Beginnings (Brady Trilogy) (28 page)

“I want you to remove the men you’ve placed as guards in front of my house.” She spoke sternly.

“That’s not going to happen.” Luke turned his face away from her and began looking through his files as if that was the end of discussion.

His curt response further aggravated her. “Luke it is my life and I won’t be watched like I’m some sort of child. They even followed me to the drug store. I want them off my property.”

Luke blinked in surprise. The thought of Isabel leaving the house had stupidly not crossed his mind. He sat back in relief thankful the men placed to protect her had taken it upon themselves to follow her. “I checked the property lines babe. No one is trespassing.” He gave her a fake no teeth showing smile.

“You are unbelievable. You can’t force that service on me. I’ll call the cops and have them removed for making me feel uncomfortable. There has to be some law against it and plus they are loitering.”

Luke laughed and shook his head. “Cops are on Jake’s payroll sweetheart. But you can sure as hell try.” He leaned back in his chair and gave her a challenging smile.

He was enjoying this, she realized. She was out of further conversation she could make with him. He seemed to have an answer for everything.
“Fine. Have it your way.” Without allowing him to speak again she walked out. She had to go figure something out.

Luke stared at his closed doors. Right when Isabel walked out he let out the breath he was holding. It wasn’t easy staying strong when he was breaking down inside. She looked tired and restless like she had been suffering. She also looked thinner than a few days ago. Luke cursed and violently tugged at his hair. Just imagining what she must be going through at nights, curled up all alone in her bed, afraid, was fueling his rage. This wasn’t right.
How could she not see the obvious love he had for her? How could she insult him and call his love pity instead?
It drove him disgustingly mad. He should be there for her, holding her through the night just in case she woke from a nightmare, to comfort her. But the woman was being too damn stubborn. He tried reaching out to her during the weekend but she would not budge. She wanted to play hardball so that’s what he would do.

              Luke worked silently inside his office, occasionally receiving calls from Reed’s staff to keep him updated. He informed Reed he wanted to be informed with every little bit of progress and just as promised, he was getting his updates. He had to hand it to him, the man worked fast and he was immensely impressed by Reed’s capabilities. Luke continued to work effortlessly until his eyes glanced towards the time and he noticed it was almost noon. His email dinged informing him he had a new message. It was Isabel.

Hello Mr. Brady,

Just checking in with you to see if there is anything you need before I leave for lunch. Please let me know if I can order lunch for you.

Thank you,

Isabel
Stamos, Executive Assistant

B. Pentagon Print and Advertising

 
             Luke suddenly found himself very alarmed. Isabel had an hour lunch which she usually takes with Linda. They mainly leave the office to walk to any of the cafés down the street. Just the thought of Isabel being away from his watchful eyes sent a jolt of panic through him. No way in hell was he having her leave the office. His hired men had been watching her every move, but if he could avoid any risks then he damn well would. He quickly began to type.

Isabel,

The office is busy due to our two weeks of absence during the holidays. I will require you to please take a working paid lunch and remain in the office for assistance.

You may order lunch for both of us from anywhere you would like. Please have them deliver directly.

Thank you,

Luke Brady, Vice President

B. Pentagon Print and Advertising

              Isabel stared at her email.
Seriously? Working lunch?
Luke had never required a working lunch from anyone before. She was the one handling some of the distribution of work and didn’t realize the office was busy to that extent. She’d barely even had any calls.

              Linda approached her desk and gave her usual cheerful smile, “Ready to head out?”

“We can’t, Luke sent out an email asking us to have a working lunch. We have to stay here.”

“What email?” Linda looked confused.

“This email.” Isabel pulled up Luke’s email and watched Linda read it. She began to laugh and Isabel raised her brows. “What?”

“Oh honey,” Linda continued to laugh. “You’re the only one that got that email.”

“What? What do you mean? How do you know?”

“Well I sure as hell didn’t get it. And look...” Linda pointed towards a few people who grabbed their purses and coat jackets and headed towards the elevator.

“What the fuck?”

Linda burst out laughing. This was the first time she’d heard Isabel curse and look so angry. It was entertaining. “You two are too damn much. Guess your man wants to keep you close. He’s getting all possessive on your ass. That’s kind of hot.” Linda winked and began walking away.

“Yeah, real hot.” Isabel said through gritted teeth as she made her way back towards Luke’s office.

“Why am I the only one required to take a working lunch?” Isabel slammed Luke’s door shut. Luke looked at her, unimpressed, as if he’d expected to see her.

“Rick let me call you right back I’ve got a bit of a situation in my hands.” He gently placed his phone down and looked at her. “This is the second time you have interrupted me when I have asked to not be bothered today.”

“You are being unreasonable.”

“And you are being stubborn. Not to mention unprofessional.”

Isabel raised her brows defiantly,
“Oh I’m being unprofessional?” she hadn’t realized her voice had raised a notch. “You’re the one being a tyrant.”

Luke released a heavy sigh. “Are you done ranting Ms. Stamos? I got off a very important call for this.”

Isabel wondered if she looked as hurt as she felt. “So this is how it’s going to be? We’re going to be rude and uncivilized towards each other?” Now she wanted to cry because her confident voice had weakened and she hated that.

“We are civilized. I’m your boss and you are my assistant. Therefore, I am telling you that the office is busy and you are required to take a working lunch to accommodate the situation.”

              “But I’m the only…”

              “There are no buts Isabel.” Luke interrupted her abruptly.  “There is nothing to discuss.”

              Isabel grinded her teeth together. “Fine. You win again Luke.” And just like that she walked out.

              Luke stared after her once again. It didn’t feel like he was winning when she resented him so much. But guaranteeing her protection would come first, before having her love. The least he could do is love her from a distance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

              Luke and Isabel continue to work under these mind-numbing, nerve-wrecking circumstances   for the rest of the week. Luke ensures Isabel stays indoors at all times but she was beginning to become defiant. She’d find different excuses to leave the office and disappear to another floor and Luke had to send Linda to find her. Luke began including Isabel in meetings she normally would not be part of.  When on telephone conferences with executive staff from different offices, Luke would ask Isabel to join and take notes. She’d roll her eyes but silently comply. But the most difficult of all was a conference call Luke had with his father and Thomas asked about her. He asked Luke how Isabel was doing and that Kathryn and him were sending their hellos. Luke’s eyes never left Isabel’s as he lied to his father that Isabel was doing great. Isabel continuously shifted restlessly in her seat refusing to meet Luke’s intense gaze. When Friday finally arrived, she couldn’t rush out of the office fast enough. It was the first time since her first day working at B. Pentagon that she left the office without asking if Luke needed anything first.

Isabel peeked through her curtains looking at the sleek
, black towncars that were still parked outside her front door. She counted about five of them surrounding her house. She shook her head in disgust at the lengths Luke had gone to keep tabs on her. She wasn’t sure if she felt flattered or disturbed by his boundless need to protect her. As she was about to draw away from the window, she noticed a familiar motorcycle pull in front of her house and the rider hop off the bike. She recognized Jake’s hard, muscular body immediately. No one had that much ruggedness yet handled a bike with such finesse, so it wasn’t difficult to identify him before he took off his helmet. Jake casually strolled towards her front door and Isabel slightly opened it to greet him.

“Luke sent you?” she questioned suspiciously.

“Nope, he doesn’t know I’m here.” Jake smiled casually even though Isabel gave him a skeptical look. She didn’t look like she was ready to let him inside anytime soon. “What, you don’t trust anyone who’s an acquaintance with Luke now?”

            “No.” She immediately replied and then regretted it once Jake raised a brow. Isabel sighed and held the door open for him. “I’m sorry that was rude of me. Come in Jake, please. It’s not your fault your best friend’s an ass.”

            Jake chuckled. “Damn you’re really pissed off huh?” Jake leaned in and placed a sweet kiss on Isabel’s cheek. “You look like shit babe.” He grimaced. Luke had said Isabel was losing weight but he hadn’t expected to see her this thin.

 
           “Thanks.” Isabel rolled her eyes. She self-consciously looked down at her oversized, unattractive sweater and ran her hands over it attempting to neat out the wrinkles.

            “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. You’re still very beautiful Isabel don’t get me wrong. It’s just you’ve lost weight since I last saw you, your face has paled and your pupils have dilated. You’re not sleeping much.” Jake shook his head.

            Isabel narrowed her glance, “You’re too damn observant.” She accused.

 
           Jake sighed, “Trust me it’s not a wanted talent.” If he could make himself oblivious to all the wrongs in the world he’d sleep better at night. But his restless energy came from his overly observant skills. Not much happened that didn’t catch the eye of Jake Callaghan.

“Come, let’s go to the living room.” She walked away from Jake’s probing eyes even though she knew they’d follow her. “Can I get you some coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”

“Coffee would be nice.” Jake said as he plopped down on her white couch and waited for Isabel to return with her tray of mugs and a pot of fresh coffee. He smiled to himself, remembering the first time he met her at this house and her offering him coffee again. Back then he was under a different impression of who Isabel Stamos was and what she meant to his best friend. His entire perspective of her had changed. In a matter of months Isabel had gained Luke’s love and now she held an importance not just for Luke but Luke’s entire family. She’d left quite an impression on everyone during the holidays. And Jake wasn’t immune to her either. Jake never opened up or was close to anyone other than Luke. On occasion he’d let Andrew and their father Thomas in as well. Emilia tried her hardest to get to him, but the walls he had built against her were too high. Isabel, on the other hand, had somehow, someway managed to chip a block off his icy heart.

            Isabel placed the tray down and joined Jake on the couch. “So if Luke didn’t send you, why are you really here if you don’t mind me asking?” Isabel asked with suspicion lacing her voice.