Chapter 5
ALEX
T he throbbing in my temple was getting fiercer and I didn’t know what was worse, standing around listening to the cacophony of the movie set or watching Aiden flirt with Jared.
Or Kiernan yammering on about all the famous people he’d met within the past two hours. The Irishman could outtalk Aiden, and that was saying something.
I left Jared in Kiernan’s capable (but starstruck) hands while I did the rounds.
While it was easier to manage a closed set in an office building, it didn’t mean that we were impervious to nosy outsiders. Reporters and everyday people, being the curious creatures they are, still had opportunities to ambush a set.
The office building was mostly empty, given that we were filming on the weekend. Or so we’d been assured by building management.
I made my way to the elevators to double check that security team members were standing by and not letting just anyone get off on this floor.
After the most recent threat to Aiden, all my senses were on high alert.
I took the elevator four floors up, to the 65 th floor, the very top.
Management had informed us that the space had sat empty since the last occupant left a month ago. It was a blank canvas, with nothing but concrete columns and floor to ceiling windows on all four sides.
The crew had already set up to make it look like an executive office and boardroom. As I wandered through, everything seemed as it should.
I headed down to the floor below, but this time I took the stairs. The lighting was dim, and I could barely make out the signs for the next floor.
I made a note on my mobile. The lights were a problem and needed to be fixed now.
As I stepped onto the last stair that led to the 64 th floor, I noticed that the door was ajar, propped open with a metal bin.
Probably a crew member that forgot. I made another note.
I opened the door and walked in.
This floor was also empty and had been set up to look like a typical office interior, with cubicles and chairs, and even a ubiquitous water cooler.
Not that I was familiar with such things.
I’d never had an office job in my life. Thank God too. Just the thought of being stuck inside with bad fluorescent lighting and people blabbering in corporate speak had me cringing.
As I stepped into the reception area, a strange humming sound made me pause.
My gut tightened and I followed the noise down the hallway, walking past row upon row of desks that led to several closed offices around the perimeter.
So far nothing seemed out of place and yet, I had a strange feeling, like I was being watched.
I looked up at the ceiling and noticed the smoke detectors and sprinklers. Nothing unusual in that.
I kept on walking until I reached the closed offices. One by one, I opened each door and inspected the rooms.
I was greeted by nothing more than the smell of stale air.
Then I heard it. A cracking sound, like breaking glass.
I whipped around, but there was nothing in my line of vision.
I waited, listening, but heard nothing else.
Taking a few tentative steps forward, I heard a voice and followed it.
“Who’s there? This is security,” I yelled out and then repeated it in Thai. “Nan khir?”
No reply.
I repeated it again but there was no answer. I walked past several cubicles and noticed a man standing in the last one, with headphones on. He hadn’t been there when I first walked in. Probably one of the crew.
He was waving his hands in the air, talking to himself, so he was of no danger to me.
I tapped on his shoulder, and he screamed, turning around and whipping off the headset.
“Jesus Christ!”
Judging by his accent, he was American.
“I’m the lead security for Jagged Edge ,” I stated, referencing the movie title and holding up my set badge. “Show me your ID, please.”
The man looked like he was about to throw up.
“Let me stop having a heart attack first,” he bit out and rubbed his chest in circles. “I’m a set designer. I just came up here to get this desk ready for the next scene.”
He pulled on a lanyard around his neck, his ID hidden under his shirt.
I reviewed his name, Jesse Walters, and searched the set log sheet on my phone. There he was.
“Thank you, and my apologies if I scared you, Jesse. I was doing the rounds and heard what sounded like glass breaking. I had to investigate.”
“That was me, I dropped one of the props,” he replied and pointed to the mess of glass fragments on the floor beneath the desk.
“Just a reminder, the door to the stairwell needs to be closed firmly whenever you use it. Please don’t prop it open and then head off to another floor.”
“I didn’t do that.”
“Well, someone on the crew did. I’ll have to issue a reminder.”
Jesse nodded. “Can I get back to cleaning this mess now? I have to get everything ready in ten minutes.”
“Of course.” I nodded and turned away.
Heading back to the stairwell, I walked to the next floor. I spent the next twenty minutes reviewing the 63 rd floor and found my way back to the current set on the 62 nd .
I emailed the crew about the stairwell doors and sent building management an urgent request to fix the lighting problem.
As I made my way over to the main production hub, I noticed Kiernan and Aiden in deep conversation with Jared. The director was smiling and talking in that animated way he did when he was excited about something.
Was it movie talk or something else? A flash of possessive heat roiled through me, but I ruthlessly quashed it.
Jared turned his head as I walked closer and when his eyes met mine, I struggled to maintain my reserved demeanor.
“I need to talk to Kiernan,” I snapped.
“By all means,” Jared replied with his usual graciousness and turned his attention back to Aiden.
I heard someone yell, ‘Quiet on the set!’ and Aiden sat down, off to the side as Jared took his place behind the camera.
Kiernan ambled over and I pulled him into a nearby corner where we could talk without disturbing Jared. I showed him the list of items I’d noted earlier.
“Also, Cahill will swap with you for break times. I’m not as concerned about Aiden’s security on board the ship, as I am in places like this or in public.”
Kiernan nodded. “Aiden’s already convinced Jared to take a beach trip this weekend.”
“That’s fine, we have time to scope it out.”
“Do you really think Aiden’s at risk?” Kiernan asked as he ran a hand over his beard.
“I mean, he’s a barrister, they get death threats all the time.
Not only that, but from what you told me, Jared’s been dealing with these stalker threats for a while now.
But nothing’s happened. And we’re here in Thailand.
I’m assuming his stalker is somewhere in L.A.
It’s not like this weirdo is going to fly over here and find us. ”
“I know, but we can’t take that risk. There’s a common denominator in Jared’s legal case and the person in question has a lot of reach,” I replied.
“You think the stalker has the means to hire someone to come after him over here?”
“It’s a possibility I can’t ignore.”
I heard Jared yell ‘action!’ and Kiernan and I stood silent as the first scene got underway.
This was nothing new to me, but Kiernan, who was normally a grump, was clearly in awe of watching a live film production.
Dylan and his costar in this scene were having an argument, which then led to a sex scene in the boardroom.
A few times, Jared stopped and gave each actor different comments and prompts.
Then they had to stop because the lighting wasn’t right.
Dylan forgot his lines and improvised, which pissed off his costar. Reed kept tipping over the chair he was straddled on…
It took over an hour to tape what probably amounted to ten minutes of reel.
Jared never yelled or threw a temper tantrum.
He was the antithesis of most Hollywood stars I’d met and worked for. As usual, I got so caught up watching Jared that I forgot Kiernan was standing beside me.
Until I felt a sharp elbow hit my ribs.
“Is Jared single?” Kiernan asked.
I glared at him and shook my head. “Not an appropriate question.”
“I don’t mean for me, boss. I’m not really into guys.”
“And this conversation is relevant how?”
Kiernan just kept talking. “I can see him and Aiden together. That’d be hot, right?”
For someone who just said he wasn’t into men, that was a surprising statement.
Suddenly a vision of Aiden and Jared together was as clear as the scene in front of me. I felt my cheeks heat, but no one could tell in the darkness that surrounded us.
“That’s not appropriate either,” I replied.
“What salacious gossip are you two talking about?”
Aiden’s sudden voice startled me.
Bloody hell, no one got the drop on me. I turned and noticed the amused glint in Aiden’s eyes.
“Nothing,” I replied.
“Jared’s hot as feck,” Kiernan commented at the same time. “You should go for him, Aiden.”
“Tempting, but there’s the fact that he’s my client,” Aiden replied and ran a hand through his hair. “That’s not a line I should cross.”
“That’s not a no,” Kiernan quipped, and Aiden barked out a laugh.
“Can we please stop talking about this?” I muttered and turned to Aiden. “You need to get back to the ship and stop distracting people. And you, Kiernan, need to focus on your job.”
“Sorry, boss,” Kiernan said, looking contrite. “Guess I’m a little punchy from the jet lag. And hunger. You know if I don’t eat, I go a little bizzarro.”
“Go back to the ship,” I commanded and glared at Aiden, crossing my arms. “See you tomorrow morning.”
“You can take that bossy tone with everyone else, but don’t try it with me,” Aiden snapped. “I don’t work for you. And I’ll leave when I bloody well want.”
Aiden was standing so close. Too close.
My heart began to race as I looked into his eyes.
He wanted a pissing contest, he’d get it.
“On this trip, I decide what’s best for everyone under my security protocol.
That includes you,” I replied, stepping closer.
“Your bodyguard has been traveling for over twenty-eight hours and needs sleep. I don’t care if you’re hyper or bored or anything else.
You listen to my directive. Go back to the ship. Is that clear?”
Aiden gave me a wicked grin and leaned so close his breath hit my ear. Goosebumps popped up all over my skin.
“That glare of yours sends other people running, but it has the opposite effect on me. Just don’t go thinking you’ll always have the upper hand. I’ll listen to your advice in this instance, but in every other aspect, I like to be in control. Remember that.”
I didn’t dare ask what he meant.
I swallowed hard but said nothing, refusing to look at him. Aiden slowly pulled back and turned towards Kiernan.
“Tell Jared I’ll see him tomorrow morning at 7. We have a lot to discuss,” Aiden added, and I nodded in return.
Aiden was a wild card that I was not entirely prepared to deal with. But I reminded myself that it was only for a few weeks.
How bad could things get?