Chapter 9
Arianna
It took a lot of convincing for Denham to let me go back to The Kingdom.
And if I’m honest, it would have been far easier to run away than to go there knowing that someone has been in my room, every day, leaving me flowers.
Deep down I know that it’s Jonny. Roses don’t hold any significance for me, other than with him.
He would always choose the deepest red, and only the flowers with the most perfectly formed petals.
I feel stupid and naive to have thought they were from Denham and looking back, the evidence was staring me in the face.
But when you’re blissfully happy and blinded by excitement about the future, it’s an easy mistake to make.
I don’t know whether I’ve finally resigned myself to fate after all this time, or if it just hasn’t sunk in yet, but I feel oddly calm about the whole thing.
There’s only so much you can control, and all I’ve achieved by running away is a hole in my heart.
A huge void in my life that can only be filled by living life to the max and surrounding me with people that are special.
I’ve learned the hard way that money doesn’t buy happiness, and family cannot be replaced.
Life comes to a standstill if you’re miserable and don’t have the people that are important to you in your life to share it all with.
So, I feel resolute. I decide to embrace life and make the most of every second.
Denham made several calls before we left Chique.
His tech guy, Dom is sifting through the CCTV camera feed from the last few days, and Jack has a list of instructions as long as his arm, poor man.
I wonder if he ever gets tired of being ordered around by Denham.
Although they seem to have a mutual respect, and I have the feeling that if Jack were to put his foot down, Denham would do as he was told instead of the other way around.
We walk back to the Kingdom, hand in hand, fingers entwined and Denham holds tight, pressing his fingers into the back of my hand. It doesn’t hurt but it is starting to get uncomfortable. I wriggle my fingers to loosen the grip he has on me, and he stops walking.
“Sorry, was I hurting you?”
“No, it’s fine. Just your grip was a little tight, is all.”
“I don’t want to let go of you,” he says quietly.
My heart hurts. I’m sure he feels I’m taking away his ability to protect me, but I’m hoping it won’t take long for him to understand why I’m doing this. I stand in front of him and reach up to take his face in my palms.
“Look, I know this is hard for you. But I’m not going to be locked away like a princess in a tower.
I’ve spent far too many of my years like that.
I need to live, Denham. Do you understand?
” He bows his head, closing his eyes, knowing I’m right and sighing because he wouldn’t want to cage me anyway.
“I have more now than I’ve ever had. Money has no value to me, and neither does my life if I can’t live it the way I want.
” I pull his head to me and kiss him hard.
I want to kiss away his doubts and show him just how much he’s taught me in the short time I’ve known him.
I coax his mouth open by sweeping my tongue over his full bottom lip.
He groans. I groan. And I know this is not the time or place to be getting hot and heavy, but I can’t stop myself.
I reluctantly pull away. “You taste good,” I say, and a wide smile stretches across my face.
“I do, huh?”
“Yes.” I kiss him one more time then take his hand to continue walking again. “Please, can we head home? I’ve had a very long first day at my new job. These shoes are squeezing my feet and I’d very much like a foot rub from my man.”
“Oh, really!” Denham laughs.
“Yes, really. Oh, and I’m hungry, too,” I state, trying to keep the smirk off my face, but it doesn’t work.
“You’re lucky you’re pretty,” Denham whispers in my ear before scooping me up in his arms and spinning me until I’m dizzy.
I love it when he picks me up. His shoulders broaden, his arms tighten, and I can feel every roped muscle encasing me.
If my head wasn’t whizzing around, I would most certainly be making the most of being in his arms. He slows, laughing at the fact that I have to refocus my eyes before he puts me back down on my feet and we continue walking down the strip like nothing ever happened.
We hold hands, swing our arms and both of us steal glances at the other, smiling inwardly as well as grinning for all the world to see. As we approach the glass doors of The Kingdom, Denham tenses and squeezes my hand.
“You sure this is the way we’re gonna do this?” he asks. I can see the concern in his features, but it’s not something that would be erased by running from the problem.
“Yup. Let’s do it. I’m sure there’s not going to be a mad axe man waiting for us in your room.”
“Ari,” he warns.
“What? Just sayin’.”
“Boy, are you gonna be sorry if that’s true.
” Denham shakes his head in jest as he pushes through the doors and takes me with him.
I feel the nerves start in my toes, and I try my hardest not to let them show.
Sure, I was joking about the mad axe man, but the more my brain processes this, the more I’m convinced that it’s Jonny.
But can he really hurt me now? Not once did he lay a finger on me in front of someone else, it was always behind closed doors.
I’m pretty sure I won’t be going anywhere unattended from now on, and I’m stronger emotionally than ever before, so even though the thought of him makes me nervous, it’s due to past transgressions, and not his ability to mark my life here and now.
The foyer is busy, and as we approach the front desk, Jack appears from the office behind the desk, flanked by four big burly guys, dressed in dark jeans and tight black tees. There’s also a little weedy looking guy dressed in a suit that looks like it’s two sizes too big for him.
“Sir, the penthouses are clear. No extra flowers today and I’ve briefed the guys.
They are going to do a two-man rotation.
One at the top of the elevator and one in the foyer, then change at night.
They have earpieces, and are armed. The elevator codes have been deactivated and we have had it fitted with a new key card system that you, me, and one of the security guys will have access to.
I tug on Denham’s arm. “What is all this?”
“Security.”
“This is overboard, don’t you think?”
“No. You want to face it, we’ll face it. But we are doing it properly, and we are going to be prepared. If it is Amy fucking around, then we will find out soon enough, but I’m not taking any chances, okay?”
“But …”
“No, buts. This way … or we go away until it’s sorted. You choose,” he answers sharply.
I feel a sad smile push across my lips. I know he’s doing what he thinks is best, and actually it does make me feel safer, but it doesn’t make me feel free.
I don’t want to be reminded that there’s someone guarding the door at all times.
I don’t know how I can move around. Here to work.
Here to the park, wherever … knowing that I’m being watched and followed.
But maybe I’m being watched and followed anyway.
Maybe I’ve just been too blind to see it.
Nerves start to prickle the back of my neck, and I flick my head around the foyer and try to take in all the people that are buzzing around.
There’s too many, and they are moving too fast to be able to see all their faces clearly.
Maybe this is just how it has to be for a while.
A week, maybe more. But maybe I can do it, just until we know the score.
Jack introduces us one by one to the guys.
Bryce, Adam, James and Dan. He then introduces me to the guy in the ill-fitting suit.
He’s called Dominic and is Denham’s tech guy.
He handles everything to do with the programming and maintenance of the computer systems throughout The Kingdom.
He heads up a team of three other techies who keep the networks and electronics running smoothly.
Never did I imagine there would be so much involved in running a place like this, so many people behind the scenes.
It’s no wonder Denham is so busy keeping on top of it all, which just solidifies my decision to stay here and keep things moving.
At least with security keeping an eye on things, Denham can try to focus on work a little more rather than worrying about me.
Jack takes us through the protocol. Who goes where and when.
I already can’t tell the security guys apart as they are all dressed the same, pretty much buzz cuts all round and athletic physiques that Lottie is going to go crazy for.
She might be involved with, or even in love with Spike, but I know that won’t stop her from ogling these boys.
Thinking about Lottie prompts me that I should call her.
I don’t know what she will be doing with her days now that she doesn’t have a job to go to, but I know she’s staying with Spike for a while, in his apartment just off the strip.
Denham finishes up the brief with everyone, and we head upstairs.
The deal is that I don’t go anywhere alone.
Anywhere that’s outside of the apartment, I am to have an escort.
Two, if possible. That means there will be someone standing outside of the boutique at all times, and I will be going everywhere in convoy, with two security guys.
I would be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel safe. It does.
But it also makes me feel claustrophobic. I can’t breathe.
It’s just for a short time, I remind myself. Just a short time.