Angel forces herself not to cry in front of that oaf of a man. She makes her way to her room and closes the door before she bursts into tears.
"Shit! Fuck!"
"Oh, now you talk? Thanks for defending me against that nasty shithead. Fuck, the balls on that man! Who does he think he is?"
She trudges to her still-rumpled bed and climbs into it getting cake batter, flour, and green dye all over it. She knows she is whimsical and careless - so what? She is a fucking rockstar, it's not like she needs to be serious about life. The only thing she is good at is singing, performing, and songwriting - she is very serious and logical about all three. She doesn't want to be boring or an asshole like Austin. She is happy with the way she is and never thought she would be better off as something else and it makes her really mad that Austin makes her feel like she should change. So she would never be a woman he would respect - she suspects his exes were all robots. No human woman would choose to subject herself to him. Does he have a girlfriend? She does not even know his relationship status - but she is sure he is very much single. He is the type to die alone.
She does not know anything about him, but something happened. She can tell by the way he reacted to her bullshit snip about him starting fires. She wonders what happened in his past. She would ask him - she has. But, he just stares at her or ignores her. All she knows is he is from the military which she can't understand how because the man is covered in tattoos from head to toe - even his face, and she is pretty sure that would not be a thing in the military. But, she does not think he would lie about that. She lies in her bed and ignores Charlie as he walks around the bed talking. She will sulk here for the rest of the day or until Lia calls her. She is not sure what she has planned for the day - that's Lia's job.
She hears Austin bumping around downstairs and is sure she hears him talking to people but he would probably just ignore her if she asks what he's up to - the ass. Eventually, she hears a soft knock on her door but does not answer. Whoever it is can sort themselves out. The door opens slightly then closes and opens again as Austin steps in and closes the door behind him.
"It is now mid-day. Why are you in bed?"
"I am being sad. I am dramatically sulking in my bed."
"Dramatically sulk out of your bed. I have men needing to come in here."
"How many?"
"Four."
Angel sits up and pulls her duvet under her chin. "Do I have to fuck them all at the same time?" she asks making her eyes go big. "Excuse me?" Austin asks with a frown. "It's just that I am such a slutty girl who fucks everyone so I was just wondering if I could do them one at a time or-" Austin cuts her off when he hits her with those pricing blue eyes and walks slowly to her bed throwing off her duvet.
"You have cake batter all over your sheets."
"Cake batter or cu-"
"Enough. Get out of bed, shower, and do not leave that bathroom unless you are fully clothed... appropriately."
Angel pouts and folds her arms in front of her as Austin stares her down. He does scare her a little with how domineering he is without even trying. She sighs and gets out of bed, dry cake batter cracking and falling off her skin as she stamps to the bathroom and slams the bathroom door then turns on the shower. Peeling off her clothing she steps into the shower letting the hot water melt and wash away the cake batter and flour as she soaps up. When she shuts off the water she can hear people talking in her room. He warned her not to come out until she is fully dressed and her dressing room is attached to the bathroom so she has no excuse for not dressing before she comes out, but annoying Austin by defying his instructions brings her a slight thrill so she wraps her towel around her and yanks her door open then slams into Austin's rock hard body causing her to bounce back a little. The man is made of concrete. He is standing firmly in front of her bathroom door with a bored knowing look on his face. He knew exactly what she was going to do. He does not look impressed. "Don't you fucking dare," he warns her raising one eyebrow and piercing her with his blue eyes again. "Fine," she grumbles stepping back as he grabs the door handle and slams the door shut. Spoilsport.
After dressing and doing her hair she comes out from her dressing room door and does a 360 turn in front of Austin - he gives her no reaction. The grumpy oaf. "What is going on here?" she asks watching the men fuss around her bedroom windows. "Security cameras and laser beams," Austin mumbles. "What?! That does not make me feel safe! Laser beams? What world do you live in James fucking Bond?"
"James Bond is a person, not a world."
"Shut up, Austin! I don't want cameras in my room!"
"You have cameras in your room."
"I don't want cameras in my fucking room!" she shouts again. "You have cameras in your room," Austin says calmly and walks out. Angel has had enough. He has had a scathing mouth all morning and now this. No! She rushed after him and then pushes him from behind with all her might. She does not even make his tank of a body lean so she runs around the front of him, digs her heels in, puts her hands on his chest, and tries to push him to a stop but he just continues to walk as she slides backward. She looks up at him and sees he is grinning down at her. He is enjoying this. "Just stop! Please!" she begs. He stops and looks at her. "This is insane!" she shouts standing up straight. "You really hurt my feelings this morning. I am not to blame for this psycho fixating on me and it was really nasty of you to say that. Also, I am not reckless and immature, or whimsical. Ok, maybe whimsical and given, a little reckless but I am not immature and I am also not void of logical thought - that was really mean of you to say. Now the cameras! I don't feel comfortable with someone watching me sleep! There will be a video out there of me asleep in my bed and that freaks me out I am sorry but I think you should at least try to understand that and...and I think you should apologize to me because you hurt my feelings...and that's pretty fucked up."
"I apologize."
Angel opens her mouth to defend herself again but then shuts it and frowns. Did he apologize? She was not expecting that.
"You are sorry?"
"That's what I said."
"Well, you could say it like you mean it!" she snaps at him. Austin sighs and gives her a pointed look, then softens his face. He looks almost human.
"I was out of line with my comment this morning. This is not your fault - the man is insane and you are merely an unfortunate victim of his muddled mind."
"Th-thank-you."
"I won't apologize for what I said in the kitchen because although it was hard to hear it is true, but perhaps I could have said it more kindly."
"Perhaps...and the cameras?"
"Will stay, but they are pointed towards the entry points. You have my word, there will be no video of you in bed."
"And why would I trust you."
"Who else would you trust?"
Angel stares at him. He has a point, there are minimal people she can trust right now. There's Jona but he could not save a fly from a swatter. Her parents are as whimsical and reckless as she is. She likes, but does not trust Lia or Nate, or any of her team. She trusts Charlie but he just says shit and fuck, and is as oblivious as she is. There is only Austin. It's a bit depressing.
"Now, if you will excuse me I have bodyguards to interview before we leave for your studio session," he says walking past her. Bodyguards?
"I said no more bodyguards! Only you!"
"I know."
"Well, I won't listen to any of them!"
"You don't listen to me, so..."
That is not true. Is that true? "Austin! I will make your life hell if you hire another bodyguard," she says running down the stairs behind him. "That's not a threat, Miss Knite, you make my life hell already," he says. Why does he always speak so calmly? He is like a fucking robot. She follows him into the front lounge and sees three huge men sitting on her couch. They all look scary as fuck and she shits her pants a little. "You will come into the dining room one at a time. I will start with you," Austin says pointing at the first man whose arms are bigger than Angel's legs.
"Do I get a say in who we hire?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Ok. Who would you choose?"
Angel looks at the men. "That one," she says pointing to the last man. "Why?" Austin asks. "I like his curly hair," Angel says. "And you once again prove my point without even trying," Austin says turning and walking out of the lounge. Angel runs after him. "Well, can I at least sit in on the interviews?" she asks sitting down next to him at the dining room table opposite the armleg man. "Don't talk," Austin says taking the CV armleg hands him. Angel peeps over his shoulder to try and read the CV. "And don't breath in my ear," Austin says putting the CV down.
"Have you done any bodyguard work before?"
"No. This will be a first for me. But, I am well trained and highly skilled."
"Are you discreet?"
"Very."
"Why did you apply for this job?"
"You. Your reputation proceeds you. If I can work and train under you I know I can become the best in my field."
"These questions are boring. I have a question for you. Have-" Angel is cut off when Austin clamps his finger over her mouth. "I have a question first and then you may ask your question, understand?" he says, Angel nods. "If Miss Knite here were to ask you about your personal life, how would you respond?" Austin asks.
"I understand that my personal life is separate from my work life. I would tell my client that I grew up in New York and joined the military at nineteen, left with an honorable discharge at twenty-seven. However, I would not go into detail about my family, friends, or any personal information because I do not feel comfortable sharing those details."
"Thank you. Miss Kinte, you may ask your question now."
Angel slumps in her chair and pouts. "No point in asking my question now," she says. She wanted to know if he likes animals and what his favorite meal is, but she doubts he will answer her. Austin has made sure he won't share that information with her. She sits bored out of her mind as Austin asks him a list of pointless questions about his skills. She eventually gets too bored and makes an origami swan out of his CV.
"As you can see Miss Knite needs extra oversight, she is easily distracted. Are you attentive enough to ensure her safety? There is no room for error, the safety and protection of Miss Knite are of utmost importance. I will not accept so much as a scratch on her," Austin says.
Angel feels like she should be offended by the first part of his question but the second part sounds like he really cares for her.
"Do you really mean that? Aww, Austin, you are the sweetest!" she says throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing him tight. "Miss Knite, if you would please control yourself," Austin says through clenched teeth as he pulls her arms off him. He looks extra mad so she thinks it may be best if she leaves him to finish these interviews by himself. They're boring anyway. "Good bye armleg and just so you know if you get the job I won't be listening to you. Only Austin," she says standing then walking off to find Charlie.