Monte seemed to snap out of what Gail called his “starstruck stupor.” “Bucky isn’t able to make it due to the weather. I agreed to step in.”
I smiled. “So I’m you’re one o’clock?”
“Seems like it. Outside would be better, but the lodge won’t allow it because it makes you an insurance risk.”
“You mean rock climbing outside makes for an insurance risk? It’s not just me.”
“No, mainly you. You’re high profile and a first-timer.”
“So you’d go climbing in this?”
He smirked. “Any day. But you get to start in here.”
I looked up at the wall that went all the way to the ceiling. It wasn’t just a regular ceiling height either. It had to be at least two stories, maybe three, and there were various levels plus some pillars of various shapes all throughout the room.
“What is happening here?” Gail asked. “We made a deal with Bucky. No exceptions. John, please tell me you made that very clear.”
“Of course I did.”
“Then why the hell isn’t he here? I don’t have time to run a background check on this guy and get filming done today. This is a nightmare.”
“It’s fine,” I said.
“Excuse me,” Gail started, but one look from me silenced her.
I raised my chin a little higher. “It’s fine. Monte can teach me what I need to learn. I am not concerned with the NDA.”
“Who the hell is Monte?” Gail asked.
“I am,” he said.
She ignored him and turned to me.
“Baby girl, you hired me for legal advice designed to keep you safe. You’ve always listened, and we have never had an issue. Do not ease up on that now. And how the hell did you know his name is Monte? Did they contact you directly about this change? Because they were supposed to go through John only.”
“It’s okay. He’s my, uh, boyfriend.”
They stared at me in surprise.
“What? Since when do you have a boyfriend?” John asked.
“Yeah, we’re definitely going to need that NDA. What’s the little gold digger doing here?”
I heard a soft growl explode from Monte. Fortunately, none of the humans in the room seemed to have noticed.
“Since recently.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“Not everything is about work, Gail.”
“Gold digging assholes are real, Zoey. We’ve talked about this. It’s the biggest way to ruin everything we’ve put in place to protect you.”
“This is different, Gail,” I argued, though I couldn’t explain to her how I knew this would be okay.
Monte could never hurt me without hurting himself. We were linked via a bond stronger than any human relationship. She wouldn’t even understand if I tried to tell her.
“Get the contract. I’ll sign it.”
