by Tony C. Skye
Even with the difficulties she is having with adding a second weapon hand, this side of the security part of the Network is kind of fun. However, there is an intrusive side her grandfather has just recently made her aware of. It’s not really meant to be seen in this light, but Julianna can’t wrap her mind around it in a positive way. She has her own security team. They have been assigned to her since her birth. Yet, she has never met any of them. She doesn’t know who they are. And they know everything about her. If that isn’t intrusive, then what is?
These men and women are everywhere. They are dressed in business suits, street clothes, and employee clothing. Basically, whatever needs to be worn for the job is worn. If she were to visit an enormous doll house, these people would dress up like dolls in order to keep a closer eye on her. The thought is ridiculous to Julianna…and intrusive.
Until her grandfather pointed them out, Julianna had no real grasp of how deep the Network is rooted. The Network runs deep, really deep. In most cases, they have legitimate jobs to support the reasons for being where they are. They hold positions in such places as high government within the respective country they are assigned. These positions allow them more freedom. But more than that, these kinds of positions gives them power.
In Julianna’s case, her security team is mainly comprised of law enforcement. There is FBI, CIA, state patrol, and local police. Each has their own role. And unless she does something that would require an intervention, they remain hidden. Point and case, Julianna found out that the female officer investigating her supposed rape was actually one of her security team. The woman is a genuine detective. There is nothing fake about her job. But she is sworn to the Network. More importantly, she is assigned to Julianna as long as Julianna resides in Louisiana. If Julianna moves within the state, the woman would then be reassigned to the county she moves to.
Knowing someone has her back is not at all what bothers her. What eats at her, is the knowledge that someone is always watching, is always there, and could be seeing something private. If that is the reality, then wouldn’t they be documenting her alone time and reporting back to their superiors of how long it took? Julianna cringes at the very idea of something so intrusive. Even though her grams has made every effort to assure her that it isn’t as bad as she makes it out to be, Julianna has a hard time believing otherwise.
As a general rule, her team is supposed to give her as much personal space as possible while still maintaining control over her well-being. But therein lays the problem. There is no such thing.
It doesn’t matter that no one is assigned to the bloodline unless they are the best of the best. Sure, they must earn the right. This means that anyone assigned to Julianna is an expert marksman, fluent in hand-to-hand combat, and can utilize the weapons needed for any given situation. But this is not what Julianna questions. It is the idea of some sicko pervert watching her through a hidden nanny cam while she takes a shower. She is utterly disgusted by such a notion and can’t seem to shake off the creep factor.
Thankfully, her grandfather understands her dilemma. In fact, he made a point of telling her about the choice clause. It is a clause which allows her to handpick her own team. First off, they must be from the Network. Secondly, they are required to be the equivalent or better of the man or woman in whom they would be replacing. And finally, she would be required to guarantee five years of permanency to each of the new transfers. This is an area in which Julianna, most definitely, will be exploring in the near future. Only three rules to gain her freedom and privacy: Must be from the Network, no downgrading, and she must guarantee job security.
“Sounds easy enough.”
“What sounds easy enough?”
Julianna shakes her head and looks at Alexandria.
“You okay?”, Gale questions. “You spaced off on us for quite a while – completely unresponsive.”
Julianna looks over at Gale standing to her right, “I did?”
“Yep, you did,” Alexandria confirms, “It was like watching someone about to go completely psycho.”
Julianna glances back over to Alexandria. She grins. She can’t help, but to like the athletically built woman. The nurse has a way of lightening up the heaviest of awkward moments.
“Sorry, I was just thinking is all. Have a lot on my mind.”
“Don’t worry about it. We all have those days.”
“Can I ask you something personal?”
Alexandria shrugs her shoulder, “I dunno. Can you?”
“You’re so skinny, but you’re shoulders are wide. Do you work out or something?”
“Ha-ha-ha,” Gale laughs, “She sure does. Alex wants to be a boy.”
Alexandria glares at Gale, “Shut up. I do not.”
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to pry. That was wrong of me.”
The sandy-blond woman looks over at the bed. She shakes her head.
“No - you’re fine. I used to swim. High dive.”
“She got all sorts of awards and everything,” Gale says while fighting back the giggles. Alexandria gives her bff a warning glance before looking back at Julianna with a confirming nod.
“What happened?”
“Aneurysm caused by diving. Got me benched and eventually kicked off of the team.”
“Oh...”
“Yeah, it sucked at the time, but I’m over it now. Joined my bff over here on a mission to better people’s lives.”
Alexandria gives Gale another hard stare, “But I’m starting to question my judgment.”
“Stop it,” Gale teases, “You know you love me.”
Alexandria turns and picks up her medical bag from the desk, “It’s the only reason you’re not flat on your ass right now.”
Gale grins and looks at Julianna. Her brown hair dances as she shakes her head from left to right. Julianna smiles back. Gale offers the young woman her right hand.
“Thanks for inviting us.”
Julianna takes Gale’s offered hand to say her goodbyes, “Thanks for saving my butt... again.”
Alexandria turns around, “That’s what we’re here for.”
Julianna releases Gale’s hand and responds with a faked smile.
“Let me rephrase that. That’s what friends do for one another.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to say that for my benefit. I’m a big girl.”
“Are you kidding?”, Gale jumps in, “You’ve made a friend for life with that pool. You’re going to wish you never met her. She’s the kind of friend that latches on and never lets go.”
Gale looks over at an angry-looking Alexandria, “What do they call those things, Alex?”
“Shut up, bitch,” Alexandria says while turning to head up the stairs.
“Leeches!”, Gale responds playfully.
Alexandria holds up her right hand with her middle finger saluting her bff. She begins climbing the stairs and opens up the rest of her fingers. She starts waving, “Thanks, Julianna. We’ll call you by Wednesday.”
“Looking forward to it,” Julianna calls out.
“If Alex called you a friend, she means it. She says what she means and means what she says. That’s Alex in a nutshell.”
Julianna smiles, “I kinda got that.”
Gale smiles back, “If you need anything, give us a call.”
“We’ll do.”
Gale turns away and begins her climb into the library, “See you Saturday.”
“See ya,” Julianna answers as calmly as possible. Inside, however, she is excited beyond words. Until now, she hadn’t realized just how insufficient her social life has been.
* * *
Chapter 14
Chemistry
“Yes grams,” Julianna nudges Martha’s arm towards the candelabra hallway, “Everything is perfect. Now go.”
Martha steps into the hallway and turns around to face her granddaughter, “I’m so proud of you, Julia. You have real friends now. Not like the kind you had whenever you first arrived. These people know you
– the real you.”
“Please don’t make this weird.”
Martha begins to hug her pride and joy, but hesitates.
“Something else wrong?”
“No dear, I just don’t want to make you messy. I think I might cry if I try and give you a hug.”
“Why would you cry? It’s just someone coming over to hang out.”
“To me, it’s like taking the training wheels off of your little bicycle and watching you as you peddle your way down the driveway.”
“I’m seventeen, grams. It’s not like I’ve never had friends over before.”
“I’m sure your father was real great at hosting sleepovers.”
Julianna fights back the urge to cringe. Her grams still doesn’t know anything. And Julianna isn’t sure she wants to tell her.
“Okay, well maybe I’ve never done that. But still. I’ll be fine.”
Julianna looks down at her smartphone as it begins vibrating. She quickly looks back up at her grams, “They’re here.”
“Okay, have fun tonight. I’ll go and let them in,” Martha says while turning to walk the hallway’s length. She doesn’t let her granddaughter see the amused look upon her face from Julianna’s expression. The poor thing looks like a deer caught in the headlights.
When Martha leaves her sight, Julianna turns and dashes towards the stairs leading to her bedroom. She hastily makes her way to the stair’s bottom and runs over to her purse. Julianna opens it up and digs around until she finds her compact. She flips it open and double checks her face for the umpteen-thousandth time.
Her friends are here. But that’s not her problem. It’s the boy that Gale said she was bringing with her whenever she called last Wednesday. At the time, Julianna didn’t think it a big deal. But when she awoke this morning, he was the first thing on her mind. The thought of meeting him has had her on the fritz all day. She’s better than this. She can handle some boy. What is wrong with her? She’s been acting like a little schoolgirl going on her very first date to the school dance.
Julianna turns and glances up the stairs as she hears voices echoing within the candelabra hallway. She looks at her hands. They are dripping sweat down her wrists. She closes her compact and shoves it into her purse. The nervous teen runs over to her bed and wipes her hands on the cover showcasing her family emblem. She barely has enough time to turn around and jog over to the bottom of the staircase before faces appear within view. At the top of the stairs, Alexandria leads the way. The woman’s boyfriend has his right arm around her waist. He is tall and very masculine. His short blond hair compliments his clean shaven face. The guy’s gorgeous facial features give the impression that he should belong in a magazine and not wrapped around Alexandria as he is. But then again, Alexandria isn’t exactly ugly. She might not be supermodel material, but she can definitely hold her own.
“Whoo!”, Alexandria hollers out on the way down the stairs, “Let’s have a pool party!”
Julianna forces a smile. Alexandria’s excited look changes as she notices Julianna’s wardrobe.
“Damn girl. You look gorgeous. You not swimming with us?”
“Later,” Julianna confesses, “I’m the hostess, remember?”
“Hostess?”
“Go ahead. I’ll be in a minute.”
Alexandria scrutinizes Julianna’s emerald-looking eyes. Her hostess seems a little nervous. Alexandria grins knowingly. She steps to the side and pats her boyfriend on his thick chest, “This is David.”
The man holds out his right hand, “Hello. Nice pad you got here.” His deep voice tops off the stigmata of his look.
Julianna shakes his hand, “Thanks.”
“Thanks for having us,” Gale calls out as she makes her way to the bottom of the stairs.
Julianna releases David’s large hand and looks over at Gale.
“Thanks for coming,” Julianna answers while glancing at the guy next to her.
“This is Justin, my boyfriend,” Gale introduces the man.
Julianna smiles as the guy walks up and offers his hand for a greeting. He’s not muscular like David, but he looks like he could put up a good fight if the need ever arose. He’s definitely not scrawny. His dark brown eyes highlight the perfect matching coloring of his brown hair. Unlike David’s thick and wavy style, however, Justin is sporting a thin-cut.
“It’s nice to meet you, Julianna.”
“You, too.”
Justin nods while looking her over. Julianna releases his hand while feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Justin shakes his head while walking over to his girlfriend, “She is way out of his league. She’ll eat him for breakfast.”
Julianna blushes.
“Where is the little runt?”, Alexandria questions.
Julianna glances from Justin over to Alexandria and then back over to Justin again. The man turns whenever he reaches Gale. He looks at Julianna and smiles guiltily.
“My brother’s a little nervous. I thought Alexandria and Gale were just having fun with him, but now I know they weren’t joking. He might have a heart attack whenever he sees how pretty you are.”
“Oh,” Julianna’s rising nerves are not lost on her guests.
“Well?”, Alexandria impatiently chimes back in, “Where is he?”
Justin motions towards the staircase with his head, “You know he’s a book worm.”
“No!”, Gale and Alexandria panic together. Their sometimes synchronized speech is reflected to a perfect harmony within the single word. Justin and David look at one another with confused eyes.
“It’s a library,” David points out the obvious, “What’s the big deal?”
“I’ll get him.”
“I’ve got it,” Julianna stops Gale, “I’ll go introduce myself. You guys go and have some fun. I’ll be there shortly to get your orders.”
“Orders?”, Gale questions.
“You guys alright with alcohol?”
“Hells yeah,” David smiles.
Justin kisses Gale on the cheek, “Now this is a party.”
Gale grins and nods at Julianna, “I think you just became popular.”
“Let’s go” Alexandria says while walking towards the right hallway on the left side of Julianna’s bedroom, “I want to go swimming.”
David shrugs his shoulders at his hostess and jogs after his girlfriend. Julianna grins before turning her attention over to Gale.
“You know where the towels and stuff are. For music, just say, ‘Radio’. Then you can tell it what genre to play. Say it loudly, though.”
“No way,” Justin is clearly impressed with the house tech, “I’m outta here.”
He begins tugging on Gale’s waist, “Let’s go.”
Gale silently lips the words thank you as her boyfriend escorts her past Julianna on his way towards the pool.
Whenever Julianna sees that Gale and Justin are nearing the entrance to the washroom, she pulls her dress up below her knees and jogs up the stairs leading into the library. As she reaches her family’s emblem woven into the library’s velvet carpet, the young hostess releases her dress and allows it to dangle freely once more. She looks around. Her heart begins racing. The boy is nowhere to be found.
Julianna quickly rounds the left side of the first u-row of books. She stops. A boy stands by the second u-row’s center. He is dressed in a white tee-shirt and a pair of Levi blue jeans. His black and blue New Balance tennis shoes add to the charm of his boyish-style.
“I’m sorry,” the boy apologizes with a book in his hand, “I - I should have asked first.” Julianna notices the boy wipe his left hand on his jeans.
“It’s alright. Don’t worry about it,” Julianna responds while moving towards the boy. Her eyes glance at the shelf where the book belongs before finding rest upon the boy having his hands in the cookie jar. She smiles while stopping just a few feet short from her intruder.
The boy’s black hair hangs just above his shoulders. It is extremely curly. His rounded eyes are a
dark brown and he has one of those chins that are reminiscent of the classic depictions of Spartacus.
“Why are they locked?”, the boy questions after taking the subtle hint left by the intimidating super model standing next to him. He places the book back onto the shelf as instructed.
“Um - it protects the pages and helps to keep them crisp.”
The boy’s head retreats slightly, “Huh?”
Julianna grins, “The party’s downstairs. This area belongs to my grams.”
The boy turns and forces himself to look into the girl’s deep green eyes. He now understands why Alexandria and Gale were giving him those first-degree drills on the way here.
At the time it was annoying. But now, their coaching is all that is getting him through this moment. There’s a big difference between a super model on a computer screen and one standing a few feet from you live and in person. The girl’s presence seems to make it hard to breathe correctly. It’s as though her rose-scented aroma is greedily stealing the very air he needs in order to keep surviving. He watches as the beautiful girl steps forward and begins lifting her right hand.
“My name’s Juli-umph…”
The boy’s eyes widen as the hostess steps on her dress and stumbles. He rushes towards her and wraps his arms around her rigid body readying for impact. The scrawny boy doesn’t have the time to contemplate her body weight versus his strength. He lets out a grunt as gravity forces him to the floor with the pale-skin angel felled on top of him.
“You okay?”, he attempts to question with the wind just knocked out of him.
Dammit.
If it wasn’t bad enough that she took the fall that all girls fear; Julianna, must now deal with the fact that she nearly squashed the cute boy with her stupid fat body. With her head on his chest, she makes sure to not give him any eye contact as she stands to her feet.
