Page 103 of Close Protection

While Daphne was training to be a midwife, I attended university part time to get a Business degree so I could do my job to the best of my ability.

Daphne’s phone rings and she puts the caller on speakerphone.

‘Hi, Daddy, you’re on speaker.’

‘Hey, Milosh. Hey, Daph, you on your way?’

‘Milosh just picked me up. I’m gonna go home, change, and then I’ll be right over.’

‘All right, but you know this is a surprise baby shower. It won’t be much of a surprise if you arrive at the same time as Amelia, will it?’

‘Yes, Daddy, I’m aware.’ She sighs.

‘Okay, well, I’ll see you in a bit then. Love you.’

‘Love you, bye.’

She hangs up the phone just as we pull into the parking garage of her apartment.

‘How did the meeting go?’ she asks me as I open her car door.

‘It went well. They ended up signing on for three years and they need a lot of security. They’re now one of our biggest US clients.’

Once Daphne finished university we decided to move to Chicago so I could be more hands on as we opened upthe US division of Green Security. I proposed six months later and immediately bought land to start planning our for ever home. We’re getting married in four months and will be back from our honeymoon three weeks later. By then the house will be complete and we can officially start our lives together.

‘That’s amazing, Milo!’ Daphne says as we make our way up in the lift.

‘Thank you, Miss Green.’

‘You know, one of these days you’re going to have to get used to calling me Mrs Petrova?’

‘Mrs Petrova does have a nice ring to it. But you’ll always be Miss Green to me.’

She smiles, walking into the apartment, heading straight for her dressing room.

I go to the kitchen to get a drink just as my phone starts buzzing.

‘Yeah?’

‘We have a problem,’ Henry’s voice says.

‘What?’

‘We’re on our way back now, and not even half the guests are here.’

‘Well then, stall her,’ I suggest, opening a bottle of water.

‘Wow, aren’t you a genius,’ Henry quips. ‘I’ve already tried that. I’m at a smoothie bar now getting her a drink.’

‘Go and look for a pushchair or something then, that’ll take ages.’

He pauses, probably mulling over my brilliant idea. ‘Okay, that could work. I’ll text you when we’re on our way.’

I hang up and finish my drink, leaning against the counter and scrolling through my phone answering a few emails and smiling at a picture Susie, George’s new wife, sent the group chat of them on their most recent holiday. After the Daveeno case, George completely gutted his house, wanting to be rid of any bad memories, and started over. He hired Susie as the interior decorator, swiftly fell in love – for real this time – and proposed within two years. They got married last year and often go on long holidays, exploring the world together. She sent the photo now to throw off any suspicions Amelia has about the surprise baby shower that’s being thrown for her.

Henry and Amelia moved with me and Daphne to Chicago and have the house right next to our soon-to-be home where the surprise party is gonna be held.

‘What do you think?’