Chapter Ten
ROME
My assessment was right. The charity gala we were attending was filled with a bunch of rich as fuck idiots who seemed to care more about networking than the purpose of the charity we were honoring today.
Which was to help homeless children, though I didn’t think a single one of them knew that fact.
I had attended a few of these events in the past…
as staff, but never as an invited guest.
While I was out of my element, it was rather easy to plaster on a smile and win over the socialites.
Most had spent their lives surrounded by an abundance of money, and hadn’t lived in the real world.
Their version of struggling was when they didn’t have a chef ready to go upon the very second they became hungry.
My family wasn’t poor, far from it, especially after Mateo’s restaurant took off. However, I had spent nights with my mom coupon-clipping for groceries when things got tight, and knew that if I wanted to go to college, I would either pay for it myself or have to earn scholarships.
These people—the ones dressed in designer clothes that cost as much as the average car—weren't my people.
Most would turn their nose up if they learned I was a child of immigrants and a veteran…
two of the bravest groups in the country, and neither received the respect they deserve.
In truth, there were exactly two people here I could stand talking to.
Speaking of, Bec was talking to Alexandra near the bar, and everyone with a pulse tossed glances their way. The two were the most beautiful women in the room, yet they were polar opposites.
Alexandra was in a white gown with her blonde hair pulled up. She was the antithesis of Rebecca’s dark hair and black dress. While Alexandra resembled the sun, I was starting to learn I was far more drawn to the darkness of the moon.
“Those two are the center of everyone's attention.” I glanced to my side, where Maverick had stopped. He was dressed in his own dark suit and held a glass of what I assumed was bourbon.
He seemed relaxed, seeing every man ogle his girlfriend, Alexandra. I wished I could be as calm as he, but every time someone so much as looked at Bec without the respect she deserved, I felt a concerning need to crush their throats.
I probably should have that looked into.
I had done my research into Maverick and his past when given my assignment. He interacted with Bec often, and I had to see if there were skeletons in his closet that could bring her harm. While there were skeletons, it was unlikely they would ever touch Bec’s life.
He was the CEO of Bly Enterprises’ closest rival, Beckett Industries.
He and Bec had followed similar paths in taking over their father’s companies when it had been expected that their siblings would be in charge.
Maverick had taken over the business right out of college…
a move no one had expected when his older brother had always been groomed for the position.
He was good at what he did, but was pitiful when compared to Bec.
He was ordinary, she was exceptional.
I stuffed my hands in my pockets as I rocked back on my heels. I didn’t want to talk to Maverick or anyone here. While yes, I was technically Bec’s date to this whole shindig, I was still working. My number one priority was Bec’s safety, and a room like this was far from secure.
Many of the world’s most affluent individuals were crowded around a dessert table or discussing business near the open bar.
The museum had countless points of entry, windows with sufficient vantage points from the surrounding buildings, and I wasn’t pleased with how easy it was to gain access to the building.
Take any outside threats out of the equation, and there were still numerous threats from within the building.
The wait staff may not have been properly vetted.
Museum staff was still allowed in the building, and even these guests could cause trouble—especially the douchey blonde man who was walking towards Bec.
I took off, leaving a bewildered Maverick behind, and closed the distance between Bec and me quickly.
She looked up to me, startled, “Rome?”
I placed my hand on her lower back and motioned for her to continue her conversation. I wasn’t here to interrupt or cause any issues; I was simply here to keep her safe.
Alexandra stifled a chuckle, but continued her conversation with Bec. They were discussing something to do with investment firms, and it all went over my head.
Truthfully, most of my conversations with Bec flew high over my head.
She held a law degree, an accounting degree, and was the CEO of a massive corporation.
I had a high school education and spent my early adulthood in the Army.
I knew how to disarm a bomb, sew up bullet holes, and infiltrate enemy bases…
but stocks and bonds were completely foreign.
I loved it when Bec discussed her business dealings with me. Did any of it make sense? Hell no. Was she really fucking hot when she showed off how smart she was? Hell yeah.
“Bec, it’s been ages since I’ve seen you,” the douchey blonde interrupted, paying no mind that the two women were in the middle of a conversation.
Like I said… douchey.
I could feel Bec tense ever so slightly under my fingertips. “Brody, how are you?”
His gaze flicked to me just for a moment before training back to Bec. There was a heat in his gaze that was entirely unwelcome. “Just wrapped up a film. It should be released next year. Are you going to introduce me to your friend here?” he motioned to me.
“Brody, this is Rome, my…” she gulped, unsure of what to call me.
“Boyfriend, sugar baby, bodyguard, arm candy,” I extended my hand to him in greeting, “whatever you prefer.”
Alexandra snorted, and Bec rolled her eyes, but I could see the humor simmering as she held back a smile.
Brody took my hand and probably tried to give me a solid shake, but his hands were oddly soft and concerningly weak. “Rome?” He turned back to Bec, “Why didn’t I know you were seeing someone?”
“You know Bec,” Alexandra answered, “she’s always so private.” She looped her arm through Brody’s and started pulling him away, “Come, Maverick has been dying to speak to you.” She turned and threw us a wink as she pulled an unwilling Brody along with her.
“Arm candy?” Bec asked with a raised eyebrow.
I shrugged, “If the shoe fits. I mean, look at me,” I motioned down the suit, “there is no denying I’m hot as sin tonight.”
Bec rolled her eyes at me again… but I also noted that she didn’t disagree.
Her rolling of her eyes, while I smirked in response, was becoming our own version of a secret handshake.
She always claimed my jokes were immature or obnoxious, but I could see the smile she held back, still reflected in her eyes.
“How do you know him?” I nodded my head to where Brody was now standing and talking with Maverick, who seemed just as happy to see Brody as I was.
”He runs in Alexandra’s circles and has been trying to get in my panties for years.
” She looked around the room before looping her arm in the crook of my elbow and pulling me towards the couples swaying in the middle of the room.
“One dance to show off this new relationship of ours, and then let’s get out of here. ”
”Gladly.”
I smiled as every head turned towards Bec, and I took her in my arms while we softly swayed to the live orchestral classical music that was flowing through the room. I held back a smirk as my hand splayed across her bare back.
“Nice dress.”
She smiled mischievously, “It’s designer. I would name which, but I have a sneaking suspicion you wouldn’t know Prada from Tom Ford.”
”It’s Ralph Lauren, spring collection.”
Her blue eyes grew wide. ”How in the world did you know that?”
I smiled and pulled her a touch closer, our chests now nearly touching, and her breath warm against my neck as I looked down at her, “I have five sisters, one of whom is obsessed with fashion week. I took her to the Ralph Lauren show.”
Did I take Bee to that fashion show? Yes. Did I remember anything about it? No. But I had wanted to impress Bec, so I asked Bee to give me the details of the dress as we made our way out the door earlier tonight. It seemed I had made the right decision.
She nodded at my explanation and didn’t ask any follow-up questions, thank God, because I knew I didn’t have those answers.
“Tell me about them,” she quietly inquired.
”My sisters?” She nodded, and I began, “Bella is the oldest, she’s about eight years younger than me.
After that, it’s Aria, the twins, and finally Baby Bee.
They’re all about two years apart in age, except Livia and Luna, the twins.
They’re the same age… obviously,” I explained as we continued to dance.
“I’m shocked you don’t know all of this, don’t you have some massive file on me? ”
I had seen the file her brother had created about me when I started working for Bly Enterprises.
I was both shocked and concerned by how much they were able to pull.
They had the basics, such as my social security number, address, and work history.
What was shocking, though, was the detailed reports of my childhood friends, the first-hand accounts of when I broke into the high school during my freshman year on a dare, and even my gym schedule.
Not just the days I went, but when I did cardio or had leg-day.
I swore that file knew me better than I knew myself.
I knew Bec had a copy of the file, and she had at least skimmed it, but I wasn’t sure how much she had actually read.