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She took a deep breath. They were safe.
Tabitha was shaken, but her cover was somewhat blown. Who knew who this woman would try and tell?
Jack drove them back to the mansion in silence and Tabitha leaned into JK and JK held her the whole way.
There was an unfamiliar man in a suit waiting for them on the mansion steps. JK stiffened, readying herself to defend Tabitha, but Tabitha stepped confidently out of the car, walking right up to him. “Richard, what are you doing here?”
7
Tabitha
Tabitha didn’t know why her uncle was here, but she was still pleased to see him. She was shaken from the events of earlier and the sight of a family member was welcome.
“Tabitha,” he said stiffly, “I’m here to take you home.”
Tabitha frowned. “What?”
“I’m here to take you home.”
“My holiday isn’t done yet. What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Your inappropriate behavior has reached your mother, and she commands you to return with me.”
“My inappropriate behavior?” Tabitha’s mind was spinning. She and JK hadn’t exactly been subtle, but she had thought they were safe, half a world away from her family. Of course, she knew they wouldn’t take news of the affair well, but she had never intended to tell them.
How had they found out? There was no way, unless… Alice. Tabitha felt anger lick her insides. Of course, Alice had betrayed her. She had made no secret of her disapproval of what JK and Tabitha were doing. When it came down to it, she had chosen to be loyal to her mother and not Tabitha.
Tabitha folded her arms. “I’m not leaving, and you can’t make me.”
“Oh, I believe you will find that I can.”
JK took an aggressive step forward. “I believe she has given you her answer.”
“You stay out of this! You have no right to speak here.”
“Don’t talk to J like that!”
“This woman has corrupted your mind, Tabitha! I am removing you from her influence at once.”
“No, you’re not, and if you try to force me, Iwillmake a fuss. I’ll turn this into an international incident. I’ll go to the U.S. embassy for asylum against homophobia if I must.”
Richard went bright red. “This isn’t about your preference for women, Tabitha—which, by the way, it would have been nice not to be blindsided with! This woman is your bodyguard and she’s twice your age! If you want a woman, we can discuss that, but we’ll find you anappropriatewoman of the correct standing.”
Some part of Tabitha was relieved that her sexuality was apparently a possibility, but mostly, she was angry. “J is appropriate! It is her I want. I’m in love with her.”
“Tab,” JK took her hand, “We always knew that this was going to end. He is right, there is no future for us, we are from different worlds. I don’t want you to get into this kind of trouble over me. I’m not worth it.”
“That’s crap, J! You are worth everything! I love you.” Tabitha knew in that moment that she really did love her.
“This isn’t about homophobia and you know it, Tabitha. You have no grounds to seek asylum.” Richard chimed in.
“The media won’t see it that way. Do you really want to cause that type of uproar? Because if you try to force me home, I promise you I won’t hesitate to do it.”
Richard let out a sharp breath, his hands clenched into fists. “Fine, butshe’snot to protect you anymore!” Richard looked to JK. “You are officially fired. You may stay for a couple of hours to collect your stuff while I source a newmalebodyguard. After that, I want you out of Tabitha’s life for good, or there will be trouble for both of you.”
JK lifted her head high. “Tabitha is an adult. She has the right to see whoever she wants, and you can’t stop her.”
“You’re right. She has every right to defy her mother… and her mother has every right to disown her for it.”
