Her Security ( The complete Security series)

Party Girl

DENNY

"It was just a drink Maliki"

" Right like the last time right"

" You don't know what you're talking about!"

The car stops and I climb over Brandon jumping out going to my room. I really wish I could get away from him. The fact that we share a room makes it even harder.

I grab my clothes and go change out of my coctail dress. I walk back into the bedroom to a pissed off Maliki with that stupid somber expression.

" If you keep your damn eyes off other men Ardenia everything would go so much damn easier"

" And if you would stop being such a prick we wouldn't have a problem Paul Bunion"

" You are so damn annoying, just stop partying for 2 years it isn't that hard"

" Says the man that doesn't even know what relaxation is."

" You have your head so far up my dads a$$ you can't even breathe you can't even take a day off without messing up my life and my...."

He slides his hand up my cheek

" Denny you talk too much" He kisses me softly

I push him away

" what the hell Maliki"

" Shut you up didn't it"

" You are such a pain in my f**king a$$"

" Join the club Ardenia"

I walk over to my bed grab my headphones turn on my music and lay down to sleep.

____________________

Saturday

Today is the Stepanden Gala, I am exauated my headphones died lastnight and I had to listen to the chainsaw snores of Maliki all damn night. He finally got up at 5am. I just got up and went on a run trying to get over my exhaustion.

I walk into the kitchen and make myself some coffee.

Dad: " Good Morning Denny girl"

" Morning daddy, want some coffee"

" That would be great, I also need to speak with you about tonight."

I make his coffee and turn around

" What about it?"

" It is your first Gala being married to Ki"

I raise my eyebrows

" Okay? Your point being"

" You need to be on your best behavior tonight Ardenia. Maybe you shouldn't hang out with your friends and find a new crowd."

" No offense dad but it is either my crowd or your's and I am not hanging out with a bunch of old people who complain about the weather."

"Please just be good tonight"

I nod

" I will dad"

I head up to my room to take a nap before I have to get ready. I wake up getting ready walking from my closet. Maliki is fiddling with his tie

" You know you can watch videos online to learn how to do that"

" Just help me!"

I giggle and walk up to him fixing it for him and tightening it. I look up at him and he is watching me intently. I never realized how enchanting his Ocean Blue eyes are. I pull back

" I um... I will send you the videos, so you can learn how to do it yourself"

" Don't bother I won't watch them"

" Why not?"

" I'm too busy to sit and watch videos, not to mention I sort of hate doing anything online I don't see a point in putting yourself out there for the world to see" He slides his jacket over his shoulder

" You are the head body guard for the richest family in the country Mal how is that not putting yourself out there?"

I walk to my vanity and put on my lipstain

" That is different Denny, I am protecting your parents not taking pictures of butterflies or complaining about how bad my life sucks."

I turn around and raise my eyebrows

" Do you think that is all people do online?"

" Yeah, pretty much and I happen to like most of my life"

" Most?"

" Being married to a spoiled pain in my a$$ is defiently not my first choice"

I walk over dusting off his shoulder

" And being married to an a$$hole version of Paul Bunion wasn't my first choice"

" Come on we are going to be late"

He nods and we walk out the door Brandon wistles

" Oouu lala boss you clean up nice"

Maliki flips him off

" DenDen nice Vera"

I smile

" Thanks Don where is your better half?"

He chuckles

" In the Burban let's go"

We get to the Gala and Maliki wraps his arm around my waist.

" I know Mal eyes off other guys"

" Actually, I was going to get a drink do you want one?"

I nod

" I'll take a"

" Vodka lemonade I know"

He walks off and I head toward my girls.

Carli: " So how is the married life?"

I stick out my tongue

" Tiring, my damn headphones died lastnight"

She giggles

" You will get use to it"

" Doubtful"

Kinsey giggles

" Your setting the bar too high Denny, my dad is wanting me to get married now"

I laugh

" Do yourself a favor and make sure it isn't a bodyguard"

Maliki hands me my drink and kisses my temple

" Enjoy, your dad needs to see me I will talk to you later"

I nod and turn around he slides his hand to my cheek and kisses me softly then walks away.

I smile turning back around

Kinsey: " Doesn't seem all bad"

Carli laughs

" You haven't heard the man snoring"

I laugh and pull up the video and we all start giggling about it.

I have drank a little too much and we are sitting down for the results to the silent auction. I turn to Maliki and tap his shoulder.

he looks like he is having a miserable time

" What's wrong"

" I think we should go I feel like I am going to hurl"

He nods and we get up I make it to the limo and out of the compound making them pull over so I can vomit the salmon I ate for dinner.

" Maybe you shouldn't drink so much Ardenia"

I wipe my mouth turning to him

" And maybe you should mind your business"

" You are my business"

" No I am your contract Mal, I'm not your pet and you are not my father or my keeper."

" I will do thing my way and you just do your part of the...."

He slides his hand to my cheek again

" You talk too much Denny" He kisses me softly and pulls away and I giggle not sure if it is the alcohol or not but that felt kind of nice.

I get in the limo and pass out

MALIKI

I have had my eye on Ardenia all night she has had 6 vodka lemonades and 3 glasses of champane. She is such a party girl at least she doesn't get wild most of the time.

Last year at this Gala she beat the crap out of another socialite for unknown reasons. She says she has reasons but the girl is out of control sometimes and has a drinking problem.

I am sitting with the Carson's as this person talks about the silent auction and I feel miserable, usually I am hanging out with the guys having a round of burbon before we get back to our posts.

Ardenia asks if we can go and I am happy to. Once she vomits her dinner up she lays in the Limo and passes out. I sit across from her, she is really beautiful when she is sleeping. Probably the only time she actually looks like she is at peace.

I notice when she is around people she will sometimes walk away from everyone and go to a corner. Then comes back with that sweet take on the world attitude. It makes me wonder what she does in that corner. Why she acts the way she does sometimes is beyond me.

I have watched her when her Nate and Brandon are alone and she turns in to this completly different person. She laughs genuinly and smiles and lights up the room even more than normal. They dissapear for hours after her classes are over 3 times a week and I never know where she goes.

We get to the compound, I get out and pick her up. I asked Brandon and Nate to help her change from her dress. I lay down on my side of the bed after I slide on her headphones and turn on her music.

I accidentally opened one of her messages.

Harn:" Will you please come help me tomorrow I need you really bad"

Denny: " Yeah I will be there, what time?"

Harn: " 8am"

Denny: " See you then I love you"

Harn: " I love you, see you then"

Are you f**king kidding me, I don't know who Harn is but she is telling him she loves him. This s**t is ending tomorrow.

I get up the next morning going to my office and taking note of the phone number Harn used I am going to find out who he is. Does he not realize she is a married woman.

I walk back up stairs at 6:30 and Denny is back from her run.

" Um... hey thanks for taking care of me lastnight"

" Sure... where are you going"

" I have an errand to run today I will be back around dinner"

" Can I come?"

" Uhhh... yeah.... I mean I guess so you will probably regret it"

I nod

" Oh well never hurts"

We walk downstairs and Denny grabs her keys

" I'll drive"

She hands me the keys and I open her door for her and she gets in.

" I can open my own doors Mal"

" I know Denny, it is called shivalry"

I shut her door and get in starting the car and pulling out of our compound.

" Where am I going?"

" Victory Lane soup kitchen"

I raise my eyebrows glancing at her

" Umm.. Okay"

We drive to the soup kitchen and she has me park in the back. I get out and go to open her door and she is already out leaning against the car.

" You really don't have to be here Maliki it isn't the prettiest of places."

" The exact reason you shouldn't be alone"

She grabs my hand and I glance down at her

" Come on then, but expect to work your a$$ off"

She walks us in and lets go of my hand walking up to an older man and hugging him

" Thanks for coming Denny I appreciate it"

" Always you know I love you guys and I will always help."

She turns to me

" Mal this is Reverand Harn he runs the soup kitchen."

A woman walks up grabing my biceps

" This one is bulkier than the other Denny girl I like him"

Denny giggles

" Don't get any ideas with my husband Dianna just put him to work"

Dianna nods

" Follow me Macho man"

I raise my eyebrows at Ardenia and she giggles waving me off.

I am peeling potatoes and I look at Ardenia she is dancing around the set of stoves with other women cooking and laughing.

I finish peeling potatoes and walk over to her. She turns to me smiling.

" Hey handsome is Dianna done with you?"

Dianna nods

" Good breakfast is ready time to serve"

We walk to a buffet bar and she hands me an apron and gloves

" Ardenia what are we doing?"

She giggles

" We are in a soup kitchen Mal what do you think we are doing"

" They serve three meals on Sunday so we will be here all day. I will make sure you get a little break while church is in service."

I nod and slip on the apron and gloves she guides me over to the eggs.

" one scoop per plate, once that tray is gone put it under the bar and there are 7 more behind you in the hotbox"

I nod and get to work Denny is down the bar from me serving juice to everyone and laughing and smiling with all the people. Her energy lights up the room like I have never seen before.

Harn: " She is amazing isn't she"

I nod

" I never knew she did this"

He chuckles

" Her and her Granny B have been coming here since Denny was 9"

I smile

" So she still does it?"

" Yeah twice a week, usually Brandon and Nate are with her"

" Why did you come today?"

" Honestly, I saw her text between the two of you and thought she was umm"

" Cheating on you and sneaking around"

I nod

" Relax, I know about the contract and Ardenia is like the daughter I never had"

I nod

" Thanks and yeah it is um hectic"

" I am heading off to get ready for service Denny will take my place."

" Enjoy this side of Denny she doesn't show it to many people"

I nod and he walks off Denny comes over and starts serving the food next to me.

" Ardenia, why didn't I know you do this?"

She shrugs

" You never asked, besides why would I want to blow my cover of the spoiled pain that only cares about herself"

I chuckles and she nudges my shoulder giggling. We go through the day and Dianna and Denny work my ass off. I am sweating and tired by 8 when we shut down. We say goodbye to everyone and walk out to the building to the car.

I spin Denny around pulling her into a hug.

She giggles

" Stop weirdo your all sweaty"

I chuckle

" Your fault brat"

She leans in my chest and wraps her arms around my neck.

" Thanks for coming today Mal, I kind of had fun with you"

I nod

" So did I, and here I thought you where just a party girl"