Chapter Seven
Noah
Noah was sitting at his desk, definitely not thinking about Aubrey Gray or the disturbing video he’d seen earlier that afternoon. Watching the bear lose its head left a heavy, sick feeling in his gut. Trouble was brewing, and Aubrey was at the center of it. A quiet ding came from the computer, Aubrey’s name popping up on his screen.
Noah opened the message, eager to see what their calendar would look like for the next couple of months. While Hawthorne was rather heavy on clients at the moment, an annoyingly unfamiliar weight of responsibility nagged at him when it came to Aubrey Gray. Like he needed to protect her—though he wasn’t totally sure which threat he was protecting her from yet. She seemed to be a little reluctant to let him protect her at all. Whether it was because she didn’t want to bother anyone or she was just plain stubborn, he wasn’t sure yet.
All he knew was he needed to get her safe and her situation sorted so he wouldn’t have to see her again. Then these feelings could go away, and he could get back to his work in peace with a solid win under Hawthorne Security’s belt. The accolades from Aubrey’s case would surely propel them into the top tier of security services.
Noah’s eyes flew across the screen, taking in the various collaborations, meetings, and errands Bree had. It looked as though it was a relatively light travel schedule—a few TV advertisement appearances and some business meetings with different brands or influencers in order to finish up some social media collaborations. Errands were typically done on Tuesdays or Thursdays and she didn’t have a lot of social engagements. All in all, it looked like a very doable schedule. Noah sent her back the paperwork and the updated quote, which ended up being less than expected. Always good business when that happened.
He pulled out his cell phone and sent a mass text to the rest of his team and they strode into his office a few minutes later. “We have a new client.” Noah said once they’d all settled in their seats.
“Aubrey send over her schedule?” Peter asked.
“Yes, and it looks like we’ll be able to accommodate it,” Noah said. “She’ll need protection at a few work-related events and outings and some regular weekly personal security as well for the foreseeable future.”
“Aubrey Gray, the retired superstar?” Eli asked. Every head in the room whipped toward him. Theo looked comically stunned.
“What? My little sister loves her.” He muttered.
“What’s going on?” Zach asked, sitting on the edge of his seat.
“Someone sold her out to the newspaper. They gave up a picture of her and where she lives.” Noah said.
“Sounds like a normal day for a celebrity.” Eli pointed out.
“She also received a threatening note at her last performance on tour and a comment on one of her videos threatening her life. When the article came out with where she lived, the original poster commented back with a picture of the article that had Aubrey’s location circled multiple times with a new comment saying ‘got you.’ While she wasn’t initially concerned, she received a video of someone in her old house decapitating a teddy bear movers left behind with a note that said, ‘How could you leave us behind?’ The same bear is now in her possession with a new note that says, ”Don’t worry. We came back for you.’” Noah summarized.
“How did the bear end up with her?” Zach asked shrewdly.
“It was sent to her fan mail PO Box.” Theo supplied.
A heavy silence filled the room. “Stalker?” Eli asked.
“Could be. One in three women have been victims of stalking at some point in their lifetime.” Peter looked up toward the ceiling for a moment. “Forty percent by a current or previous romantic partner and forty-two percent by an acquaintance.” He rattled off like he was reading from an encyclopedia. “So it’s quite possible that she does have a stalker.” He added.
“Aubrey isn’t sure it”s a stalker, but I’d like to err on the side of caution. We will hope for the best and prepare for the worst.” Noah replied.
“If she isn’t sure it is a stalker, then what does she want to hire us for?” Eli added.
“General protection. She’d like to find out who might have sold her information but knows that finding out is probably unlikely. She also is concerned after the social media commenter said they’d be coming for her which was followed by the headless bear, though we have reason to believe the bear was sent before the article came out.” Noah said.
“Our concern about the offender is only a certain number of people know where Aubrey lives and her routines. Not many would be willing to disclose that kind of information to the press.” Theo said.
“We know the stats on how likely an offender is to escalate behaviors in these types of situations. She also wants to take the threat to her life more seriously. We’re there to help keep her safe.” Peter added.
“What do you need from us?” Zach asked.
“I take on our celebrity clients, so I will take on the majority of Aubrey’s case. There are a few cases that were on my docket that are not celebrity related that will need to be reassigned in order to make this work. Noah paused for a moment and tried to determine the best way to communicate the deep sense of responsibility he felt for Aubrey’s safety. “Aubrey’s situation reminds me a lot of Lettie’s case.” Noah said painfully.
A look of understanding flashed across the faces of each of his teammates, and Zach nodded.
Noah cleared his throat and continued. ”Also, there are a couple of events that I can’t make, so I will need one of you to fill in on those dates. Otherwise, I think we’ll be set.”
“I can take the dates you miss.” Theo volunteered.
“You don’t like fieldwork,” Noah said.
“No,” Theo shrugged, sitting back in his chair. “But I like Aubrey, so I can make an exception. Besides, everyone else has full schedules, and mine flexes a little more. Plus, depending on where we are, I can pack along my laptop so I can still help if you need it. It’s a win-win.”
“Thoughts on that plan?” Noah asked the group, making eye contact with each of his teammates. When no one spoke up, he nodded and said, “We’ll call it good then. I will get the schedules updated in our calendar app. I’ll call you if I need to have you take on one of the non-celeb cases. There are only a couple of them, so it won’t be overly taxing. I appreciate you guys.”
“No worries, man, that’s what a team is for.” There was a collective grunt of acknowledgement as everyone trickled out the door. Theo stayed back until the rest had left.
“Anything you need from me?”
“Yeah, actually. Could you look into Aubrey and see what you can find? Any interviews, news articles, social media posts and comments, friends, anything that you think might be helpful or that stands out to you as problematic when you nose around.”
“Will do. It may take a while. Eli wasn’t kidding when he said she was a superstar. I’m sure there will be a fair number of red flag comments.”
“Okay—just let me know what you find out. I’m going to give Aubrey a call and let her know the plan once I have schedules coordinated.”
“Sounds good,” Theo said before seeing himself out of the office. Noah watched the door close and then turned his attention back to the calendar. He needed to get these details finalized so he could keep Aubrey safe.
***
Noah punched Aubrey’s address into his phone and, an hour later, pulled into what appeared to be a quiet, middle-class neighborhood. A frown tugged his face down as he pulled alongside the curb of her little bungalow. There was no fence guarding the front of the home, and it didn’t look as though there were any security cameras either. Both would need to be remedied as soon as possible. Noah made a mental note to have Theo look into the right security cameras and locations in order to optimize their eyes on the property. Theo had a knack for figuring out where people would most likely hide and the best way to make sure they were watched in corners they thought were dark.
Noah looked at his clock for the fourth time while he sat in his car waiting for a socially acceptable time to knock on Aubrey’s door. He enjoyed the simple things in life. Good friends. A nice handling car. A good steak fresh off the grill. His idea of a good time did not involve going grocery shopping, stopping in at the bank, or mailing literally anything. And yet, while most people considered his job to be glamorous—world tours, being on set, socializing with A-listers—it contained far more of the boring day-to-day stuff than people realized.
The clock on the screen turned to nine, and Noah got out of the car, shrugging on his suit jacket as he walked up to Aubrey’s door, steeling himself for what was sure to be an…interesting outing. While Aubrey had asked him to help with her current situation, she definitely seemed reluctant to accept it. Or advice. And would probably rather swim with sharks than listen to a single order he gave—even if it was for her own good. Noah grimaced.
Sometimes, orders given by people in positions of authority were superfluous. Other times, they saved lives. Unfortunately, the only way to mitigate risk was to treat all orders as though they were the life-saving kind. It appeared Aubrey Gray did not ascribe to that idea. But today was a new day, and he was going to be pleasant and patient. He would calmly discuss any changes he thought she should make, and she’d see reason, agree with him, and they’d get the changes made. Today was going to go smoothly.
Noah walked toward the wooden door—a wreath with some greenery, white flowers, and dandelions decorated it, giving it a homey feel. Noah frowned and leaned in closer to determine whether the wreath obstructed the view out of the peep hole which would be a safety hazard. It did seem to create an issue on the peripheries. He leaned in closer to inspect further and found himself suddenly looking at a green shirt instead of a wooden door. He trailed his eyes up and caught Aubrey observing him shrewdly.
“Is there a reason you’re hunched over inspecting my door?” She asked, amusement lacing her tone.
She stepped back to let him in and closed the door swiftly behind them. They walked inside, and he found himself surprised at the cozy, well-decorated interior. It wasn”t what he expected from a celebrity. But neither was changing a tire. Noah shook his head. He didn’t need to think about Aubrey, her house, or her tire-changing abilities. She was a client. Nothing more.
“No, your door is solid. But you do need to take the wreath down.” Noah said.
“No, thank you,” Bree said.
“Excuse me?” Surprise flashed through him. When was the last time a client just outright refused one of his suggestions? Normally they just sucked up to him and agreed to his face. Then they”d go behind his back to do what they wanted. It was annoying but normal at this point. Leave it to the pint-size firecracker in front of him to shake up the routine.
Bree shrugged. “I said no, thank you. I really love that wreath. I think it makes my house feel homey.”
Noah took a deep breath and took a small step away from Aubrey. “I hear you. However, it impacts your ability to clearly see who is at your door.”
“I love that wreath. Besides, nothing has ever come to my house directly. Every note has been dropped off at a place it was advertised I’d be or mailed to a PO Box that is available to anyone on the web.”
“You’re being unreasonable,” Noah argued, forgetting his earlier resolution to be pleasant and patient.
Bree folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. “You’re not the boss of me, Noah. I appreciate your advice and your protection outside of my home, but otherwise, I just want to live my life my way. In peace.” She added pointedly.
Noah sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Okay, but be aware there is a small blind spot.” He paused for a moment. While this wasn’t the right time to ask her, there may never be a right time, so he might as well get her hackles up all the way. “You know, if you let us install security cameras, then we wouldn’t have to be concerned about the blind spot. You”d keep your wreath, we’d be able to see who comes and goes that shouldn’t be here. Win-win.”
Aubrey huffed out a breath. “For you.” She muttered. “Noah, I don’t want to hang up cameras. I’ve had cameras in my space all. the. time. for seven years. I will not willingly hang them up so my every waking moment can be monitored.”
“They’re just outdoor cameras—” Noah began.
“Noah, please, let’s just get this done and get back home. The sooner we are done, the sooner I’m out of your hair.”
No argument there. It had been five minutes and already Noah was running low on patience. He walked over to the wooden bowl and picked up Aubrey’s keys, double checking the front door was locked before turning to her.
“Are you ready to go?” He asked stiffly.
“Yeah, just let me grab my purse and shoes.” She said, opening the coat closet and pulling out a small crossover bag. It was a lot more practical than he expected. She also grabbed a pair of white sneakers and put them on, adjusting the flared bottom of her leggings to cover the sock and tongue of the shoe. Her messy bun was releasing small curly tendrils that framed her face, and if she didn’t love to argue with him so much, he could see himself finding her rather beautiful.
They got into Bree’s car and sat in silence as Noah backed out of the garage and drove them toward town.
“So fill me in on precisely where you’d like to go today. You mentioned last time we spoke that things might have changed.”
Aubrey nodded. “I want to go to the coffee shop in Rhodes, and then we’ll be heading to Chattanooga. I need to stop by the post office, the bank, and then the grocery store on the way home.” Aubrey paused and seemed to be considering something.
“Is there somewhere else you need to go?”
She paused. “No…Not today.” There was an inflection in her voice that made Noah wonder about the undisclosed location, but they quickly arrived at the coffee shop, and Noah was more occupied with making sure their immediate area was safe from any potential threats.
“Wait there,” Noah said, hopping out of the car so he could clear the surrounding area and open Aurey”s door. He walked to the passenger side and grimaced when he saw Aubrey standing on the curb, waiting for him patiently.
Frustration filled him. “I told you to wait.” He said, gesturing to the parked car next to them.
“I am capable of opening my own door,” Aubrey argued back.
“Obviously,” Noah said, disdain dripping from his tone. “However, if someone wants to get to you or take you out, a great time to do that is when your bodyguard is on the other side of the car trying to get to you.”
Understanding flashed across Aubrey’s face, a look—almost similar to guilt—settling on her features. “I’m sorry,” Aubrey said.
She sighed. “I’m not used to this. I mean, I had security and stuff when I traveled, but that was not because someone was actively trying to harm me. I…I don’t do well with orders, but I’ll try to do better.”
Aubrey tilted her head and looked at him pensively. “Your frustration tolerance seems to be zero. You can’t tell me you’ve never had a non-compliant client before.”
“Not from the very beginning. Usually, they do me the courtesy of at least pretending they’re going to do—or at least think about—what I say.”
“I just save you trouble then. At least I”ve been honest from the beginning.” She shot him a megawatt smile, which took him by surprise. She was teasing him.
“Fair enough. At least I know what to expect from you.”
“What’s that?”
“Honesty.”
Aubrey nodded. “That’s a key personality trait, I think.”
“I agree with you.”
“The world must be ending! Noah Hawthorne agreed with me.” Aubrey joked.
Noah rolled his eyes. “The world is most definitely coming to an end.” He deadpanned, holding the door open for Aubrey as she walked in.
He followed her closely, his gaze automatically taking in the rear exit by the bathrooms and the door to the kitchens. Both helpful to know in case of an emergency. The coffee shop seemed to be slow this morning, a woman with long gray hair and a long skirt sitting at one of the back tables with a Charles Dickens book in her hands. A few other patrons were scattered throughout the shop, drinking their coffee and either engaging in conversation or working. Kyle Rhodes was at the front of the line, flirting with the barista. Aubrey noticed him at the same time and stiffened visibly. Noah’s brows furrowed, and he placed his hand on her lower back, surprised by the warmth and the jolt of electricity that flowed through him at the slight touch.
“Everything okay?” Noah asked quietly, leaning close to her ear so she could hear him clearly.
“Kyle has repeatedly asked me out and doesn’t seem to understand the definition of the word no.” She said quietly.
Anger flared through Noah as Aubrey took a step toward the counter, smiling and greeting the employee before placing her order. Noah tuned her out, looking at Kyle contemplatively. He didn’t like men who were incapable of backing off when a woman said no. Tension and nerves rolled off Aubrey in waves. Aubrey didn’t seem to be the jumpy type—in fact, she seemed to have a spine of steel that he reluctantly appreciated. The fact Kyle Rhodes caused such a strong reaction was a huge red flag.
Kyle turned as Aubrey thanked the barista and looked her up and down, the look in his eyes giving even Noah the creeps. He wasn’t even the one being oggled. Noah stepped closer to Aubrey and lifted his chin slightly, narrowing his eyes. Kyle seemed to notice Noah at that moment, and a grimace twisted his features before he put on his charming smile.
“Bree!” He greeted warmly, moving toward her like he was going in for a hug.
“Aubrey.” She replied, stepping back away from Kyle so she was next to Noah instead. Noah took a slight step forward and angled his body slightly in front of Aubrey, boxing her in between him and the counter so her back was covered also.
“Have you given any thought to my invitation from the other night?” Kyle asked as alarm bells sounded through Noah’s head.
Aubrey glared at him. “My answer is the same.” Aubrey lifted her chin even as Noah noted her hands shaking slightly.”
”You should learn how to take no for an answer.” She said saucily before placing a warm hand on Noah’s back and pressing gently. That was distracting. He got the hint, however, and moved the two of them toward the registers, still keeping his body firmly planted between Aubrey and Kyle.
“You need to learn your place.” Kyle hissed, storming closer to Aubrey. “And it’s not on your feet.” He added in a whisper, a twisted smile etched on his face.
Noah moved toward him, anger radiating off him in waves. “Shut your mouth. That’s no way to speak to anyone—let alone a woman. Your mother clearly needs to teach you better.”
Kyle bristled, but before he could say anything, Noah was in his space glaring at him.
“Do not ever speak to her that way again.” Noah countered, his voice dangerously low. “Or I’ll teach you that lesson myself.”
“Is that a threat? I’m the mayor’s son. You can’t touch me.”
“It’s not a threat, boy. It’s a promise.” Noah said darkly, glowering at Kyle, who finally seemed to realize that he was out of his league.
Kyle turned away from Noah and stormed out, slamming the door behind him so hard the glass panes rattled in the door. Noah rested a hand on Aubrey’s back as she blew out a deep breath. He looked down at her in concern. “You okay?”
She nodded.
“Never a boring day in Rhodes when you’re around.” Noah joked, hoping to bring a smile back on her face. He didn’t like the fearful look she had since she first saw Kyle Rhodes. She may be reluctant follow orders, but she was his client which meant she was his to protect.
The ride to Chattanooga and the rest of the errands were blessedly boring, and they were able to wrap up at the grocery store with minimal fanfare. Aubrey was only asked to take pictures with two different people and was otherwise left alone.
Noah closed Aubrey’s door and pulled his phone from his pocket to enter Aubrey’s address. He frowned when he saw several missed calls from an unknown number.
Before he could listen to the voicemail, his phone vibrated, and Theo’s face filled his phone screen.
“Hey, Theo.” He greeted.
“Trenton General called. Mariela is in the hospital.” Theo said without fanfare.
Noah’s heart dropped to his stomach. “I’m on my way.”