Behind Closed Doors Read Free Page A

like.”
    “ Would
you just stay here with me while I work for a bit,” I said
quietly, almost embarrassed by my loneliness.
    “ Yes,
Ma’am.”
    “ Alex,
please call me Elle,” I reminded.
    “ I’m
sorry, yes, Elle.”
    “ Thank
you.” I looked across at my bodyguard and wondered if he was
happy. Did he have a family, a relationship, children…I
honestly didn’t know. “Alex, do you have children?”
    “ No,
Ma’am…No, Elle,” he said correcting himself. “No
children.”
    “ Is
that too personal?” I hoped I didn’t offend him by asking
these questions.
    “ I’m
not used to discussing personal things at work,” he answered
simply.
    “ Does
it make you uncomfortable?”
    “ I
prefer to stick to my job,” he said, looking a little awkward.
    “ I’m
sorry, Alex. I didn’t mean to pry.” I blushed, realizing
I’d put him on the spot out of sheer loneliness.
    “ It’s
okay,” he answered, and then said nothing.
    I
went back to sorting my papers, and opened my laptop. Occasionally
I’d glance up and see him sitting before me, still alert and
still with perfect posture. I wondered if he ever slouched, or wore
jeans, or if his hair ever got windblown. He seemed to keep things
perfectly together, and made even sitting there seem effortless, when
I knew he must be bored to tears.
    Finishing
my business, I stood and headed to change for the day’s events.
I hated that every hair had to be in place, and every outfit had to
be perfectly coordinated. I never knew if there’d be a photo
op, and I had to be ready, representing as the Governor’s wife.
I missed being able to wear a loose ponytail, or jeans and a t-shirt
for an outing. It was the little things that I missed the most. It
was all about image, and with a possible Vice Presidency bid coming
up, image was more important than ever.
    I
pulled on my blazer, layering it over my silk blouse and took one
last glance in the mirror. Choosing comfortable heels with a chunkier
and shorter heel said sensible, but that I put effort in. I missed
sexy heels, but these offered a more conservative approach, something
we needed right now.
    Tucking
my hair behind one ear, I reached down and picked up my bag. “Alex,
I’m ready,” I called out to the man waiting in the
hallway.
    “ You
look lovely, Elle.” His voice was softer than usual. I think he
was trying to be nice, and felt sorry for me after this morning’s
attempt at conversation.
    I
swallowed hard and decided to break the ice. The formality was
killing me. I craved real conversation. “So, did you see
Harry’s harlot yesterday? What did you think?”
    He
didn’t know how to answer, “Ma’am.”
    “ Alex,
for the final time, please call me Elle. Really, I’d greatly
appreciate it.”
    “ I’m
here to do a job, Elle. I don’t want to cross boundaries.”
    “ I
understand. You’re not my friend, you’re my bodyguard,”
I said bitterly.
    “ And
for the record,” he said under his breath, “She looked
like a two dollar hooker.” He smiled a small smile and winked.
“It’s a fine line I walk, Elle. I’m here to do a
job, and I need to do it.”
    “ Very
well,” I scowled playfully. “Thank you for that bit.”
    Heading
out to the car, my driver was waiting for me. Alex sat in the front
with him, and I was taken to my meeting. It was the last place I
wanted to be, but at least there was human interaction, something I
sorely lacked at home.
    I
pulled my small personal phone out of my purse, not my issued one. I
didn’t need them tracking every damn call I made. I had my
driver stop at a kiosk and grab me a pre-paid phone time to time. I
tossed them randomly and grabbed a new one so I had a little privacy.
It was the only way I knew my calls weren’t tracked. It’s
not like I was calling people I shouldn’t be, but I resented
that every single thing I did was watched.
    Dialing
my sister, “Jamie, are you busy for dinner?” I frowned at
her answer, “Right, okay, no