Addison rolled over and reached for her alarm clock, attempting to push the button that would verbalize the time for her. She couldn't see any light in the room through her curtains, so she hoped it wasn't too early. She reached and reached but her fingers didn't come into contact with an alarm clock. Or a bedside table for that matter. With a gasp she sat up straight, memory of the night before coming back to her.
"Daniel," she said out loud, hesitantly calling his name, half fearful he would answer and half fearful he wouldn't.
When she received no response she tried calling for him again a little louder. Again, no response. She shoved her unruly hair back off her face and climbed off the surprisingly high bed, reaching out to steady herself against a tall post at what she thought was the end of the bed. Odd, she didn't think the type of bed she was beginning to envision suited Daniel Mercer at all.
She made her way around the apartment, taking note of the front door, which she intended to use just as soon as she took care of her most immediate need. Feeling the walls and sparse furniture in between, she discovered a strangely utilitarian bachelor suite with very little furniture or personal belongings. Once she used the washroom and washed her hands, she decided to give into her curiosity and have a quick 'peek' around.
Addison figured it wasn't technically snooping since she couldn't see. She was simply exploring her environment and if anyone asked, she just went the wrong way while searching for the door and ended up accidentally rifling through Daniel's drawers. She discovered he didn't have a lot of clothing options. He wore jeans and cotton T-shirts, he favoured boxer briefs, and all of his clothes were folded with military precision. He also had a leather coat and one suit, which was likely used for formal occasions when he needed to attend with Tyson King.
There were no pictures that Addison could find, either on the walls or on his desk. There was no TV. She found a laptop and a printer on the tiny desk, which she’d failed to notice the night before for obvious reasons. There was a couch, but no living room chairs or anything else that could be described as comfortable. There was a tiny kitchen table with two chairs that felt mismatched.
"I thought this guy was weird before," she whispered to herself.
There were no personal items whatsoever in the entire place. Curiosity drove her to start opening drawers in the kitchen, where she found the bare minimum of kitchen utensils and cookery. There were pots and pans, but again, just what was barely needed. There was one bowl, plate, cup, spoon, fork and knife. A chill slithered down her spine.
“This guy really doesn’t like company."
And because it would drive her nuts if she didn't check, she went to rifle through the washroom. She found a razor, soap, deodorant and shampoo.
“Well, I'm done!" she said cheerfully, grabbing her purse and heading confidently for the door.
She was ready to leave and never come back. Addison scooped up her coat and knit purse and slipped out the door as quietly as she could. She quickly felt her way along the wall toward where she thought the stairs might be. She could hear sounds like people working out on equipment or sparring, but they were far enough away she wasn't sure if anyone would see her. She was positive she didn’t want to be noticed doing the walk of shame from Daniel Mercer's place when they hadn’t even done the deed.
She made it to the exit door without being stopped and was relieved to find the door opened easily for her without any alarms. She forced herself to calm down and count the flights of stairs down so she wouldn't lose track and end up on the wrong floor. Daniel had told her she lived thirteen floors below the security floor.
Only when she was safe in her apartment did her heart slow to its normal beat. Addison raked a hand through her messy hair and set her purse on the floor near the door in its usual place. With a deep breath, she forced herself to enter into a somewhat normal routine. She wasn't due at the orchestra today, Maestro wanted to work with winds only. Normally she would have been thrilled with a rare Monday off, but she desperately wished she had someplace to be.
She knew Daniel would come for her eventually. She sensed his obsession with her and also that something was off about him, which terrified her. But there was something within her that responded to him on a primitive level. She learned that much last night when he’d insisted she explore his body. Addison shivered as she remembered her sensitive fingertips passing over the ridges of muscles.
“Dammit,” she growled, shaking her head in annoyance. “Get out of my head, Mercer!”
Straightening her shoulders, Addison stomped around the kitchen island toward her washroom and ran the taps for a shower. She didn’t sing this time when she washed herself, irritated as she was at herself. Her movements were short and utilitarian as she gathered her long hair on top of her head so it wouldn’t get wet. She washed the long, thick mass only once every few days. It took too long to dry and it frizzed if she washed it too often.
She finished her shower and dried off before covering her curves in an enveloping robe. She’d had it for so long it was ratty and threadbare in places and there were holes in the pockets. She loved it too much to replace it though. She brushed her teeth and applied her favourite hemp lotion to her face and hands, breathing in its scent of tropical flowers.
Feeling somewhat more normal, Addison opened her laptop on the kitchen island and checked her emails while chopping up a bowl of fruit for breakfast. She half listened as an electronic programmer read them to her one at a time while she munched on a selection of strawberries, cantaloupe and honeydew melon. She reached over and hit the delete key on an email shopping promotion.
She rolled her eyes and huffed in annoyance at the next one. Somehow Erica’s voice came across as annoying even through the neutral, electronic voice of her email reader. The younger woman wanted Addison’s opinion on wardrobe for the spring performance, which so wasn’t Addison’s responsibility.
“Plus I’m freaking blind!” she snapped, deleting the email.
Feeling immediately guilty, she sent Erica a quick email suggesting a few colours and styles the other woman could consider. Addison also mentioned the name of a flutist she knew was very much into fashion and constantly complained about wardrobe. She knew the two were unlikely to make a match of it, but maybe Erica would take the hint.
The next few emails were from Maestro, running suggestions by his First Chair. Addison wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and gave the emails her complete focus for the next hour and a half. She was just as invested as the Maestro in making the orchestra the best it could be. They made a good pair, equally investing in the music, the administration and the politics. Addison smirked as she hit ‘return’ on the last email. If only she was a little more willing to show up and pimp herself out to the investors, she would make the Maestro a perfect work wife.
Addison arched her back on the stool where she sat, working the kinks out of her muscles. She had one email left to to check. She stood up to clean her breakfast as she listened to her electronic reader. She froze in place stomach plummeting as the subject line was read: YOUR BIGGEST FAN.
She knew she should stop the reader from continuing, but her feet remained frozen to the floor, her limbs too stiff to carry her the few feet to the laptop where she could snap it closed. The normally cheerful electronic voice, now eerie and unpleasant, filled her kitchen.
I WANT YOUR FINGERS TO WRAP AROUND ME
LIKE YOUR MUSIC WINDS AROUND ME
ADDISON, YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL,
SO FULL OF LIFE, SO PERFECT,
SO BREAKABLE.
I WANT YOU, ADDISON.
IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU
NO ONE CAN.
Daniel’s eyes traced over Claudia’s face with cool, professional interest. She was attempting to keep the bruised left side away from King’s vision and tilt her head in a way that would swing her blond hair forward to cover the swelling. She sat curled up on the couch, enveloped in a thick blanket where she had clearly been tucked for safe keeping. Her billionaire boyfriend was currently pacing around her like a caged tiger in need of fresh prey.
Each darkening bruise brought a fresh wave of rage crashing over the giant man. The juxtaposition between the two men was not lost on Daniel. Daniel Mercer was not controlled by rage and fire, but ruled himself with rigid control and icy deliberation. It was part of the reason they made such an effective team. Tyson built his empire with cunning and power, while Daniel protected their assets with icy, ruthless skill. He never failed.
Until yesterday. When Claudia had nearly been lost. If Tyson King had lost his queen, the empire would have crumbled under his rage and despair. Mercer had failed.
“You have my resignation,” Daniel said quietly.
King’s head snapped up. Confusion clouded his eyes for a split second before he understood. His eyes drilled into Daniel’s until Daniel understood without words that King bore him no ill will. It still pissed Daniel off to no end that someone got past his supposedly impenetrable defences.
“I was the one that insisted the building have a way in for emergencies. You argued against it,” King said gruffly. “We couldn’t’ve known they would get to Spencer’s family.”
Daniel nodded shortly. King was referring to Oscar Spencer, the now deceased concierge of King Tower. He had been carefully vetted by Daniel and had come with impeccable references. The man had been untouchable. Except for his family. All of which were now dead at the hands of Dante Marquez with the backing of Franco Delgado and his men. Oscar had gotten Dante onto the penthouse floor where Claudia’s Cuban ex-boyfriend had been able to confront her without her usual armed escort.
“If you don’t intend to accept my resignation then I’ve outlined several new security measures that will prevent future leaks in the system,” Daniel said.
King nodded his agreement. “You have my go ahead for all of them except Claudia’s personal detail. She wants to choose her own personal bodyguard and would prefer a woman, if possible.”
Daniel’s eyes went to Claudia, searching out the bruises on her pale skin. She ducked her head and crossed her arms over her chest protectively. Daniel shook his head. “No, I hire all security and I don’t want any women.”
Claudia’s head snapped up and a sound of protest passed her lips. King placed a large, gentle hand on her shoulder soothingly. She glared at Daniel but he ignored her. It was her spoiled pain in the ass that got him shot at anyway. He really didn’t care what she wanted.
King considered his words before he spoke in a deep firm voice. “Claudia needs someone she can trust. This might come as a surprise to you Mercer, but after yesterday she trusts you.”
Daniel was surprised. He had no idea Claudia was that stupid, with such a poorly honed sense of self preservation. He nodded slightly.
Claudia looked up at King and touched his hand before speaking to Daniel directly. Her voice was hoarse from either crying or strangulation, or both. King tensed in anger at the sound. “Daniel, I appreciate what you did for me yesterday. I know you did it for Tyson, but you saved my life. I think if you could follow me around forever I would feel utterly safe for the rest of my life.”
Daniel continued to stare at her without changing expression.
She seemed to be waiting for some kind of response from him. When she didn’t receive anything she continued, her voice hesitant. “I know you can’t babysit me every second of the day, not when your main job is to secure Tyson and his holdings. It would be far easier on you and his peace of mind if I had my own bodyguard.”
Daniel nodded. “I don’t have a problem with you having your own security personnel, Ms. Cantore.”
Claudia rolled her eyes. “Just with my bodyguard being a woman.”
Daniel didn’t say anything.
Claudia made a sound through her nose halfway between a snort and a huff if he had to guess. He hoped it hurt. “This is the twenty-first century, Daniel. Women are capable of doing anything a man can do.”
Daniel looked her in the eye and said in his deadly quiet voice, “Never met a woman capable of taking me down.”
Claudia shivered and something like terror flashed through her eyes. Daniel tried to feel bad that he made her feel fear so closely after her terrible ordeal, but he needed her to step away from his space. Security was his area of expertise and he was good at what he did. He was sure she was good at sucking cock. He didn't need her using her skills to push King into making a bad decision.
“Okaaay,” she said. Beyond her obvious beauty, Daniel wondered what his boss saw in the woman. If he were forced to put up with her in his bed, he would likely end up murdering her. “Do you know of any men that are capable of taking you down?”
She had a point there. Daniel had yet to meet the person, man or woman, that could take him down in hand-to-hand combat. He simply looked at Claudia and waited for her to eventually make a point.
Her jaw was set in a mutinous line that Daniel was certain didn’t bode well for King’s future happiness. “What if I need my bodyguard to go pick up some tampons?” she snapped.
“Then he’ll be a professional and pick up tampons,” Daniel said without missing a beat.
She snorted. “Fine. Then what if I need an escort into a women’s washroom when I’m out shopping? It would be safer to have an actual woman with me. I heard a story from my friend Anya about her friend Shania who took off on her male bodyguard by using the women’s washroom.”
Daniel had not heard about about that piece of gossip. Next time he saw Asher Bowles, he would have to give him a hard time about how the supposedly sweet and submissive Shania Mahdavi got the drop on him.
Claudia continued. “What about when I’m changing in a change room? Again, a female bodyguard could be a lot closer to my actual body for the guarding part. Not to mention it would look a lot less conspicuous for me to be out and about with another woman than being trailed about all day by some guy who looked bored out of his mind.”
Claudia actually had some valid points that Daniel hadn’t considered. He’d never been responsible for the care of a woman before and it did make sense to have a woman on staff for her convenience, now that she was outlining some of the more delicate variables. He could have done without her customary attitude while she made her argument though.
Daniel’s mind went to Addison and the ways in which he would punish her if she dared to use her sharp mind and tongue against him the way Claudia used hers. He almost hoped the lovely brunette would try. The sadist in him revelled in the chance to bring his new toy to heel.
He nodded shortly. “I’ll consider it.”
He didn’t bother looking to King for acknowledgment – he would bow to Daniel’s expertise. Daniel had always had free run of the King’s security. Occasionally, there would be requests, but he rarely strayed into Daniel’s territory. It was an unspoken rule that neither man crossed. Probably because King knew he would lose the best head of security money could buy if he ever started making decisions for himself.
Daniel turned to leave. He would check in with his men and then go seek out Addison Sterling. He’d received a text earlier letting him know she’d left the security floor alone. It was time to clip his bird’s wings.