L.A. Spa

Chapter Eight: Follow Me. Why Not?

Emma's POV:

I had made tea for Jordan Ryan in his kitchen when Kate called asking for my assistant. She sounded rather upset, and I did not know what it was about. She had told me to meet her at Lacey's, her friend's house.
       
From what Kate had told me, she would be having a sleepover at Lacey's house and that they were going to watch movies. From the number of vehicles in the front, it looked like a small get-together was occurring inside.

Instead of knocking, I walked inside, hearing noises coming from the back.
       
"Who called the parent?" I heard a guy sitting on a pool chair yell when I came walking out.
       
"Where is Kate?" I asked the guy. Ten guys sat around with red solo cups in their hands, and three girls sat in the mix.
       
The guy who had yelled when I came in stood up and walked my way. "What is it to you, sweet thing?" The kid had to be a senior in high school but he towered over me. He brushed his hand down my arm as I looked at him.
       
"Where is Kate?" I asked again, thinking about kneeling this guy in the junk and dropping him to the ground.
       
"I don't know; she is probably in a corner crying somewhere. But I would like to hear your screams, baby." He took another step in my direction, completely closing the gap between us. I was getting ready to lift my knee into his groin when a hand wrapped around his arm.
       
"I believe the lady asked you a question," there was a buzz-cut man next to me who asked the kid this. I should have been creeped out, but I felt safe with the guy on my side. I could not have taken ten guys even if I tried, and I would have tried for Kate.
       
"Uh.. She went to the back of the house, probably in one of the bathrooms."
       
I took off back inside, calling Kate's name as I walked down the hallway. It took opening four different doors to find her huddled in the corner of the main bathroom.
       
"Kate, what are you doing?" I asked, dropping down to her crumpled body.
       
"I shouldn't have come; I didn't know all these guys would be here."
       
"Who are they?" I asked brushing her hair out of her face; she looked pale.
       
"Lacey's brother's friends. When they got here, she just started hanging out with them like it was normal, and then the one guy started pushing a beer in my hand. I sipped out of it...."
       
"What have I told you about taking drinks from strangers?"
       
"I know and I started feeling weird and that was when I locked myself in here and called you. I didn't know you were going to bring some muscle with you. Is this your new client?"
       
I turned around to look at the buzz-cut guy behind me, he was standing at the bathroom door, and it looked like he was guarding us.
       
"Why are you here?" I asked him, already knowing the answer that he had to be connected to Jordan.
       
"I just go where I am told," he said. "I think it would be better to leave, mam," he said, stepping out of our way.
       
       
"I'm sorry," Kate started speaking as soon as we pulled away from the curb.
       
"It's okay," I said, patting her hand. "You called me and you got out of there, and you are safe. Nothing else happened right?" I asked, holding my breath.
       
"Right, nothing else happened. I locked myself in there as soon as it all happened." We went a few more blocks, the black car from the house still following me. I rolled my window down and waved my hand, letting him know he could pass me. But he didn't; he kept following us. "Who is the muscles anyway?"
       
"I have an idea," I said, not saying anymore on the matter. Buzz cut followed us to our apartment and waited to pull away until we were inside. I wondered if he would circle the block before actually leaving the block.

       
It was after ten o'clock when I made the call I had been waiting to make.
       
"Emma, what do I owe for the pleasure of talking to you so late?" Jordan said as he answered the phone.
       
"Don't be coy with me. I'm guessing the buzz cut guy was yours today?"
       
"Why would you assume that?" I imagined a smirk being on his face.
       
"You were the only one who heard I was in distress. And the only person I know with the type of funds to employ a bodyguard."
       
"It sounds like you have it all figured out then. So why call?"
       
I rubbed my hands over my face, not knowing why I had called. "I could have handled the situation on my own."
       
"It sounds like you were in a perfect situation with either a ten to one or ten to two scenario depending on how you look at it."
       
My skin crawled, thinking about what could have happened today.
       
"Thank you. I suppose I'm more of a hassle than anything. Maybe Delaney would be a better fit for you going forward."
       
"Nonsense. I'll see you Tuesday night."
       
I clicked the phone off, exhausted from the day. Instead of climbing into my own bed, I climbed into Kate's like I used to do when she would wake from night terrors. The type of life she had was something no one needed to experience. Eventually, hopefully, one day, they would ultimately be gone.