Guarded Secrets

Happy New Year 2018

I hope everyone's having a great New Year. Sending positive vibes to everyone for the 2018 year.

With this year comes new adventures to conjure up. With each story I've written I am learning that I have quite a few stories/genres I am capable of writing for and enjoy writing for. My last book 'The Jewel Of Humanity' was a book that I had worked on for almost two years. I wanted everything to be 'perfect' the dialogue, the references, everything. In that time the book took me on a journey dealing with life and death and fr almost two years it can put a damper on one's spirits, even if there is a happy ending involved.

That brings me to the next book I'm writing 'Guarded Secrets'. This book is much lighter in the sense it deals with just the dynamics of two people. The socialite and the Body Guard.Here is an excerpt hope you enjoy!

Guarded Secrets

He heard her then excusing herself to the ladies room. Once they were inside the building he followed her. When he saw no one was around he spoke then.“Are you o.k. ?”She stopped walking mid stride and looked at him. Why did he ask her that? She knew the answer. Her husband had humiliated her in the car on the ride here. It took everything in her to remain stoic, and appear undamaged by what was just done to her. She could see the concern and pity in his eyes for her.Since she’d been married to her husband no one had dared to ask her that question, in fear of her husband finding out and making sure they never worked again. That was excluding Pete. He had once again used and humiliated her in front of his employees for his sick amusement. She could barely hold this conversation without thinking about all the horrible names he had called her and what he had made her do knowing the partition was down in the car.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She said sharply, making sure she looked the part of angry disgruntled wife. “And I suggest you never mention this to anyone if you want to keep your job. Is that understood, Nick?”He saw and heard it then, her fear. She had to come off as complicit and submissive in order to survive her husband. He was not normally moved, but her silent sadness hidden behind her perfect smile and tailored expensive clothing called to him like a siren’s song. No one knew about the abuse and if they did, they would surely blame her, he thought. From what he had observed his employer was very rich and very powerful. He wanted to be there for her not just as paid help but someone who was beginning to care, and he thought he understood why Pete had wanted him to protect her. She had a wall up. That was to be expected. He would break it down though, he surmised. Now was not the time.“Yes ma’am. I apologize.”She walked off then to the restroom and he waited in silence. She couldn’t understand why he seemed to care about her well-being more than he should. Her husband payed him very well to ’babysit’ her, not to care. Moments later she was back and they walked in the direction of Pete, Mr.King and her husbands business associates. She noticed the columbian hey were speaking with. She hated these appearances it seemed like all eyes were on her.and they were it was expected of her to always be a gracious hostess and to accommodate the people her husband did business with. She had to constantly smile and be polite. if she wasn’t close to perfect he made sure to remind her.He expected her to be in the fashion magazines and columns. So she did what he said. She nodded, smiled, and greeted them when she was introduced. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him. Nick. She couldn’t tell if he was looking at her with this dark shades he had on. She couldn’t stare long just give a quick glance in that direction. she continued to smile and shake hands. When it was time for the men to do their business her husband dismissed her back to the villa. Nick was once again by her side. his arm barely resting at the small of her back as he steered her out of the building. They saw the crowd of paparazzi and people outside waiting. He saw her apprehension and then it quickly vanished.“Pull the car around. Mrs.King is ready.” He said, speaking into the cuff link that was a two way communication device. He looked at her then and asked. “Are you ready,Mrs. King?”She pulled out her designer shades and placed them on her face.“Now I am.” She quipped,They walked outside to be greeted with a barrage of shouting people and flashing cameras. She knew this came along with the territory as well. Without having to tell him, Nick took a few steps back and the photographers took pictures of her in her chic ensemble. She knew she would be judged on these by her husband. He had constantly told her she had to make headlines it was apart of their deal for her being his fourth wife. She hoped this was enough. She secretly hated it. The attention and hated how they made a fuss over her and what she wore. Where she went and what she did in her spare time, which was very little. She just wanted to be done with it all and go back to the room. She still couldn't get last night out of her head. He had betrayed her once again for money, and power. He was an engineer by trade but his family had thrived from owning banks. Her husband had made his name by helping the middle class acquire wealth and status they needed to grow their community in a more upward direction. He was wonderful charming and made everyone in a room feel special. She recalled feeling so elated at the thought of being his wife. Now she was, and that feeling eluded her. All she felt now was contempt and a little sadness for herself. She had binded herself to a man who lived his life with a duality that could be hard to stomach at times. She did though. It was the man she loved and thought the world of at one time. Now she wasn’t so sure if he loved her or anyone more than himself. He always seemed to be thinking about how he could make the next biggest deal. It all was based around the illusion that he was a ‘great’ guy. She knew the other man . the man who would drink too much and entertain himself with her humiliation. It had always been the dirty secret of their relationship. He hadn’t always made her engage in sexual activities as humiliation games went. That started shortly after he had her undergo all the plastic surgeries. He had told her about the boost in press she was receiving because of it. Photographers at the events she had gone to took notice if her expensive,impeccably tailored dresses and her perfect figure. She would always have a picture of her in a well known magazine as well as the socialite section in the newspaper. It seemed to enrage and arouse her husband.as her punishment he made her sleep with his business partners.even if they didn’t want her advances she still had to engage and seduce them for him. A sick twisted game he enjoyed and one she endured because she felt had no choice. She knew her life was intertwined with his in a way that if it were to unravel she would be the one desolate, ostracized, and humiliated under the magnifying glass of the world. It was hard. All. the. Time. she constantly doubted herself at one point that her husband was correct in his treatment of her, but today, with Nick The handsome bodyguard noticing her distress and speaking out on it gave her help. She felt like she could possibly escape him with her pride and decency in tact. Although the tabloids could be vicois about how provocative some of her clothing was.the sheer dress she had worn a the club a few nights back had been put on the list. Three more years of this. She scathed inwardly. Three more years of men groping her while her husband looked on, exploiting her for his pleasure and financial gain. Three more years of him physically and emotionally abusing her behind closed doors. People as well as society had given her the label of being an introvert. A woman who loved her privacy,but the truth was that her husband forbade her to leave their home under any circumstances without his permission. And he very seldom gave it. In public however, he seemed the charismatic, loving husband who would encourage her to venture out. She could not challenge that illusion. She could not tarnish his name.To do so, she feared he would do harm to her. he had always told her she was nothing but a southern twat. But standing in front of the cameras now she knew that wasn’t true. “Alright! Thank you!” Nick yelled at the paparazzi and they all moved as a cream SUV pulled up. Nick quickly escorted her there, opening the car door for her and closing it. The paparazzi still took pictures as many pictures as they could. He got in shut the door and drove off. She was surprised when they reached their quarters. It was beautiful. The cottage style home was situated inside of a garden. She opened the door and her breath was taken away at the beauty of the small yet dazzling space. She was in awe. the home only had three walls; a kitchen area, a sitting area and she saw a small hallway with two doors on the opposite side, knowing it was where their rooms were. The lush green garden and the beautiful sounds she heard made her take her shades off and walked forward until she was standing under the roof looking out at the flowers before her. She unbuttoned her cream jacket. She was in awe by the butterflies she saw flying around her.She loved the home and wondered would her husband. “Mrs. King?” She heard Nick say,”.She turned around. He was a few feet away from her walking through the home and out onto the grass under the roof where she stood. He thought she looked beautiful now that she was relaxed and out of her husband’s presence and the public eye.“I wanted to let you know we already put your bags in your rooms. Yours is on the lef…”he trailed off as a turquoise butterfly landed on his nose. Mrs. King laughed outright at that.Nick kept a straight face and began to gently swat it away.She stopped his motion by touching his forearm.“Please! No, you can’t touch it. You will ruin it’s wings, and it will die.Besides, it’s supposed to be good luck if a Butterfly lands on you.”He looked at her then and rolled his eyes and when he did the butterfly flew away.“See? Was that so bad?” She asked smiling at his surly expression.“No.”he said, looking at her. He couldn't help it. She was so carefree right now, speaking of butterflies and not worrying about who was looking, or her husband treating her like a second class citizen.he wished he could make her look like that all of the time.“Is that all?” she asked him. he realized he had stayed too long.“Yes, it is.” She smiled at him once more and he walked away...