Hannah, Lisa, and mum sat on Ethan's giant black leather sofa, silently watching Martin and Ethan furiously tapping away at their phones in the open kitchen several hours later.
Bea was fast asleep in one of the huge spare bedrooms. They were all staying in Ethan's penthouse apartment for now until the issue with dad was resolved.
Mum had kindly said she'd sleep in the same bed as Bea, considering the bed was big enough for four people to sleep side by side comfortably. Lisa and Martin took the third bedroom, the same size as mum and Bea's, and Hannah was sleeping with Ethan.
It had been such an eventful day, Bea hadn't managed to stay awake on the drive there, having to be carried up to bed by Ethan.
It was going to be hit and miss if she'll be back to her usual bubbly self and be running around the flat with excitement in the morning. In the car, she had sleepily asked Hannah what a bastard was, bringing on a fresh flood of tears from Hannah with it.
Mum had lied and said he called her a beauty, but Bea knew what she'd heard herself being called.
Ethan was seething with rage!
Martin had explained everything to him through messenger so Bea hadn't heard, and now, the men were searching for a new security company to work with, intent on cutting all ties with the one that Jake worked at.
They initially hesitated while they made the decision to cut them off, considering they would need urgent security measures in place at all times until this all died down.
Already, photographers had been spotted loitering around outside the block of flats in the street, just like they had been during Hannah and Ethan's second date for Bianca.
Videos of the fight between dad and Jake were beginning to go viral, with many viewers spotting Ethan and pointing him out. They were already wondering if he had any connection to the fight, and rumours were flying all over the place!
The air was palpable. Everything was tense and particularly scary for the three women sitting comforting each other on the sofa.
"What about this one?" Martin asked aloud, making the women jump at the sudden break in silence.
Ethan looked at his screen and then shook his head.
"Una suggested I avoid them. They don't have well trained staff, apparently."
Martin then grabbed his arm. "That's a great idea! Call Una and ask who she'd recommend!"
Ethan thought about it for a moment before figuring that was actually a good idea.
"Alright, I'll see who she recommends." He said, finding her number and calling her.
"Well, well, well! Hello stranger! It's been a while." Una drawled through the phone cockily.
His face lit up at hearing her voice. "Evening, Una! Are you busy?"
"If you're going to ask me if I'm attending the charity gala next week, I'm available if you need me." She replied, wrongly guessing his reason for calling her.
"Oh shit, yeah! I forgot about that!" He slapped a hand against his forehead. "But that's not why I'm calling. We've had a bit of a situation with our current security provider."
Una hummed through the receiver. "I saw one of your security was attacked by a madman because he wanted to get close to you. These people are crazy!"
He flinched at that. The news was already circulating.
"You know there's more to the story than what they're letting on, young lady!" He scolded. "You know better than to believe what you read!"
Martin watched his boss talking to his celebrity friend for a moment, then noticed the three women watching him too, their eyes narrowed in suspicion.
He quickly approached to reassure them.
"It's alright, ladies. He's just getting some suggestions from Una Patil."
Lisa and Hannah's eyes bugged at that.
"Una Patil, the singer?!"
He nodded vehemently. "Una and Ethan have a deal in place to be each others Red Carpet dates. This way, they get left alone when attending events. She's safe, trust me."
"Does he like her?" Hannah asked in a small voice, the hurt from today resurfacing her doubt in men.
"They're friends, but she'll never be anything like you are to him. He's not her type."
Lisa blanched at that. "How isn't he?!"
"He's got a dick for one..."
"She's a lesbian?!" The girls cried in unison.
He grinned at their reaction and nodded.
"She kept that quiet!" Mum gasped, looking at Hannah and Lisa as they shared a stunned silence.
"Some people like to keep their private life a secret." He shrugged nonchalantly, returning his focus on Ethan.
"Oh ho, I'm sure you would!" Ethan was chortling. "But we will come back to that in a bit. Right now, we need security."
Una hummed thoughtfully. "I know! Liam Venson! He partnered his law firm with security!"
"I saw Liam just last month, and he never told me that!" He exclaimed in surprise.
"Because it was you that gave him the idea, silly!" She giggled. "Give him a call! I'm definitely going to take advantage of his new venture! Security with law combined is going to save a lot of hassle!"
He hummed, impressed at the idea. "Right... ok, that's a good shout. Thanks, Una. In regards to next week, I'll have to let you know."
"Ohhh, does someone have a date this time?"
"Maybe..." he smirked mysteriously, looking at Hannah. "I'll get back to you."
"You tease! Alright, hunny, take care now!"
He put the phone down and looked at Martin.
"Liam fucking Venson!" He cried, chuckling. "That clever sod has combined his law with security!"
Martin gaped at him and whisked his phone out.
"I'm on it like a car bonnet!" He quipped, tapping away.
Ethan grinned at him, feeling a lot more in control now. He approached the sofa and knelt down in front of Hannah.
"This is going to solve a lot of problems." He smiled at her and took her hands in his. "Liam is the best lawyer around! He will be able to represent your dad as well as provide new security for you and Bea."
That didn't make Hannah feel any better. If anything, it made her rethink her decision about getting back with Ethan.
She didn't want her life broadcast to the world, especially with Bea... at the same time, she had momentarily felt much safer when they had seen the security guards, although that was soon overshadowed with Jakes unwanted appearance.
She should have fought harder to hold dad back, but she knew when her dad saw red, there was no stopping him.
Jake had deserved what dad had given him, absolutely, but dad didn't deserve the repercussions that came afterwards.
She had never felt so confused before!
She wanted Ethan! She loved him, Bea liked him, and he loved them both back.
They had been having a wonderful evening before everything suddenly went wrong.
It was a huge wake-up call.
He had been swarmed in a matter of seconds! Ethan may be used to it, but she wouldn't know what the fuck to do if it was her in that situation.
Lisa seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"That was fucking mental how they all surrounded you earlier." She whispered in alarm. "They swarmed like flies to a fresh pile of shit!"
Ethan snorted. "Thanks for comparing my lifestyle to a pile of shit." He laughed at Lisa's cheeks burning, then bent his head to kiss Hannah's hands. "You can stay here as long as you need to. There's a swimming pool here that Bea can take full advantage of, a jacuzzi and sauna for you, mum and Lisa. A gym if you wanted to give it a go?"
Hannah blinked at him before shaking her head. "Right now, I don't want to leave here." She admitted quietly. "It's going to take me a while to get over today..." she looked past him at the door to where Bea was fast asleep. "Im going to go check on her."
"Im going to bed, anyway." Mum pulled her back on the sofa, shuffling forward to get up herself. "I'll see you all in the morning."
She tried to get up, but her legs were still too stiff.
Ethan took it upon himself to help her without being asked and picked her up effortlessly.
"I've got you." He assured her, carrying her to the bedroom. "Hannah, did you want to come and help her get ready for bed?"
Hannah nodded and followed them into the bedroom.
Ethan gently placed mum on the bottom corner of the bed and left them for some privacy.
"Hannah, are you alright?" Mum was quick to ask quietly so she didn't disturb Bea, looking worried for her daughter.
"Did you see the way he looked at her?" She sniffed pathetically, the tears resurfacing again.
Mum huffed in disgust. "I did. You'd think the man would have the decency to behave differently towards a little girl!" She reached over and cupped her daughters cheek. "Thank god you left him when you did. You made the right decision there, angel."
Hannah shrugged off her mums affectionate gesture and knelt to help remove her shoes and socks.
"Am I making the right decision now, though?" She whispered solemnly. "You saw how mental everyone went when Ethan got off the ride. Why did I think we'd be able to go back to how we were?! He warned me this would happen!"
"Because you love him." Mum sympathised. "You know what I think?"
Hannah looked up at her reassuring face, full of love and encouragement for her.
"I think you made the right decision here, too. You just can't see it yet." Her smile widened a little. "It will take a while to work out how this is going to work, but together, you and Ethan will work it out. He understands and also values your privacy above all else. Work together to come to a solution, and angel?"
"Yeah, mum?"
"Promise me you'll enjoy yourself. You'll have fun together and stop worrying so much. Be happy!"
****************************
Hannah stayed sitting on the sofa long after everyone else had gone to bed, mum's words circling in her mind.
Ethan had offered to stay with her, but she'd told him she needed time to think. So, with his own mind still reeling with the days events, he'd gone into his office to sort out some work that he'd been putting off.
Could she do this? Could she face the backlash she was bound to receive after she was announced as his new girlfriend?
She thought back to when she had last been here in his flat. How he had been all ready to go on the train in public with her, but that idea was quickly forgotten when Martin had turned up unannounced. He had automatically gone back into hiding when he was with her to protect her.
She knew Ethan was a sought-after bachelor. Of course he would be! So it was highly likely she'd be the target of many jealous women.
She felt a surge of satisfaction, imaging the gawking faces when she was seen in public with him.
Ethan seemed well practised in how to deal with the general public, so she was sure he'd offer her some valuable advice on how to handle those kinds of situations.
She knew Martin and Lisa would stick by them and offer their full support. Ethan had people he knew to help with anything else.
Her mum supported their relationship. As well as her dad, even though he was hiding his approval from Ethan.
What made her hesitate the most was Bea.
If she wasn't a mum, she would have happily thrown herself in the deep end and thrown caution to the wind.
She couldn't do that in reality. She was fully aware that every decision she made impacted Bea, so she had to tread carefully.
She sighed and dismally looked at the slightly left open door to Ethan's office. She decided now was a better time than any to have this difficult conversation, so she bit the bullet and got herself off the sofa.
Reaching the doorway, she pushed it open a little further and saw him sitting in a comfortable, high backed office chair, frowning intensely at his laptop.
"Hey..." she whispered, announcing her presence and coming inside before she bottled it and went to bed.
His head snapped up, and a small smile stretched his lips.
"Hey baby." He whispered gently. "Are you alright?"
She nodded and closed the door behind her.
"I wanted to have a chat, if that's alright?"
He nodded immediately, getting up and offering her his chair to sit down.
She walked around the large desk and slowly sat herself down, taking in how expensive everything looked.
The luxurious chair, the sleek black desk, the flashy laptop. Even the modern desk lamp, which was their only source of light, looked like it was made out of the worlds most precious metals.
"What do you need?" He asked her softly, perching himself on the edge of his desk and folding his arms, giving her his full attention.
She gazed up at him, her stomach somersaulting with nerves.
"I told you I wanted to go ahead with this relationship, but this time, you were yourself." She started but saw his face fall.
"Hannah, I -"
"You warned me it wouldn't be the same as it was before, and I agreed to it. Unfortunately, we fell back into trying to hide away not even an hour after we agreed." She continued, picking at her fingernails from how nervous she was feeling.
Ethan frowned, wondering where she was going with this, but didn't try to interrupt her again. He would hear what she had to say before he said anything more.
She tore her sight away from her hands and looked him directly in the eye.
"No more hiding. No more wigs. No more fake noses or ears." She told him firmly. Ethan held his breath. "You will have to teach me how to act around the public, what to say to any reporters. We will try to be like a normal couple as much as we possibly can."
His jaw dropped at her revelation.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded, confident in her decision. "The only thing I ask us to work out first is what we can do about Bea. I want her to have the most protection from all this. I don't care about me. Just make sure she can be kept out of the limelight as much as possible."
He thought for a moment. "My friends wife, Chloe, has a daughter the same age as Bea. They get a private tutor to come to them and teach her." He thought aloud.
"Mmm... I dont want to cut her off from the outside world completely. I want her to be able to have friends and go to school."
"I think you'll find her school will probably be the safest place for her. Course, the school she's at right now will have to change." He added with a sour look on his face.
She blanched at that. "What's wrong with her school?"
"The bitchy mums!" He replied angrily. "Graham and I heard the shit they were saying about you! It took all our strength not to turn round and call them out!"
Her eyebrows shot up at that, and then a sly smirk filtered through.
"Oh, I wish you had been yourself yesterday! Can you imagine what their faces would have been like?! That would shut those cows up, for sure!"
She laughed, and he stared at her, flummoxed by her reaction.
"You want to make them jealous?" He asked slowly, his thoughts starting to question whether she was indeed anything different from the women before.
She shook her head, dismissing his doubts straight away.
"No, that's just a perk. I just want to be with you freely. It's exhausting waking up and wondering if you're going to need the disguise for the day or having to double-check our surroundings when you don't. We agreed we would work out how to do this but never actually tested it out."
He had to agree with her there.
Having to put on the disguise just so he could go out with her made him feel ridiculous.
He supposed it was a good thing they had found out Jake worked for the company he used to use for security today. They were going to need back up for the time being whenever they went out.
He dreaded to think what would have happened if that hadn't found out, and Jake had turned up with the team when it had just been him and Hannah.
He figured he'd be where dad was now, sitting in a jail cell after beating the living shit out of him!
He was nervous but ready to at least give this a try. So was she.
"I don't want us to be sitting around here tomorrow. Bea needs a distraction from what happened yesterday, and I definitely don't want to spend the day worrying about dad. It'll drive me crazy. I thought it would be good to give it a go, so all the shit we're really dealing with is overshadowed for a moment." She explained timidly.
"Ok. We will give it a go, and you can find out if you want to carry on. I'll give Liam a call in the morning and offer to give his security a test run. He'll be more than willing to let us try it out. Being highly recommended by the richest man in the world is priceless for him."
He grinned widely at her, which she returned straight away, albeit a bit anxiously.
He noticed her nervousness and took her hand in his.
"I know it's daunting, ok? I'll be with you wherever you go, so you'll never have to face it alone. We will have a little peptalk before to prepare you better."
She took a deep breath and nodded. She stood up and slipped into his hold, both embracing each other tightly.
"Dont you need to punish me for losing my wig today?" He asked slyly, mouthing kisses along her neck and shoulder.
Goosebumps erupted all over her body at his affection, but she shook her head.
"Wait until we don't have a full house. You're pretty loud."
She stepped away and giggled at his dumbfounded face.
"Im not loud!" He defended.
"You were at the end..." she arched a seductive eyebrow and left him questioning himself.
An idea struck him for tomorrow and he quickly pulled out his phone.
"Saheed! How are you? Listen, I need a favour..."