When I returned from the photoshoot at 7PM that night I was exhausted. I had an odd sense of excitement for what the future held. In the car back from the shoot I told Nick that I was thinking that London was where I wanted to set myself up. It was central to everywhere that I needed to be and thought that no one would look for me there.
“I think that London could be good for you.” Nick responded happily. As soon as I heard him say it I knew that London was going to be the place I made my new home.
As we walked through the reception desk Nick stopped dead in his tracks. I didn’t know what he was looking at but he spun around so quickly I almost lost my balance.
“Miss Reid, let me take you through the service entrance.” I didn’t know what he had seen and I didn’t even have time to think as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back through the front door. Once I was back safely in my room he left and told me not to leave. For a moment I thought that it might have been reporters but Nick had never reacted like that around them. Although these were different circumstances.
* * * *
The moment we stepped into the reception area I saw him. Kyle Richardson, my former employer standing by the reception desk talking to the manager. I knew how vulnerable Miss. Reid was at that very present point in time and decided that it was best to take her through the service entrance as quickly as possible. Getting away undetected was going to be the hardest part. He was less than 10 meters from us and her heavenly laugh, one that I hadn’t heard in months was filling the room quickly. I spun around and grabbed her by the elbow harder than intended telling her of our change in plans. I wasn’t going to stress her out with the reason why. She didn’t need to deal with this, it would become a very public showdown and wouldn’t help with keeping her anonymity. Something that she required in her new line of work. As much as I thought she deserved better, I knew why she was doing it. She was in a power struggle with her old identity and the person she wanted to be. I made the choice to stand beside her because I knew out of the two employers, Miss. Reid was the one that needed the most loyalty and protection. She had always been good to me, she was a kind spirit and I wasn’t about to see it crushed again by the man who had caused her nothing but pain. I would deal with him as soon as she was safely inside her room.
It only took five minutes longer than our usual route to get to her room and once she was there I told her not to leave before returning to the hotel lobby. As soon as I reached the foyer I saw him. I walked straight towards him, ensuring that my posture meant business.
“Kyle, What the fuck are you doing here?” I growled.
“Nick, Where is she?, I know she is here!” he looked beaten. He deserved the pain he was so obviously written across his face.
“She doesn’t want to see you. You will leave her alone.” I warned.
“You can’t stop me, she is my goddamn Fiancé. Where the fuck is she Nick? She has to be around here, you would leave her side ever” he was getting pissed off and was right up in my face.
“I won’t tell you again Kyle. LEAVE”
“You work for me Asshole. Remember that!” He spat.
“Not anymore, I quit!” I yelled louder than expected.
“I’m not going anywhere” He screamed, body slamming me and knocking over a vase that shattered on the ground in the process.
I picked him up by the collar and dragged the sorry excuse of a man out of the hotel, past a group of tourists who had fallen silent before throwing him to the curb.
“If I ever see your face again, if you ever bother her again you will have to deal with me. It won’t be nice. I can promise you that” I said darkly.
“You can’t stop me Nick. I will get to her. She has to know, I have to talk to her” I responded getting up off the ground.
“She is moving on with her life, she deserves better than the likes of you. You have bought her nothing but pain and misery. I won’t say it again. Leave and don’t EVER come back.” I was ready to beat him to a pulp.
“One day, you will regret this. She deserves the truth and you’re keeping it from her.” He looked at me cautiously as I took a step forward. He took a step towards me and faltered as feeling the coldness emanating from me bound in his direction then backed down and walked away. It was unlike him to go anywhere without a security team so I was definitely surprised. At that very moment I made up my mind that Miss. Reid needed a new life, she had to get far away and however she chose to do it, I would be there to support and protect her.
I walked back through the hotel doors where everything had returned to normal but something was still off. I caught sight of two men in suits leaning by the wall near the elevator. They seemed out of place and my instincts told me they were there for me...or her. I walked towards the elevator feigning ignorance to their existence but they approached me before I even reached the doors.
“Mr Skenitte, We are agents Rothwell and Lucas. We are here for Miss. Antonia Reid” They said flashing their Australian Federal ID’s. I knew then that things were about to get a whole lot worse for my client.
* * * *
I took a shower and settled into bed waiting to hear from Nick what was happening twenty minutes later. My phone rang as if on cue.
“Hello?” I answered cautiously.
“Miss Reid. I am sorry to disturb you but there are two Federal Police officers from Australia in reception that would like to talk to you.” I heard the caution in his voice laced with something else and knew that this was going to be painful...was I ready for it?
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