Chapter 13 #2
“Thanks, Addie,” Claudia laughed. “I think I just needed to hear someone say that. Tyson believes in me, of course. But he’s also super protective and doesn’t want me to strain myself picking up a bag of apples let alone taking too much business.
It feels good talking to a girlfriend again.
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to. ”
Addison wanted to ask Claudia why she hadn’t been able to confide in friends, but suspected it had to do with the psycho ex-boyfriend. Instead she said, “I know what you mean, I’ve been so focused on work lately that I haven’t had a lot of time for fun.”
She could feel the gears in Claudia’s brain working. “Then we should definitely do something fun. You, me and Anya. I think you’ll really like Anya. She’s my only other friend here and she’s great. But I should warn you, she can be a handful.”
“Aren’t we all?” Addison said with a laugh.
“Tyson would agree with that!” Claudia said with feeling.
“It took a lot of arguing for me to convince him and Daniel that I should have a woman for a bodyguard. In fact, after all the failed interviews this week we’re pretty much back to square one on that matter.
I feel like I’ve argued myself blue in the face with those two! ”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Addison said sympathetically.
She rather agreed that Claudia should be able to have a female bodyguard if she wanted. It made perfect sense, but she understood exactly what it was like to try arguing with Daniel Mercer about anything. Impossible.
“There’s one more interview tomorrow, she’s my last chance. If she doesn’t make it then I’m back to picking one of Daniel’s meatheads for the job. Apparently this one’s from Japan and has only moved here recently. Is it wrong of me to hope she’s like ‘The Bride’ from Kill Bill?”
“Are you going to be there during the interview?” Claudia confirmed that she was, and Addison asked thoughtfully, “Why do the women keep failing?”
Claudia answered in a frustrated voice. “Daniel is a brutal interviewer for guys, let alone for a woman. I’ve seen Navy Seals limp away from him in tears.
He insists on a physical test that would be illegal if he weren’t private sector.
Most of his guys refuse to test the women in hand-to-hand combat, not wanting to hurt a woman, and no one man or woman is capable of taking on Daniel.
So they’re pretty much doomed to fail from the outset. ”
“Damn,” Addison breathed, feeling deeply sorry for any woman that tried to beat up Daniel for a job. That just didn’t sound like a good idea.
“You don’t know anyone that would fight a woman besides Daniel? Like a guy that can fight that you could, I don’t know, convince to go a little easy on her?” Addison asked, and then felt compelled to add. “What an asshole Daniel is! I mean, who goes around beating up women?”
Claudia laughed. “He seems to be an equally opportunity people hater, he doesn't differentiate between the sexes. Tyson told me a little bit about him a few weeks ago. He’s ex-guerilla, basically a hired gun. He specializes in fighting and has done for his entire life, which is why he’s so good at it.
The only reason he’s so loyal to Tyson is because he saved his life once. ”
Addison desperately wanted to ask more about Daniel, but didn’t want to give away her interest.
“Maybe I do know someone that I can convince to sort of beat up a woman, but go a little easy on her too. He’s built like a fucking house, but he’s got a soft spot for the ladies I think,” Claudia muttered, completely absorbed by her own problem. “Those damn Russians owe me a favour anyway.”
Addison's cell phone interrupted their conversation with the theme song to "Fistful of Dollars.” Addison laughed when she felt Claudia jump and look around for the sudden whistling in Addison's apartment.
Addison reached out to the shelf where she always left her phone, picked it up and waved it for Claudia to see.
Claudia laughed a little while Addison answered.
"Hello?"
There was no answer at first, which immediately made Addison go cold with apprehension.
"Hello, is anyone there?"
"Addison," the breathy voice whispered.
Addison shuddered, her hand gripping the phone hard.
She said nothing. She wanted to hang up, but she felt frozen in place.
She also didn't want to make a big deal in front of Claudia.
She could already feel the other woman's rising concern.
Addison must not be controlling her features very well.
She tilted her chin down and let her hair swing forward to cover her face.
"You played beautifully at rehearsal today, Addison. Did you play for me?"
The voice was gruff and whispery. Impossible to tell who it could be. They always gave details about her, but never enough to pinpoint exactly who they could be and what, if any relationship they had to her.
"Why won't you talk to me?" The voice whined. "You know how much I love you Addison. We're meant to be together. I know you feel it too. It's there in your music, it calls to me."
Addison shivered uncontrollably, wrapping her free arm around her waist protectively and leaning against the wall. She felt Claudia come up behind her hesitantly.
"Are you alright?" Claudia asked.
"Is someone there with you?" the voice demanded, angrier, more high-pitched.
Addison's head jerked up.
"Get rid of them!" demanded the voice angrily. "You belong to me!"
This was new. Her stalker had never sounded so... threatening before. Addison didn't have a chance to respond, the caller hung up before she could do anything. She lowered the phone and stood in open mouthed astonishment.
"Please forgive me, I know this isn't polite.” Claudia carefully took Addison's arm, pulled her gently forward toward the couch in the living room and pressed her down. "I looked up how to do that on the internet."
Addison laughed suddenly and shook her head. "You looked up how to lead a blind person around on the internet?"
Claudia giggled and dropped down next to Addison, her leg brushing Addison’s. "Yes. I've never had a visually impaired friend before and I didn't want to make an idiot out of myself on the first date. Apparently it’s rude to grab you, I’m supposed to let you take my arm. But you looked upset.”
Addison leaned against the arm of the couch and shook her head. "You're a little weird."
"Yup," agreed Claudia. "Wait until you meet Anya. Now, I don’t mean to pry, but do you mind telling me what that was? It looked pretty intense and not in a good way."
Addison thought about telling Claudia to mind her own business.
She hadn’t told anyone about her stalker except the city police and they had done nothing to help.
Addison hadn't realized how much of a burden her stalker had become until recently.
She'd stopped going out as much and was hesitant and more suspicious around people she knew. Maybe it would help to unload.
She was hesitant at first to tell Claudia much, used to keeping her problems private, but once she got started she found herself telling Claudia everything about her stalker situation over the past six months.
She found a sympathetic and somewhat horrified listener in her new friend, which she would later come to understand better when Claudia revealed a little of her own terrible past.
“He chased you onto a busy road? Oh my god, I’m so sorry Addison, that's awful!” Claudia exclaimed with feeling. "Shame on the police for telling you they can't do anything. What do they want? For you to have a signed confession from the stalker written in your blood?"
Addison laughed and nodded her head. "Pretty much."
"No wonder so many women in vulnerable situations choose to just tough it out," Claudia muttered. Then, hesitating, she said, "I know you're seeing Daniel, have you thought about going to him for help?"
Addison stiffened a little. "I think 'seeing' is not the term I would apply to our association, and no, I don't particularly want to discuss stalker number two with stalker number one."
Claudia snorted with laughter, holding her side in amusement as she giggled over the image of Daniel creeping around corners. Addison was happy one of them was amused by her less than stellar boyfriend/stalker situation. Finally Claudia sobered and straightened on her seat.
Placing soft fingertips on Addison’s arm she said hesitantly, “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, and maybe you’ll give a little leeway to a woman who had the shit beat out of her a week ago and doesn't want to see something similar happen to a friend.” Claudia paused to let that sink in before continuing.
“But you need to do something and you know it. You’re a smart, professional woman, you know this situation can escalate into something seriously dangerous. ”
“Like Daniel?” Addison asked sarcastically.
Claudia hesitated, clearly picking her words carefully. “Daniel is difficult to explain…”
“Really?”
Claudia laughed, “Okay fine, he’s utterly terrifying. The first time I met him, my first thought was that I should never, ever run into him alone in a dark alley, despite how damn sexy he is.”
“So… he’s hot?” Addison asked, genuinely curious.
“How the fuck do I keep forgetting you can't see?”
Addison shrugged. “Takes getting used to I guess.”
Claudia laughed again. “Fuck, you’re hilarious Addie.
I have to introduce you to my friend Anya, I think you two would be deadly together.
All I’m going to say about Daniel is that in the time I’ve known him he’s never looked at a single other person, place or thing the way he looks at you.
What little I’ve gotten out of Tyson is that Daniel wants you bad and he’s never wanted a woman this way before.
In fact, Tyson was pretty sure Daniel was a machine before you came along. So my man is pretty happy about you.”
“Reeaaallly…” Addison said, trying not to sound too pleased. She wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted out of her relationship with Daniel. Or if she even wanted a relationship with a man like Daniel.
But it was hard to deny the leap her heart took at Claudia’s words.
Claudia bounced on the seat beside her and grabbed her arm again. Addison had to control the urge not to flinch. It was an old urge that sometimes took her by surprise, especially when someone grabbed her arm in just the wrong way.
“Okay, no more getting off subject, we need to deal with this stalker!”
“We?” Addison asked, with an arched brow.
“We!” said Claudia firmly. “I’m not letting you deal with this alone anymore. Psycho doesn't get to fuck with my new personal cello player.”
Laughter bubbled up in Addison despite herself. “Just don’t expect me to follow you around all day playing to your moods. That thing gets heavy.”
“Okay, how about this? You play for me on special occasions and I introduce you to a friend of a friend. She’s a private detective that might agree to take your case. I heard she’s tough as nails, determined as fuck to find the bad guy and has a soft spot for hard luck cases.”
“But I’m well above the minimum income level as evidenced by this swanky condo I’m living in, and my new friend is dating a billionaire. I don’t see how she’ll believe I’m a hard luck case,” Addison pointed out sceptically.
Addison could practically feel Claudia rolling her eyes as she pushed herself off the plush couch and onto her heeled feet. “You’re blind, woman! How much more hard luck does it get? Plus, we pay her bucketloads of money. She’s a PI, last I heard Private Detectives have to eat too.”