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"Its always nice to see you Dillon" beamed Eleanor as I offered her a hand across the circular wooden coffee table that held a pile of papers and two coffees in large mugs.
"Ditto" I smiled pulling out the chair opposite from her "thank you" I mentioned nodding my head towards the pattern swirled coffee and she shrugged as if it was nothing.
"Your brothers are busy men" Eleanor started setting her hands down softly on the table.
"A family trait" I shrugged and she agreed for a little before I followed up the conversation with "Chandler?" she nodded in response and a smirk appeared on my lips as I nodded with no surprise.
"It's why I called a meeting, obviously I wanted to check up more on the progress of the biography and the casting, but with the sudden danger you seem to be in I couldn't help but want to help"
I wrapped my fingers round the mug and brought it to my lips to feel the heat as I blew it slightly to cool it before taking a sip. The coffee seemed to be flavoured with a hint of hazelnut and it made me grin.
"That's nice of you but you're my editor not my agent, nor are you my body guard" I replied and Eleanor knocked back in her chair.
"See that's where you're wrong, I have a duty of care to my clients, you included" she clicked a pen with her thumb and circled her notepad in ink.
"So you're telling me that you could keep me protected? That I'd be safe in my own home?" For some reason that made me feel a drop of sadness and I couldn't pin point why.
"Wellllll" Eleanor sung in a high pitched voice and I looked at her worriedly "no ones going to provide you such a big service without a big fee, unless-"
There was a pause where Eleanor looked up from her lined paper and made complete eye contact with me, however it seemed anxious and started my heart beating at an insane rate.
"Unless?"
"-Unless you rip off the band aid" she stated cocking her head to one side to watch how I reacted "I think it'd be wise if you came forward and exposed who you are, with your mass following there's bound to be people willing to provide you protection"
I skidded backwards on the wooden chair causing a loud squeak and a few of the people in the coffee shop stopped their conversations to stare at me.
"I can't get you protection without you doing so, Dillon" Eleanor said with a sad pout "I wish I could, honestly"
I didn't doubt that, she'd never not done something if she could help out. I trusted her but the news didn't go down well.
"There's got to be a way" I hissed leaning across the table and she slowly turned her notebook round and showed me the mad scribbles.
"I called them all" she pointed to a long list of numbers before underlining one specific one "this is my last resort, I know they can provide you protection but only if I can guarantee that you're worth it"
I crossed my arms and huffed and Eleanor laughed at my childish attitude.
"So only famous people can be protected, ridiculous" I muttered under my breath and I was certain she heard it but didn't say anything in return.
"Can you think about it please, I'd hate for something to happen to my best writer" she flashed me a smile and I couldn't help but giggle.
"I can think about it but I can't give you any promises" I replied and she nodded understandingly.
The rest of the coffee date was pretty straight forward, just revisiting old works to make sure that everything was correct before we proceeded.
"And finally" Eleanor breathes as if talking had almost been like running a marathon and she was shattered "do you have any ideas already about casting and what image you're looking for?"
I sat back with a small knowing smile and Eleanor raised a brow waiting for my response.
But before I could respond, a frantic man ran round the corner of the coffee shop, waving his arms manically, he looked at our table and then the couple behind me.
Pointing at the back door he barely was able to shout,
"Quick get out of here!" His voice broke in panic as he turned to look over his shoulder "the dudes got a gun"
I made eye contact with Eleanor as she stood up but I was frozen in my seat, my legs feeling weightless like if I even attempted to stand up I would most likely end up sprawled upon the floor.
My upper arm was grabbed and I was forced to stand from the chair and leave my belongings behind, with hazy vision and heavy breathing I made it out of the coffee shop pinned to Eleanor's side like a terrified child.
My head filled with sirens but we daren't move and instead us and a few other jittering customers stayed pressed against the brick wall until the surroundings fell silent.
I didn't even realise I was crying until Eleanor wiped a tear from my cheek and hushed me and in that moment I knew just by her expression exactly who the shooter was.
"I need Kian" I sobbed and she pulled me into her chest, her clothes smelling like a perfume I was completely foreign to.
"I know baby, I know" she muttered into my head like a mother would and it started up my tears again as my chest bounced.
And I didn't move from that very spot until I heard one of the customers tell another that everything was clear, and even then I wouldn't leave until I saw Kians car skid into the parking lot despite the waving officers.
"Fuck!" I heard him shout before engulfing me in a hug and finally I was safe.
