I plan to terminal the contract with the university I earlier signed to take one semister clases because I don't think I can continue. A substitute professor is already taking classes in my place. It's better full control to be transferred to the rightful teacher.
I hop on the elevator after dressed up. I always wonder what other floors have since the floor I've been living on is already like Callen's two-floored condo. But resisting the urge to check out the whole building I press the ground floor button. This whole building belongs to one person so passing by some neighbour who thing is out of question.
Like usual the men in black by the door and reception area greet me afternoon which I return with a smile. Two stay still while Four follow me outside including Matteo and one bring out the car till I reach the driveway. In seconds my car and the identical one race our way to the highway and I tell them where to pull up.
I step outside the car and into the office building. Since I didn't had the appointment I had to argue with them a little. Matteo was standing outside but barged in whispering something into the receptionist's ear and she rushed to the principal's office and reemerged only to open the door wider for me to get in.
"I'd like to know what you said to her as well." I say quietly to Matteo as I pass by him but he didn't respond.
I'll make him tell me.
He still looks unnerved as to why callen has allowed me outside after my behavior earlier.
I have to build the trust. Win his men.
After a short chat the bald dean readily agreed for my resignation, when I was signing the papers I noticed he was fidgeting too much. I let that pass.
This case solved next I hop out the car to check on my department.
And few steps inside the hospital I find it's Teresa's birthday and I slap my head for my stupid memory. Now that I remember I never really asked her. Not that I attended her wedding either.
I'm playing a big scumbag here. Great!
With my juniors I go two floors up and find the birthday girl surrounded with gifts and a patient sitting in front of her. As soon as he leaves I hug my friend tight. "Happy birthday! Gorgeous!"
And she stumbles back. "Woah wow! He'll ya! Thanks!" She smiles back but there was a hesitation in her. Damn I was absent for too long.
"Look I'm sorry." I start but she waves at me. "Oh no, it's fine. It's okay." She looks around. "Let's celebrate your birthday today. My treat and apology drinks too. Done?" I come up with the idea as quick so as to not loose her. Her face blooms"You sure? Not busy?". I shake my head. "Today. All for you." I announce. She bursts into laughter.
When the others leave and it was only her and me in the resting room. She asks. "Hey. I saw news. Um.. what are you upto lately?" She stumbles with her word. "I mean it's okay you don't wanna answer..just.. you disappeared." She made hand gestures like it was a shock to her and so it was to me.
"And you're all surrounded with big people and hardly here..what did you do?" Her brows pinched together in confusion and worry I take her hands in mine and assure her. "I was not okay. But now I'm getting better."
She smiles.
Then ducks her head.
"Isn't he too much for a boyfriend?" The humour in her tone catches me off-guard.
"Who?" I exclaim. She rolls her eyes pocketing out her phone, unlocks it and shows me a few screenshots. Taken from months ago till a few days ago.
A pic of us getting on the airplane. I slide, dumbfounded. A pic of us exiting the airport where callen is injured. I slide, zooming in. Then us getting out of some hotel and next is me trying to hide my face blocked by guards exiting from the pub I visited earlier.
She snatches her phone back when I don't respond because of passive Shock. I know all this and still it shocks me coming in terms with that after really seeing the pictures. The bold headlines with my name on it. Never did I imagined that.
She shows me another news article, Dated a week ago. 'Will Callen Trevino, the notorious Business Tycoon escort the same woman, rumoured to be his Girlfriend, Miss Zenovia Marcell to coming month's presidential meet too? Or New Woman will lure him this week?'
"What bulshit!" I give her phone back to her.
"Yeah. Hide it all you can. We see it. Especially that hickey on your neck girl." She sings in my ear and I adjust my collar up. She bubbles out a laughter.
Shit!
"It's okay you don't wanna tell me. I don't wanna killed for pressuring the lord trevino's girlfriend to admit her love story." She falls back into pits of Laughter again.
"Yeah right." I roll my eyes.
Later when we were about to leave for usual Nightclub, I decided to let Matteo know too. He distance himself messaging someone and dials to someone too. It suddenly became a tense job to even go out to spend quality time.
He walks up to me ending the call and sliding his phone back inside. And glares at my friends who step back on warning I step in between breaking their eye contact. And then he privately informs me making me step away from them, callen's 'suggestion' I suppose, "Ma'am-"
"Ivy please." I cut in.
He continues, "Ivy, The Cameo is suited best for you. You will be under protection and no threats there. It's one of boss's possessions."
"Okay. Thanks Matteo." He lets everyone in the vehicle and off we went to the the cameo which was in the city and I gawk at how huge the building was as if it's some casino for rich. We didn't had to wait in the queue, we were directly led in to the second floor. This casino. Sorry nightclub was different then the previous one I went to. People who weren't dressed accordingly weren't allowed in either. Teens were a rare sight here. This is huge. The second floor didn't have many people. Mathew led us to the vip booth And there we drank and danced without outsiders eyes on us. Though a little crowd to dance into gives me thrills. But private time with only friends was also good. Not every girl in the group was my friend, They were teresa's friends more and since it's a party for her I didn't mind.
I did see Teresa looked a little scared in the start but then she mixed in with others, then as the midnight struck many left and Teresa was starting to shrink again.
"Hey is this scaring you? Or your husband's haunting you?" I laughed trying to joke to loosen her. "It may be your habit to be surrounded by so many scary men but I am uncomfortable. Besides you're that Don's girl. I can be killed anytime." She shivers Gulping down her shot of tequila.
Now she is voicing her fears.
But I didn't sense anyone keeping an eye on us. Maybe I've become used to all this. Why is she stealing glances here and there?
I look around, very precisely and spot few men I know by face. All my bodyguards had blend in with the crowd and behind the curtains, near the door. And the staff was working casually like nothing is unusual.
This must be their code too.
"Relax no one will hurt you. They're here for my secrecy." She meets my eyes "that means if something were to happen they'll protect you and I'll be your shield?" I didn't know the answer to that so I quickly come up with something to lighten the mood pretending I didn't hear it because of the loud music "Let's see who down first!" And we cling our shot glasses.
It's callen's. Offcourse everyone is trained in carrying out their part.
I've seen these people are selfish. She can be sacrificed for me if we're together and attacked.
Still,
I shouldn't worry. Nothing's gonna happen
One shot after other we refill our glasses.
Fuck I'm just too drunk. Everyone look blurry.
Yet I take another shot laughing with Teresa on something she bitches about.
I want to forget a bit of my past troubling me now.
Grief returning, I want to fade.
I see a familiar figure walking towards us.
