Chapter Six
They pulled through two humungous gates and then down a long road with large buildings on either side. He found the different characters amusing—a few women dressed in old-fashioned costumes, guys in suits, and a big purple dinosaur.
She grinned up at him. “It’s kind of magical, isn’t it?”
Caleb caught the look of disgust on Helen’s face out the corner of his eyes but just smiled at Bella.
“I agree. Is there any other place on earth you could go that had all these different characters walking around besides film studios?”
The limo stopped, and the door beside Caleb opened, letting him out. He looked around before allowing Bella to exit. He gripped her arm and followed the other guard into a building. The place was like a beehive. All sorts of people racing about and others yelling or cursing.
“Which way?”
Bella pointed, and they headed that way. “I’ll have to get dressed and have my makeup and hair done. It’s going to take an hour or so.”
“That’s okay. I’m with you no matter what.”
Bella nodded and went to open the door.
“Stop.” He moved her to the side and opened the door, and scanned the room. Fortunately, it wasn’t large, and there were only two women in it.
“Okay, Bella. Go in. I’ll be right out here. I’m going to have someone bring you some fruit. Any kind?”
“No. I like all fruit.”
“She can’t…”
“Zip it, woman,” Caleb said to Helen. “This is my job.”
“To protect her from a deranged person,” Helen said.
“And to make sure she’s healthy in every way.” He turned back to Bella. “Bella, if you need me, just yell.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Helen came up and tried to elbow him to the side to get by him.
“Are you trying to tickle me, Helen?”
She and the two women in the room gasped in shock, and he grinned. The two women tried to hide their smiles as Helen lifted her chin. “Out of the way. I need to be with my daughter.”
“Why?” He knew he had an avid audience, but he didn’t care.
“What?” she screeched.
“Yeah, I can bet these two women don’t need your input on their jobs.”
“I don’t like the way they do things sometimes, so I have to be close. Besides, it’s none of your business.”
“That’s bullshit. Bella is my business, and if she’s getting stressed, I’ll step in. So, if you take out your anger on these people, I’ll come in and remove you. Got it?”
She practically quivered in rage. “Just get back.” She went to slam the door closed, but he put his foot in the way.
“FYI, I’ll be right here, and I’ll be able to hear everything.” He smiled when the door slammed shut in his face.
“Well, that wasn’t very nice,” he said to the wood and turned suddenly when he heard someone chuckle. He grinned when he saw Michael standing there.
“I came to see how everything is, and I see you have everything under control.”
Caleb leaned against the door and crossed his arms. “We’re having a great time. Well, I am, at least.”
Michael laughed. “How’s Isabel holding up?”
“Good. Better than good. She needed to see someone stand up to the hag.”
Michael sputtered. “God, I’ve wanted to call her that so many times.”
Caleb put his finger up to his mouth to keep Michael from talking, turned his head, and listened for a second.
He cleared his throat. “I have to tell you, I think Helen has the hots for me…”
Both men grinned when someone, most likely Helen, gasped on the other side of the door.
“She’s always looking at me with a heated, hungry look. She’s way older, and she too uptight for me. Maybe she’s one of those cougars I hear about.”
Michael chuckled and shook his head. “I wish we’d brought you in years ago.”
“All you have to do is when you hire a security company, ask for the biggest asshole there and hire him.”
“Are you the biggest in your company?” Michael asked.
“They’re all dicks, but I have to admit, I enjoy being one.”
“Well, I’m going to leave you to it. Call if you need anything.”
“Got it.”