Possessive: Her Protectors (Kingswood Saga Book 4) Completed

9. Rio

"Boys, you remember what I said" Mom stood by the door watching us pack the last of our equipment into the Range Rover.

"Yes mom, be good, listen to the assistant and don't cause any scandals" Rome repeated back to her with a grin.

We had run Roger off in 48 hours and Mom had been very angry with us, he had been the second assistant, James the first one had lasted a week before he threw in the towel.  Uncle Paul had told us there would a new assistant with us for the weekend event to see how it went.  Rome and I had already taken bets as to how long this one would last, and with Paul and Lucy in Italy, there was no risk of them showing up to check on us.

This weekends event was at Henley, and we checked in at the venue first, surprised when we were told our assistant had all our paperwork and have left a note they would meet us at the hotel.
"Fuck, I'd hoped we'd get here first" Rome muttered as we headed for the hotel.
"Good afternoon sirs, your assistant has already dealt with the check in for you, here are your keys, Room 110 is on the first floor.  A table for dinner tonight has been arranged for 6.30pm, and your assistant has also booked a wake up call for 5.30am.  Is there anything else I can do for you" the receptionist smiles politely, ignoring our glares.
"Yes, where is the other room, there should be two booked for us and tell me which room is our assistant in?" I ask through gritted teeth.
"The booking was amended to a twin room and your assistant is in Room 111, next to yours" she says still smiling.

"Come on" Rome mutters, grabbing his bag and heading up the stairs, finding room 110 first we drop off our bags before heading to room 111.

Bang Bang Bang
I hammer my fist on the door, how dare he change things without consulting us first and why are we sharing a room, we never share.
Bang Bang Bang
I hit the door again, hearing mumbling behind the door before it swings open and my jaw drops... it's her.
"What are you doing here?" Rome questions sharply stepping towards her as she retreats back into her room. Allowing me to take a good look at her, realising that she's only wrapped in a towel, her lower body dripping water onto the carpet, had she been in the bath? I can see her nervously looking between us and the door and put my hand on Rome's shoulder in warning.
"Get dressed, we will wait for you" I tell her firmly and watch as she blushes before grabbing some clothes out of her case and disappearing back into the bathroom.
I turn to Rome and he grins back at me, "Finally, but do you think she'll cope" he says and I nod, as Rome takes the armchair and I sit on the sofa by the window.
xx
When she returns she is fully dressed but still nervous.
"I'm Amalie" she tells us standing looking at us. 
I pat the sofa next to me and smile "We remember you, Aunt Lucy's assistant, come and sit down and tell us why you are here" I say softly, earning myself a raised brow from Rome. My turn to be the nice guy, he can be the pushy one.
I know she's nervous and I wait for her to take that first step forward before grinning.
"I'm Rio and that's Rome" I tell her and she laughs "I know"
"Why are you here, you're new and haven't had any experience yet?" Rome asks again, his gaze fixed on her.
"Lucy and Paul thought I could do it, and you're wrong I do have experience just from the other side" she replies tartly, glaring at him.
"What do you mean, the other side?" He questions and she blushes red.
"I've been competing for a while, I know the process from your side, but I also know all the things my assistants have done for me in the past, I am more than capable of handling the work" she bristles.
"You don't row, and I don't recognise your name so what's your sport?" Rome pushes and I watch as she closes up "I used to fence, I was on the British team but I'm taking time off" she replies, her tone sharp.
There's a story there, I wonder what it will take to get it out of her.  I can see no visible injury, so why the time off.
"Why?" I ask curious.
"That's none of your business and nothing to do with my role here" she snaps back.
Okay it's a sensitive issue, but now I really want to know.
"So they think you can keep us in line do they?" Rome taunts and she looks at him assessingly before replying with a simple "yes" her gaze holding his.
I feel my body tingle with anticipation of the fight to come, Amalie had a core of steel and we would enjoy making her bend.
"Now you're here, lets go over this weekends itinerary" she suggests and I quickly say "yes" before Rome replies.  I want to see her in action, she fascinates me and I want to know how she thinks she can manage us.
Amalie retrieves three files from her bags and hands one to each of us.  Alongside the training and actual events she has added meal times and rest times.  I notice some blocked off time for PR.
"What this?" I ask pointing it out.
"We need to improve your PR, it's really not doing you any favours at the moment, so I have arranged for two session on each day to meet and greet fans and potential press opportunities.  Tomorrow morning is an hour with the local rowing club juniors, they have a list of questions to ask you, copies are on page four and the local press will be watching and in the afternoon, you are presenting the cup for the junior races"
"An when do we get to enjoy ourselves?" Rome muttered and I grinned, I know he didn't mind doing the press stuff really but he didn't like being told what to do.
Amalie shook her head at him "Enjoying yourself is why you have a PR issue, you can enjoy yourself after this weekend, when you are off the camera." She told him and he huffed.
"You going to be by our sides all weekend to make sure we behave?" He growled.
"Absolutely" she said looking serous and I chuckle.
"If we promise to behave for you, will you stay as our assistant?" I ask, catching her hand in mine and caressing the pulse point in her wrist.
She froze at the contact, all colour draining from her face. I shared a panicked look with Rome.
"Amalie" I called releasing her, but she remained frozen.
"AMALIE!" Rome said loudly and she jumped, pulling away from me and off the sofa.
"What just happened?" I asked confused.
She shook her head and stepped back, her face still pale and a tremble in her hand.
"Sorry, it's nothing... I just don't like to be touched" she explains haltingly.
"I'm sorry, I won't do it again" I tell her, holding her gaze until she gives a brief nod.
"This weekend is a trial to see how it goes, Paul and Lucy will decide after what happens" she says answering my question.
"If that's all, I think you should go, I will see you in the morning at breakfast" she says retreating further as we both rise.
"No, you will join us for dinner this evening, I understand you booked it for 6.30, we will see you in the restaurant then" Rome instructed her and she shook her head, looking at the floor.
"Yes, you told me, not five minutes ago, you would be at our side the whole weekend to keep an eye on us, that's starts tonight, or we're you lying" Rome taunts and I watch her head surge up, fury in her eyes, blocking out the fear.
"I never lie!" she spits, stepping back on opening her room door wide, giving us a clear message to leave.
"I will see you in the restaurant at 6.30" she adds, slamming the door behind us.
I trail Rome back to our room and flop on the bed "what the hell just happened, did you see her reaction to my touch?" I ask him.
"I don't know"
"You don't think, someone's hurt her, it was a pretty extreme reaction?" I question and I see the fury on his face as he contemplates my words.
"I hope not, anyway, I doubt Uncle Paul would send her to us if she was fragile."
I could see him routing about in his bag, finally pulling his iPad out and tapping away.
"What are you doing?" I ask him.
"Looking up our new assistant, if she's any good, she will appear if I search her name" he replies and I sit up watching him read the results.
"Well" I prod, getting tired of waiting.
"Take a look for yourself" Rome tosses the device at me and I read with interest.