Aryn's Desire: A BOLD Security Novel (Finding Submission Book 1) (14 page)

The day after was a mess of activity around the house. I spent the entire day with Sean, Cyrus and Celeste learning about the house and the security procedures, should anything happen during the big Christmas Eve party. Because I’m technically a guest of Derek’s, Sean insisted that I get an inside post. I argued about it, telling him I’d be suited best where he needs me.
 

I lost the argument when Derek insisted that I could keep a better eye on Dex and Raine from inside, since they’re my responsibility. I shrugged it off at that point. I honestly don’t care where I am. I know that because Dex and Raine are guests of Derek’s they fall under Sean’s responsibility too, so I know I’ve honestly got nothing to worry about.
 

Not to mention the fact that we’ve had a secret service sweep of the property so I’m pretty sure the risks for tonight are very limited.
 

There is an actual agenda for tonight’s event and because of that, I spent the time while eating lunch memorizing the itinerary. The entire event takes place in the main room with limited access to first floor rooms, like the bathroom and a couple of sitting areas (bedrooms that are unused and were converted for tonight). These rooms are for privacy, though there will be a guard posted near each and there are assigned staff to maintain the space.
 

I’ve been around wealthy people since I got into this business, but Derek’s wealth is very overwhelming. His ability to not only host an event of this size, but to have it in his home is staggering. The more reading of the guest list I do, the more I realize just how many people this man knows and the shear amount of money coming into this house is astronomical.
 

Knowing I’m the help is an uneasy feeling. Regardless of the fact that I’ve been around the rich and the famous, it never stops the feeling of inadequacy. I’ll never be rich, I’ll always be protecting the coat tails of those who are.
 

I am standing close to the kitchen door and if I’d thought the great room had been cleaned out for the play party, that was nothing compared to this. The room is now one, with no divisions except for the fireplaces that are scattered throughout the room. There are tables that surround a stage and a dance floor. The stage is occupied by an instrumental band that will provide the entertainment for tonight. In the corner opposite of me and the room, is a massive Christmas tree that nearly touches the thirty foot tall ceiling.
 

There are two additional guards inside that I can see. One standing just off the door and the other is opposite me at the hallway to the bathrooms and the private rooms. There are at least two more guards down the hall. Right before the guests started arriving, myself and Cyrus went through locking all the room doors except the private rooms that are open to anyone.
 

My eyes scan the room. While it isn’t full, there is a steady stream of people flowing through the door. My scanning has me watching the front door as guests come through. Just outside the door there is a tent reception area that checks off the guests as they arrive and then they’re screened before coming through the door to the house.
 

Not that I expected to recognize anyone who arrived at this party, but I’m surprised to see someone coming down the stairs, two someone’s actually. Her eyes catch mine and she smiles. Cami has such an infection personality, it’s impossible not to smile back at her. I’m a bit surprised to see them; they’re usually off in Tahiti or something like that this time of year. But they’re not my detail so I don’t question it much past that.
 

Although I do find it odd that Tyson, Tristan’s bodyguard, isn’t with them, but he could be somewhere else on the property. Sean isn’t required to tell me everything, but if he’s here, it’d be nice to catch up with him.

Cami and Tristan approach me. “Hello, Beck,” Cami greets me and I say hello back. “You remember Tristan?”
 

“Of course. Good to see you, man.” I extend my hand to him. “I didn’t know you guys were coming.”
 

Cami smiles. “We got in early today, we’re staying until Sunday.”
 

“Oh, awesome.” I smile at her.
 

“How are things going?” she asks and I scan the room instinctively, ever on duty.
 

 
“They’re good. Been a pretty relaxing week. It’s been kind of nice. How about you?”
 

“We’re good,” Tristan answers.
 

“Where’s the little man?” I ask them.
 

Cami lights up. “He’s upstairs with our nanny. We never travel without him.”
 

“Speaking of which, don’t you guys usually spend Christmas in the Bahamas or something?” I ask candidly.
 

Tristan frowns. “Tahiti, but I have to work next week, so we couldn’t go this year.”
 

Our conversation continues for a few more minutes about mundane things until Dex and Raine come down the stairs followed by Derek and Dacotah. Cami and Tristan leave me to my post and I continue doing what I’m good at. Holding up a wall.
 

An hour later and the room is filled with men and women wearing extravagant attire enjoying the food and drink. The entrance has settled quite a bit now that the majority of guests have arrived, but there’s still a steady trickle as people come and go.
 

Dacotah and Raine look stunning in black gowns while Dex, in true Dex fashion, is wearing a white dress shirt, no tie, a vest and his sleeves are rolled to the elbows. And judging by the way Raine keeps looking at him, she’s thinking about taking it off him. That’s one thing about Raine, once you get to know her, it’s not hard to pick up on her subtle signals to Dex and it makes me smile.
 

Derek and Dacotah are playing gracious hosts, stopping to chat with people as they make their way around the room. Derek talks to a few of the attending celebrities and I wonder how someone makes friends like that. I know from Dex that he has his hand in more than a few hotels in Vegas, but other than that, I’m not entirely sure what it is that he does. On Sunday, following the play party, I spent some more time trying to research what it is that Derek does and while his public profile is extensive, a lot of what’s there doesn’t even begin to explain his exorbitant wealth.
 

Dex, Raine, Cami, Tristan, Derek and Dacotah are the only ones here that I know directly. Some of the celebrities on hand I know of, but have never met. Regardless, it is a very interesting mix of company and I wonder why it is that Derek would host such an extravagant event without some sort of charity benefit to it. I get having friends, but jeez, this is almost excessive if you ask me.
 

About twenty minutes into dinner, I’m relieved by one of Sean’s guys to take a dinner break. I step into the kitchen where there are a couple of other security guys there, a couple of them have plates in their hands and my stomach growls. One of the staff hands me a plate as I walk past them and I join the others to eat.
 

Other members of the security team come and go as I finish my plate, and all are offered food as they come in. The kitchen staff operates like a well-oiled machine between feeding us and preparing the next course and dessert, which looks fucking amazing. If my dinner is anything to go by, then it will be delicious.
 

When I resume my post, dinner is in full swing. Though there are a few people lingering about, most everyone is in their seats and the volume level has reduced to a dull roar and the band is playing gentle music. If it wasn’t for the fact that I have no choice but to stay awake, I’d be dozing off.
 

“Good evening, Aryn.” A voice from out of nowhere greets me and I’m taken aback by the name. There are only a handful of people who know that name. I turn to the man standing to my left and my breathing stops altogether. “It’s great to see you again.”
 

It takes me a moment to find my voice. I can’t help raking my eyes over the man before me dressed spectacularly in a black Armani suit, vest and tie. “Caden,” I finally manage to say.
 

There is a coy smile playing at his lips as he takes in my demeanor. I doubt he missed my reaction to his presence here tonight.
 

“How are you?” he asks me and I finally manage to find my brain and pull it out of my stomach.
 

“I’m good, you?”
 

He smiles then, “I’m great. Having fun tonight?”
 

“I should ask you that. I, unfortunately, am working.”
 

“I noticed. But you didn’t answer my question.”
 

He doesn’t unleash the look that sent me running the other night, but the one he does give me is a close second. “I’m having a great time,” I tell him. “How about you?”
 

“Better now.” He smirks and turns on his heel, returning back to his seat, which is in the middle of the two tables that have Dex, Derek and Cami in them. He’s sitting between Derek and Cami and he picks up a very animated conversation with Cami. Making me wonder if they know each other and that thought sends a million things racing through my mind.
 

Who is he? Why is he talking to Cami? Do they know each other? Why would Derek invite a club friend to a big Christmas extravaganza? How many other people from the other night are here?
 

I struggle to pull my eyes away from him and the thoughts keeps me occupied as I scan the room.

TWENTY

*~* CADEN *~*
 

“Are you going on the tour?” Cami asks me.
 

“I hadn’t planned on it. Most of the time I’m just in the way.” I chuckle, “No one usually wants to talk to me.”
 

She laughs too, “I doubt that. Without you, that movie wouldn’t have been done.”
 

I smirk at her. “You’re too kind. I may or may not hit the Nashville premiere. I’ll be there at the time.” I shrug and take a drink of my scotch.
 

“You know Beck?”
 

I can’t help but raise an eyebrow at her. “Beck?”
 

She cocks her head in Aryn’s direction. “I saw you talking to him a little while ago?”
 

My eyes wander over to Aryn and he looks away from me quickly. He’s watching me. “Oh, Aryn?” She gives me a brief widening of her eyes. “I met him shortly after they got here, last Saturday I think.” No need to mention what it was that we were doing. I imagine Tristan can be quite alpha, but they’re hardly into the lifestyle. “Though Derek introduced him as Aryn.”
 

Cami smiles and it reaches her eyes, giving her a very genuine, happy look that you don’t see on many Hollywood types. “He’s one of 69 Bottles’ security team,” she tells me. “He’s also assigned to Alyssa for the premiere tour.”
 

“Oh reeeallly,” I say with a sly smile. “I thought he belonged to Dex.” I give a soft snort that goes unnoticed. No - he most certainly does not belong to Dex.
 

“He does, but we borrow him from time to time. He’s one of our top guys.”
 

“Why have I never seen him before?” I ask her, trying to get as much candid information from her while she’s talking as I can.
 

She shrugs her shoulders. “Not sure, but he travels mostly in the musician circles, that could be why.”
 

I nod in agreement and take another sip of my scotch.
 

Our conversation is cut short when the servers start serving dessert and I let my eyes find Aryn’s once more. I am disappointed when I see that he’s talking to someone else, someone who’s dressed the way that he is, only female. Jealousy slides through me as I take in the girl and the playful smile on Aryn’s lips.
 

*~* ARYN *~*
 

“Sean wants you outside.”
 

I smirk at Celeste. “Why not call me on the radio then?”
 

“Why when I was coming to the kitchen anyway.” She winks at me and moves past me. I shake my head and head toward the front door.
 

As I do, eyes bore into me and I don’t need to look to know it’s Caden. The minute he looked up from his dessert while I was talking to Celeste, I not only saw his gaze but felt it along my neck when my hair stood on end. What in the hell am I going to do about him?
 

I shake my head as I step free of the door and go walking toward Sean’s post where they set up the temporary visual equipment for tonight.
 

Sean showed me the AV room this week and I was blown away when he said he was adding more for the event tonight. He has a three hundred sixty degree view of this entire property with very little blind spots and most of those are usually covered by a guard.
 

When I enter the hut the guys are laughing at one of the monitors. I follow their gaze and shake my head.
 

“Some people just can’t wait till they get home,” I mutter as I watch some woman sprawled out on the bathroom sink with someone up under her dress having her for dessert. The facial expressions she makes has all of us laughing for a good ten minutes before the guy crawls out from under her dress and I’m surprised to see who it is. “Is that who I think it is?”
 

“Yup,” one of the guys says through his laughter. “And that is not his wife.”
 

My eyes widen at the video monitor, getting a good clear look at one Senator Millstone.
 

I ask Sean what’s up, telling him I know he didn’t bring me out here to watch that. He laughs and says, “Sure, I did.” But he gives me a very pointed look before getting up and escorting me outside.
 

“What’s up?” I ask him when we’re clear of the guys, though they’re still laughing.
 

“Don’t worry about them, they’re all under confidentiality agreements, they can’t tell a soul about what they saw. I can’t say the same for you.”