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Emerald closed her eyes, feeling nauseous. The movie set was supposed to be top secret; only the crew involved in the film knew where Emerald was shooting. It made her sick with worry that Thomas found out about the Hillside Studio location.
At this point, Emerald couldn't read any more messages. She sat frozen in the parlor for what seemed like an eternity, feeling her world crash around her. She tried regulating her breath to calm her thoughts as she formulated a solution.
“That's it; I'm done with being harassed. If this fucker wants a fight, he will meet his match,” she tersely wished out loud.
Upon making her decision, Emerald immediately called her agent, Chet Walker.
“Chet. I’m still getting threats from Thomas. I need you to get me a bodyguard. Female. Capable. The best there is.”
Emerald would not waste one more moment, especially with these threats. An empowering force rose within her;no one messes with me, especially an overgrown child like Thomas Black. This is war.
2
Sweat collected around Romy Russell’s hairline as she flung herself up to the steel bar, kissing it with her chin.Argh, 42 reps…must get to 50…Her biceps contracted as she slowly lowered herself, feeling her legs dangle near the ground. Romy could feel teardrop-shaped beads begin to fall in her eyes, but she was undaunted. A fire grew within her trapezius muscles as she blinked; her body raged with an insurmountable force.
Romy loved to start her morning with an intense workout; the physical burn and tenacity required fueled her mental clarity, leaving her focused for the day ahead. Grunting, she rose up once again for another pull-up. With every pull-up, she was driven to do more, almost as though she was obsessed. Given that it was only 5:00 am, the 24-hour, private gym was completely empty, but that was precisely how Romy preferred it. She revelled in solitude, with the sharp sounds of her breath being the only sounds.
Most members of Thor Fitness, located in the posh neighborhood of Beverly Hills, didn’t arrive until 6:30 am, but most guests did not lead the life of Romy Russell. Typically, the fitness center was populated with famous models and working actors led by their private trainers. But the 38-year-old bodyguard was in a league of her own. Considering that her work hours were long and unpredictable, Romy dedicated the wee hours of the morning to her physical training so she could enjoy the solitude before the space filled with others.
“Come on; you can do this!” Romy spoke aloud to herself, pushing through to meet her max capacity. “Ahhhh, yes!” Her bony chin hit the steel bar for the last count of 50 as Romy dropped to the ground, her feet firmly planted on the mat. Keeled over, Romy took a few breaths, wiping the sweat off her face and running her hands through her short, dark-brown hair. “Oh my god, fuck, that was intense!”
Unwrapping the gauze from her hands, Romy sat down on a bench to drink, sipping cold water from her thermos. Her head tingled with endorphins, and her heart rate slowly returned to normal. Blinking, she looked around the expansive weight room, catching her reflection in the mirror.
In general, Romy wasn’t overly concerned with her appearance, but she did notice that her hair needed a trim.Jesus, I need to get this mop fixed up.She rubbed the back of her neck, feeling the stubble from her undercut. Romy loved the new razored cut, which perfectly suited her soft butch style. But as a famous bodyguard to A-list celebrities, Romy always needed to appear tidy and polished. Like her clothes, Romy’s hair had to be serious and conservative, but that suited her fine; it was an aesthetic that had always resonated with her.
Given that Romy Russell had trained at a police academy in Houston, Texas, before becoming an officer for five years, she was accustomed to discipline and structure. Romy was also a fierce competitor and overachiever. At 22 years old, she received a degree in Law Enforcement, with a follow-up degree in Criminal Justice two years afterward. Romy was the youngest person in her program to complete all of the required qualifications to enter the police force. And for a few years, she enjoyed her work.
But Romy was an ambitious woman, and soon, she became bored with the daily routine of her duties. Nevertheless, Romy craved excitement and a challenge, and after taking a year off to weigh her options, she decided to move to California and explore a career as a bodyguard. Her fierce commitment to physical superiority and her natural ability to problem-solve under pressure made her an excellent candidate. Soon, Romy rose within the ranks of the premier company Panther Security International.
At this point in her profession, Romy was well sought-after with a solid reputation for being one of the best bodyguards within protective services. Considering the hectic—sometimes chaotic—lives of many of her clients, Romy had seen her fair share of conflict. However, she was an excellent mediator, confidant, and assertive with a weapon when a situation turned grave. But unfortunately, Romy’s personal life was not as prolific.
Whenever Romy was assigned a client, her entire attention was focused on their protection; this meant that personal relationships needed to take a backseat. Romy was also required to travel constantly, accompanying her high-profile customers wherever they needed to go.
Romy was a handsome woman; extremely fit, standing tall at six foot one, and her ice-blue eyes were nothing short of mesmerizing. At first, the women who came into Romy’s life were impressed, even attracted to her career. But typically, after a few months of dating or communicating long-distance, her girlfriends would become frustrated with Romy’s frenzied schedule and lack of romantic attention. Romy desired love and companionship, but she knew it could never come between the life and well-being of a paying client. At this point, she was resolute on remaining single, at least until she was done with her career.
Moving through her high-intensity interval training, Romy crouched down to grab a set of coarse, thick ropes. Taking a few deep breaths, she faced herself in the mirror and honed her focus like a tiger. This was an exercise that Romy enjoyed timing, challenging her momentum to beat the time from before.1, 2, 3, go!
With aggression, Romy began to shake the ropes, whipping them hard against the matted floor. Her muscles burned with a glorious ache that fired her competitive spirit. Within a minute, her reflection served a glistening body, highlighted by sweaty shoulders and pulsating forearms. Adrenaline fueled Romy through her workouts, losing herself to the moment. Considering the bodyguard needed to be alert at all times while on assignment, Romy relished the times when she could let go of her mind and let her body take over.
This morning had been like so many recent mornings. Finally, Romy found herself with more time to spend at the gym and also to enjoy the fruits of her labor. But she never wanted to remain idle for long. It had been almost three weeks since she had been assigned a new client from Panther Security International. As much as she appreciated the rest, she was eager to return to the field and excel at what she did best.
Thedingof her phone signaled that Romy had reached her time on the ropes. Wiping her brow with a towel, she sauntered over to her device. A text appeared with the contact noting the security agency. Romy whispered joyfully to herself, “Yes, I’ve been waiting for this!” She opened the message and read its contents.
As her eyes traveled over the words, Romy felt slightly deflated.Hmmm, okay. Emerald Crowle the movie star, huh? Getting threats from her ex husband? hmmm.
Celebrities were never the favored clients for most bodyguards. Too much drama, attention seeking and diva behaviour made a bodyguard’s life difficult.
Like the rest of the world, Romy Russell was well-versed in the public life of Emerald Crowle.And while she had never worked with the iconic actress, she had many past clients who knew her. From what Romy observed, Ms. Crowle brought out intense emotions in people. Depending on who it was, she either instilled complete adoration or menacing hatred, the latter being her ex-husbands. While Romy never wanted to judge her clients, she couldn’t help categorizing Emerald Crowle as a diva.
Still, I want the work. Hmmm, alright. Yeah, I’m going to take this assignment. I mean, how hard can it be? I’ve taken on more than just squabbling ex-lovers. I think the only challenge is enduring entitled, prima-donna behavior.Romy called Panther Security to inform them that she would be taking on Emerald Crowle as a client.
3
“Marilyn!” Emerald called out in a forced, singsong voice. Now that Emerald found herself alone, once again, at her private estate, she yearned for attention. Unfortunately, the way that Emerald expressed her need for closeness was through giving orders to her help. Because Emerald had spent her entire adult life in the spotlight, surrounded by an entourage of assistants, many of her interactions involved giving or taking direction.
But Emerald had much love for Marilyn, and throughout her years of fame, she considered the housekeeper as the only family she truly had. Emerald was aware that her diva behavior could push others away. Lately, she had become more mindful of her tone and attitude, although at 58 years old, changing old habits wasn’t always fruitful.
She could hear her housekeeper rummaging through some boxes in the next room, but Emerald was currently putting on her makeup, choosing to summon the help into her bedroom. “Marilyn? Hello? Could you come here, please? I need you!”
