Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

I turned to where Tash stood, beckoningme. She quickened her pace and closed the distance. “Hey, how’sthings?” She gave me a hug. “Helloooo Bryce,” she sang adoringly asshe smiled at him. I raised my eyebrows and shook my head again.I was saying?

My group offriends were aware of the fact I was completely separated from Rickand now living with Bryce. I had met up with them for a coffee dateand filled them in on the whole-truth-and-nothing-but-the-truthscenario regarding Rick, Claire and RJ. With exception to addingthat I was pregnant, of course. That was just going to have towait.

“I’m great,Tashy, how about you?”

“Yeah good,Hun, it’s always good on my day off work.”

“You don’tlike your job?” Bryce asked, with a trace of concern in hisvoice.

“Whodoes?”

“I do,” bothBryce and I answered simultaneously.

Tash scoffed.“Yeah, I can see why.”

“Do you want ajob at one of my hotels?” he offered, without so much as a secondthought.

Tash smiledsheepishly. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No. If youwant one, give me a call and I’ll see what we can arrange.”

“Really?Oh...um...that would be good.” She looked at me warily.

I justshrugged.

“Tash workedin security for years, Bryce. She is a part-time events supervisornow.” I explained.

Bryce lookedamused. “Security? Really?”

“Yes, really.So if you do anything to hurt Alexis, I’ll kick your arse.”

I choked.“Tash.”

Bryce laughed.“Good, I’ll remember that. Maybe I could hire you as Alexis’bodyguard.”

“Like fuck youwill,” I admonished in a hushed voice, glaring at him.

Tash tutted.“I pretty much already do that for free,” she rolled her eyesplayfully.

The secondschool bell sounded behind us.

“So, what areyou both doing here?” she asked.

“Charlotte hasswimming lessons this morning. We thought we’d come and watchher.”

She draped herarm around my shoulder. “Great! Thomas has his lesson this morning,too. We can be spectator buddies.”

We all walkedpast the gymnasium to the swimming centre. There were numerousparents poolside, waiting to watch their children. A small group ofknown bitch-faced mums were chatting quietly and quite obviouslystopped their—one could accurately assume—verbal diarrhoea, when wewalked in. As we passed them to take our seats, Bryce gently placedhis hand on the small of my back and acknowledged the women withhis sometimes annoyingly aggravating charm. “Good morning,ladies.”

They were allwide-eyed, and only two of them managed a ‘mornin’.

“You’re havingfun, aren’t you?” I asked him under my breath as we sat down.

“Yes, I alwayshave fun when I’m with you.”

“That’s notwhat I mean and you know it,” I squinted my eyes at him.

“No, I don’tknow it. Now shhh, Charlotte just walked in.” He raised hiseyebrows at me and gave Charli a little wave. Tash spotted Thomas,so we all gave him the thumbs up, too.

We watchedCharlotte’s entire lesson and how she over enthusiasticallyvolunteered for every demonstration. At one point when sheperformed a torpedo stroke, she deliberately—I think—kept her headdown underwater for what seemed like close to a minute or more,completely freaking me out.

When thelesson finished I blew her a kiss before she skipped off to thechange rooms.

“She’s prettygood,” Bryce said impressed.

“Yep, Charliis definitely a doer, that’s for sure.”

“I’m seeingthat. She obviously takes after her mum.”

I laughed.“You are soon going to find out that is not necessarily a goodthing.”

Tash leanedin. “She’s a mini Lexi, Bryce. So you’re pretty much fucked.”

I playfullyshoved Tash out of my personal space while muttering, “Bitch”.

We stood upand walked back past the staring women, and just when they thoughtwe were out of earshot, one of them spoke. “What is so good abouther? I’ve heard she’s a bitch.”

I tilted myhead to the side and closed my eyes. I’m a bitch alright. I’vehad my bowl of bitch-flakes and glass of don’t-mess-with-me-juicethis morning. And if I weren’t at my children’s school right now, Iwould be ever so gracious as to show you just how fuckingbitched-up I can be.

I was justabout to politely tell them to mind their own business when Brycegently removed his hand from my back and turned to the trolls—stillsweet, calm and as charming as always. “The word ‘good’ does noteven come close when describing this woman. So, to answer yourquestion, ladies, she is beyond ‘good’. She is exquisite,sensational, and her very presence forms the air that I breathe. Isthat ‘good’ enough?”

One of themnodded, and the others sat there stunned. He gave them a false andobviously forced smile then replaced his hand at the small of myback, directing us out of the building.

I wasastonished at not only what he had just done but also at thebeautiful words that came out of his mouth.

He ignored mygobsmacked state and turned to Tash. “Okay, you are hired asAlexis’ bodyguard. She obviously needs one.”

“Shut up,” Isaid and playfully punched his arm before linking mine around it,squeezing it tight and never wanting to let it go.

“I need towarn you though, Bryce. I don’t use a subtle approach when it comesto protection.” Tash continued, answering Bryce’s stupid jokingstatement and ignoring me.

“That’s fine.I’m more than happy for a more physical remedy when protectingher,” he replied.

“Seriously youtwo, shut up! I’m more than capable of looking after myself and ifyou both don’t stop joking around, you’ll be the ones needingbodyguards...not me!”

***

After a quickgoodbye and a promise to invite Tash over for dinner, we headedback to the office. The Australian leg of the Formula One GrandPrix was to be held in Melbourne the weekend after Easter, and asCity Towers Precinct was one of the event sponsors and the mainaccommodation venue, the work that awaited our arrival wasenormous.

There was tobe a charity breakfast held in the Queen Victoria Ballroom on thefirst day of the weekend event. I had been communicating withJoyce: the Head Media Liaison, and Allison: the EventsCo-ordinator, to finalise the list of auction items for OzkidsMelbourne Charity. Bryce had to sign off on the items list which Iwould normally email him, but he had been in his office all day andI had hardly seen him, so I thought I would take this opportunityto deliver it to him personally, together with the chargrilled kingsalmon and herb salad I had ordered for lunch.

I picked upthe list as soon as Sebastian pushed the food and beverage trolleythrough the elevator doors. “Good afternoon, Sebastian.”

“Goodafternoon, Ms. Summers.”

“Just leavethat here. I will take it into him.”

As always, theshy Food