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“Fat chance, given the number of old gits with weak bladders.”
“Exactly. I hoped you would show some daring. I’m disappointed.” He clucked his tongue and gave a single shake of his head. “Imagine the look on their faces when you flounce in, occupy a cubicle, wash your dainty hands, and stroll out with a smile on your face. Such fun, and you missed the opportunity to make their day. Even better if you had gone for a urinal.”
I hadn’t thought about it from their perspective. “I can’t pee standing up, and aren’t I your object of fun?”
He let go of my arm. “I’m feeling magnanimous, happy to share you. A little light entertainment in these dull proceedings.” It was a tedious evening and lacked something exciting like a dance floor or a live band.
“Make me the centre of silly gossip?” I baulked, rubbing my elbow.
“Babe, you could have played the blind-drunk-and-dipsy-woman card.”
I sniggered. I probably would have enjoyed the excitement, and my smutty side would have liked to see their shocked faces.
“Too late. You’ll get the hang of this, babe. Next time, you’re going to wear a butt plug and Ben-Wa balls. Make sure you’re super uncomfortable.” He ran his hand down my back towards my bottom and gave it a small pat.
My shoulders tensed as I conjured up the pages of my hectic diary. “What is the next time?”
“Carla’s fortieth birthday party.”
Oh crap! Jason referred to his personal assistant—a very prim and proper lady.
Jason appeared happy again,
which confused me. Shouldn’t I be contrite at vanishing? I’d once been violently accosted in a toilet. “Were you worried where I was?”
“No. You’re being watched.” He shrugged and grabbed a vol-au-vent from a passing waiter.
As always. I wanted to scowl, but daren’t. I glanced around and failed to spot any of my regular protection officers lurking in the shadows.
“By whom?” I asked.
“Somebody new. Gibson is sick, and Johnson’s wife went into labour—”
Dave Johnson had become such a fixture in my life I’d forgotten he’d his own wife to go home to at night. “She did?”
Jason bit into the pastry, and I waited on my toes for his answer. He wiped his mouth with the tip of a finger, knocking a crumb off his thin lip. “A healthy boy, I don’t know the details. So a newcomer to the team is being put to the test. She’s incognito. Ironic, she was married to someone I studied with at Oxford. Small world.”
I fought back the rise of a blush, fanning my face with a hand and attempting to spot Julianna in the crowd. “Is she ex-police?”
Jason finished his snack before answering. “No, intelligence officer in terrorist-based financial fraud. Wanted a change post-divorce. New start.”
I still couldn’t see her. “I didn’t notice her following me.”
“Good. You weren’t supposed to. Martinson is impressed so far.”
“Will she replace Gibson?”
“No. She’ll mainly do background checks, holiday cover, and help with investigative work for the internal forensic accountancy team at my HQ. She’s another one of these black belts in something. You won’t see much of her.”
The newly appointed bodyguard appeared on cue, and Jason beckoned her over and conducted the formal introductions.
Upon the second introduction, the blonde beamed, gripped my hand, and gave it a firm shake. The two of us said nothing about our previous encounter. I changed my mind. I liked her. She had an air of no nonsense, and I’d learnt from experience, my bodyguards weren’t there to be my friends but watch my back at all times.
The drive home felt extra long, and the streetlights blurred and dazzled. I rested my head on his shoulder, my eyelids drooping.
“Will you punish me?” I murmured.
“What?” He jerked, and I realised he’d been dozing, too. “Why?”
