G U A R D E D | Tom Hiddleston

P A R T 2 | Chapter 27

Show me how it ends
It's alright
Show me how defenseless
You really are
Satisfied and empty inside
That's alright
Let's give this another try

My stomach was in knots, I was having a bad feeling.
I knew it wasn't a fear of flying for that has never been a thing with me. Something in the pit of my stomach was telling me that this trip was no longer a good idea.

"Darling, are you okay?" Tom asked me, I turned around to face him. He was offering me his hand to take so that we could climb the stair case that lead into the private jet.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" I asked him as I took his hand.

"You are looking over your shoulder quite a lot" he answered.

I chuckled nervously "No I don't think so.. I just—" I cut myself off. Did I really want to scare him?

"Just what, love?" He asked me, "I just.. have a bad feeling about this trip" I whispered to him.

He looked at me worriedly, "but I am sure it is nothing" I quickly said, I didn't want him to feel bad about this trip now.

"I am sure we will be fine" he nodded, I forced a smile for him but I knew this feeling in my gut was not a good one. I've never gone against my intuition, so this was only putting me more on edge.

When we entered the jet, my mother and father were sitting across from each other in the far left corner. The two were already enjoying glasses of champagne provided by our flight attendant.

"Good Afternoon Mr Hiddleston. Miss Phoenix" the flight attendant kindly smiled at us.

"Good Afternoon" Both Tom and I greeted her back.

"Can I get a drink started for you two?" She asked us, "Go ahead, dear" Tom said as he began to set down our bags.

I turned back to the flight attendant who was patiently waiting for me "Can we get a bottle of Rosè, please?"I asked her. She awed at me "How romantic" she cooed, "I will go get that for you two" she said. "Thank you" I nodded my head at her ignoring the blush that crept up on me when she awed.

"That is pretty romantic" Tom said as he stood up straight, I rolled my eyes playfully at him. I took his hand so that we could sit on another couple of seats not far from my parents but also not too close.

My mom pivoted her seat so that she was facing Tom and I. "Thomas, dear. How did you plan this so quickly?" My mom asked then took a drink from her glass.

Thomas chuckled "Jeff is a miracle worker" he nodded. On cue his manager stepped into the jet, he was carrying a duffel bag and a laptop messenger bag. He sighed upon seeing us "Thank you, Tom" he chuckled. "Hey Jeff" I greeted, "Hey... Misty" he said with a wink, he almost called me Colin.

We all snickered at him, "Misty, have you talked to Frankie? I would rather not get my ass chewed out by a angry British slash Italian man" Jeff joked as he took his seat.

"I did" I nodded with a smile but my smile fell as I remembered that I didn't tell Frankie about Stephen. "Shit" I cussed under my breath, Jeff rose his eyebrow. "Should I be worried?" He asked, "No no I am sure everything will be okay" I nodded. "Very well" Jeff chuckled.

I turned back to Thomas who was talking to the flight attendant who had brought what i asked for. "Thank you" I said to her, "My pleasure, you let me know if you need anything" she said to me with a nod. I smiled at her then let her make her way to Jeff who was patiently waiting for her.

I turned to Thomas who was getting comfortable in his chair. "You still seem rather nervous, dear. Is there something you wish to tell me?" He asked me.

Before I opened my mouth to answer I looked over to my left to see my parents were looking over at us, they were not very good at attempting to eavesdrop.

"I will tell you later" I chuckled nervously, Tom's eyes found my parents and he chuckled too. "Now I understand" he nodded, "come" he said as he stood up, he offered me his hand to take.

I took his hand then stood up with his help, he led us to a door that was behind him which I thought was just the bathroom, but when he slid the door open there was a small corridor that did lead to the restrooms but to another door as well.

He slid that door open to reveal another small seating area. A private one. I stepped inside with him as he closed the door behind us.

The both of us took seats and I wasted no time, "I haven't told Frankie about firing Stephen" I blurted out which caught him by surprise.

"Colin" he sighed, "I know i should have—"

"No, I'm not blaming you, love. Of course it slipped your mind, how could it have not? It's only been a couple of days, Stephen and you have been a duo for a while. Don't beat yourself up about it, my dear" Tom had leaned forward to place his hand on my knee.

I sighed "but if I would have told Frankie he would already probably have another personal bodyguard for you and I" I said as I rubbed my forehead. "Tell you what, we haven't taken off yet. Why don't you call Frankie and let him know now?" Tom said. I nodded and began to pull out my phone to dial when someone knocked on the door, "come in!" Tom shouted as he kept his eyes on me.

It was my dad "We are taking off now, kiddos. The pilot wants you guys to strap on"

Tom and I looked at each other, "We will call him when we land, then. Frankie isn't going anywhere" Tom reassured me.

"Frankie? Why do you need to call him?" My father asked. "No reason, dad. It could wait" I responded. "Very well then, are you guys staying here?" He asked.

I turned to Tom "What ever Colin wants"

"We'll stay here" I chuckled, my father nodded then motioned to his waist. "Safety belts on" he pointed at us then walked out while closing the door. "I feel like such a part of this family the way your parents are with me" Tom chuckled.

"Well you are" I thought out loud but widened my eyes because my thoughts spilled out through my mouth. Tom chuckled and awed at my statement, he held my hand until we took off. And even when we were taking off he held my hand.

My stomach was still in knots, probably because I knew this trip was going to be lovely, also because of the way Tom was reassuring me. But even then this feeling felt deeper than nerves. It was a warning.