Caleb chews his food slowly. “I signed the contract. So excited.”
Natalie gives him a look. “Try to look it, too. Caleb Reynolds. I’m going to have to get used to calling you that. Don’t worry, I told Iris you were very talented.”
“Iamtalented.” He makes a face.
“But she doesn’t know that yet, does she?” Natalie waves a fork in the air. “I’m going to take the two of you out to lunch this week, do an informal introduction before you start. She’ll warm up to you faster if she thinks I like you. She’s handpicked a majority of her team, so you being imposed on her is a tough pill to swallow.”
“She doesn’t know it yet, but someone is intentionally sabotaging her,” I interject. “Someone in her department is feeding information outside the company. I want to know who.”
Caleb frowns. “So you’ve confirmed the existence of a mole then?”
“We had two of our marketing strategies leaked to our direct competitors last week. Two very major campaigns. Your job is to observe and report. Get close to the team.”
“And what if someone recognizes him?”
“They won’t,” Caleb responds confidently to Natalie’s question. “I’m mostly a name brand. I rarely show my face. So even if someone knows of my company, they won’t know me.”
“There’s another reason you’re here, Caleb. Till the threat to Natalie has passed, you will accompany her every time she leaves the office. I don’t care if she’s going to get a cup of coffee. You will be there with her.”
Natalie stiffens.
Her eyes flick to mine. “That’s not necessary.”
“It is.”
“I won’t be a prisoner, Ethan,” she says, her voice sharp with determination.
“No, you won’t,” I agree, “but Lucas wasn’t behind the threats to you, and we don’t know who it was. Either way, you are in danger. And I will feel much more comfortable with Caleb by your side.”
She looks away, her jaw tightening.
Caleb clears his throat. “Look, I get it’s weird. But I’m not just here to babysit. I’m here to help him figure out who’s messing with you. With Iris. With everything.”
Natalie sighs. “Fine. I rather like staying alive, as it is.”
We finish dinner, and I wait for Caleb to move to the couch before approaching her. “You’re taking this better than I thought.”
She sighs. “I’m not thrilled about needing a bodyguard. But I trust you.”
Those words hit harder than I expect, a warmth spreading through my chest.
She takes out the prenatal vitamins and pours herself a glass of water. “Just don’t start treating me like I’m breakable.”
“You’re not. But you are everything.”
Her eyes lift to mine, softening around the edges. And for a moment, the tension eases.
Back in the living room, Caleb is already sprawled on the couch like he owns the place.
“Go to bed, Caleb.” Natalie tells him. “You have a long week ahead of you.”
He salutes her with a lazy grin.
I lean against the doorway, watching her as she picks up her things, the curve of her neck illuminated by the soft kitchen lights.
She catches me staring. “What?”
“Nothing.”
