The Bodyguard - Completed.

Chapter Fourteen

A pale faced Jodie Spencer walked into his grand office, with Persian rugs on polished boards, the masterpiece of the room a custom handcrafted solid African ribbon mahogany Presidential Desk, all hand carved and fluted detailed columns. The top perimeter of the desk had a fancy leaf carved edging, with solid brass custom hand tooled ornate drawer handles, a raised panel construction design with a hand rubbed clear oil finish.

Behind was a large leather burgundy executive desk chair made from the finest materials and master craftsmanship, covered in top grain leather with a high density padded seat. Behind were full length windows that faced the desert, not the city. Sunlight spilled into the room, high ceilings, carved plaster moulding followed the walls. The heavily carved double doors closed behind her after she entered, a shadow of herself, featured pinched and eyes wide and cagey, which they should be after her betrayal.

The first thing he noticed was that the caftan was gone and replaced with her own old clothes of jeans and loose red top, she had worn on the trip through Australia. She turned towards him in waiting, eyes wary. He glared at her for the longest time, trying to see the liar in her. The problem for him was she was still his princess. Nervously, she licked her lips and fiddled with the hem of her top.

"I have been informed you had phoned my father twice without my knowledge." Briefly, she closed her eyes, then nodded, yet didn't defend her actions. "Why?" He pressed when she didn't explain herself. She just shrugged, though watched him cagily, on edge. His eyes narrowed. Yes, he knew the truth, still she didn't tell him, hardening his heart. "Let me guess, Miss Jodie Spencer," she flinched, stepping back, "yes, I do know who you really are," he hissed, hurting. He never thought she would betray him like this. He had loved her and she had lied to him by keeping secrets. So had he, niggled in his mind that he pushed aside. "Keeping secrets with my father." The greatest betrayal of all.

She gulped. "Must I remind you, you pretended to be Caleb," she pointed out in a small voice. His mouth thinned, she cowered away.

"That I told you about." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Damn you Jodie, you should have told me!"

"I thought you were my bodyguard, not some prince. Something you should have told me."

"Yet I wasn't getting paid for it, was I?" It wasn't about the money, he really didn't care about that. Rubbing his forehead, he leant against the desk. "I thought you had heart."

She shook her head in despair. "What you saw was who I was. Why did you think I hated being called Amanda? I love my cousin and would do anything for her."

"Even lie to me!" He roared, and then sucked in a sharp short breath.

"I had no choice," she yelled back, breathing laboured, fire back in her eyes. "I was protecting her," she finished on a pleading note.

"By bedding her husband!" Deep, anguishing pain fleeted through her very expressive eyes that he regretted instantly. Frustrated, he pushed away from the desk and started pacing, agitated. She reached for him, touching his arm. He stilled at her touch. She pulled back instantly. "You and I were never meant to be," he snapped angrily, turning to Jodie, who watched him silently. "You had no rights to sleep with another, while engaged to me." It didn't matter, they were the same person. 

All colour drained from her face. "Since I didn't know Amanda was getting married, even an arranged one, you can't throw that into my face Xavier," she pointed out, while his hands clenched into fists at his side, "and you have no rights as her bodyguard to touch her."

"I had every right as her future husband!"

She swallowed hard. "However, you are not," she turned to leave.