Protecting Lulu (Global Protection Agency)

by Jeffries, J. M.

  “I read the blogs, Dude. Don’t you? This guy has threatened you physically? He says he’s been blacklisted by you and he can’t get a job anywhere with anybody.”

  Wilder inclined his head to Lulu. “That wasn’t exactly my doing.”

  Lulu grinned. “When he called me a ‘fat bitch’ my fans did a massive write in campaign to every station he applied to. They were very vocal about boycotting their sponsors should anyone hire Danny.”

  Noah took a deep breath. “You don’t seem too sad about it.”

  Lulu put a hand over her heart. “I’m devastated. I’m fat and sometimes a little bitchy, but I’m a fat bitch with money and a loyal fan base with exceptional writing skills. That equals a lot of power in this business. You shouldn’t pick on me. Besides, I did help him get a job in some little town in Texas where he can’t bother too many people. After all, he has child-support payments to make.”

  Wilder didn’t like Lulu when she talked like this. “Lulu--”

  “It’s okay Wilder. I’m grownup. I can handle the truth.”

  Her ability to be so pragmatic always irritated him. “Lulu, I told you I don’t like negative self-talk.”

  “Have you been reading my psych books again?” She’d minored in psychology in college.

  “Shit, Lulu,” Wilder said. Suddenly he felt beyond tired. He wanted to put his head down on his desk and sleep for a week. Would this situation never end ?

  “Back to business rivals?” Callahan said.

  He liked the way Callahan could derail Lulu. “The usual suspects,” Wilder said wearily. “Everyone is treading water right now wondering when the economy is going to get back on its feet.”

  “But you just bought a satellite,” Noah said.

  Wilder smiled. “I didn’t buy a satellite; I ordered one and paid for it to be built. After the disgraceful way London Media has conducted business, hacking into my personal phone line and the personal phone lines of a number of my staff I decided to build my own communications satellite for the use of all my companies and my employees. I do not want my business phone calls being hacked and my personal information being stolen again.”

  “Thank the Lord, you’re so boring, Wilder,” Lulu said.

  “That’s not the point, Lulu,” Wilder said.

  “Don’t get all in a twist. I said it with love.”

  Wilder wanted to tell her to stop being childish, but would never do so in front of Callahan and his people. He knew she needed to be snarky so she wouldn’t be scared. “Back to the situation at hand, I’ve filed suit against them. When I’m done, I’ll own them.

  “That’s quite an undertaking.” Callahan looked impressed. “So I think we need to put Nigel Davenport and probably his whole Boards of Directors for London Media at the head of the list of people who don’t like you.”

  Wilder only nodded. “I think Nigel Davenport doesn’t have the stones to face me in court, but he is angry enough to want to settle this with a bullet.”

  “Dude,” Mark piped up, “If you ever need someone to consult on how to create an unbreakable encryption, I’m your man.”

  “You better take him up on his offer,” Noah said, “the Geek is very, very good.” He glanced down at his notes. “Tell me about this issue you have with the Police Commissioner. How ugly is it?”

  Wilder sat back in his chair. Where did he start? “How far back do you want to go?”

  “How complicated is this going to get?” Noah countered.

  “I have always supported the police department,” Wilder said trying to think his way through this and why he disliked the man. “Neil Barrett is an outsider. He never walked a beat in New York City. That man’s pedigree is almost as good as mine and he was handed his job because he’s a frat buddy of the mayor. He couldn’t get any higher than Deputy Commission in Dallas and so he came to New York City claiming to be a man of the people.”

  “No one would ever accuse you of being a man of the people,” Callahan said.

  Wilder liked that he didn’t dance around an issue. It showed his fearlessness. That’s what he needed to keep his sister safe. “I don’t claim to be a man of the people, but I try to be a man for the people. Barrett is not interested in the people. He’s more interested in his retirement program and bonuses than he is in the officers he’s supposed to lead and the people he’s supposed to protect. He wants to cut benefits for officers, decrease the payroll, and pension off experienced officers so he can hire newbies at half the salary. His policies are not in the city’s best interest. I will fight him tooth and nail to ensure my city is protected.”

  Harrison looked up from his laptop. “Do you think he’s willing to get dirty to destroy you?”

  “He’s a petty bastard, he might.”

  Lulu spoke up, concern on her face. “If you and I are targets, what about Aunt Julia or Grandma Penny? Are they targets, too?”

  “Where are they?”

  “Grandma Penny is in New Orleans and Aunt Julia’s on a camel somewhere in the middle of Morocco. But she’ll be home in time for our monthly Sunday brunch. She’s never missed one. Today is Wednesday, so I’m thinking Saturday the latest.”

  Sylvia popped into the room, “Sorry to interrupt Mr. Bennington, Mr. Canfield and the other Union reps are on their way.”

  “Gentlemen, Lulu, I have to take this meeting,” Wilder said. “Can we resume this later? And Mr. Desha, I’d like to talk to you later today.”

  “Dude, I’m all ears. I’ll be here all day playing with your security system.”

  Wilder nodded as he waited for them to pack up their gear.

  “Ka-ching,” Desha said under his breath as he slid his iPad into his briefcase.

  Callahan folded up his notebook and tucked his pen back inside his jacket.

  Lulu bounced to her feet and bent over to kiss her brother. “Go get ‘em, tiger.” She slipped out with Callahan following her,

  “Ms. Bennington,” Callahan said. “You and I need to have a little talk.”

  Wilder watched them. Those two were very interesting together.

  She sighed. “Can we do it over cocktails?”

  “It’s eleven o’clock in the morning, Ms. Bennington.”

  “It’s five o’clock somewhere in the world. We’ll make it mimosas.”

  Wilder smiled. His sister was in trouble. Good.

  Lulu walked into her office and headed straight for the liquor cabinet.

  “So why did you get that dickhead Mills a job?” Noah asked. He was beginning to think Lulu Bennington was a very surprising woman. She seemed larger than life, but with depth that crept out at the oddest times.

  “I can be vindictive.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “I know, but I do like to play like I am sometimes. As much as I disliked Danny, he didn’t deserve to be completely jobless. I just found him a place where he could ruffle feathers all he wanted and people would probably just laugh at him.”

  “You’re not fat.”

  “I’m healthy.”

  He was silent for a moment. He didn’t know what to say. He wanted to say sexy, beautiful, desirable, but he knew she’d heard it all before. There was no way he could say it better than the men she was used to. “You’re not a bitch either.”

  “Oh, but I am.”

  He opened his mouth to deny it.

  “Not the word, the acronym. I’m a Beautiful Intelligent Talented Charming…Heiress.” She twirled her finger around. “See, put a positive spin on it.”

  Don’t laugh he commanded himself. Don’t you dare fucking laugh. “I see.”

  “Would you like a drink?” She opened the liquor cabinet and glanced up and down the rows of bottles racked on their sides.

  “I’m on the job.”

  “Did it ever occur to you that I just might be testing you?”

  “Lucinda, you are the type of woman who could drive a man to drink.”

  She put her hand over her heart, “You’re so cruel.”
r />   He held his hand up, his patience finally snapping. “We’re done playing, Lucinda. I’ve given you enough leash and let you play around, but no more. This isn’t a joke. Someone out there wants you permanently out of the picture. You’ve done nothing but make jokes about it. So you are going to sit your ass down and deal with this like a grownup.”

  He stared at her and stepped forward, intending to intimidate her. But in her stilettos, she was on eye level with him and his tactic wasn’t going to work. She stepped up to him, the tips of her breasts pushing against his chest.

  In the military Noah had stared down men who wanted to kill him on a daily basis. He had to force himself to stand still. He’d dealt with a psycho father, and never in all his life did he want to take a step back. He didn’t want this woman touching him. He took a breath inhaling her fragrance. Danger flashed in the back of his head.

  She poked his chest with her finger. “Do not dare intimidate me with your physical presence. Who the hell do you think you are?”

  “I’m the man who’s trying to keep you breathing.”

  “Then don’t bully me and I’ll cooperate.”

  “I don’t have time to be nice. You’ve danced around all my questions for almost three days now. I’m done. If you don’t start answering me, then I’m out of here. I don’t give a damn.”

  A flash of fear crossed her face. She bit her bottom lip.

  He stared at her almost cynically.

  “I’m scared,” she said quietly. “I’m scared for my family. I’m scared for myself and I don’t like it.”

  He took her by the arm. “Its okay, Lucinda.”

  “It’s like I’m ten years old again. I can hear my mother screaming and guns firing. Wilder is bleeding and I’m dragging him toward the window to escape.”

  He pulled her into his arms. Her whole body shook with a deep sob and her whole body shook. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

  “Promise?” she asked in a tremulous tone.

  “I promise.” He tried not to stroke her back, but she smelled so good and felt as though she belonged in his arms. A thousand thoughts ran through his head.

  She looked up at him, “I trust you, Noah.”

  Her lips met his. Then he was kissing her back, pushing his fingers through her long hair and caressing her back, her arms and her cheeks. Her skin was so soft and he was on fire. He didn’t care that he was compromising his ability to do his job. He wanted this woman in a way he’d never wanted any other.

  Suddenly, he pulled away. He looked at her, her face flushed and her lips slightly swollen from his kiss.

  “Excuse me,” he said. He turned on his heel and left. He knew he’d confused her, but he couldn’t stay near her anymore. He wanted to do more than just kiss her.

  He walked down the hall to the conference room where Harrison had set up a command center for himself.

  Harrison raised his head. “What’s wrong?”

  Noah forced the panicked look from his face, “I…uh…” How is he going to tell Harrison he’d just kissed Lucinda?

  “What’s on your mind, Noah?”

  “I just kissed Lulu Bennington.”

  Harrison’s eyebrows rose and he held up his hand. “Hold that thought for a second.” He picked up his cell phone, pressed a button and held it to his ear. “Biscuit, take a second and transfer $6000.00 to the kids’ college fund.” He paused listening. “Daddy’s horse came in.” He laughed and disconnected. He giggled like a school girl and started texting. “Thank you for the six large. You were saying?”

  Something was up and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. “What do you mean six grand for the kid’s college fund?”

  Harrison just grinned. “We had pool.”

  Noah frowned. “A pool for what?”

  “The date for when you were going to kiss her.”

  Noah found himself glaring, stunned. “You what?”

  Harrison started laughing again. “You’ve been wound up so tight, I knew you were going to crack. L’amour my ass, I beat the Frenchman. I know you better than anyone. I knew you couldn’t resist the temptation of Lulu Bennington.”

  Noah wanted to slam his head into the wall. “What the--”

  “With the exception of E.J. because she don’t swing that way and myself because I’m already married to the finest woman in the world, there isn’t a man here who wouldn’t fall all over themselves for a taste of Miss Lulu.” Harrison snickered.

  “You had a betting pool going on me?” Noah asked.

  “Yes, we did. We just knew it was only a matter of time before…” He wriggled his eyebrows.

  “I can’t be on the job anymore,” Noah said, “I’ve compromised the situation.”

  Harrison sighed. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You said it yourself, she’s a force of nature.”

  “I’ve guarded beautiful women before and never wanted to kiss any of them.”

  “They weren’t Lulu Bennington.”

  “She’s my client,” Noah rubbed his aching forehead.

  “She’s our client,” Harrison replied. “Look, you may be attracted to her, but you don’t put up with her shit. She needs a man like you.”

  “Ian’s more her type.”

  Harrison shrugged. “Not even. You’ll do the job because you have to. As long as you do your business and keep your association with her on private time, I’m okay with you kissing her.”

  Why wasn’t he getting all bent out of shape about this? “I can’t let this happen. Even if I wanted to.”

  Harrison frowned at Noah. “What are you talking about? You sound like a man who’s already decided to have an affair.”

  Noah paused, thinking, have I? He sat down and covered his face with his hands while he thought everything through. “Everybody knows?” Noah asked. Had he been that transparent?

  Dante walked into the room. “Really, Irish? I just needed two more days and that six could have been mine. Damn, you have no will power.” He turned and left.

  Noah stared after the man, totally amazed. He turned back to Harrison. “I thought you were my friend.”

  “I am, but I only have two kidneys and my baby Katie wants to go Ivy League. Daddy needs some Harvard scratch.”

  Damn, how could he be mad at that?

  The door to the conference room crashed open and Lulu stalked in. “What the hell? You kiss me and then run away.”

  Harrison took one look at her face and gracefully pushed back from the table and left, closing the door behind him.

  Lulu stood in front of Noah, her hands on her hips, her feet slightly spread as she glared at him. He stood up. “I was unprofessional.”

  “I don’t care. You plant a kiss on my lips and then you rush out, leaving me wondering what I did.” She grabbed him by the arms and pulled him to her. She kissed him again, pressing herself against him, winding her arms around his neck. Suddenly she pushed him away, glaring at him. “I’m going to kiss you again, as many times as I want.”

  She turned and stalked out of the conference room.

  “Shit.” They needed to find her stalker by noon tomorrow.

  Chapter Six

  Lulu sat in her favorite chair in front of the fireplace. Dinner had been an amazing success and she’d agreed to help Bono on a charity event for his Red campaign. He’d left early to catch a flight back to London and now all her bodyguards sat her living room except for Harrison and his wife, who’d left early. Aiden had to go home and sort out his new wardrobe additions.

  E.J. sat across from her looking very chic in her leather dress. Aiden had done a marvelous job with her. E.J. held a glass of pinot noir while Lulu sipped at a lovely peach chardonnay. Noah prowled the room the room restlessly. She wished he’d just sit down, but he kept sending glaring looks at her as she recounted her long list of boyfriends. He’d wanted to know about her personal life so she’d started with the first boy she’d ever kissed which happened to be with Billy Baxter in kindergarten.


  Dante, Gideon, and Roman sat at a table playing cards. She thought they were playing crazy eights, but they seemed more to be listening to her than actually looking at their cards.

  As Lulu talked, she sipped her wine and admired her brand new, blue python Gucci stilettos which she’d chosen for the Roberto Cavalli leopard print jumpsuit. “It’s just such a relief to get this all off my chest.” She looked around the room. Everyone looked a little stunned. “This is like group therapy.”

  E. J. grinned. “I’m glad we can oblige you.”

  “Now where was I? Oh yes, Vince Dunbar who by the way was born Myron Strossberg.”

  Dante perked up. “The guitarist for Blue Moon, I love that band. They are the classic bad boys of rock.”

  Lulu nodded. “Vince wasn’t the wild guy the press painted him. That was all P.R. Vince sat around reading Tolstoy. Trashing hotel rooms was his P.R. team’s doing. Vince hired someone to trash the hotel room.

  “Oh, you just ruined it for me,” Ian said.

  “I’m sorry.” She bit her bottom lip.

  “Then why did you date this guy?”

  “Well, he is brilliant and he got something out of it. Rock stars like models and actresses. It’s free publicity. It’s a step up from sleeping with porn stars or strippers.” She glanced at Noah. She could see he was really uncomfortable. “Or so that’s the theory.”

  “Do tell,” E.J. said.

  “It’s proof that you made it. Makes them feel better than the rest of the guys. Thank you, NYU School of Psychology. I never thought that degree would come in handy. Just so you know I have theorized, analyzed, and catalogued all of you.”

  “Really?” Noah said, a sarcastic tone in his voice.

  She had everyone’s number but his. But that was only a matter of time. “We’ll talk about that later.” She picked up her glass. “I was just getting to Jake O’Malley, whose birth name is Louis Kopecky. Now Jake is a story.” She sighed. A tale that took a few glasses of wine and almost a year for her to talk about publicly. Well this was as public as she intended to get about it.

  “We’re all ears.” Noah leaned forward