Chapter 4 Helena
HELENA
I’m far from a tech guru, so when I can hack into the entire security and home operating system for the woman I am meant to be keeping alive—even if it is an ornamental position—we have a problem.
My phone was now integrated into Erryn’s operating system, and I could control everything from lighting to entry codes, which was far from ideal.
I really didn’t care if hackers could Morse code her bedroom lights, but anyone with a decent knowledge of coding could gain access to the penthouse floor of the Meridian.
With the layout of the floors and the fact that I had to sleep at some point, it was a weak spot I wasn’t prepared to risk.
Picking up the tray that had been left on the small table in the guest suite, I headed upstairs, pausing to admire the artwork displayed along the corridor that led to the living quarters, and idly wondering if Erryn had chosen the pieces herself.
Continuing to the dining room, I found Erryn seated at the ridiculously large table that I would wager my favorite nipple had never seen the small army it could comfortably seat.
“What are you doing?” Erryn snapped as I set my tray down at the far end of the table from her. I waved.
“Bit excessive this, isn’t it?”
“Rossi!”
“Look,” I said, lifting the fancy little cloche covering my meal.
“The contract is twenty-four-hour surveillance, which is impractical at best when I have no relief, and your security system is as useful as tits on a bull. So until I can have that addressed tomorrow, I want eyeballs on you or your foyer. And why eat on the floor when you have a perfectly ridiculous table here?”
The glare she gave me could have skinned wildlife, and it sent a little thrill straight down my spine.
“I’ll have you replaced with someone who can follow directives.”
I shrugged. “And that’s why half your agents’ stats are atrocious. Do you want sheep or agents who get the job done?” I studied my food for a moment, trying to ignore the fact that there was gravy coating fucking everything. I picked up a roast potato from the side that had been spared.
“Within these walls, I do not require you. I have already made myself clear on this.”
I hummed, chewing my potato as I thumbed my phone to unlock it and hit one of the buttons on the system controls. The lights dimmed.
“No?” I asked. Stabbing a piece of carrot, I popped it in my mouth and hit another button.
Yo, I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want—Mel B’s voice blasted through every speaker in the house as I maintained eye contact with Erryn.
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I mouthed along to the music, moving my head to the beat as I began picking through the edible parts of my food. “Just so you know, it took me four minutes and fifteen seconds to gain full access.”
The music cut as Erryn hit something on her own phone.
“You have made your point,” she said coldly. “I will look into updating my security, but I hardly think I am at risk of death by Spotify.”
I hit another button without looking at her.
“Security alarm off,” said a voice through the speaker system.
I let her sit with that one for a minute. The silence stretched, and it took everything in me not to chuckle to myself.
“Fine.”
There was death promised in every note of that one short word, and it should not have turned me on like it did.
“What on earth?” An older woman hurried into the dining room, wiping her hands on a teacloth. “Is there a glitch with the house? Should I call Matilda?”
“No need,” Erryn said, tossing her napkin next to her plate and downing the remnants of her wine in one swallow.
“Rossi here was just enlightening me on some defects in the system. Thank you, Claire. Dinner was perfect as always.” Erryn stood, leaving her half-eaten plate behind.
“Sit.” She pointed her finger at me as I put my fork down.
“Stay. I will put that bullet between your eyes if you try to tell me I need guarding in the shower. Tomorrow we are discussing boundaries.” She stalked past Claire, leaving the older woman watching me with wide eyes.
“I’m sure she’s just joking,” she said, letting out a breathy laugh.
“Oh no,” I replied, chuckling to myself. “I can assure you that she is quite serious.”
Claire busied herself clearing Erryn’s setting before coming back for mine with a click of her tongue as she picked up my plate.
“Gah,” she said, half to herself. “Another bird stomach. Have you had enough to eat, dear? Would you like some dessert?”
I hadn’t eaten a full meal since breakfast the previous day, and my stomach took that moment to loudly protest the small amount of food I had just given it.
Claire eyed me and slowly lowered the plate.
“Were you not finished?”
I grimaced at her in apology.
“I’m sorry…it was lovely. Do you happen to have any more of the potatoes just by themselves?”
Her face brightened. “Oh! A vegetarian?”
“No, no,” I said. “I just love potatoes. With no gravy, please.”
“Dry?” she asked in horror, as if I’d just committed the ultimate British sin.
“Mhhmm. Maybe with some ketchup on the side?”
I swear, if she had pearls to clutch, she would have them in a death grip as she hurried off, muttering to herself something about sinning in a past life.
Minutes later, she returned with a bowl of perfectly crispy roast potatoes and a dipping bowl of ketchup, which she eyed as if it had personally offended her.
“Would you like wine with…your potatoes?” she asked haltingly.
“I don’t drink, but thanks,” I said. “Water is just fine.”
It seemed I redeemed myself in the chef’s eyes when I finished the entire bowl of roasties and had dessert, which pleased her to no end.
I occupied myself for a while afterward by cleaning up some things in the home system that I could do myself and making notes on what I could see that needed changing, but I was more of a practical type. Give me a gun over a computer any day.
Midnight rolled around before I unfolded myself from the dining table, my eyes aching from staring at the small screen, and headed back to the lower level long enough to grab a throw and a cushion off one of the couches and head back to the foyer with them.
The marble floor was heated and warm on my back when I lay down against a wall and tucked the pillow under my head.
I wasn’t taking any chances until the system updates, and this was still far comfier than many nights I had spent on hard floors.
At least this time it was warm and I had a full belly and a pillow.
Closing my eyes, Erryn’s face drifted into my memories, her eyes glittering with rage as I had thoroughly irritated her at dinner, and I smiled to myself, shifting until I was comfortable.
I had always enjoyed pressing buttons. The little thrill that came with knowing I might get bitten at any moment.
I’d never seen Erryn Loxley let anything crack that cool facade of hers.
She was known for her calm authority right up until she signed your death warrant and pulled the trigger herself.
It was insanely addictive to watch it take control, even if my career and life were at risk.
This was going to be fun…