Being at work with Marcus went more smoothly than I thought it would. He stopped for a moment to chat with the security guy that worked at the front desk on the floor where my office was located. The story about Lauren’s recent (imaginary) stalker who had been threatening her and her family had gotten around the company, so no one questioned me about Marcus or paid him much attention. Marcus did a quick sweep of my office before allowing me to enter. He doubted that the phones would be tapped, and he suspected that I would likely be most vulnerable going to and from the front doors of the office building.

While I worked on my usual business transactions and accounts, I let Marcus use his laptop in my father’s office since I didn’t expect my father to show up for any reason. There was no need for Marcus to be in my space while I discussed personal matters about the business. Near the end of the workday, I received a text from Nick.

’Want to meet up with us for dinner? Bernard wants to apologize,’ Nick’s message said. I rubbed a hand over my face. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to deal with Bernard, but I did want the opportunity to meet up with Nick, Gabe, and Wade.

I sent a message to Marcus to let him know about possible dinner plans with the guys and Bernard. A few seconds later, there was a knock on my office door.

"It’s open," I called out. Marcus entered my office, closing the door behind him.

"Bad idea," Marcus said, seating himself in one of the chairs across from my desk. "This Bernard Sullivan could certainly be acting as a spy for Fitzgerald."

I frowned. "Good point," I said to Marcus. "Bernard did give the impression that he has been a patron at The Auction House for a while."

Marcus leaned forward. "Think about it, Roman," Marcus said. "If Bernard is reporting back to Fitzgerald, then they’ll both know something is up when Bernard finds out you have bodyguards."

"But you’re guarding us against a crazy stalker," I reminded Marcus. "Besides, Hannah and I are married. We have nothing to hide from Bernard. I honestly don’t believe Bernard is smart enough to pick up on anything outside of what we tell him."

"He’s bad news, Roman," Marcus insisted.

I thought for a moment. If Marcus was right and Bernard was a spy for Fitzgerald, it could potentially be a dangerous risk.

"You’re right," I agreed with Marcus. After all, he was the FBI agent. "I’ll invite my real friends and have them call off Bernard."

"Good," Marcus said.

’Stop by my place for dinner at 6. No Bernard.’ I sent the text to Nick.

A moment later Nick responded. ’Bernard has been kicked. The rest of us will be there at 6.’

Marcus and I left the office a little after five in the evening. I found Ed out back lounging by the pool when I got home, while Hannah, Lori, and Lauren were inside the guest house. When I stepped inside the guest house, Hannah greeted me with a hug and a kiss. My body responded to her closeness with longing, and I was looking forward to taking her to bed tonight.

"How’s it going in here?" I asked Hannah.

"As expected," Hannah said to me. "This place is going to look completely different when they get finished with it." The guest house was a small bungalow with one bedroom and one bathroom, a full kitchen, and a cozy living room. Everything was decorated in black and white from the countertops and cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom to the upholstery on the furniture. "It looks fine to me the way it is," Hannah said with a shrug, "but Lori wants to put her personal touch on it."

"I can’t blame her," I said. Hannah was facing Lori and Lauren with her back to me, watching the two of them discuss ideas over an open laptop. I pulled Hannah toward me, her back to my front, and wrapped my arms around her midsection. "Lauren will certainly train Lori to be an amazing interior designer."

"I have no doubt about that," Hannah said.

"I invited the guys over for dinner," I said to Hannah. "They wanted to bring Bernard over to apologize."

Hannah glanced over her shoulder to meet my gaze. "That guy who caused a scene at our reception?" she asked me.

"Yes," I said. She visibly cringed as she undoubtedly remembered the way that Bernard had drunkenly grabbed her ass on the dance floor.

"That guy gives me the creeps," Hannah said. "I don’t want him here."

"You’re right not to trust Bernard," I agreed. "I don’t trust him either. Marcus said he could be a spy for Fitzgerald."

"That wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest," Hannah said before turning around to kiss me. I got a rundown of the changes that Lori and Lauren were going to make to the guest house before we all made our way back into the main house. Not long after we gathered in the dining room, the doorbell rang. Marcus and Ed hung back in the corridor where they were out of the way but could keep an eye on our guests. Nick, Gabe, and Wade arrived in their usual fun-loving moods. We all passed around hugs with laughter and a few jokes.

"Let’s eat," I said to everyone in the dining room. I took the seat at the head of the table with Hannah on my right and Nick on my left. Wade and Gabe sat next to Nick. Lori was next to Hannah, followed by Lauren. The staff arrived with our meal as we all chatted and laughed together.

Halfway through dinner, the doorbell rang. A moment later, Marcus entered the room and whispered to me that it was Bernard.

"What the hell," I said under my breath as I put my utensils down.

"Who is it?" Hannah asked me, concerned.

"Bernard," I said to her in a low voice. Hannah frowned.

"Something up, Roman?" Wade asked me.

"I’ll handle it," I said to Wade as I stood and excused myself. When I walked to the front door, Ed was holding it open, and Marcus was staring Bernard down.

"What the hell do you want, Bernard?" I asked him. "You’re not exactly welcome here."

"Are these guys guards or something?" Bernard asked, narrowing his gaze at Marcus and Ed.

"Yes," I said dismissively. "You have something to say to me, Bernard?" I asked him impatiently.

"Can I talk to you out here for a minute?" Bernard asked me, indicating the front porch.

"Just say what you need to say and get the hell off of my property," I said to Bernard.

"Look, I’m sorry about what happened at your wedding," Bernard said unconvincingly. "I was drunk."

"I know," I said. "Anything else?"

Bernard glanced at Marcus and Ed, who hadn’t moved from my side. "What are they, like bodyguards?" Bernard asked me.

"Apology accepted," I said to Bernard. "Have a good night." I indicated that Ed could close the door, and he did, cutting off whatever Bernard had to say.

"I’ll send a couple of security guys to keep an eye on him," Marcus said before walking off down the corridor to make a phone call. Ed stood near the dining room door as I reentered the dining room. All eyes were on me as I took my seat. I met Hannah’s gaze.

"What happened?" she asked me.

"He apologized," I said to her. "He’s gone. Marcus is keeping an eye on him."

Nick, Wade, and Gabe were watching me expectantly. "You have security guards now, Roman?" Nick asked me.

I shrugged. "Precautions," I said to them before eating a piece of my pork chop that I had left waiting on my plate.

"Actually, it’s because of me," Lauren offered. Now all eyes were on Lauren. She flipped her hair over her shoulder before she continued. "Stalkers," Lauren said. "This one has been the craziest one I’ve dealt with so far. Showing up lurking around my place and asking my neighbors about me." She speared a piece of broccoli and ate it, pausing her story to chew.

"If you’re the one with the stalker, why does Roman need bodyguards?" Gabe asked, confused. I eyed Lauren, who took a sip of her tea. I had no doubt that Lauren was capable of spinning a tale for the benefit of my friends.

"I certainly have security too," Lauren continued, "but before we could figure out who the guy was, he started calling Roman and leaving threatening messages. While Roman and Hannah were gone for their honeymoon, security cameras caught some guy lurking on the property here. The guy even started a fire at the far end of the lawn one night. We haven’t caught him, but clearly he’s a threat."

Hannah glanced at me with her brow raised as if to say, ’damn, she’s good.’ I nodded at Hannah in agreement.

"We thought it was best for me to hire bodyguards until the guy is caught," I added to Lauren’s tale.

"We actually think there are two of them now, working together," Lauren said to me. "Maybe three. My security has picked up on some intel that leads them to believe it’s not just one guy."

"Sh*t," Nick said. "I didn’t realize that people still dealt with stalkers these days."

"I know plenty of other influencers who have stalker problems," Lauren said to Nick. She started naming off other women that she knew in the fashion industry and on social media. I smirked as I noted how intently the guys were listening to Lauren. I met Hannah’s gaze and we shared a look of knowing. Every small victory counted in our efforts to keep our plans under wraps as much as possible.