Chapter Two
Caleb took the elevator up to the penthouse and let himself in. The first person he saw was a young woman reading in a huge chair by the large windows.
He waited for her to see him.
She sat up, set down her book, and came to him. Then she looked up at him.
“Are you my new bodyguard?”
He couldn’t believe she showed no fear of him and looked at him with an innocence he’d only seen in young children. While he knew her to be twenty-two years old, she had an unhappy and despondent look about her that drew him to her.
“Are you Isabel?”
“Yes.”
“Then, yes, I am.” He held out a hand. “My name is Caleb, and you and I are going to become friends.”
Her smile grew. “I’d like that. Although I can’t call you by your first name.”
“Why, honey?”
“My mom won’t let me.”
“Well, guess what? Your mom has no control over any of this. I won’t quit, and she can’t fire me.”
Caleb saw a spark of light and hope enter her eyes.
“Really. You won’t leave me?”
“Nope. Not as long as you need me.”
“Thank you.”
“Can you show me the room next to yours?”
He watched Isabel glance fearfully over her shoulders and decided she was looking for her mother.
“Oh, my mom won’t let you stay in the family part of the condo. She’ll want you in the maid’s quarters.”
He cupped her chin. “I’ll remind you as many times as I have to, but your mom does not have any control.”
“It will make her crazy.”
Caleb grinned. “I’ve heard. I’m looking forward to the entertainment.”
Isabel looked shocked. “She can be so mean.”
Caleb saw the fear in her eyes. “Is she mean to you?”
Isabel bit down on her bottom lip and nodded.
“Well, that’s going to stop as well.”
“You can’t make…”
“You want to bet, baby? I worked with gang members for a decade. Taking on your mother will be a piece of cake.”
“Who the hell are you?”
Caleb looked up and saw an older woman head toward them at a fast clip, and he grinned. Here goes. “I’m the new bodyguard the studio hired.”
She looked at him with distaste. “I’m Isabel’s mother and manager.”
“It didn’t say anything about you being her manager.” First punch, lady, he thought.
“It’s not written down anywhere. It’s just understood.”
“Well, not by me. As far as I’m concerned, you’re her mother, and that’s it.”
“I want you out of here now!” she yelled.
Caleb chuckled and looked at his watch. “This might be a new record for your bodyguards, but guess what. You have no control over me at all.”
“We’ll just see about that.”