I sucked in a breath, a tiny smile playing on my lips. “I think… that’s a great idea.When do you need me?”
“Is today too soon?”
I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see it. “No, today’s perfect.” Iprobably needed some fresh air. All I could smell was paint, and that wasn’tdoing me or my head any good.
“Wonderful,” She sang, before silence stretched for one second, then two,before their voice came again, this time a little reserved. “And… now don’t panic about this, Cora.” My pulse picked up. “We may have found a replacement for… you know who.”
I didn’t know why I was so shocked. Of course they’d find a replacement. Afterwhat happened, they certainly weren’t going to send me back out into the mobs of cameras unprotected.But the thought of someone else lingering so close to me, someone who, for all intents and purposes, was a stranger, made my skin crawl, and the hairs on my arms stand to attention.
The static through the line was enough for Louellen to know how that made me feel.
“Nothing is set in stone yet. He’s just a potential. But I met him this morningand he’s really, very lovely.”
So was Jamie when I met him.Lovelymeant nothing to me anymore.
“But if you aren’t feeling comfortable or don’t like him, then we’ll keeplooking. I promise, we’re doing everything in our power to make sure that what you went through is a one-time thing.” She stole a breath. “We promise, Cora.”
While I’d trust Louellen with most things in my life, I was happy that I wasgetting to vet these potentials before the dotted line was signed, and they were essentially my shadow. I didn’t have that pleasure with Jamie, and I’m sure the team felt guilty enough without me reminding them of that.
But to look at Jamie, you wouldn’t have thought he was capable of what he did,or tried to do, to me. So I needed to be thorough. I needed to feel in my gut that the person assigned to protect me was going to do their fucking job.
I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck before letting out a sigh. “Will he bethere?”
“He said he’d hang around if you decided to come in.”
I bit my lip, more out of nerves than anything. “And does he know about whyexactly we’re looking for a replacement?”
“Oh, he knows.”
I tossed the thought around in my mind once more, before I huffed. “Okay,fine. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I practically heard her smile through the phone. “I’ll get a meeting set up right away. I’ll see you soon, sugarplum.”
With that, the line died and, with the absence of her Disney Princess-worthyvoice, my stomach sank as reality hit me.
I knew I needed protection, but this time I was going to make sure that my shield wasn’t going to be the thing that nearly ended me again.
chapter five
the bitch wears prada
In the few times I’d been out of the townhouse since December, I’d always felt like I was being watched.
It didn’t matter where I was, if the girls were with me, or whether I was all alone in my room. My heart was constantly in my throat. The skin on the back of my neck went icy. And I was forever looking over my shoulder, waiting for my gut to tell me I was right.
It was the same today when I woke up. It was the same when I was talking tothat guy on the porch whose name I’d already forgotten while he droned on with an out-of-date apology. And it was the same now, even with the blacked-out windows of the car Louellen had sent.
Relax, Cora. You’re safe, you’re fine, and he’s not here.
My pulse had only been getting quicker with every mile closer I got to theoffice, only slowing when I stepped into the lift that took me to the floor that my talent agency occupied. But even then, I’d somehow convinced myself that the camera in the top left corner was meant for me, placed there when they listened into my phone call, knowing I’d be here.
I lifted my tortoiseshell sunglasses as I reached the desk, offering a tiny smileto the blonde receptionist.
“Cora Holland,” She looked up at me with a toothy smile. “I’m here to see—”
“Cora!”
Before I could so much as turn around to see her, Louellen wrappedher arms around me. It felt like a hug I’d imagine someone who’d been missing for decades would receive.
