Page 2 of Her Noble Protector
I hung up the phone and slid it back into my purse. I finished my mimosa and let out a sigh.
“Well, ladies. I have to go. Family matters.”
The table audibly protested as I pulled out three crisp hundred-dollar bills. It was more than enough for our meals and a generous tip to our server, who was an absolute doll.
“Aww. You sure you have to leave now? Do you want to wait for a to-go container?” Xandria asked.
I shook my head. “I’ll come back for it another time. My dad called and said it was a family emergency. I’ll keep y’all updated on what’s going on when I get clued in.”
“Girl, keep yo’ money. This was my treat, remember?” Georgia held my money back for me to take.
“Nope. I’m leaving early, so it defers to me. Donotpiss me off, Gee.”
“You just gon’ be pissed, bookie butt. Take your money and go home to your family.” Georgia smirked.
Instead of going back and forth with her like I usually would, I accepted defeat and took my money back. They all stood andgave me hugs before I waved goodbye and headed to my car. The all-black luxury SUV had purple accents because purple was my favorite color. When I got in, I shared my route with my father, turned on my favorite songs playlist, and headed out.
“Yeah, something bad has happened,” I said to myself as I pulled into the circular driveway of the Stone Manor. The maintenance men barely made eye contact with me as I parked my car behind the white SUV with the tinted windows. There were more cars in our driveway than usual, which was another indicator of the severity of the situation.
I took a deep breath, grabbed my purse, and walked up the stone path to the front entrance of the main house. Stone Manor comprised one main house and six surrounding homes. We also had a golf course, a spa, a lake, and a small ranch. The ranch had goats, highland cows, and horses.
When I was a little girl, I got whatever I asked for. One thing I had been obsessed with was farm animals. Daddy ended up getting a ranch built on our property so I could have my personal petting zoo. I loved all my animals.
The air in the Stone Manor was eerily silent. No one spoke to me, even when I spoke to them first. I was an extrovert through and through, so I typically communicated with everyone. Plus, I always respected those who we paid to work around the property. Everyone loved me and treated me like their little sister or daughter. Today, I felt like a pariah, a leper, a reject.
As I walked into the first-floor kitchen, I noticed my favorite kitchen staff member. Giselle was closer to my age than theother staff members. Daddy had hired her a few years ago. We clicked instantly. Plus, she could throw down in the kitchen.
“Hey, Giselle.”
“Hey, beautiful.” She replied with a gentle smile.
I released a breath. “Oh, my goodness. I almost thought you would ignore me like everyone else.”
She shook her head. “Of course not.”
“Can you tell me what all the fuss is about? Why is everyone looking at me like I got cooties or something?”
She chuckled. “It’s not for me to tell you. Your father is in his office.”
“So you do know what’s going on?
She nodded. “I do. We were all briefed about an hour ago.”
“Did someone else die? Is Daddy dying?” I asked in a playful tone.
Giselle grimaced. “It’s best if you talk to your father.”
The smile on my face fell as I nodded.
“Fine. I’ll find you before I head back to my place.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
The rest of the journey to the office was uneventful. It was no use in probing the staff for answers since they all looked like it physically made them ill to look at me. My pace quickened.
The mahogany-colored wooden door came into view. I took a deep breath. When I pushed open the door, I took in the scene. Daddy sat behind his desk in a room full of men in black suits and sunglasses. None of the men looked familiar, but I assumed Daddy hired them as security, just based on the attire they wore. Like the rest of the staff, they remained silent.
“Hi, my princess.” Daddy greeted me. He stood and closed the distance between us. He gave me a quick peck on the top of my head and pulled me into a tight hug.
