Emily forgot all about Talia’s plan of going first as she rounded the corner in a hurry.
In the living room, a man’s head was hung low while on his knees in front of Nicolas. His words tumbled out in panic. “I’m sorry, s-sir. I swear, I had her. I was caught off guard. The driver was skilled?—”
“Excuses.” Nicolas’s tone was razor-sharp. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? She’s mywife. If anything happens to her, you better be prepared.”
The man stammered out, “I—I understand. It won’t happen again. But I can assure you she wasn’t harmed when she got away.”
“Oh, I know.” Nicolas chuckled coldly. “If she were, you wouldn’t be kneeling here right now. You’d be somewhere far more unpleasant.”
Nicolas turned to another male guard lingering nearby. “Get Cameron. I don’t care what time it is, get him on a plane. I want him here immediately.”
The guard nodded briskly and hurried off, leaving the chastised guy shaking under Nicolas’s glare.
Emily’s breath caught in her throat. It hadn’t been a stranger at all. The SUV tailing them had belonged to Nicolas’s people.
When he finally turned and saw her, the anger in hisface dissolved. Nicolas crossed the space in a rush, his eyes softening as they scanned Emily, as though confirming she was whole.
“Are you alr?—”
“What was that about? Did you have me followed?”
“I heard about the paint incident,” he started. “I couldn’t risk you being without protection again, so I sent him to make sure you got home safely. I had two guards dispatched on set but they couldn’t check the area where your bag was. I’m sorry this happened, Em.”
Emily’s chest rose and fell. He had people on set watching her?
Her eyes found Valentina and Talia who stood frozen, confusion etched across their faces.
“This is Nicolas,” Emily finally relented, her voice tired. “My husband.”
Valentina’s mouth fell open, Talia’s eyes shone knowingly but her lips still parted in surprise that Emily had said it out loud. Even Nicolas blinked at her admission.
“He’ll explain why he thought it was a good idea to tail us and have us believing our lives were in danger.”
Emily didn’t wait for their reactions. She walked away. She was drained, by the threats and by the chase.
Above all, she was desperately in need of a shower.
25
Aknock was heard on the bathroom door. The pattering of water hitting the shower tiles ceased as the tap was turned off.
“Emily?” Nicolas asked, his voice sounding muffled from the outside.
“Hmm?”
“I know this is probably stupid of me to ask, but I’m going to ask it anyway…are you okay?”
Emily didn’t answer, just grabbed the towel nearby and stepped out of the shower.
After wrapping it around her body, she opened the door, startling Nicolas from the way he stepped back.
His eyes remained on her face.
“Talia and Valentina left. They told me to let you know to call or text them if you need anything.”
She simply stared at him.
He frowned. “Emily, you can tell me whatever you’re feeling. It’s okay to be upset…or scared even. I’m having both the package incident and this one investigated. We’ll find out if it’s that black-haired co-star of yours or if it’s…him.”
