Body Guard

(( Haha, so in turn! What was your plan for Ryan's death? ))

Cody:

"Either works, I know you are a busy man." My father's hand squeezed tightly on my shoulders. His focus turned to me after finally releasing me. "Things are going to be changing Cody, we are going to have another person to watch. He has his own detail, but you are going to have to cover him just as you would Jules. His name is Prince Benjamin Luxor. It is his father's hope that he and Jules will hit it off and become a couple." I watched his eyes flick briefly towards Mr. Devlin. "It will be good for PR if it does."

(I figure he was grabbed while getting food and theres some evidence of a struggle and he was beaten and shot to death in an effort to get to Julie. If they hadnt left when they did, there would have been great danger, but we dont know who was responsible yet so security has to be heightened.))

Mr. Devlin: 
"I'll leave you to it then," I said, with a nod to my friend. "Let me know if you have any questions Cody," I said.  I excused myself from the room to get things in order for Prince Benjamins arrival in the coming weeks.

(( Got it! ))

My father didn't yell, he believed one shouldn't yell unless the situation really called for it. But his tone was more cutting than any raised voice could be. He was angry, he was disappointed, and my punishment wouldn't be fun. After he was doing voicing his displeasure he went right into explaining all of what he knew about Ryan and the impending suitor.

After he finished he sighed and took his own seat. Rubbing his face he looked at me with a tired look, "I know firing you isn't really going to affect you." He raised a hand. "I know about the letters you've been getting. I think you'd do well in a private corperation as a guard or mercenary. I think you'd do even better working for the CIA. I have a few friends there who keep bugging me about your scores."

"I was looking for other options...just in case something happened..."

"You don't have to explain anything to me. I know Cody. I know how you feel. You'll make the right decision I have faith. Now go on back to her."

Standing with him he reached out and patted me on the shoulder before following me out the door. He turned off before I did, and I took my time getting back. I had much to think about. Benjamin coming bothered me in ways I couldn't explain, and a few ways I could. Two high value targets made my job harder, especially when I was going to be tasked over both of them. He'd have his own guards and his own detail. But if Jules was going anywhere I was going to be in charge.

Julie:
The meeting with Cody and his father was taking a lot longer than I had thought it would. I stayed on the couch for most it, with my arms crossed, staring at the TV that was playing some old film at a volume i couldnt even hear.

Usually, i would have started a conversation up with the body guard at the door, but I didnt have it in me today. He didnt seem to mind. I had gotten up once to use the bathroom and stayed in a little longer cause i thought i might be sick again. When I returned, he quietly asked me if I was alright and then went back to being a statue.

Cody:

The longer route I took back to Jules gave me time to think, to calm myself, and to wrap my head around the new direction my life was to be heading. So when I finally opened the door to her wing of the house I had a faint smile on my lips. I wasn't happy with how things had turned out, but I knew I was ready for whatever happened.

"Thanks for watching her. You are relieved." I shook the man's hand and closed the door behind him after he walked out before finally looking at Jules. I searched her face and searched her body language before I huffed a soft laugh.

"You look like hell Jules. One would think I left to walk into a lions den for how much you seem worried."

Julie:
I stayed on the couch while he dismissed the other body guard and when his eyes finally met mine, I was confused. He didnt seem upset at all. Maybe a little tired, but mostly fine.

I glared at him for his comment. Of course I had been worried. I thought he was getting his ass handed to him by our parents but he gave no indication of that. If I looked like hell, it was his fault. I sighed and even though I wanted to get up and hug him, I stayed seated. "Are you in trouble?" I asked, finally.

Cody:

"I am. My father still hasn't given me his punishment. Your dad left it in his hands to decide." I walked over to the couch and set my arms on the back of the couch, leaning my weight into it. My smile slipped away and was replaced by a very tired look. "If I disobey an order again, your dad will fire me for real. I need to go through parts of my training again. And some new problems have come up." I paused and flicked my eyes up to her face and raised a finger to forestall the question I believed to be coming immediately from her. "Problems for my job. Things are going to get busier here and that just means more work."

Julie:
"Why are they going to get busier?" I asked, turning myself so I was on my knees facing the back on the couch and him. His job was to watch and protect me. I didn't see how his job could get busier unless I was going somewhere and as far as I knew, nothing was on the agenda aside from a few appearances with dad and maybe a meeting or two.

"We are going to have company. And that's not me being evasive. We are going to have company and it's supposed to be a surprise of sorts for you. In either case you are going to be busy and so I shall be busy." I rolled my shoulders into a shrug. It was a small lie, that her suitor was a surprise. But I didn't want to admit that someone was coming to try and sweep her off her feet.

Julie:
I narrowed my eyes at him. "That is you being evasive," I told him. But instead of forcing the secret out of him, I just sighed and let it go. Whatever is what, I didnt have the energy to know right now. The last secret I got out of him had me throwing up in the bathroom and crying so hard I was sure my eyes were still swollen.

"I'm sorry that I said I would get you fired," I told him, because I had been feeling bad about it since he left.

I paused and blinked at her. "Jules...you do know that at some point my contract will be signed over to you and you will have the power to fire me right?" I flashed her a tiny grin and reached out to poke her nose. "You were upset, worried for my safety, and wanted to protect me. It was rather sweet of you all things considered."

Julie:
"Even if I had the power, i wouldnt fire you," i told him. I scrunched up my nose when he poked it and it broke the ice a little bit. I stuck my tongue out at him and shook my head. "I'm not sweet," i warned. I reached up and flicked his forehead.

Stepping back after she'd flicked my forehead I narrowed my eyes at her, pretending to be grumpy about what she'd done. Inside I was all sorts of relieved to see her return at least in part to her normal self. "You are sickeningly sweet most of the time."

Julie:
"Sickeningly?" I asked, mock offended. I turned around on the couch and stood up. It felt like I had been sitting for a while. I stretched a little bit and turned to face him. "I do have one question though." I said, looking at him. "Why did you tell my dad that I knew about Ryan?" I asked. He must have known I wouldnt have ratted him out for telling me.

Julie:
"Sickeningly?" I asked, mock offended. I turned around on the couch and stood up. It felt like I had been sitting for a while. I stretched a little bit and turned to face him. "I do have one question though." I said, looking at him. "Why did you tell my dad that I knew about Ryan?" I asked. He must have known I wouldnt have ratted him out for telling me.

Her question brought me up short. "I uh....hm." Tucking my chin to gaze at the floor I didn't know how to respond. "I don't know. I mean I don't know if you'd have told him yourself that you knew or that it would just..." Trailing off I groped at the air trying to find the words that simply refused to come. In the end I scratched at the top of my head and said softly, "I'm tired of dangerous lies I suppose."

Julie;
"Well I wouldnt have told him," i said, shrugging. "Not if it would have gotten you in trouble," I said. "But I hate that its sometimes paet of your job to lie to me," I said. Kinda like how he wont tell me what "surprise" is coming soon.

I raised my gaze up, searching her face for a long moment before sighing softly. "I would rather you be happy. Do you want to know what your surprise is? It's not actually a surprise however."

Julie:
I looked at him and smiled small and then nodded. "Okay. What is it?" I asked, curiously. My birthday wasnt for another few weeks so I couldnt imagine what it could poasibly be.

"We are going to have guests here. One of the princes from England wanted to meet you and get to know you." A faint smile touched my lips as I gave her the information. I decided against adding that there was hope that the two would perhaps hit it off and date.

(Hey you guys are back!))

Julie:
Out of all the things he could have said, that was probably the one I was expecting the least. "Why would he want to meet me?" I asked, surprised. As far as I knew, there were two princes that were close enough to my age to want anything to do with me. Benjamin and Harold. I knew very little about either one of them.

(( We are! ))

"I'm going to tell you a half truth first. He saw your recent speech about the state of the world and loved it. Another half truth is that you are attractive and single." Spreading my hands I shrugged. "Could be for other reasons. First one was what I was told, second is what I also believe to be a reason."

Julie:

I felt myself get a little red at his words. I had to quickly shut down the part of me that was squealing like a kid that he said I was attractive. He's not saying he finds you attractive... I thought, before my mind could run with it.

"Well theres nothing wrong with being friendly with him. I can be nice," I shrugged. I chose not to comment on the other part.

I opened my mouth to remark that I was almost certain he was hoping for more than friendship but let it go at that. Her color was noted but I assumed it was from the prince.

Julie:
I cleared my throat and looked at him. "Anything else?" I asked. "No more secrets you're dying to get off your chest?" I said, half joking.