AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If any information about this or anything she has mentioned gets leaked, our first call of business will be to you. Needless to say, damaged cases become destroyed careers.” Mr Taylor pulled up a chair beside Ivy, wrapping his arms around her in a tight protective hug, his eyes softening as he held her, taking in the tension-riddled ball of nerves and pain she had become. “You okay, Kiddo?”
The officer stood, saying something about her discretion, and apologised before leaving the room. As that door opened and she stepped out, it suddenly felt like the vacuum had vanished, like air flooded back into the room to inflate the space that had been closing in around her. She pulled in a deep breath, burying her head into Mr Taylor’s chest.
“Hey, kiddo, I told you to call me Jordon. Don’t think I can’t hear you calling me Mr Taylor in that head of yours.” Ivy choked out a sobbed laugh. “So, Kiddo, let’s get you upstairs. For a New Yorker I make a passable brew.”
Another strained chuckle left her as Mr Tayl—Jordon guided her towards the elevator. “How’d you know?” Ivy asked softly, as he pressed the button to call the elevator. Glancing over to the reception, he nodded at Eric, who tipped his hat.
“A lot of people here care about you, Kiddo. With Miles being away, they called me the minute they knew what had happened. I know Miles doesn’t like security detail over the threshold, but it may be something to consider, especially now.” Mr Taylor was right to some degree, but she had stipulated that a home should remain such. She was the one who had not wanted a security detail, and had compromised by saying they could be present, but only outside the building.
She’d never thought she was in any danger. She hadn’t even considered someone would somehow bypass the security here to leave such a violent message. That, combined with the notes Miles didn’t think she knew about, suggested he was right to want her protected. But why damage things and leave photos? If they wanted her out of the way, there were easier ways to do it. Hell, if someone got close enough to slip a note in her pocket, it could just as easily have been a knife in the kidneys that went unseen.
The elevator doors slid open. With his arms still around her, he guided her inside, placing the keys she must have left on the parking lot’s floor in her hand. He was talking to her, telling her some light-hearted story, knowing her mind was elsewhere but still attempting to ground her with the sound of his voice.
Mr Taylor was the exact opposite of his wife. He was warm and caring. He was a people person and knew how to put anyone at ease in an instant. That was why she felt safe with him. In some ways, he was like a second father to her.
It was thanks to Mr Taylor that the footage Owner had taken of her slavery had been destroyed, it was thanks to him his son had everything at his disposal not only to rescue her, but to save her life.
Ivy’s father had only met Mr Taylor once, but they seemed to be cut from the same cloth, which was why she couldn’t understand why he’d married someone as venomous as Evelyn. Mrs Taylor was pure toxicity.
Bay Legends was every bit the diva her name implied. Hollywood star and recognised singer, her concerts were as popular as she was, and she sure knew how to draw a crowd. That was one of the reasons security was so tight. The other was Bay Legends was a recovering addict.
When Miles first started working for her, it became blatantly obvious that her old firm had made allowances, such as letting her slip away to do midnight trades with shady dealers in equally shady locations. They would literally let her do anything for a suck, fuck or easy buck. Her safety had not been their priority.
All that stopped the moment he took over, and the reason he took over was simple. He’d saved her life.
Having just handed his client over to their driver, he witnessed someone trying to shove a drugged-up woman into the boot of their car.
It hadn’t been the best kidnapping attempt. But thanks to her security team turning a blind eye when she slipped away, it had almost been a success.
She had him take over her security from that day forth. She’d also been into rehab, the posh, spa kind that was more like a holiday than a sweat box where people were forced to go cold turkey. While she still tried to seduce her way to the things she wanted, at least she wasn’t chasing a high now, and no one in his firm would even consider her propositions.
She was an attractive woman, but there was a reason TSS was the top security firm. They were beyond reproach. Even now, as glitter rained down on the stage, and the lights cast rainbows through the bubbles—yes she had bubbles—Miles stood just off the stage, watching her every move, watching the audience, listening to his team’s feedback over the roaring of the crowd blending into the music.
This was the encore, and she was hitting the final notes. Miles watched with pride as his team worked the arena, blending in, positioning themselves at vulnerable locations, ready for anything.
It wasn’t uncommon for fans to charge the stage, all wanting a touch, a piece of the star, but his team were highly trained. No one ever got close to her.
The crowd roared to life. Feet stomped and applause exploded, as deafening as tribal drums as their screams filled the arena and the curtain fell. Yes, the curtain, because Bay Legend knew exactly what she liked. She liked glitter, bubbles, and things that looked like roman candles shooting from the stage, and the way the curtain rose and fell.
The fans saw magical effects, he saw threats. Flame chemicals could be altered to cause explosions, bubbles could be toxic, blended with acids or poisons. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d heard of such things. The more glitz and glamour, the more checks, testing, and security he needed in place. One thing being tampered with could prove fatal, and the only people he knew he could trust were his team.
Two of her tours ago, a ‘new shipment’ of stage effects had arrived. The stage crew were already installing them when they arrived. If it hadn’t been for them knowing Bay Legends had made no amendment requests, and checking the gear themselves, it could have been disastrous. Crazed fans often tried distractions to get close, and there was no bigger distraction than an explosion.
He was at her side the second the curtain fell. The other three personal escorts took their positions. He handed her a bottle of water. “Good show.”
“The last gerb was slightly early.”
Miles knew what she meant. He just could never remember the name of those Roman candle spark things. It wasn’t that it was early. She had been just a little late with her step, but he’d never dream of pointing that out.
“Right. Well, your room has been secured and security detail posted for the night. Is there anything you need before we head backstage?”
“A gerb that goes off when it should?”
Oh, it was going to be one ofthoseissues. “Tell you what, I’ll have one of my guys speak to the …” he fumbled for the title before settling on, “pyro technicians. That way you can concentrate on spending some QT with your adoring fans.”
There were only a limited number of backstage passes, which made things a little easier. Bay Legends loved her fans, but she grew tired of socialising easily too. The short appearance backstage as she wound down was more than enough time.
“Fine. How’s that fiancée of yours?” And that was the other thing. Since he’d saved her, and turned down her advances, Miles had become one of the few people she actually treated with respect. She often said he was the one who helped her turn things around. Before him, she was drowning in pressure, drugs and temptation. He had created structure, made her feel like something more than a meal ticket, and his company ensured everything he’d started continued as part of her security plan.
