Is this our new life?
Paparazzi will go into overdrive with the news that we have returned and will all be waiting for the first shots. What a mess. Joshua is wound up and nobody is speaking. After my little breakdown on Tuesday, I spent the next two days in bed with Cameron and Joshua fussing over me. Trying to will me back to life.
It worked… just.
Joshua has insisted that Cameron goes and stays with Adrian and Bridget for a few days. Cameron is struggling, too, and I know my husband is concerned for his beloved brother. We have all noticed that he hasn’t been his carefree self since we have been in Kamala. Cameron’s mind is preoccupied with regret. Could we have saved Amelie if we had done things differently? We will never get the chance to know now, and I think that’s half the battle: the feeling of helplessness we all share.
The finality of the situation.
We pull into the round driveway and Joshua leads me out of the car where an attendant is waiting.
“Mr. Stanton, this way.” He gestures with his hand to the elevator. Joshua and I nod gratefully. A long check in would be unbearable at this stage of the night. Two minutes later, and on the tenth floor, we follow the attendant down the corridor, eventually spotting our security all standing outside the doors to their apartments. I nod a silent thank you for their support.
“Hello.”
They smile as we walk past.
The porter opens the door of the room we had last time. I look in and smile, I have happy memories here and a certain hot kind of massage runs naked through my mind.
Joshua nods. “Thank you.”
The attendant hands over two key cards.
“Nobody can access this level though the lifts?” Joshua asks.
“No, sir. All access has been blocked and the fire stairs are locked from the other side.”
“We will have a guard on the front doors at all times,” Joshua instructs.
My heart sinks and I know my life will be different forever.
“Of course.” The attendant nods nervously.
“Thank you.” Joshua nods back.
“If there is anything else, sir, please call this number directly.” He hands over a business card with his personal details on it.
Joshua nods and holds his hand out in a get out of my fucking room gesture, and I bite my bottom lip to contain my smile.
Joshua closes the door, turns to me and takes me in his arms.
“I think I need to give my girl a massage.”
I inhale his scent. “Yes, Mr. Stanton. Yes, you do.”
Joshua
“Yes,” I answer my phone. We have been back in L.A. for three weeks and I am in work mode.
My eyes drift to Cameron who is lying on the lounge in my office, skimming through his phone.
“Hello, Mr. Stanton. The keys have arrived from the real estate.”
“Thank you, Tiffany. I’ll collect them from you shortly.”
Adrian walks in with a bundle of papers and starts to rearrange them to file away.
“Tell me about this guy again?” Cameron asks as he sits up onto his elbow.
“He’s a kid, only just eighteen.” Adrian sighs.
I blow out a breath, this could be the most stupid thing I have ever done.
“So, let me get this straight. You meet some scummy kid in prison, and now you are giving him a job, an apartment and a car?” Cameron shakes his head in disgust.
“Yep, pretty much.”
“Don’t leave your wallets laying around, this is going to end fucking badly. You will come in one morning and your whole office will be cleaned out.” He smirks, clearly amused.
I sit back in my chair. “It could.”
“Why did you want me here? I don’t want to meet him.”
“Because I want you to help me with him.”
“The fuck I am.” He groans. “I want nothing to do with fucking criminals.”
I frown and inhale in frustration. “I think he’s a good kid, he just hasn’t had any opportunities.”
“What happened to you in prison? What are we, a fucking charity now?”
“No. Look, if he does one thing wrong, he goes back in. I paid his bail, I’m giving him a chance and if he fucks it up, I won’t make excuses for him.”
Adrian and Cameron look at each other, concerned. “He’s going to have to work hard. This isn’t a free ride.”
“What’s his name?” Adrian sighs.
I pick up the release papers on my desk and flick through them. “Jarvis.”
Adrian pouts. “Cool name.” He raises his eyebrows as if surprised.
I smirk.
Adrian narrows his eyes. “What is that look for?”
I shrug. “You two make out you are so gangster, but when it comes down to it, you’re both as soft as shit.”
“Fuck off,” Cameron mutters as he goes back to his phone. “I’m the king of gangster.”
“You still good for tonight?” I ask Cameron.
“Yes.” He sighs, annoyed.
Adrian and I smile at each other.
“And you will have to be there early to let them in.”
“I fucking know. Jesus Christ, you owe me some shit.”
I smile. “Thank you.”
A knock rings against the door. “Come in,” I yell.