by S. E. Lund
"I'm afraid so. Whoever he is, I want you to be extra careful until we know for sure. I'm meeting with the head of the firm that provides security for the building and will arrange to hire someone to act as a bodyguard. I should have done this a long time ago, but my father never had one and so I didn't think I needed one either. But there are nutcases out there who have weird political ideologies and think journalists and news organizations are fair game. We should be prepared just in case."
"Okay," I said and swallowed hard. "Now, I'm really nervous."
"I don't want to alarm you, but we should err on the side of caution in this case."
He came over to where I sat and bent down, kissing me quickly.
Just then, Sharon popped her head inside the door. When she saw Josh bending over me, she gasped a bit.
Josh stood up straight and stepped away.
"Hi, Sharon," he said and turned to me. "I'll talk to you later."
He passed Sharon, who stood in the doorway, at a total loss for words.
When Josh was gone, Sharon turned and watched him go down the hallway. Finally, she came inside and closed the door to my office.
"It's none of my business, but are you two a thing?"
"Yes," I said, deciding not to try to lie, given she probably saw him kissing me. "Please don't say anything about it to the other staff. Neither of us wants it to be a public issue."
"I understand," she said. "You can count on me to zip my lip."
"Thanks," I said. "Neither Josh nor I want any fuss made. Both of us have been burned before by office romances and so we're really hesitant."
"Mum's the word," Sharon said. "Can you come to my office for a chat? I have some questions on a few manuscripts and I was passing by your office from a meeting, I thought I'd ask you instead of sending a text."
"Sure. Do you want me now?"
"Might as well. Bring your notebook."
I grabbed my black Moleskine notebook and followed her down the hall, glad she was willing to keep mum about Josh and my relationship. I hoped she wouldn't see it as a negative thing and turn against me. She didn't seem to, but in the shock of seeing us together, she may have just been nice about it.
I'd know in the next few days or weeks if it would be a bad thing between us. If I was seen as the boss's girlfriend, she might feel uncomfortable.
I arrived back at my office after our meeting was finished and spent the rest of the morning working on my pile of manuscripts that I had to get through before the end of the week. I checked my cell and didn't see anything from Josh, so I worked through my lunch, grabbing an apple and yogurt I had stowed in the office refrigerator, so I didn't have to go out and get anything.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, I was ready for a break and checked my cell once more. Still nothing from Josh, so I took a break and slipped on a pair of running shoes I kept in my office, put on my sunglasses, and left the building, needed a cup of decent coffee. Then, I wanted to go for a walk and get some air. I'd been cooped up all morning and part of the afternoon and needed a change of scene.
It was then I remembered that Josh wanted me to take extra care and not go anywhere without his bodyguard.
I stood in the lobby and texted Josh.
ELLA: I'm in the lobby and want to go for a walk, get some exercise. Where's this bodyguard you want to follow me?
Josh wrote back right away.
JOSH: Hold on. I'll come right down.
I waited by the tall picture windows overlooking the street, wondering how long we'd have to keep up the bodyguard thing, hoping it wasn't too long. I liked my personal freedom and the ability to pick up and go wherever I wanted whenever I wanted.
Still, who knew who that strange fellow was with the hat and feather? If Josh was nervous and he'd been over in Afghanistan, who was I to question the need for a bodyguard?
A few minutes later, Josh appeared out of one of the elevators and came over to me.
"Hey," he said and gave me a quick kiss. "Come with me. I'll introduce you to Reg. He's going to be ghosting us for a few days."
I followed Josh to a room at the back of the building near the rear exit. The sign on the door read, Building Security, and Josh knocked and glanced up at the small security camera in the corner above the door.
The door buzzed open and we went inside. A guard wearing a security uniform that read SecureForce sat behind a desk. In front of him was a bank of monitors, showing various views of the building's interior and exterior and the back alley.
"Wow," I said, watching pedestrians and office workers coming and going. Cars drove up in the back alley and workers unloaded boxes at a service bay. "I didn't realize the building had this kind of security system."
"Oh, yes," Josh said. "Gotta keep things secure."
We went past the security guard and into another room where a man dressed in a business suit sat behind a desk. He stood when Josh entered, and the two men shook hands.
"Reg, this is Ella, my girlfriend. Ella, this is retired Sergeant Reg Collins, who's going to be providing us with security when we leave the premises."
Reg and I shook hands and the man was huge, strong, and reminded me of someone you'd see on a professional wrestling show with his shaved head and beefy body.
"Nice to meet you, miss," he said in a gravelly voice. "I hear your father is Governor Carter from New Hampshire."
"He is," I said and smiled. "Do you know him?"
"I haven't had the pleasure."
I nodded and turned to Josh. "What do I do?"
"You send Reg a message and he'll meet you at the front door. He'll follow behind you a few feet and keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
"What if I want to go on the subway?"
"Take the limo service if you need to go anywhere," Josh said. "I've told them to expect a call from you now and then when you need a car."
"Are you sure?" I said and frowned. "Is this really necessary?"
"Miss, until we know who this man is who followed you and Mr. Macintyre, it's best to be careful. It's no problem for me or the car service. It's our bread and butter."
Reg smiled at me, his eyes twinkling like he was amused.
"Okay, if you really think it's necessary."
I turned to Josh. "I just want some air and to get a coffee. I thought I'd walk around the park for fifteen minutes or so."
"I'd join you, but I have a meeting in five."
I turned to Reg. "If you don't mind?" I said.
"Lead the way," he replied and nodded to Josh.
We left the security office and Josh gave my arm a quick squeeze before he left to take the elevator back up to his office. On my part, I left the building, slipping on my sunglasses and taking the sidewalk.
I spend the next twenty minutes walking along the external walkway along the east side of Central Park. Then I stopped in at my favorite coffee shop and got a latte, so I could finish off the day.
Reg stood a few feet away from me, his hands crossed in front of him.
"Can I get you anything?" I asked him and pointed to the counter at an array of pastries and drinks.
He shook his head. "No, thanks Miss. I'm fine."
I paid and returned to the Macintyre building, Reg a few dozen feet behind me. Once I got inside, I stopped, and Reg came over to me.
"I'll wait until you get on the elevator."
"Okay, if you think that's necessary," I said.
"I do," he replied and folding his hands once more.
I went to the elevator and pressed the button, then waited, coffee in hand. Finally, the elevator opened. Reg nodded to me and then I entered, seeing it was empty.
Finally, the elevator doors closed, and I went up to my floor, feeling a bit strange that three was so much fuss made about my whereabouts.
I hoped they found out who the man was soon.
Later that afternoon, Steph called me, and I was so excited to see her name, I actually gasped.
"Steph, I haven't heard from y
ou in weeks," I said, smiling as I imagined her sitting in her dorm in her sweats and hoodie, her Mickey Mouse slippers on her feet. Although we texted each other a lot, we hadn't actually spoke in person.
"I know, girlfriend, I decided to give you a call. I have Monday off and thought I might come down to Manhattan. I talked to my prof and I can skip class on Friday so that'll mean we can spend the whole weekend together. I mean, when you and Mr. Big aren't going at it."
I laughed. "If you're here, we won't be going at it, believe me. I need to spend my time with you. Mr. Big can spend time in his office catching up with work or something."
"Okay, but I don't want to interfere too much with your budding romance. If you need to spend time with him, I'll understand and can take a trip to a day spa and luxuriate or something."
"Not on your life. While you're here, I'm all yours."
"Okay, girlfriend, I'll see you on Friday night. Pick me up at Penn Station?"
"I'll see you there. Oh, I'll be with a bodyguard, so be prepared."
"Oh, you guys actually have one? I can't believe it. I guess a guy as rich as Josh would need one."
"Luckily, a guy as rich as Josh can afford one. They're damn expensive. You don't just have one guy. You have five. Three for each day and two spares in case on or two of them are sick or killed."
"Oh, God, don't say that."
"Don't worry," I said and tried to downplay it as much as possible. "It's just a precaution."
"Okay. See you soon, kiddo. Smooches."
"Smooches back."
I hung up and smiled, looking around the office.
I had to get my work done so I could enjoy my weekend with Steph.
12
Josh
The week went fast as I tried to get caught back up with my workload and Reg's security team watched for a return visit from the mystery man with the feathered fedora.
He didn't show for a couple of days, but one day, I got a call from Reg, and a request that I come down to the security office. He didn't give me any details, but I suspected it was because Mr. Fedora, as Ella and I had taken to calling him, had returned.
I left my office and made my way down to the lobby, wondering what was up.
I buzzed in at the security office and glanced up at the camera, then went inside once the door opened.
Reg was standing with his back to the door, looking over the shoulder of the duty guard watching the security monitors.
"Hello, Sir," Reg said. Sorry to interrupt your morning but I thought you should see this."
"Good morning, Reg. What have we got?"
Reg pointed at one of the monitors, which showed the area directly in front of the building. The camera zoomed to show across the street, and there, standing in an alcove in partial shadow, was Mr. Fedora.
"I thought you might want me to go over and question him," Reg said in a low voice. "I could ask for ID."
"If you think that's appropriate," I said. "See what he says."
"Sounds good," Reg said and pulled out his sunglasses. "I'll be right back."
Reg left us, and so I sat beside the duty guard and watched on the video cameras. It showed Reg leaving the back of the building and walking through the lobby to the front door. The next camera picked him up as he stood at the side of the road and checked for traffic. Then, it followed him as he jaywalked directly across, threading his way through the cars, which were lined up waiting for the lights.
Mr. Fedora was reading a newspaper -- or pretending to -- and when he saw Reg come across the street directly towards him, he appeared to try to disappear behind the paper, and stepped farther back into the alcove. Reg went right up to the man and he disappeared behind Reg's bulk. We watched for a few moments, and then Reg returned, crossing the street the same way he had before, dodging traffic expertly. Mr. Fedora left the alcove, tucked the paper under his arm, and walked away, disappearing from the security camera's view.
Reg finally returned to the security office and the duty guard buzzed him inside.
"Well?" I asked when he came over to where we sat. "What's the upshot?"
"The man refused to identify himself or state his business, so I told him if he didn't leave, I'd call the police and they'd find out who he was and why he was there."
"Okay," I said and shrugged. "I guess that's all we can do, right? The man has every right to stand outside the building if he wants."
"The police can't do anything unless he issues some threat or physically accosts you," Reg replied. "But they could ask for his identification and we could find out who he is that way."
I nodded in understanding. "Keep an eye out for him. If he returns, call the police."
"Will do."
I went back up to my office and sat behind my desk, unhappy that we hadn't been able to answer the question of just who this man was and why he was hanging around outside the building. There was no law against what he was doing, so we couldn't have him arrested. Until he did or said something, all we could do was watch and wait. He now knew that we were aware of him, so that was something.
I didn't think the man was a threat -- at least, he didn't seem like someone who was personally threatening but you never knew.
Later that day, I texted Ella, deciding to invite her for dinner out since both of us had been eating at our desks in order to catch up with work and working late. Ella had elected to stay at her own place for a couple of days since her friend from Concord was coming down to Manhattan for a visit.
JOSH: Hey, are you up for some Thai food? I know a great restaurant in the area. I have to work late, but it would give us a chance to catch up. I haven't seen you for two days and I'm dying here...
ELLA: Sure. I'm dying, too. I was surprised you didn't ask for an emergency photocopy room meeting...
JOSH: That was hot, but I'm hoping you'll stay with me tonight so we can store up a few orgasms while your friend is in town.
ELLA: Mr. Macintyre. You make it sound like currency in a bank account. I don't know if I should be flattered or upset...
JOSH: It's like currency and worth its weight in gold. I need a deposit in my bank account or I'll go into overdraft.
ELLA: !!!
ELLA: I'll stay tonight but Steph is coming into town tomorrow, so I won't be making any deposits while she's here. I hope you understand.
JOSH: I'll suffer. Mr. Manuel and I will become reacquainted.
ELLA: At least you'll be able to visit with Mr. Manuel. I, on the other hand, will not be able to have a visit from B.O.B., since my bestie will be sleeping on the bed beside me...
JOSH: Hmm. Two beautiful ladies sleeping in the same bed. You have to know where a man's mind goes...
ELLA: !!! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but we don't play for the other team, even when there's a drought.
JOSH: I could rent you a nice suite at the Ritz and then you'd each have your own room for her visit. In fact, consider it done.
I quickly opened a window in my browser and searched for the Ritz-Carlton Central Park. I reserved a suite with two bedrooms. Luckily, my credit card was already entered in since I had an account with them.
ELLA: Josh, I couldn't accept that.
I smiled.
JOSH: If you don't, the place will go to waste, and my money will be spent for nothing because... I already reserved it. It's paid for and the matter is finished. I don't want to hear another word about it. You've been working extra hard the past two weeks, and this is just a bonus in recognition.
ELLA: Josh...
JOSH: Ella...
ELLA: I still won't be meeting with B.O.B., though. I'm going to save up all my lust for when Steph goes back to New Hampshire. Then, I plan on overindulging in you.
JOSH: That's what I like to hear. I'd say that I'd do the same, but it's a plumbing issue.
ELLA: You can't go three nights without a visit from Mr. Manuel?
JOSH: I could, but then my mind would get backed up like a sink or toilet and you wouldn't wa
nt that.
ELLA: So, the plumbing affects the command and control center?
JOSH: They are intricately linked. Screw with one and the other is toast.
ELLA: We could sext after Steph goes to bed. She's a deep sleeper.
JOSH: Sounds like a plan. I'll pick you up at 6:30. We can walk there. It's just a few blocks away.
ELLA: See you then.
For the rest of the afternoon, I tried to wrap up as much of my work as possible, so I could spend time with Ella over dinner and enjoy our last night together before the weekend and Steph's visit.
I was interested in meeting the famed Stephanie, Ella's best friend from high school. Apparently, she encouraged Ella to see me despite everything and so I owed a lot of my recent happiness to her. While I would miss Ella in my bed for the weekend, I wouldn't dream of keeping the two women apart.
At just after six, I left the office and zipped up to the apartment to change into something a bit less formal, then I went down to Ella's floor and popped into Sharon's office on the way. She was still working hard, her head in her laptop.
"Hey," I said. "How are you doing? Everything going as planned?"
"Absolutely," she said and glanced up. "You here to pick up Ella?"
"Yes," I said and stepped inside. "I hope you're okay with it. Neither of us really think office romances are wise, given our histories, but life intervenes."
"That it does. Of course, I'm fine with it. Josh, your personal life is your personal life and so is Ella's. As long as it doesn't interfere with her productivity, I'm all for letting people leave their work at the office."
"Good," I said. "I don't want you to worry that you can't treat Ella the way you'd treat any intern. That's why I hired you and promoted you -- because I know you'll always be fair, and you have high expectations. My relationship with Ella doesn't change anything in my view and expectation."
"Message received." She gave me a quick salute and smile.
I smiled back and went down the hallway to Ella's office. I knocked on the door and slipped inside.
"Are you ready?" I asked, coming over and leaning down to give her a quick kiss.