Impressing the Clients

63

Paula's POV

I just had my lab tests this morning, I called Dr. Boone immediately so we can meet for lunch. Oliver and his men were behind me, protecting from the non-existent danger since the man who harmed me were being held by the twins already. This fucking setup was pissing me off.

"Oliver," I stopped at my tracks. "Walk with me, not behind me. I'm not your bosses. And the rest of you," I turned to the other four men. "Don't fucking walk in unison. Blend in. Scatter or whatever. You're driving too much attention to me, I fucking hate it."

Oliver gave them the go signal and walked beside me. Two of the men walked in front of us casually while the others were a little behind us. "Better?" He asked with a small smile on his face. "Yes. This is how we'll walk from now on," I smiled back at him, finally relaxed from the tension of the boss-and-her-bodyguards aura a while ago.

"So, how long have you been with the twins?" I asked him. "Around six years. I was a detective before they hired me." He answered.

"Wow, why'd you pick being a guard than pursuing your career?" I asked curiously. "No offense," I quickly added.

He smiled at me and answered, "none taken."

"I was working on a case. The first detective who handled the case ruled it as natural causes. But my mind can't bug it off, I just had to look into it. I looked for similar cases, I stumbled upon Mr. Davidson's file, their father. It was very much the same so I dug into his file as well. Soon the twins knew I was sniffing around their father's grave. They were furious but when they knew my intentions, they secretly agreed to help me with the investigation and keep them updated.

"I was closing in on the case when I received a call, my parents died. Autopsy showed natural causes as well. They both died on the same day of natural causes. It was not a coincidence."

"Oh, I'm sorry." I told him.

"Don't be, they're big fuck ups. But they're still my parents. From then, I was more eager to find the murderer. He must've knew I was looking into his murders.

"The twins later took over the case. They had their private investigator continue the work. It was too dangerous for me, they told me. And when I returned to the office, I was called in by my captain. He fired me, orders from above. I was blacklisted from every precinct. No one was allowed to hire me in the department. Someone was keeping me from investigating those cases for sure.

"When I got fired, the twins took me in. Mark trained me. Those were the only things I knew how to do. Though I'm a little rusty on the detective side." He smiled at me softly.

"Wow." I was too overwhelmed with what he's gone through to say anything that might make it better for him. So we just continued walking, quietly this time.

————

We arrived at the restaurant where Dr. Boone and I agreed to meet. Oliver and the men sat on a corner table, having a full view of the place as they guard me.

"Hey," I greeted Dr. Boone.

"Paula, please have a sit." He motioned on the chair across him. "What would you like?" He asked.

"A glass of whiskey on ice please." I answered without thinking, 'cause honestly that's what I needed right now.

"For lunch, Paula. Something you can eat." He reminded me. He knew full well that alcohol has been my constant confidant.

"Oh, uhm, some steak and whiskey on ice please." I remained stern about my drink. I needed one.

"Very well." He sighed and called for the waiter. "One whiskey neat, one whiskey on ice and two medium rare steaks."