Another pause. Another expectant look.
"Is that all?" I finally ask, my voice calm.
She seems slightly thrown by my lack of reaction. "For now."
I nod once, then meet her gaze directly. "No."
"Excuse me?"
"No," I repeat, still calm. "Those terms aren't acceptable."
I see the flash of anger in her eyes, the slight flush rising to her cheeks.
"These aren't negotiable."
"Neither is your safety." I take a step forward, keeping my voice level despite the frustration building beneath the surface. "In case you've forgotten, someone tried to kill you. They struck you hard enough to knock you unconscious and leave that bruise." I gesture to her forehead. "They left you to drown. And now they're sending you threats that reference something from your past that clearly terrifies you."
Her eyes widen slightly, and I see Sophie glance between us, clearly confused.
"So," I continue, "here are the actual ground rules. We will try to be discreet when you're working, but we will be present. Always. Your movements will be restricted if we determine there's a threat. Your schedule will be shared with us in advance, and any changes will be cleared with us first."
"That's completely..."
"I'm not finished," I cut her off, my voice still measured but with an edge now. "We will never speak to the press. That's a given. We will verify the identities of everyone who approaches you that we don't personally know. And most importantly, when we tell you something is unsafe, you will listen."
The room is silent for a moment, the tension thick enough to cut. Sophie looks like she might bolt at any second.
"And if I don't agree?" Jade finally asks, her voice tight.
"Then we leave. Today. And you can find another security team who will pretend to protect you while actually just taking your money." I step closer, close enough that I have to look down to meet her eyes. "But understand this: if we leave and this stalker gets to you, that's on you. Because we tried to do our job, and you wouldn't let us."
I see the conflict in her face, the anger warring with what I suspect is fear. For all her bravado, Jade Sinclair is scared. And for some reason, that bothers me more than her attitude.
"Fine," she concedes after a long moment. "But I expect professionalism at all times. No interference beyond what is strictly necessary."
"Agreed," I nod. "And in return, I expect cooperation. Starting with self-defense training."
The words come out before I've fully thought them through. I hadn't planned to suggest this, hadn't discussed it with Ethan or Mateo. But standing here, seeing thatbruise, imagining what might have happened if someone hadn't pulled her from that pool in time, it seems necessary.
"Self-defense?" she repeats, eyebrows raised. "I'm hiring you so I don't have to defend myself."
"We can't be with you every second of every day for the rest of your life," I point out. "And even if we're right beside you, having basic skills could make the difference between surviving an attack and not."
"I have a busy schedule. I don't have time for..."
"You'll make time," I interrupt. "One hour, three times a week. I'll teach you myself."
She stares at me like I've grown a second head. "You?"
I don't know why, but that single word, the disbelief in her tone, irritates me more than anything else she's said. "Yes, me. I'm a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It's particularly effective for someone your size..."
"Someone my size?" She exclaims, her green eyes flashing with irritation. "What exactly is wrong about my size?"
"You didn't let me finish," I say between clenched teeth. "What I was about to say is that knowing some self-defense techniques based on jiu-jitsu will be helpful for someone your size when facing larger opponents."
"Oh..." She backs down. "And what if Ichoose not to?"
"Then you're choosing to remain vulnerable when you don't have to be." I step back, giving her space again. "Your choice."
