely for revenue until we could find out how to get into the fold of personal and business security. Seems like Val has fast-tracked that for us.

“Got the team cells so far, and still working on other comms,” Cody says, and I nod. There is a knock at the door, and I look through the peephole and see an older man with a briefcase.

“AJ, I presume,” he says, looking at me with a raised brow as I open the door.

“George?” I ask, and he nods. I put my hand forward for him to shake, which he does. If Val trusts him, then so will I. I step back to let him in.

“Right, boys, what do you need?” he asks as he walks to the kitchen, places his briefcase on the counter, and sits on a stool near Cody.

“What are you offering?” Brady asks, standing from the sofa and walking over to him, watching him closely.

“Well, I have arranged cars, a few Escalades. One is downstairs already and the others are on their way; they should be here tomorrow. The glass is bulletproof, and each car has a tracker. I have wired a few hundred thousand to your account to help pay for any incidentals, and I have secured a three-bedroom apartment one floor down here in this building so you are always close to Valerie. You can use it as an office, for meetings, and can take breaks, or have privacy as you need throughout the day. It also has direct access to this floor with a private staircase in case you need to get here quickly.”

“Um, thanks?” Cody says awkwardly as we all look at George in surprise.

“Security of one of the wealthiest women in the country doesn’t come cheap, and Valerie has made it clear that you are the team she wants. She has put me in charge of helping her manage her business affairs, and her safety and security is paramount, especially now,” George says, and I sigh. The help is great, the money even better. I feel odd taking it from Val, but it is for our services, and we can’t protect her if we don’t have what we need. And we need to pay staff, as we are down to our last few dollars already.

“I appreciate your foresight,” I tell him.

“I have also had an offer from the Rothschilds,” he says, looking at me, and I frown in confusion.

“What”s that for?” I ask.

“They have a great security team, one of the best. Harrison is currently president, as you know. They have been through this kind of thing before. I am not sure if you are aware, but their mother often ruffled their feathers, not unlike Valerie’s father is currently doing. Seems the boys and Valerie have a fair bit in common. They offered to send a few of their security guys over to help out, talk through strategies and the like.”

My eyes widen. The first family offered us security team members?

“Sounds like something we would be interested in,” I say diplomatically.

“Shit, yeah, that would be great,” Brady says like a teenager, and I shoot him a look. He sees my reaction and clears his throat. “I mean, that is very nice of them,” he mumbles, and I shake my head at the guy who wanted Fortress to secure jobs in the top end of town, because he needs a fucking etiquette lesson.

“Oh! Hey, George,” Val says as she walks out from her office, and my eyes rest on the woman that I can’t believe is mine. She is wearing jeans and a white shirt, and her hair is up and she has glasses on that make her look like a naughty librarian. My hunger for her is instant. The past few days we have made up for my absence, but with the current issues and the continuous people in this apartment, we have barely been alone. Not as much as I would like to be.

“Hi, Valerie. I am just sorting out the security financials and getting the boys what they need,” George tells her, and she smiles.

“Thanks, George. I have no idea what I would do without you.” I watch their interaction as she gives him a hug. They are close, almost looking like what a father and daughter should be like.

She pulls back from him and instantly comes to me where I am on the arm of the sofa, sitting on my lap and falling back to rest on my chest. My arms curl around her waist, pulling her to me, keeping her secure.

“Boys, let me take you downstairs to your new apartment. I have the kitchen already stocked with food, and you can set all this up down there and we can leave these two to it for the night,” George says, and I smile. He might be pushing seventy, but he knows what needs to be done, and I nod at him in appreciation.

“Can I take Bordeaux?” Levi asks from where he is still sitting on the sofa. He has barely moved for days, his head stuck in the computer, the dog near his side. I never thought the name of a wine region in France would fall from Levi’s lips.

“Sure. Keep him close to you, though. He doesn”t like strangers,” Val tells him, and I watch Levi pick him up, hug him to his chest, and follow the three others out the door.

“Ahhh, do you hear that?” Val asks, looking at me with a small smile.

“No, what?” I’m on alert in an instant.

“Silence…” she whispers and takes in a deep breath, relaxing into my arms.

“You’ve been working hard,” I tell her, looking at her, worried. She is holding up pretty well, considering her life is exploding.

“So have you,” she says, her hand coming up to cup my face.

“You don’t need to worry about me, sweetheart.” I kiss the side of her head where it rests on my shoulder, knowing she has so many other things to be concerned about right now.

“Maybe not, but I like to worry about you. I like to think about you. I like to talk to you. Have you here with me.” I swallow harshly at her words.

“I like being with you too. I can’t stop touching you, ensuring this is real. That I have met someone like you.” My heart thuds. I have never been this open and honest with anyone before. I have never met anyone who gets me the way Val does.

As I kiss her neck, breathing in her scent, my arms wrap around her tighter. I could eat, I need a shower, I need sleep, but I need her more.

“Let’s go to bed,” she says quietly, and I lean down to kiss her as I stand. Her arms wrap around my neck, and I pull her ass up so her legs circle my waist. It feels good to have the penthouse to ourselves. It feels good to have her safe in my arms. I walk with her slowly, our lips on each other, the two of us taking our time, not our usual rushed selves.

“AJ…” She pulls back a little, her eyes finding mine.

“Yeah, sweetheart?” I ask as I close the bedroom door and walk us to her bed.

“Make love to me?” she asks as I lay her down. No one has ever said that to me before. Val and I have slept together plenty. Our sex life is mind-blowing and one of the reasons I fell for her so damn hard and fast.

I look at her and swallow roughly as my hands move to her front and lift her top from her body. I don’t know what to say, so I decide to show her my response with action.

“Come here, sweetheart,” I tell her softly, wrapping my hand around the back of her head and kissing her again. Tonight, I will take my time. Tonight, I will make love to my girl.