Guarded Hearts

Chapter 1

"I'm not afraid of a letter, Keero," Jai insisted as his assistant pulled out the yellow phone book and flipped through the pages. Ever since he had asked her how the message had gotten past her, Keero was ready to call in the police. She had sworn to him that envelope had not been in his mail stack before she left to get coffee so someone had to slide it in while he was rehearsing his scenes. "It's not the first time someone has sent me a letter that sounded less than appealing. Do you remember the one that sent me underwear?"

"This isn't a pair of frilly pink bikini panties, Walia," Keero replied, flashing him a look. She didn't understand his lack of concern over something so threatening. "This is serious. Someone that takes the time to cut letters out of magazine and newspaper headlines intends to do something drastic. Not to mention the fact that they got past security to personally put it on your desk! You're finally getting yourself a full time security guard for that shrine you have to yourself!"

Jai groaned, sinking into his plush leather chair. He liked his privacy, or at least the little bit of it he had when he was at home away from cameras. He didn't want someone invading his precious space. "Look, the last thing I need is some macho, Rambo wanna-be following me around work and wandering around my house telling me my security system is sub-par and he wants to make a million dollars worth of changes. I like my..."

"Cheap, lame system that didn't go off when that lunatic hopped the fence and climbed into bed with you?" Keero argued, finally finding the section in her contacts category she was most interested in: security professionals. "Look, I know some of the guys that work for Guarded Serenity Inc, they consider themselves quite professional and are highly trained. I've even seen some of the awards they have won. Hell, they even work for half of the state government."

"Only half?" he shook his head. "That means the other half found someone better."

"No, that means they are running around unprotected or with the worst guard on earth. Come on, Jai. Give them a call. The least you can do is try them out for a few weeks and see if this freak backs off. That letter was a threat and you may like your privacy but I know you like that pretty neck of yours much more."

"I'll take it to the cops, Keero. I don't need a bodyguard messing up my lifestyle. I can't be out in the clubs with some goon following me around checking out the ladies before I do!" He reached for her phone. "I'll give Jim down at the police station a call and he'll add it to my file and have someone come look for clues. We'll have a CSI thing going here in no time."

"Oh yes, police station has been so helpful in the past," she rolled her eyes. "If you don't call GSI I'm going to and then you're going to regret it for the rest of your life. Don't give me more ammunition than I already have against you, Jai Walia. What I know about you could write the world's best novel and found the greatest comedy on NBC!"

Jai sighed in defeat. If Keero was pulling out the heavy guns so early, he knew she had to be serious. "All right, Keero, if it will get you off my case, you can give them a call and tell them to send over their first available agent for me to meet with. Explain that this is a delicate situation and that I need someone that won't get in my way and will know how to keep his mouth shut. The last thing I need is the tabloid finding out that someone is intimidating me and making some big deal over it."

"Yes sir," Keero saluted, sticking her tongue out afterwards. "Anything else you want me to do while I'm at it, Jai? Sure I can't order you lunch or perhaps a new pack of pens for you to chew on?" she eyed the one in his pocket.

Jai frowned. "I'm telling you, Keero, if you weren't a good assistant you'd be collecting unemployment," he shook a finger at her.

"I'm shaking," she held up a steady hand to prove just the opposite. "Go finish looking that script over before we're both collecting unemployment, Jai. I'll have that security guard over here before you know it."