Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
I gesture at Max again. “Some emotion from him would be great. I’m not even sure he knows how to smile.”
Max lets out a bored-sounding sigh when Papa gives him a pleading look.
“I’ll try,” Max mutter. “I can’t promise anything.”
“I know this must be an unusual case for you, Mr. Levin, but I appreciate any effort you can make to set my daughter at ease.”
“Jesus, I’m just asking for some human interaction, not for him to wait on my every need,” I mutter, not understanding why my father is treating Max differently from his other employees.
Papa pins me with a serious look. “Mr. Levin is doing me a favor, Camille. He can walk at any moment, and then we’ll be in serious trouble. You need to realize he’s all that stands between you and the person who wants to kill you.”
My father grabs photos from his desk and holds them out to Max. “I just received these.”
I move closer to Max and see that the prints are all of me. When I was out to take photos. When I attended the charity event last week. There’s even one of me when I took the short walk with Max a few days ago.
The same sentence is printed in bold, red letters on every photo.
I could’ve killed her.
Resign from politics.
Max takes a closer look at one of the photos, then holds it out to my father. “There’s a partial image of whoever stalked her reflected in the Renault. Send it to St. Monarch’s so they can track the person.”
Papa’s eyes widen, and he quickly takes the photograph from Max, also inspecting it. “I didn’t even see the reflection. I’ll send it to St. Monarch’s immediately.”
With my anger forgotten and the threat becoming more real, I ask, “St. Monarch’s?”
Papa shakes his head, and instead of answering me, he says, “You will do as Max says. I’m sorry your quality of life is suffering because of this dangerous matter, but I can’t risk anything happening to you.” He comes to hug me, and his tone is softer. “I love you, Camille. I can’t lose you.”
And I certainly don’t want to die.
Hugging Papa, I take comfort in the embrace, and it’s only then the full impact of the night hits – the embarrassing situation in the restroom and the photos. It means the person who wants to kill me could really have done so if he wanted.
My body shudders, and tears sting my eyes. I hold Papa tighter, needing more comfort.
Instinctively, my father senses my distress, and he starts to rub his hand up and down my back. “I’m sorry, mon amour. I wish things didn’t have to be this way. You can be strong for me, right?”
I nod, and pulling back, I do my best to smile so I don’t add to Papa’s stress.
Too late, you already threw a fit because you couldn’t kiss a stupid guy you have no feelings for.
Feeling defeated, I let out a sigh. “I’ll try harder to be accommodating to Max.”
“Thank you.” Papa gives me a loving smile and brushes his hand over my hair like he used to do when I was a little girl. “I just want to keep you safe.”
“I’m sorry I lost my temper.”
My father shakes his head. “I understand this is all unexpected and hard for you to deal with. We’ll get through this like we’ve gotten through everything else.”
My smile grows wider. “I’ll let you continue with your work.”
Papa turns his gaze to Max. “Please keep her safe.”
“I will.”
The two words carry a world of danger, and it makes me wonder who Max really is.
I hug Papa again before leaving the mansion with Max by my side.
With the threat looming over my head, I feel like holing up in my penthouse and not setting foot outside until this madness has been dealt with.
The drive back to my apartment building is filled with a heavy silence. When Max parks the Bugatti and I climb out, I feel the urge to apologize for what happened tonight.
The words burn on the tip of my tongue as we step into the elevator, and it makes the confined space feel even smaller.
Or maybe it feels smaller because Max seems so much bigger after everything my father said.
Who is this man? What makes him the best man to protect me?
An unsettling feeling tightens my stomach, and I glance at him.
He looks like a Russian God with intense eyes and a face carved from stone. I don’t think the man has ever cracked a smile. He’s domineering, broody, and honestly, scary as hell.
But he’s here to protect me, and at the end of the day, it’s all that matters.
The elevator doors slide open, and Max murmurs, “Wait here.”
I watch as he searches the apartment, and only when he gives me the clear do I walk to the living room. “Can we talk?”