I'd speak with Mark at the security company that worked for MBS and see what they suggested.
We walked back to the building, and I hoped Ella would agree to stay with me in the apartment for the night. Although we'd already had great sex in the photocopy room, I wanted her in my bed.
My king-sized bed, rather than her Murphy bed in her apartment in Chelsea.
"Are you staying with me tonight?" I asked when we reached the door.
"I thought you'd never ask," she said and smiled up at me. "I even brought a change of clothes and have them hidden away in a drawer in my office just in case I needed them."
"I've slept alone enough this past two weeks," I said and pulled her against me. "I want to fall asleep with you and wake up with you."
We kissed and then went inside the building. I nodded to the security guard at the front desk and seeing him made me think once more about the man I'd seen who I suspected was following me. I decided to talk to Mark, the security guard at the front desk and check into hiring someone to watch my back for a few days, see if they could see anything worth noting. Many of the guards had been in the service and had training in reconnaissance. They'd make good bodyguards in case I ever needed any.
I walked Ella to the elevator and kissed her quickly. "You go up. I'm going to talk to Mark about the man I saw following me."
"Do you really think he was following you?"
I nodded. "I have this sense he was trying not to be observed, but he failed. I'll be up in ten."
"Okay," Ella said and pressed the button. "You're scaring me."
"I don't mean to, but it raised the hair on the back of my neck when I saw him for the third time."
She nodded, and the elevator doors closed.
I went out to the security desk and leaned on the counter.
"Hey, Mark. Do any of you guys have any training in protection? I'm thinking of hiring a bodyguard because I think I have someone following me."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Mark said. He removed the hat he wore and rubbed his forehead. "You should talk to Reg. He has a couple of guys who did some bouncer work before and were involved in military police over in Iraq and Afghanistan. You think someone was following you? Tonight?"
"Yeah," I said and hesitated, feeling a bit crazy for even mentioning it. "I saw the same guy at the airport and then twice when I was out tonight. When I tried to follow him, he disappeared."
"What did he look like?"
I shrugged. "Fifties, stout. Had this old fedora on with a feather in the brim."
"No shit," he said and frowned. "That sounds like someone I saw hanging around outside the building earlier tonight. Guy my age, long raincoat, black hat. Could be a stalker."
That made me feel extra nervous, but I resisted. "Could also be someone completely innocent. Let me know if anyone at the head office is interested in doing some protection work for me for a couple of weeks. I'll make it worth their while on short notice."
"Will do. In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes peeled and will let the next shift know about it, so they can keep a watch out. You should call Reg. He'll be able to help."
"Much appreciated," I said and left the lobby. I took the elevator up to the penthouse, glad that I had at least started the process of hiring someone to act as a bodyguard until we had a better idea who it was who was following me and why...
11
Ella
I woke up in the middle of the night to find Josh sitting bolt upright in bed.
"What's wrong?" I asked, my heart racing.
"Oh, damn," he said ad ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry I woke you. I had a nightmare."
He lay back down and rolled over to pull me into his arms.
"What was it about?"