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“I’ll lock up, but don’t leave this apartment until I return.” He winked and left.
Sinking into the pillows, I let everything roll over me in my thoughts, and I sat quietly, waiting for the panic to hit, but nothing came. The assuredness of Abel was so solid, the fear didn’t have much to latch on to.
My bags were packed. I showered, dressed quickly, and was ready to go when Abel walked in and grabbed my stuff. Ella’s door stayed shut and I worried she had stayed on campus, but she said her family wasn’t home and she didn’t want to go where they were. I invited her to Abel’s dad’s with us, but she declined, which turned out to be for the best. I wrote her a quick note and put it by the coffee machine so she’d find it instantly, and then we were gone.
Abel had us in the city in no time, and he used the valet at a very luxurious hotel. “This is us keeping it low-key.”
Abel tipped the driver and the bellhop and laughed. “My dad has a big premiere event here in a few days. It’ll be easier to work through the crowd if we’re already staying here.”
Once he said premiere, I remembered Abel and Chance mentioning it. I plugged it into my phone, but with all my time with my dad and the loss of my mom, I forgot.
Abel held my hand as we walked into the hotel, and the manager hurried to meet with Abel.
“Mr. Hartford, I received your message and we’re thrilled you decided to stay with us before the event. We have the suite ready for you and your lovely date. Here are your room keys. Follow Jacob here, and he’ll lead the way.”
Abel nodded, thanked the man, and guided me to the private elevator, where a unique key had to be used. Being the son of a famous actor certainly had its perks. The extra safety precaution had to be another reason Abel picked this place for us to stay.
The massive suite had me gaping with my jaw open. The size alone was of an average family home. The place had to be around two thousand square feet. Everything included top-of-the-line furniture and appliances with a massive kitchen, dining room, three bedrooms, and its own pool with an electronic covering so we could swim any time of year if we wanted to.
There was no way around it, I danced from one inch of the room to another. It even had a spa center attached to the primary master bathroom. The tub alone fitted four or five people.
“This place is amazing.”
Abel smiled as he watched me check everything out. He didn’t impress easily, but why would he? Stays like this were standard accommodations for Mr. Abel Hartford. I hoped I never grew accustomed to any of it. It’d be sad to be so used to money that extreme luxuries like this no longer thrilled me.
“Babe, get into some comfortable clothing, Mick’s going to be here shortly.”
“Who?”
“Mick, he’s coming to teach you some self-defense moves.”
A weird face happened to be my first response, and I stared at him. “Aren’t you going a little overboard?”
Abel shook his head, “No.” He walked off into the bedroom with no further explanation.
* * *
The following day, I limped into the cab I called to take me to my lawyer’s office. Every muscle in my body burned like the nine circles of hell. There were far more than the basic self-defense moves Abel told me I’d be doing. Mick put me through the wringer and ensured I knew how to fight dirty, and we were to have another session tomorrow morning.
My body already cried at the incoming torture. There were pains in my body I never thought were possible. Thank heavens for the pool, also known as a tub with blasting jets. Abel soaked with me and rubbed every sore muscle. I’d hate to imagine how stiff I would have been today if I hadn’t had the gold star treatment last night.
When Abel went to get dinner last night, I craved my favorite Mexican food, and Abel offered to get it. I called my lawyer and got myself an appointment for today. Abel went to meet with security while I snuck out, I mean, left to meet my lawyer.
As soon as I introduced myself to the receptionist, she escorted me into a conference room with windows spanning the whole wall showing off the city. I bet the view was astounding when all the lights were on at night.
“Chan, it’s so wonderful to see you again. Thank you for coming in.” Typically, my lawyer met me at my father’s house, but he had back-to-back meetings today and squeezed me in.
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I really appreciate it.”
“It sounds like we’re dealing with some serious matters. Your boyfriend has been able to confirm the intel from his PI?”
“As far as I know, yes.”
David leaned in the chair and watched me. “I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s very involved with you and making sure you’re protected.”
“How so?” I lifted my brow, wondering how he’d arrived as such a thought. Accurate, sure, but I didn’t understand how he knew. He’d never met Abel.
“After Thanksgiving, your boyfriend called me, demanding answers. I didn’t tell him anything, of course.”
