“Hailey, she wanted to wish you a happy birthday, but she said she’d try to call back later,” I tell him, not mentioning that she’ll be here later since he doesn’t know about the surprise party.
He nods as he wanders to his walk-in, disappearing from view just as the doorbell rings, and I look toward the doors to our bedroom. Shane peeks his head out from the closet with a frown. “Can you go see who it is? I’ll be there shortly.”
I walk over to him, kissing him once before leaving the room and heading for the front door. I’m not sure who it could be. His family isn’t set to arrive for another four hours, and the rest are only joining us around dinnertime. I know Marianne and Antoine should be arriving soon, but they never ring since they have access to our home.
Just as I’m about to pull the large ten-foot-tall black door open, the doorbell chimes again. I finally swing it open and am greeted by a familiar face I wasn’t expecting to see this early in the day.
His normal scolding expression is in place, jet black hair and piercing green eyes that rattle your soul slightly when they fixate on you. And as always, a well-tailored black suit, with black everything underneath.
“Hello, Aubrey.” A devilish smirk graces his lips for a split second before his stoic expression takes over once more. “I told you we would be seeing more of each other again.”
The way he says my name always makes my skin crawl. I know he’s a good man, since he’s friends with Shane, I just can’t help feeling like he has this sense of darkness in him. But I’m not afraid of him, I trust him.
“Julian.” I open the door wider, letting him through. “I wasn’t expecting you this early.”
“Yes, well, I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by. I have a few things to discuss with Shane regarding you.”
My eyes widen at his comment, confusion wrapping itself around my brain as I blink a few times. “Me? What could you possibly have to say about me?” I mentally go over anything I may have done wrong but come up blank.
He strides through the door as I close it behind him and turns to face me. “I understand congratulations are in order.” His eyes dip to my stomach.
My cheeks flush as a soft smile settles on my lips. “Thank you.” But the confusion comes right back to the surface. “But that still doesn’t explain why you need to talk about me. Is it… is it because of the baby?”
Could he not be happy about it? Does he think I planned this to trap Shane in some way? He can’t truly believe that, can he?
“Aubrey,” he says strictly, like I should already be aware of whatever it is he has to say. “You are carrying my niece or nephew, which means as of now, your life is precious.”
Well, thanks, I guess before that my life had no value.
“I will not allow any harm to come to my niece or nephew, which means I won’t allow it to come to their mother either.”Oh… I don’t like where this is going.“From this moment on, you will be assigned one of my best security personnel to stay by your side at all times. I would also like you to quit your job.”
My jaw nearly hits the ground as he turns and strides away, farther into the home.I… What!?I quickly snap out of my shocked state and race after him, finding him in the kitchen alongside Shane, who’s munching away at another cupcake.
Thanks for the help, babe.
“Absolutely not,” I say as I walk directly up to Julian, who seems annoyed by me, but I don’t take it personally. Julian always seems annoyed by everyone around him. “I’m not in any danger; no one is coming after me. There’s no need for one.” I fold my arms over my chest. “And I will not, in any way, quit my job.”
Shane frowns as he slows his munching. He sets down the cupcake and picks up a napkin to wipe his mouth before addressing his friend. “Jules…” He uses a warning tone. “What did you say to her?”
Julian glares at Shane when he hears the nickname he seems to hate. “I merely informed her that she would be appointed security until the birth of the child,” he says it like I’m carrying the future king or queen of England.
“This is your heir, or heiress, Jefferson. I will not allow any harm to come to it. This is happening whether you like it or not.” He then looks at me with that same wicked smile again. “And I advised her to quit her job.”
“Shane!” I whine with frustration. “Do something!”
“Storm…” Shane starts, but Julian cuts him off.
“I will not budge on this; therefore, accept it as it comes.” He narrows his eyes at Shane. “You agreed with me that her work was risky. She stays out late into the night, alone. What if a burglar came in while she was alone? What if a fire started or there was a gas leak?”
I’m stuck on his first words as I turn to Shane with emotions swirling through my body. “You agreed to this?”
“Angel… I just don’t like you working so late… He’s right, anything could happen. I’m not always able to be with you when you close up, and I would hate it if something happened to you while I was away,” he says softly.
“Shane… I love my job… Please don’t take this away from me…” I suddenly feel dizzy as my eyes well with tears.This was never part of the plan.How could he agree to this when he knows how much this means to me?
“No, sweetheart.” He rushes over and takes me into his arms, kissing the top of my head. “I don’t want to take this away from you, I know how much you care about your job. I just wonder if maybe you could work during the day instead. It would really make me feel better.”
Okay, I guess I can understand that.“I mean, I could go in during the day instead. I was only working evenings because I didn’t want Tavie to be alone so late into the night.” I unbury my face from his chest and look up at him.
