Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“Good,” Hayes grunted. “I don’t like wasting time.”
Corbin sighed. This was going to be a long assignment.
“We have received several threats against Bluebelle. They have come through to my assistant, who handles my correspondence. Bluebelle has refused to move back in here or to the guest house, where it would be safer for her. As usual, she is creating more work for everyone by being stubborn and unwilling to listen or compromise.”
Ouch.
“She refuses to even believe there is a credible threat. Her father and I are just so worried about her safety. And now we have to go out on this month-long tour. I can’t bear to think about what she might get up to while we’re gone.”
“Get up to?” Corbin asked cautiously. What did she mean?
She waved her hand through the air. The gigantic rings on all of her fingers gleamed under the lights.
“Bluebelle is a very . . . how shall I put this? She’s reckless. She doesn’t always think things through. I blame myself. I should have been around more for her as a child. I’m afraid she’s turned out rather selfish.” She sighed sadly.
Yeah, Corbin wasn’t certain that he believed her. Also, she really wasn’t holding back about her daughter. Which seemed harsh.
“Ridiculously, she even refused to buy a suitable house. She lives in this horrid house across the city. Terrible area. Awful people. But what can I do? She refuses to see reason. I swear that she is doing this to spite me.”
Well, considering that Bluebelle was twenty-five, he could see why she didn’t want to live here.
Especially with this woman.
“Bebe refuses to stay in the house because her mother won’t stop trying to pressure her into taking part in one of her shows.”
Corbin glanced over his shoulder as Benton Benner walked into the room.
The rock star hadn’t lost his charisma. He had long dark hair to his shoulders liberally sprinkled with gray and a weathered face that spoke of a long, tough life. Corbin knew from his research that his wife was a lot younger than him.
Both Corbin and Hayes stood to shake his hand, introducing themselves. “Could we not meet in my office, Barb? This office gives me a headache.”
“Don’t be rude, Benton.” Barb was smiling, but she had grown visibly more tense. “And you know I only have Bluebelle’s best interests in mind. I could make her a fortune. She’d be famous if she was in one of my shows.”
“Strangely, she doesn’t want fame or fortune.”
Ouch.
You could cut the tension in here with a knife.
“I don’t know why,” Barb said, sounding almost sullen. “It’s probably because you set up that trust fund for her. She doesn’t know the feeling of going without. How it can make you hungry for more. Lord knows what she uses that trust fund for, I saw she just took another hunk of money out. She should get a job. That will teach her valuable lessons. I only want what’s best for her.”
She didn’t have a job?
Benton smiled. “Of course you do. And that’s admirable. I know you love Bebe. But she’s her own person and she has to make her own path.” He turned to Corbin and Hayes. “I convinced her to agree to the two of you guarding her for the next month while I’m gone. I’m not sure whether the person sending these threats is really an issue, but Barb and I couldn’t leave without making certain she had some protection. If there are no more issues from the person sending these messages, we can probably pull back on the need for bodyguards. Most of the time, people are all words and no action.”
Corbin nodded. “I understand. And you want a security system put in her house?”
“Yes, there’s no budget. I just want her safe. The house has been bought under a trust, so I doubt anyone could discover her address. She also doesn’t have social media anymore.”
“I still think she should move in here,” Barb stated.
“Bebe is a grown woman; she doesn’t want to live at home.” Benton frowned at his wife.
“I had to build everything I have from the ground up and she gets to live off what I’ve created without doing anything I ask of her.”
Um, from what he recalled, she’d married Benton at the height of his career. When he’d already made millions.
But none of this was his business. In fact, it was like the Benners had forgotten they were there.
“She doesn’t live off you, Barb,” Benner said.
“Maybe you could save the domestic arguments for when we’re not here,” Hayes told them.
Corbin closed his eyes. Shit.
“We’re not arguing,” Barb said to Hayes with another fake smile. “Just having a friendly discussion.”
“Why don’t the two of you come with me?” Benner waved his hand at them.
“I should be a part of this,” Barb protested as they stood to follow Benton out. “I need them to sign NDAs and release papers in case they ever appear on camera.”