Chapter Two

2259 Words
“Alex Hayes, this is my niece; Bethany Anne De Lourie.”  “A pleasure Miss De Lourie.” Alex Haye’s American accent was clear cut southern tang like Mississippi and a low drawl that was sexy as hell.  “Beth will do fine.” I state brushing off my first impression of being fascinated by him and lifting my arms to cross my chest and show I was not happy about this arrangement, or being called Miss De Lourie like my mother, Anne.  No one calls me Bethany except my uncle and those who don’t know me personally. To my friends, I am a Beth. I always have been.  Alex Hayes has dark black hair cut in strands. His brown eyes are like milk chocolate. He might be wearing a turtle neck but it is tight enough to show some incredibly sculpted biceps, and an unimaginably solid chest and abdomen. Remember, Beth this man is the enemy that is like a prison bracelet on your ancle. I schooled myself. He is not a friend, and definitely not someone to be attracted to. Huh. Well, I didn’t expect a model that good looking to be my bodyguard. But, whatever.  “I am flying to New York for business.” Xavier just informed me drawing my attention sharply back to him instead of sexy Mr. Hayes.  “What?! You are not leaving me here?” I demand of my uncle who only just arrived today via a First Class plane ticket and I thought was going to be staying for at least a few days.  Now I knew he was about to steal the company jet and isolate me here. That was not at all my plan. I wanted the availability of that jet to return to New York when I was ready to, which offered a welcome alternative to showing my face in First Class on a public plane.  “Sorry my dear but without your face for the business in New York, I really have to be seen. Mr. Hayes is going to set up a perimeter of the house. I have told him to spare no expense in whatever he needs to do to turn this manor into a fortress. And you are most definitely staying here where you are going to be kept safe until we find out who is sending the photographs and making these ludicrous phone calls. I have hired Mr. Hayes with a short-term contract not just to be your bodyguard, but to catch and stop the bastard out there. Understood?” “Uncle… please. I might have come here to get away from New York, but I don’t want to be trapped here either.” “No begging.” Xavier said kissing me on my forehead with a peck before leaving.  I could feel the unmoved stare of Alex Hayes watching me in the doorway as my uncle showed even the slightest touch of affection towards me. I did not like that Mr. Hayes saw such kind emotion between a doting uncle and his niece. It was not like me to show public displays of affection.  Xavier left back down the hallway. I just stood there studying Mr. Hayes and waiting for who would be the first of us to say something. A silent battle raged between us for the first to surrender.  “So, are you good?” I relented, walking away with my back to him to follow as I headed towards the downstairs kitchen to get a glass of wine and try to cope with this forced prison sentence now that my uncle was gone. “Yes.” Alex answered following me.  “Arrogant too.” I pried at him when he admitted he was good.  “Yes.” He simply agreed with a grin watching two birds fly past the kitchen window chased by my loved thin black cat Artemis as I poured a rich Californian Chardonnay into a wine glass.  “Is yes the only word in your vocabulary?” I asked, and Mr. Hayes did not respond to my attempt at riling him, rather, only continued to look out the window of the kitchen in a detached silent manner, “It’s not like I am going to get shot at right now Mr. Hayes.” He looked from the window over his shoulder and picked up a black duffle bag and silver metal briefcase I had not realized he was carrying.  “Can you tell me where I will be staying? Your uncle did not assign a room to me and I would like to get settled.” He asked and if I didn’t know any better, I would have said he sounded bored.  If he thought of himself as a bored babysitter, I was happy to tell him to f**k off because I did not need one. Oh, but room to stay? s**t, I hadn’t even thought of that. He is going to be living here.  “Oh um.” I don’t like being caught off guard and I have no idea what room in the manor to give him. “Come with me I guess.” I said still holding the glass of white wine in my hand as I headed down the hallway and up the next set of stairs that led to the main sleeping quarters. I have no idea where my intended destination room is. De Lourie Manor has been in my family for three generations. It has over thirty bedrooms. All of them are opulent and perfectly furnished with luxury. Having arrived here yesterday, I chose my own to stay now as the master bedroom which I had refurnished after my parents passed away. I still had my old bedroom from when I was younger but I never used it. Alex Hayes is not going anywhere near either of those rooms.  “I suppose you want to stay in the servants quarters?” I asked looking at the two old servants staircases, so typical of an old manor house, that led to the male servants of the house with Larson, my butler, and Dane, my chauffer’s rooms. The opposite was the female quarters, where Marie, who had been with me since childhood ran every one of my residences. There were plenty of more rooms up there that were now unused and he could very well pick one for himself.  “I understand if you would like me to remain in the servants quarters, as I am now employed as your bodyguard.” He said showing little care that I now considered him my servant, but he wasn’t, was he? He was hired by my uncle, not me. “However, in order to achieve what is required of me, it is best if I was kept closer to your own room.” “What, like if someone breaks in?” I asked with a snicker.  “Yes, Miss De Lourie.” “Stop calling me that.” I snapped. “I am not my mother. I run an informal household here. Everyone calls each other by the first name. You can call me Beth.” I demanded turning away from the staircase back towards the main rooms of the manor.  I continued to walk up a set of stairs to the main living quarters with him following me. I was being rude, I chastised myself. It was not his fault that my uncle hired him. I did not want to come across as a spoiled rich brat and my recent snag remarks made me sound that way. I walked by each room in the hallway of the manor, not sure when to stop. My brother’s rooms seemed to offer the most comfort. I don’t know why I was thinking that Alex Hayes should have the second largest room in the manor, but what did it even mater if he was only here for a short stint of time until this whole non sensical thing was over.  I reminded myself that a short stint of time might not be the case. This has been going on for two years now. At least, hopefully with the addition of a professional to stop this maniac, it might finally come to an end with a prison sentence for the man out there violating my right to privacy.  “Here.” I said stopping at the double mahogany door that was my brother Ash’s.  Alex Hayes opened the room and immediately lifted his gaze to the portrait of my deceased brother. The attractive blond with chiseled features like my father holding himself with pride in a blue suit that was made for him and my own blue eyes crystalized visibly in his serene wisdom. God, I missed Ash and really wished I had him for counsel now. I tried not to think of the horror of his sudden death. He had fallen off his yacht and drowned in the middle of the Pacific the day after Christmas. In my terror trying not to imagine what he had gone through; I hope that it was quick. I hope that he had not suffered, but often my mind tormented me that he must have.  The loss in my heart was met with the torment of guilt. I was there that awful night. I was asleep in my cabin with my then partner, Richard Taylor the Third, when Ash fell overboard. If I had only been awake, perhaps even for moments, he might still be with me. He would have cried out for me from the water, for help, or for anyone at all. And I had not heard it. He had died… and alone. “Ash De Lourie was your brother?” Mr. Hayes asked surprised that I offered this room, and I was not even sure why I had either.  I felt a knife cut to my heart at the memory of my brother when Mr. Hayes said his name out loud.  “Yes. This was his room and you may have it now. My own is down the hallway. Marie, who runs my penthouse in New York is here with me. She is making dinner in an hour. I suppose I will see you then and I can tell you about this whole mess that I am going through?” “Your uncle Xavier De Lourie already informed me madam. Dinner will not be necessary. I do have questions for you, but they can wait until tomorrow. I will just get settled for now.” he answered dismissively. How rude! No one has ever refused me when I have invited them to dinner. I was trying to be nice. Who does this bodyguard think that he is? I don’t even say a goodbye and leave him shutting the door. I made my own way staggered in a temper to my room and sit on the end of my colossal sized bed with the glass of white wine.  My mother’s decorating skills were not lost on me. I had learnt from her well. I skillfully decorated this master bedroom when I was seventeen. Lush violet pillows with white satin sheets covered the four-poster bed. Each of those four posters stretched from the ground to the ceiling in round pine wood. My French style dressing table was matched with a set of bedside tables. A redwood door led to my walk-in closet that was the size of a bedroom itself. The floor was tiled with my family crest in the center; an eagle entangled with the initials DL; De Lourie, all in gold, whites, and cream.  I stood from the bed and looked at the impeccable grounds of the manor that was the view from my balcony at the back of the house.  A massive infinity pool that I loved to sit and relax by led to a vast green lawn for such a great distance to a line of trees and the woods of North Carolina. In the furthest distance I could spot my grandfather’s old barn that used to have horses back when he lived here. My parents were not into horse breeding and gave them all up. The barn was now a desolate structure that I had not bothered to have repaired because for me, the way that it was now brought back memories of my grandfather and the smell of old hay. My brother Ash and I used to play there. I closed my eyes at the memory and opened them again to my reflection in the glass.  “I am a strong woman. I am a De Lourie.” I affirmed to myself. “Bodyguard.” I humph under my breath. “Give me a gun and I will be fine looking after myself. You know what! I am fine looking after myself.” I said out loud determined.   I downed the rest of the glass of white wine for liquid bravery and stood up again putting the glass on the counter. My uncle is heading to New York right now. He will have no idea that I fired his damn bodyguard for me until tomorrow and I can deal with his yelling at me over the phone. I don’t need or want someone latched as a babysitter to me. I storm back down the hallway stopping at my brother’s room and don’t even bother knocking on the door flicking the knob open with a push.  I step in and am met with one hell of a sight: a stark-naked Mr. Alex Hayes.
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