The Bodyguard (Hosie)

Chapter 9

Josie emerged from the bathroom thirty minutes later. Wrapped in the fluffy bathrobe and hair still damp, the rich girl walked right by Hope to the couch without casting even a glance at her. Hope made no comment. It wasn't any of her business if Josie was acting like a petty, spoiled brat. As her bodyguard, what Hope was responsible for was her safety and only her safety.

"If you're done, I'll take a quick shower," said Hope. Josie didn't reply, so she went ahead. It was a quick shower, barely five minutes long, and Hope was back in the room, drying her hair. The rich girl in question was on the phone and shortly after she put it down, changed into a black and white outfit for the night. She curtly informed Hope about her plans for supper with her friends when Hope asked. And that was all the words they exchanged until they left the room to meet Josie's friends.

Down at the lobby were Penelope, Lizzie and Alyssa and they fussed over Josie a little, which made her considerably more cheerful than before. Hope trailed behind them, keeping a respectable distance as they headed out to the supper place and did not join them at their table even though Alyssa had invited her. One look at Josie's eyes was enough to know that she was not welcome and she had no wish to incur the unnecessary tantrum of a Miss Josie Saltzman.

Hope intended to maintain the status quo for the rest of the night out, staying apart from them, yet close enough to run interference should anything happens. It didn't bother her even though Josie's friends seemed uncomfortable with it. This was her job. This was what she was paid to do. However, it appeared that Josie's friends were insistent on bringing Hope in, based on the frequency of their eyes on her and true enough, Alyssa came over to drag Hope to their table when they got to a new place.

"Come, sit," said Alyssa, not letting go of Hope's arm until she was seated at the table with them. "We want you to join us."

"I'm supposed to be guarding Josie."

"You can guard her better now that you're closer, right?" Lizzie countered.

Hope smiled. "I actually prefer to keep a small distance and watch the surroundings."

"But we want to hear about your heroic rescue," Penelope added.

"We have to be sensitive," said Hope, glancing at Josie. "She might not want to hear about the incident right now."

"Oh, that's true." Penelope looked at Josie apologetically as Lizzie smacked her arm in mild rebuke. "I'm sorry."

"Nah, I'm totally fine now." Josie's eyes met Hope's. "Tell them. They want to know."

With a shrug, Hope looked around at the eager eyes of Josie's friends. "Alright, since you said so."

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Soon, the girls were tipsy and merry, including Josie. But Hope remained sober, all the more alert and on the lookout. Unlike the clueless girls who believed that the men were simply robbers who were looking for cash and valuables to steal, Hope thought otherwise and although she didn't think they would make another attempt in Japan, the last thing she wanted to do was let her guard down and allow something to happen.

It was about a quarter to midnight when Alyssa raised her arm and asked that they return to their hotel. It was time to rest, she told them and insisted on ending the night out there and then. Hope supported the notion too and between the two of them, they managed to get the girls to go back. After all, they had a flight to catch the next day.

After sending Josie's friends back to their room, Hope found herself left alone to bring a tipsy Josie back to her room. Tipsy Josie had forgotten to be mean to her and was clinging to her arm like they were best friends. She was also giggling at random things like the elevator button that lit up when she pressed it and their reflection in the gold-plated doors of the elevator.