"Can you believe what daddy did? How could he get a personal bodyguard from some random woman he doesn't even know. Have you ever heard of a Tami Gonzales? Because I sure as hell, haven't!"

Helman, to his credit, was calm. He was used to Angela's angry rants and he even had one of the maids prepare her something cool to drink and her favorite snack for when she calmed down. He nodded at the maid who entered with the things in hand and he watched as she hurriedly placed the platter on the side table by where he stood and rushed out the door.

Angela saw this through the corner of her eye as she paced back and forth. She was used to Helman being so all-knowing, not surprised that he had gone so far as to prepare a that for her to calm down when this was over. She was used to the maids trying their best to get out of her way whenever she was in a fit of rage. Somehow, today, it made her even angrier.

"I swear, sometimes I think I should be the one to run this household. I am clearly the only one who is capable of doing so. For starters, I wouldn't ever let the likes of that...that man to walk in here!"

"You may be right, little madam," Helman said slowly.

Angela paused her pacing and looked at him with a frown. Now that she was finally in her room, she'd discarded of her heels a long time ago and she curled her toes into the soft white rug beneath her feet without hesitation. "Right about what, exactly? Because I think I'm right about everything."

"About you being the one to run this household. I think you would do splendid in a position of power."

Angela heaved a great sigh and walked over to her bed, falling down face first. One upon a time, collapsing into the many cushions had proven therapeutic for her. Now, not so much. "Do you really think now is the time to be sarcastic with me, Helman?"

"I do not know what you're talking about, little madam."

"Sure you don't," she grumbled into her pillows. "Stop calling me little madam."

"I can call you 'my lady' if you so wish."

Angela sighed again. She sat up. Helman was still standing by the door with his hand clasped behind his back and his eyes resting steadily on her. "I'm being serious about this, Helman. I can't trust that man. Daddy doesn't know what he's getting himself into."

"May I ask why you have such an intense dislike for your father's new bodyguard, my lady?"

The new title didn't bother her as much as it should have. Probably because she should have expected no less from Helman. Sometimes, she wondered if his 'jokes' really weren't jokes at all. 

Her eyes slid away from him. "I...I don't know what it is. I just know I can't trust him."

"Far be it from me to place little of my own trust into your instincts, my lady. Would you like me to address these concerns with your father?"

"No!" she said suddenly. "No, that isn't going to make a difference. He's going to want a reason for why I feel that way and even if I tell him, he's still going to do what he wants. I swear, he's more stubborn than a mule."

"It must truly be difficult dealing with stubborn people," Helman said.

Angela narrowed her eyes at him. "God, you're sarcasm is going to drive me insane one day, Helman."

"I do not know what you mean, my little madam." Angela didn't realize how still he had been standing until he finally moved, his arms sweeping around his body as he bowed deeply. "If you would excuse me, my lady, I have other duties to take care of. Please, partake in this iced tea and salted potato chips to help calm you down. I will come to fetch you when it is time for dinner."

"Yes, yes, thanks for listening to me, Helman."

"It has been my pleasure." With that said, Helman turned and left the room, leaving her to her thoughts.

Once he was gone, Angela's eyes fell to the chips and tea. The sight was tempting and she bit her lip, longing to partake as Helman wished. She knew she shouldn't, though. She'd gorged enough when she was in Jamaica and now that she was home, she had to get back into the swing of things. Which meant she had to continue her usual diet and exercise regimen to make sure she didn't get fat.

That thought only lingered in her mind for a second before she cast it aside. She padded over to the tray and picked up the pitcher of iced tea, the glass, and tucked the chips under her arm. Then she walked back through her white and pink decorated room, filled with soft furs and opulent decorations, over to the wide back doors that led out to her pool.

Her pool. She'd asked her father to build it for her when she was fourteen because she was sick and tired of looking out into the slice of the backyard and remembering that fated birthday party all those years ago. Now, the pool served as her favorite place to calm down and she placed everything down on the poolside table next to the lounge chair and headed back to her room.

Angela didn't hesitate to slip her dress up over her head and tossed it onto the floor. Padding over to her walk-in closet in only her underwear, she went about finding a suitable swim suit to wear. 

That process took much longer than it should have and she figured ten minutes must have gone by when she finally settled on a pink polka-dotted bikini. She changed into the swim suit and pulled her hair up into a ponytail as she began to leave the closet.

Angela intended to pluck one of her hair ties out of the little box sitting on the vanity near the door, but her finger slipped and the entire box went tumbling to the floor.

"Screw me," she mumbled, bending to pick it up. 

Just as she was about to touch the closest to her, a large hand came into view and picked it up for her. Angela looked up to see Roger grinning at her. "Here you go, love."

She squealed, prancing away. "What the hell are you doing in here? Have you been watching me this whole time?"

"Whoa, whoa, slow your roll there, cutie." Roger's infernal grin never diminished in the slightest, which angered her to no end. "I was just in the neighborhood and saw that you needed help, that's all."

"No," she hissed. "You wandered in here like a creep just so you could ogle me. How did you even get in here?"

He jerked a thumb behind him. "You left your back door open."

"And what were you doing around there?"

"Would you relax?" Roger ducked into his pocket and pulled out a small lollipop. He said nothing as he slowly unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth, much to Angela's annoyance. "I was only doing a sweep of the premises and saw that your door was open. When I saw how pink this bedroom was, I just knew it had to be the princess's."

She rolled her eyes in disgust. "Let me guess. You're leaving cameras and bugs everywhere, aren't you?"

Roger's eyes went wide. "How did you know?"

"What? You are?"

He burst out laughing. Pulling the lollipop from his mouth, he wagged it at her as he shook his head. "Did anyone ever tell you that you're a little too uptight?"

"Get out," she hissed. "Get out of my room, you pervert, or else I'm going to tell daddy exactly who you are. Out!"

"Alright, alright, I'm going." He raised his hands in surrender. "You don't need to shout it you know. Then your maids and your weird butler is going to come running and that's something I don't need to deal with."

She followed him as he walked out into the bedroom, glaring at him all the way. She had to see for herself that he was gone. It bothered her, though, that he always seemed to find her amusing. Even now, his lips twitched into a smile as he opened the door in an exaggerated movement and sauntered out.

"Don't ever come back here," Angela stated before she slammed the door in his face. She turned back to the back door, heading to the pool to wash off the heat of her anger.

***

Roger chuckled. Angela Staton was exactly the same as she had been a year ago. Incredibly uptight in that pink-faced, blazing eyes manner of hers. Back then, she'd had ever reason to be freaking out, what with being caught in such a dangerous situation, but now that she was in the comfort of her own home, her reaction to him amused him even further. He could tell that she was going to make this mission much more fun that he'd expected.

What he told was true. He was doing a sweep of the premises, a damn big place too. Since the moment he'd walked away from her earlier, he'd reported his intentions to her father and set about doing it. Now that it was nearing evening, he was happy that he could draw this painstaking task to a close with the sight of her flushed, angry face after he walked in on her.

He hadn't seen a thing, though. Though, he doubted she believed that.

Still smiling to himself, Roger made his way down the hallway, heading to his room. It was nearly as fancy as the princess's but Roger doubted he would be spending much time in there, other than to sleep. He slid his phone from his pocket and held down on one, swirling the lollipop in his mouth as he waited for the call to go through.

"Update me, Dumas."

"Can't I get a hello?" he asked idly.

Tami growled into his ear. "I do not have time for you foolishness today. Update me."

Roger couldn't help his wry grin. Her curt words reminded him of someone else he'd worked with once upon a time, though it had been a while since he last saw her. "I am in position. Did a sweep. Nothing out of the ordinary but I'll be doing one later today. All players are in motion."

"Please don't call them players," Tami sighed.

"Why not?"

"It makes me feel as if you're not taking this seriously. And when you don't take things seriously, I get very, very anxious."

"Oh, come on, Tami." He sucked loudly on the lollipop, just because he knew it would add effect to his words. "Have I ever let you down?"

Her silence was all the answer he needed. Roger chuckled. "Alright, noted."

She gave another sigh. "Next update is in twenty-four hours. After that, it's all on you, Dumas. Do me proud."

"You got it, boss."

She ended the call and Roger slipped back into his role as Jason Vanhorne when he made it to the Stephen Staton's office. He knocked once and waited.

"Come in."

Roger went inside, and over to Stephen who was sitting behind his large mahogany desk. Stephen barely glanced up at him. "Are you all finished?"

"Yes, sir."

"Everything is good then?"

"Yes sir."

"Alright, great! Here." Still not looking up, he handed Roger a sheet of paper. "This is my schedule for the rest of the month. Study it. You're in charge of my security detail so I expect you to do adjust the level of protection accordingly. I assume you are familiar with what you see?"

"Yes sir."

"Good." Finally, Stephen looked up at him, frowning slightly. "Can you say anything else but 'yes, sir'?"

Simply because it amused him, Roger decided to keep himself silent, standing rim-rod straight with his hands firmly behind his back. He stared over Stephen's head like a solider and considered it a job well done when Stephen sighed. "Alright, you're dismissed."

Roger stood stiffly with his arms by his side and gave a swift nod. "Sir."

Then he left, hiding his smile. This job may or may not be a breeze, but it didn't mean he couldn't have some fun out of it.

***

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