“Oh, is that why you’re here? You want a bodyguard, hmm?” Eric’s smile became more of a knowing smirk.
Antony’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, that’s why I’m here.”
He and Eric stared at each other. Neither blinked.
Eric’s lips twitched. “I’ve got some great guys that would make wonderful potential bodyguards for you. I can have them come in—”
“I need a woman.”
More lip twitching. “I’m sure you do. But we are really not that kind of agency. Don’t know who misinformed you on that score.”
Was this shit supposed to be funny? Did it look as if he were in the mood to laugh? “I need a female bodyguard for cover purposes,” Antony continued smoothly. Semi-smoothly, anyway. Eric was starting to wear away at his patience. “I need an agent who can pose as—”
“Wait.” Eric raised one hand. “Let me guess. You need someone to pose as your girlfriend, am I right?”
He was. He was also an ass. “You are not making this easy.”
Eric’s head cocked. “Was I supposed to make it easy? Sorry. I think I missed that rule.”
Antony stood. Began to pace. “I need an agent I can trust. Someone who can slip seamlessly into my life. The danger that I am facing is very sudden, and I don’t have time to bring an outsider into my world.”
“Uh, huh. Gotcha. In that case, I’m figuring you want—”
“Ella Webb.” Antony turned to face Eric. Paced more. “I want to hire Ella Webb to be my bodyguard for the next two weeks. Our cover story will be easy enough to put in place. The world can think she left my employ because we have a personal relationship. Our personal relationship will be the reason she’s now at my side and in my home.”
Eric winced. “That’s going to be a problem.”
Antony stopped pacing. “Why would it be a problem? I assure you, I can more than afford your rates.” He also had more than enough room for Ella at his new home.
“It’s not about money.”
“Then what is it about?” Tell me because I have to make this happen.
“I hate to break it to you, but Ella has already been assigned to a different case.”
What? He took several fast steps toward Eric. “But she just started working here.”
“It’s not like she needed a lot of training. Honestly, I wanted her for management, but she requested to be in the field. I had a field case come up, and I gave it to her.” A shrug. “End of story.”
It was not the end. “Name your price, and I’ll pay it. She’s the bodyguard I want.”
“I told you, it’s not about money. In case you missed it, Wilde isn’t exactly strapped for cash. So stop trying to throw money at me.” Eric rose and walked around to the front of his desk.
Antony’s temples throbbed. “I need Ella for this job.”
“There are plenty of capable agents here.” He studied Antony for a moment with pursed lips. “Look, if you’re in real danger, I can have one of my other agents stay with—”
Antony gave a hard, negative shake of his head. “No other agent. Only Ella.” It had to be her. “Ella knows my routines. She knows me. She’s the one it has to be.”
“Then I’m afraid that you’re shit out of luck.” Eric didn’t even sound mildly apologetic. “Sorry about that, but I—”
“Do you think this is some kind of game?” Antony asked as anger pumped through him. “Because I highly doubt that when most people come into your office, you tell them that they are—I believe you said, ‘shit out of luck’, wasn’t it?”
Eric propped one hip on the front of his desk as he crossed his arms over his chest and studied Antony. “Let’s cut the act. We both know you aren’t most people.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t need protection.” He tried to look hurt. Or offended. Something.
“You’re pissed because she left. You’re trying to force her back. You think I don’t get it? I do. And here’s some friendly advice. Maybe you should just try talking to Ella. Not setting up some elaborate ruse in order to get her back into your life.”
Breathe. You need the jerk. Breathe. “You’re aware that I have recently made plans to locate a new company office and design factory outside of Atlanta.”
“Um, I had heard that.”
“Before I left Asheville to come here and work on those plans, someone broke into my condo.”
Eric’s shoulders stiffened.
“I was intending to travel here to get things set up. Working the transition and all that. I was out late, packing up some materials from my office as I prepared for the trip, and when I returned to my condo, I discovered that someone had gotten inside my home.”
Eric held his gaze. “Did you call the cops?”
“You understand my business.” Both the gaming business and his spy work. “Calling the cops wasn’t the best plan for me.” Though he did have a great connection through his friend Winston. If he had needed help, Antony would have turned to him in a heartbeat. “I want this handled privately.” He shrugged. “That’s why I’m here. This isn’t some simple B&E. You and I know my security system is too sophisticated for your average burglar.”
Eric inclined his head as he conceded the point.
“I need to find out what’s happening. By going into my home—this feels personal. I won’t deny that I’ve made a lot of enemies over the years. Occupational hazard. While I’m getting a new place set up down here, things are uncertain for me.” He was impressed by how controlled his voice sounded. All that spy work had paid off. Lies are too easy now. “I need protection. I came here to hire your agency. I was willing to pay with cash or even with favors. You know, those handy kind of tech favors that you love to ask me to do for you.”
Eric’s jaw tightened.
Uh, huh. Now I have your attention, don’t I? Antony didn’t let his satisfaction show as he continued, “But I guess I was wrong.” He turned for the door. Took slow steps toward it. “It’s a pity. Ella would have been perfect. Maybe this would have been the first of many partnerships between my company and yours…” He quickened his steps, just a little.
“Wait.”
It was a good thing Antony’s back was to Eric. This way, the other man didn’t see Antony’s smile. After a moment, Antony schooled his features and glanced back at Eric. “Yes?”
“She decides.”
His gut twisted. Fuck. He’d been so close. “Is that standard policy here at Wilde? You let your agents pick and choose their cases?” He tapped his chin. “Is that the best way to do business?”
“You and I both know your situation with Ella isn’t normal. There’s not a standard thing about it.”
True enough. “Agreed.”
“She left your ass when she found out about that side hustle of yours.”
“I wouldn’t call it a side hustle,” he muttered. “More like, you know, me trying to save the world in my spare time.”
Eric cocked a brow. “Really? That’s what you’d call it?”