Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
Ishould’ve kept my focus on my computer.
The thought drifted through Wilt Thurston’s mind as Indigo looked up at him, and their gazes connected.
He’d been conscious of her from the moment she’d walked into the conference room. The air seemed to thicken and the faint scent of roses permeated the room.
Wilt had allowed himself one quick glance in her direction before he returned his focus to his laptop. Even when she sat opposite him, as if taunting him to acknowledge her presence, he’d steadfastly ignored her.
He was aware he was being rude, but he didn’t want this job, even though it came with perks of traveling around Western Australia while the various photoshoots took place.
Her obvious need to be fawned over annoyed him.
Why else would she choose to sit where she sat if she hadn’t wanted to draw his attention toward her?
Over the years, they’d been tasked with providing security to some of the world’s top models and stars. Some were great to work with, others wanted attention everywhere they went.
His friends and colleagues were envious he got this gig, even though all of them, apart from Damon and him, were happily married or in meaningful relationships.
He and Damon needed to start a bachelor’s only club in Power Security. Over the last couple of years, everyone he worked with had found the love of their lives. Wilt was happy for them, but he was quite content with how his life was going.
The corner of Indigo’s mouth twitched up into a knowing smile, as if she’d tapped into what he’d been thinking, and it had him turning his attention back to the front of the conference room, and on to his boss.
He’d rather be anywhere else but in this room.
Even in the jungle with it pissing down rain while carrying a heavy pack was preferable to where he was right now.
Wilt didn’t know why this job was annoying the shit out of him.
General bodyguard work was one of the services Power Security provided, along with working with the Australian Federal Police and other private contractors—like Jude Cadman, whose sister they’d rescued a few years ago, who was also friends with Jeffrey Courteux.
That connection was likely the reason why they’d been given this job, but they also had an excellent reputation, so even without the connection, it was possible they’d have been given it anyway.
Steve outlined the locations where the shoot would be taking place, Jeffrey and Greta explained what they hoped to achieve. Even Indigo suggested a few things which the couple liked, and Greta scribbled some notes on her tablet.
Wilt had to admit Indigo didn’t sit back and let everything go on around her, like he was doing; she contributed. He supposed he should, but there wasn’t much point, because there were always factors that sprung up that no one would ever think of.
“Wilt, anything you want to say?” Steve asked, as if his boss could read his mind. Which could’ve been likely, considering they’d worked together for a long time. Steve had been his team leader when he’d been an SAS soldier in the Australian Army.
“Not really. I’ve got the list of locations; I’ll do some research to find out if there are any weak spots or places where we could be vulnerable.” He had access to maps that most people didn’t.
“Do you think that’s a possibility?” Indigo leaned forward, the bracelets on her arm clattering on the polished wood tabletop.
Prior to the meeting starting, ignoring Indigo had been easy, but with every eye on him, and the fact she’d directed a question at him, not looking at her wasn’t an option.
Once again, he lifted his gaze to hers, and like the first time, was struck by her beauty.
The way her brown eyes seemed to invite him in.
The plumpness of her bottom lip and her prominent cheekbones.
It was no wonder she was successful. She had a face that was serene, but also inviting, as though she was tempting you to buy whatever she was displaying.
If he saw her on a billboard he’d stop and stare.
Wilt cleared his throat. “Anything is possible. We’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry from a world renown designer, who hasn’t put out a collection in years.
People will talk at the places we’re going to, and word will get out about what’s going on.
Having plans in place to mitigate that will be beneficial.
Not to mention the locals know all the places to hide, because they’re familiar with the area they live in. ”
“I hadn’t thought about that,” she murmured. “I mean, I’ve done shoots all over the world, and have always been safe. I guess there were people like you in the background that I had nothing to do with. Thank you for being diligent.”
Was she being sincere? Surely, she wasn’t that na?ve to think that with some of the brands she represented, the general public wouldn’t want to get their hands on what she was wearing?
Wilt wanted to believe her, but he’d experienced a lot of occasions where people treated him and his team in a way that only benefited them.
They’d gotten used to picking up on the signs of that type of behavior when they’d been on missions and jobs, but the woman sitting opposite him tempted and lured people for a living with a simple smile or pose. He would remain cautious.
He inclined his head, acknowledging her thanks anyway; it would be rude not to.
Ironic, considering he’d been rude by ignoring her when she’d walked into the room.
As much as he didn’t want the task of being her shadow, he admired his boss and loved what he did.
He could deal with a diva model for a month.
That was all it was going to be. Thirty days with Indigo Elara he could do. He’d been in far worse situations than the one he was going to be in with her as he followed her around.
Indigo Elara.
Was that even her name? Who named their child that? It was probably a name she came up with when she first became a model to sound exotic and mysterious.
The meeting broke up, and Jeffrey and Greta left. Everyone else drifted out, and he pulled his laptop open again. The woman who came with Indigo—Zara, her agent, he recalled from the dossier he’d been given—spoke to her, and Indigo acknowledged her, but didn’t get up and follow her out of the room.
Great, he wanted a few minutes to gather his thoughts before he headed back to his desk. No doubt his friends would be asking him questions about why he’d been acting the way he had been in the meeting. Normally he was very active and contributed a lot, not today.
However, Indigo looked planted in that chair as if she wasn’t going to move, so it didn’t look like he was going to have that time.
Reaching forward, he picked his glasses up. He didn’t need them to see, his vision was still perfect, which was good because he was the team’s sharpshooter, but staring at a screen most of the day, he liked to wear the blue light filter glasses to help reduce the glare from the computer.
“Anything I can help you with?” he asked, as he tapped at the keyboard. He’d opened a blank Word document and was just typing gibberish, but he wanted to look busy so she wouldn’t hang around long.
“You don’t like me much, do you?” Her tone light, as if this was normal for her.
Wilt stopped his typing and looked over the top of his glasses. “What makes you say that?” It had been the last thing he expected her to say. Or maybe not. Maybe she was used to people falling to their knees in front of her and because he wasn’t doing that, she didn’t like it.
“You’ve been ignoring me since I walked in, and I get the feeling you want to do anything but follow me from shooting location to shooting location.”
He had to give her credit. She’d seen more than he thought she would.
But she was still a task to complete, and he would do it while treating her with professionalism.
“My job is to protect you. Not become your best friend. If you’ve got a problem with that, tough.
Everyone else is busy, so you’re stuck with me. ”
“What are they so busy doing, that you can’t do it too?” she fired back, as if his words bounced off her without making a mark.
There was no way he was going to tell her he was recovering from an injury, which was why he couldn’t go on the next assignment the team was going on with the AFP.
“Things you don’t need to know about.”
Indigo rolled her eyes. She even looked beautiful doing that. “Wow, great response.”
Wilt snapped the lid of his laptop shut, collected it under his arm, and stood. “If there’s nothing else, I’ve got work to do. And plans to make to keep you safe while you swan around taking photos.”
Damn, it was lucky Steve wasn’t still in the room, because he would chew his ass out if he’d heard what he said to Indigo. She was a client, and it didn’t matter what she said or did, her needs and protection were his and Power Security’s priority.
He should apologize. Tell her he was having a bad day, but somehow the words remained lodged in his throat.
Indigo stood as well, and met him at the door. She looked down her nose at him. “Do whatever you have to do to make yourself feel good about not being good enough to be considered for whatever other tasks your colleagues are doing.”
With that, she walked out the door leaving him alone. Unaware her words were a direct hit.
He wasn’t good enough to join his friends. Instead, he had an injured shoulder that wasn’t getting any better, and he had to babysit her.