I’m not sure what to think once Viv is gone from my hotel room, but I know one thing for sure. That wasn’t just about our disagreement over how to handle that scene.

I mean, I understand why she’d be pissed. I get that it’s her story and she wants more creative control over it. Technically, the final cut is in my hands, but normally I let the journalist take the lead and I defer to him or her. But sometimes, I have to make a call as I see it and make the changes that I know will most benefit the story.

This is a hard case, though. I can see her argument, and her passion is obvious, but the way she reacted… it has to be more than just business.

That worries the fuck out of me. I don’t want our personal attachment to get in the way of our professional situation, but clearly that’s happening. If she were any other coworker, I’d be annoyed that she got angry, but I’d still make the change. Instead, I’m sitting here agonizing over her motivation, and seriously considering just doing what she wants.

She could be right, after all. Her perception of Pat is similar to my own, but with one clear difference: she values that standoffish strength, whereas I feel that it won’t be likeable or relatable. I need people to really get invested in this story, to really start to give a fuck about this town and about what’s going on in America. I’m worried that using Pat without humanizing her will turn some people off.

I could be wrong, though. Of course I can be wrong. But with any other person, I’d be making the change and moving on. I can’t do that with Vivian, though.

I decide to skip the scene for now and to continue working. I have a nagging feeling in the back of my head, and I can’t completely forget about Viv, but I push forward regardless. I need to get some of this stuff finished, since we won’t have all that much time once we’re back in Philly to finalize all this footage.

After a few hours of watching, I get a text. Immediately I think it might be Viv, but instead it’s from a number that I don’t recognize.

“The cavalry is here, Mr. Walsh.”

I stare at the message and it takes a second before I understand what it means. This morning feels like it was a lifetime ago already, and I forgot all about my phone call to my security guy.

I stand up and stretch a little. I head out into the hallway and knock on Viv’s door. She answers after a minute, looking a little tired.

“Come downstairs,” I say to her. “I have some people you have to meet.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Right now?”

I nod. “I mean, take a second, but yeah.”

“Okay, hold on.” She disappears back into her room.

A minute later, she comes back out and we head down the hall together. I can feel the tension still, but I’m trying to ignore it. We shouldn’t be fighting at all, it’s totally stupid and absurd. It’s just all this unresolved tension between us, and I don’t think either of us know what’s going on here at all.

We get to the elevator and step in. Viv half turns toward me as the doors shut. “Look, about earlier,” she starts.

“You don’t have to,” I say.

“No, listen. I think I’m right about the direction to go in with Pat, but I didn’t need to take it so personally. It’s just…”

“Whatever’s between us,” I finish for her.

She pauses for a second and meets my gaze. It’s like lightning crackling between us. “Yeah,” she says.

“I get it. I mean, I think you’re wrong, but I’m probably going to bend and let you have your way.”

She grins at me. “You’re that type of guy, huh?”

“What type?”

The elevator reaches the bottom and the doors start to slide open. “The type to let me get my way.” She steps out into the lobby.

“No, that’s not it at all,” I say quickly.

She grins at me and winks. “It’s okay, Henry. I already knew that about you.”

I sigh and can’t help but grin back. As frustrating as she is, she can still make me smile whenever she wants.

We walk out into the lobby and I immediately spot the guys we’re here to meet, although I wasn’t given any descriptions. It’s just, when you know what you’re looking for, you can always spot one of these security guys.

They’re both white, in their mid-thirties, with short dark hair and nondescript clothing. They’re both in khakis, slightly baggy, with a ton of pockets. One has a dark windbreaker and the other has a dark sweatshirt, obviously to conceal their weapons. One is slightly taller than the other, but I honestly can’t tell them apart as we approach.

The man in the windbreaker steps forward. “Henry Walsh?” he asks.

I nod, extended my hand. We shake. “Thanks for coming,” I say.

“Pleasure to help,” he says. “I’m Claude and this is my brother, Jean.”

I look between them and that explains the intense resemblance. “Thanks again, guys. This is my colleague, Vivian.”

Vivian smiles and shakes their hands, and I can tell she’s not sure who they are and what they’re doing here. I give Claude a look and I hope he understands: this is the one you’re meant to protect. He gives me a little nod as the moment passes between us.

“Vivian, Clause and Jean are our new security guys.”

She pauses, clearly surprised. “Security?” she asks.

“Think of us as bodyguards, if you’d like,” Claude says. Jean hangs back, surveying the room.

“Excuse me for a second, guys?” Viv turns to me and drags me away from the two of them. Once we’re on the other side of the lobby, she turns on me. “What the hell is this?”

“It’s just a precaution.”

“You hired… security?” She shakes her head, bewildered. “We can’t be in that much danger.”

“Viv,” I say softly. “We are.”

She watches me before sighing. “I knew it was bad, but…”

“It’s fine now,” I say. “I know a guy from a few other jobs. I called him up and he sent these two.”

“And you trust him?” she asks. “I mean, I assume they’re dependable?”

“They’re dependable,” I say. “I’m paying them well, at least.”

She arches an eyebrow. “The network isn’t paying for this?”

“Ah, uh…” I shake my head. “No, I guess not.”

“You guess not?” She sighs. “Damn it, Henry. Did you do this for me?”

“You wouldn’t leave, what was I supposed—“

“Henry!” She pushes me a little. “This is crazy. I can handle myself.”

“I don’t doubt it,” I say, grinning. “But it’s not only for you. It’s for all of us.”

“If I weren’t here, would you have gotten them?”

“No,” I admit.

“Sexist! Because you’re a bunch of big strong men, you think you’re safe. You want to protect the little girl, huh?”

I laugh and shake my head, unable to help myself. She’s so cute when she’s angry, especially when she’s making a decent point. I mean, she’s totally right that I only hired them because I want to make sure she’s safe. And there’s something about her being a woman that made me do it, too.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say to her. “No, really, it doesn’t. I know you’re annoyed. But we need them.”

She bites her lip and crosses her arms. God damn, it makes me want to kiss her. “Seriously Henry. I can’t have you paying for this.”

“Sure, you can. I want all of us to stay safe. And I’m not backing down on this.”

She matches my gaze, steady and serious, before finally nodding. “Okay then. But we’re going in my direction with Pat.” She extends her hand. “Deal?”

I sigh. “Fine. Deal.” I shake her hand but before she can pull it away, I yank her toward me. She stumbles and lands, hands on my chest, and I kiss her quickly on the lips.

“Hey,” she says, smiling and stepping away. “Knock it off. Someone might see.”

I shrug. “I’m willing to take that chance.”

She gives me a look and heads back out toward the security guys. I watch as she approaches them and they start talking. I watch her from a distance for a second, unable to stop from smiling.

In the end, we both got what we wanted. I get the guards to keep her safe, and she’s going to get her way with the story. I can’t say that I’m surprised, but I do like that it makes us both somewhat equal.

Maybe I’m making a big mistake here, letting myself get deeper into this with her. Maybe I should step back and treat her like any other colleague out there.

I just can’t do it. I can’t help myself. Not when Vivian is back in my life after what I did all those years ago. I can’t risk fucking something up again. I want to give her everything, make her as happy as possibly, but I’m torn between my duties as a producer and my personal desires.

In the end, I guess it doesn’t matter. I’m going to do whatever I want, and I want to keep her safe. So if I have to spend a small fortune on these two guys, so be it. She’ll be safer, and I’ll feel better.

At least that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.