I sat forward, a better idea playing in my head. “It’s okay, I’ll bring you the files.”
“You don’t have to. Shouldn’t you be resting?”
“I want to see you.” He left this morning when I was still sleeping and I expected that he’d be home late tonight, way after Cameron and I had fallen asleep.
“Is everything okay, Princess?” Killian asked, his voice deepening with concern.
“Yes, I just… miss you.” I needed his arms around me, where I felt the safest.
Away from the whispers and rumors.
“Okay, see you then. I love you.”
That made me smile. “I love you too.”
We hang up and after I got dressed, I grabbed the file from his office and went to find my son. I found Cameron sitting on the couch, watching The Boss Baby for the umpteenth time while chewing on carrots.
“Little man didn’t want to nap today,” Selene said from beside him. He obviously had her wrapped around his little finger.
“I don’t know where he gets all that energy.” My gaze flickered between him and the TV. “Do you mind watching him for a little longer? I just have to drop this file at Killian’s office.”
Selene shooed me away. “Go on. Little man and I will be fine.”
The moment I stepped out of the house, I was surrounded by my small team of bodyguards. Four of them. I thought it was a bit too much, but there was no arguing with Killian when it came to my protection.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Spencer. Your husband called and let us know that you’re leaving for his office. Will you be making any stops in between?” Jackson asked. He was the one in charge and he also happened to be Samuel’s oldest brother.
Killian had trouble trusting people around me, so my bodyguards were all men he had personally known for years and trusted to keep me safe.
“Nope. Just straight to Killian’s office, please.”
The ride to his office was twenty minutes and I used the time to speak with Mirai. She told me all about her time in Europe, gushing about the places she visited and how much she wanted to hook up with one of the handsome locals. Mirai was spontaneous and I wouldn’t be surprised if she had already hooked up with said locals.
When the car slowed to a stop in front of a familiar building, I hang up. “We’re here, Mrs. Spencer.”
Jackson opened the door for me and I stepped out of the car, holding the file under my arm and my purse in my other hand.
It happened too quickly for me to realize what was actually happening before it was too late. The moment I stepped out of the car, I was suddenly surrounded by people. Crowding into me, trying to push past my bodyguards. My heart stammered and I looked around, panicked.
What was happening?
Where did these people come from? The sidewalk was empty a second ago.
The ground swayed under my feet as anxiety filled my cold veins. Panic turned into horror as I noticed the microphones and cameras blazing at me. They were in my face, behind me, all talking at the same time.
Horror turned into dread when I realized what was happening.
I was basically being attacked by the press.
They were too close; their voices too loud; their bodies pressing into me. Almost aggressively. My bodyguards surrounded me, trying to hold them back as my lungs grew tight and my heart stuttered.
My vision blurred as I stumbled away, trying to get inside the Spencer Building. I brought the file up, hiding my face behind it as I tried to shield my eyes against all the bright flashes.
There was nowhere to go.
I was trapped.
Someone bumped into me. I didn’t know who it was – the person trying to protect me or the ones who are on the verge of assaulting me. An unknown pair of sweaty hands tried to grab me and I stumbled away.
My breathing stuttered as I tried to find my footing, but my feet slipped from under me. The world swayed as my body tilted toward the road, onto the incoming traffic.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
I collapsed under my weight and I hit the asphalt, hard.
And then all I saw was darkness.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Killian
A knock at the door pulled me away from my stack of papers. “Come in.”
I thought it was Julianna but to my surprise, Gideon strode in. “Oh, hey. This is an unexpected visit,” I drawled at my father-in-law. “Julianna will be glad to see you. She’s coming in a bit.”
He was silent for a moment and my brow furrowed. I eyed him closely and saw that he was tensed, as if he was getting ready for a battle. “Is everything okay? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is okay,” he finally spoke. “How can you think it is?”
I scowled. “I can’t read your mind, Gideon. What are you talking about?”