Chanel

The next morning, the sunlight was pouring through my window. I rolled over and the first thing I felt was soreness in my rear end.

Oh, yeah. Right…

I sighed, just thinking about it. After having a bottle of wine to myself, I think I got a little carried away last night and ended up getting more than expected.

Not that I minded.

I got up and washed quickly, hearing voices downstairs. After getting dressed I walked out of the room, looking across the hallway at Kobe’s door. His door was wide open, but he was nowhere in sight.

Walking down the stairs, I made way to the kitchen, where Dad and Nicole were already standing. Nicole’s lower back was pressed to the edge of the counter, a slice of whole-wheat toast in her hand. Dad had his elbows on the counter, nursing a mug of coffee.

“Bad hangover, huh?” I laughed, walking around the counter to kiss him on the cheek.

“Sweetie,” he sighed. “Don’t even ask.” He gave me a big hug. “Sleep well?”

“Just great.” I pulled away, walking next to Nicole for the coffee. I poured myself a mug. “Morning,” I sang to her and her eyes grew rounder.

“Well, someone seems really chipper this morning.” She wiggled her eyebrows, giving me a look like she knew something was up. She could make all the assumptions she wanted, ask with her eyes however much she wanted to, but I wasn’t going to spill.

“Just feeling great about the charity event today,” I said. “I invited a lot of people. Hopefully we get a bigger donation this year.”

Dad merely ignored us, sipping his coffee. Nicole nodded her head, pushing off the counter. “Speaking of, there are a few more people I want to call and follow up with.” She pointed to the patio door where the pool was. That’s when I noticed the people out there with boxes and containers in hand. “Breakfast is being set up out there. Catered by your mom’s favorite breakfast spot in Beverly Hills. Dash of Syrup”

I smiled at her. See, this was why I didn’t think she was all bad. She cared. She really did, even though she tried too hard sometimes and was over-the-top about a lot of things, she still made great effort. I also appreciated her for being there for my dad. I knew I couldn’t be around for him as much as before, so I was glad he had her to lean on.

“Don’t you want to join us?” I asked.

“I will after I wrap up a few calls. Go and enjoy yourself. Relax before the event starts tonight.”

I smiled. “Thanks, Nicole.” With a smile, she took off, heading up the stairs, most likely to Dad’s office. “Come on, Dad. Let’s get some food in your belly.”

I walked toward the patio door and he trotted after me. He sat down in the chair across from me, and our eyes scanned all the food. Blueberry and raspberry pancakes, hot maple syrup, omelets, and my favorite of all, bacon.

“Oh, this is perfect.” I grabbed a few slices of bacon and a blueberry pancake.

“We wanted you to relax today, Nelly.” Nelly. I pretended the name didn’t cause a squeeze around my heart. That was Mom’s nickname for me. As if Dad noticed the smile slightly slip from my lips, he changed the subject and asked, “So how do you like having Kobe as your bodyguard?”

I avoided his eyes after that question, biting the bacon. “He’s cool.”

“Is he like the others, or better?”

“Hmm.” Oh, he’s better all right. I shrugged. “He’s good. He does his job.”

“Good. Just want to make sure he’s worth the fourteen-thousand dollars we’ll be paying him bi-weekly.”

“You’re paying him fourteen-thousand dollars? Are you guys insane!”

“No. We’re logical. I see you going to great places, Chanel. Eventually you will need more than one bodyguard.” He eyed me seriously. “I like that he is determined. I saw him leave this morning and go for a jog. He stays healthy. Keeps his distance. He doesn’t ask for much.”

I smashed my lips together, grabbing the jug of orange juice and pouring some into my glass.

“Before he took this job, he was off for a whole year and I can’t figure out why. He didn’t go deeper into it, other than to say it was personal and necessary, so it made me a bit suspicious at first. But, we all have things we don’t wish to share with anyone else. Sometimes we just need a break from life. I don’t think I have much to worry about with him. We did our research. He’s very hard on himself and he seems like a decent, well put-together man.

“Why take a year off without explaining, if this is a full-time job? Did he have a baby with someone? Did someone die? And if that were the case, why would he need to be so secretive about it?” I was loaded with questions, and with each one, Dad’s eyes became more and more serious. Shit, I’d given away too much.

Dad looked at me sternly, waving a finger after popping a piece of pancake into his mouth. “I don’t know, Chanel, but I know how you are, so don’t go digging. Keep to yourself and worry only about yourself. Stay out of his personal life. It’s not your business and it’s not where you belong.” He finished chewing the piece of pancake. “He knows if he tries anything with you or even tries to get too close, he’s fired and his reputation is tarnished. I will not have it.”

I let out a sharp breath, slouching back in my chair with my cup of orange juice in hand. Kobe was a quiet man, and he was hiding something. I figured.

But secrets, no matter how big or small, always came to light somehow. I wanted to know what he was hiding. Then again, I worried that if I found out the truth, it would make me look at him in a completely different way.