Brooke sat in her chair sipping her drink. It tickled her throat when it down in large swallows. She looked at the man across from her through the clear glass, as she gulped her drink. With her orange drink down she put the cold glass on her warm temple.
“Will you do it?” the man asked.
Brooke again looked at the dark brown eyes of her guest, undecided. She hadn’t had a job for months. Finally putting her drink on the stand she leaned over toward the tall man. His blue eyes showed too much hope.
“I’ll do it,” she started, “only if he cooperates.”
“He will,” replied the man standing and smiling.
“We’ll see what he thinks,” Brooke told the man, standing up. She shook hands and smiled. Brooke led the man out of her house.
“I’ll come by tomorrow around 2 ‘o clock. We’ll see what happens,” Brooke told him.
The man nodded. Brooke turned to go in when he called her out again. She turned and saw the young gentleman lean against the car. “We heard you were the best in the business, that’s why we called you,” the man informed.
“There is now such thing as being the best in this business. I don’t try to be the best.”
“You’re a bodyguard you’ve got to try sometime.”
“My job is to protect people, not out do others,” she told him.
The man got into his black car and drove off leaving Brooke on the doorstep. Her blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail.
The next day at 2 ‘o clock Brooke pulled up in front of a metal gate. She pushed the button of the intercom. A static voice came over the broken monitor.
“Yes? Who is there?”
“Brooke Foster the bodyguard,” she said.
“What?”
Brooke waited for a couple of seconds, “Emily Stake.”
“Do you have an appointment?” the female voice asked.
“Yeah.” The gates opened leaving Brooke to proceed. Her car brought her to a large stone mansion. She stepped out into the warm July sun. The chauffeur came up to her.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Pam Brown.”
He looked her over before speaking again. “You’re the bodyguard aren’t you?”
“What do you know?” Brooke asked.
“I’ve got ears.”
“I’ll try to remember that, Mr. Portman.”
“How do you know my name?” the man asked.
“It says on your tag.” He looked down at his chest and nodded as she moved past him to the mansion door. An old lady answered the large metal door. Brooke wasn’t surprised at how big the room was, once the maid let her in. She dealt with houses much larger than this one.
“Go down the hall and to the left,” she was about to leave but stopped and looked at her again. “Just follow the music,” the maid added.
Brooke walked down the large marble walled hall. Her shoes were silent on the white carpet. Turning down the left hallway the music she heard became louder. She kept walking till she came to a partially opened door. Peeking in she noticed it was a dance studio. Opening the door wider, she stepped into the dance floor. Everybody stopped whatever he or she were doing and looked up. The music paused and Brooke stood completely calm.
The same man came up to her and shook he hand once more, “Miss Foster, I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wright glad to be here.”
“Now, Miss Foster, if you would come this way I’ll show you the guys,” the man led her first to a brown-haired guy. He smiled, flashing his perfect teeth. She smiled into his blue eyes.
“This is Joshua Chasez, one of the members.”
“Nice to meet you, Josh,” Brooke greeted, holding out her hand.
J.C. grabbed it and shook it, “Please, just call me J.C. everybody does.” Brooke nodded.
Mr. Wright led her to another young man. His blonde hair wet with sweat. His sensuous eyes were a beautiful green-yellowish color.
“This is another member, James.”
“Lance,” he corrected, holding out his hand. Brooke shook it. He introduced her to Chris and Justin. Everybody was just talking among themselves when Joey come into the room, skipping.
He stopped when he noticed they had company. “Well, hello, there. Who might you lovely lady be?”
“Joey, this is Miss Foster,” Mr. Wright introduced.
“Brooke,” she corrected shaking Joey’s hand.
“Oh, nice grip. Work out?” Joey asked.
“I have to, its my job,” Brooke told him.
Chris looked interested her way. “What do you do?”
“I’m a bodyguard, yours if I want the job.”
Their mouths dropped. It took them a couple seconds to regain their shock.
“You don’t look like a bodyguard,” J.C. commented.
Brooke looked at his face. “Well, you don’t look like somebody who has a talent. I don’t understand why YOU need protected.”
“Protected? Why would I need protected?” J.C. asked.
Brooke shrugged, “I don’t know ask your manager.”
Everyone’s eyes fell on Mr. Wright. He didn’t know what to say, “I…uh…you need protected because of the fans. They’re eat you alive,” Johnny lied.
Brooke looked at him. She couldn’t believe he lied to him. He probably didn’t even tell him yet. How could he not tell them what he told her? It’s impossible. She didn’t want to work somewhere where they didn’t know what was going on.
“Who will she be protecting?” Justin asked.
“J.C. mostly, but all of you if it comes down to it,” Johnny answered.
J.C. smiled, “Oh, well, then in that case, we need to go over some rules.” I looked at Johnny questionably. He shrugged his shoulders.
“First of all,” J.C. began, “I do want some breathing room, once in a while if that isn’t too much to ask. I would like to get out some, to clubs and malls and everything. Its gonna get obvious when she starts follow me into a dressing room, so please, keep your distance.” I looked on, waiting for him to finish.
“I don’t want to be affected by this change,” he added. When he was finished I shifted uneasily.
“Look, I think this is just a big misunderstanding so if you could direct me the quickest way out, I would appreciate it.”
“Oh, there is a door. It’s kinda hidden but it’s to the left. Yeah, right through the glass…”
“Shut up, Chris,” Johnny told him as he followed me out.
I walked down some stone steps till I came to a pool. Johnny walked up tome, again. He opened his mouth to speak, but I said something first:
“Look, Mr. Wright, you know I don’t do music people, rock stars. He is just a good example why.”
“Can’t you make a compromise with him?” he asked.
“We did.”
“Please, we need people like you to protect J.C. and the rest of the guys. Somebody is stalking them and they don’t even know it.”
“Its not my fault you never told them. Look, he has got to understand my judgments,” I told Johnny.
“He will. Let me show you some of the letters he has got.”
“I better…”
“Please, just let me show you some…”
“No, I really…”
“Please just let me show you,” Johnny persisted.
“Ok, fine.”
“Stay there, it will only take a moment.” With that Johnny raced up another flight of steps.
I looked around at my surroundings. The blue pool was shaped like a fish. Clear water sparkled deeply. The eye of the fish was a large hot tub. It bubbled furiously. I walked over at the large wall of hedges. They were tall and thick. Thick enough to have somebody hide, and not be seen.
I walked over to a vine covered cement bench. It was small yet sturdy when I sat on it. Johnny came back with a handful of papers. I skimmed through them.
“Are these all that he has gotten?” I asked.
“So far, but I have a feeling he will get more of these.”
I stopped to look at one.
'MY LOVE, YOU WILL BE FOREVER WATCHED. BABY ITS GONNA BE ME TO KILL YOU. START SAYING BYE, BYE, BYE TO YOUR FRIENDS BECAUSE YOUR TIME IS COMING NEARER AND NEARER FOR YOU TO DIE.'
“Wow, how original. Taking the names of his songs in the letters. Have you had these analyzed for fingerprints?”
“I’ll get on that now. So, are you in?”
I paused a minute. “I’m in.”
We entered the dance studio once more.
“She’s in,” Johnny announced to the group. They all smiled. Lance grabbed my waist and started walking around the floor.
“Welcome to the family, Brooke.”
“Hey, Brooke.” I looked at Justin, who had called my name.
“Who were you protecting before deciding to come with us?” he asked. “Anybody we know?”
“I think so. President Reagan.”
After a moment J.C. spoke. “Reagan got shot.”
I looked at him, “Not on my shift.” He nodded apparently satisfied.
copyright ©2001 AngelH