Second Chance Addison

"What happened?"

"It's not a big deal."

"Addison!" She crossed her arms and spoke in a warning tone. "Explain. Now."

"Don't worry about it. The pain will be gone in a few days and I should be entirely back to normal in a few weeks."

He really wanted to give Koty a nice smack to the back of his head.

Although he never explicitly told him not to tell Fait about his injury, he thought they had an understanding. That was the whole reason he called Koty to begin with, right?

Unfortunately, Koty proved to be more loose lipped than he anticipated and had casually mentioned it to Fait.

Even if he wasn't sure that he could hide it for long, he would have at least liked to have had an opportunity to try. Chance was hoping he'd at least have a day or two. By then his walk would be a little more normal and she wouldn't have to know.

Instead he was dealing with an unhappy assistant who was currently glaring at him from the other side of his desk.

She continued to stare him down until there was a knock at the door.

'Oh, thank God!' Chance wasn't particularly religious but he suddenly felt as though someone had graciously intervened for him.

"Come in." Fait called out coldly towards the door.

The door opened and a bright flash of yellow darted straight at Fait, attaching itself to her legs.

"Genevieve?" Chance couldn't believe it and wondered how she had gotten there.

"Sorry, she found out where I was going and begged me to come." Roy apologized rather unapologetically as he stepped into the office as well.

"So, what are you doing here?" Chance asked.

"I came to sort out the last of Koty's paperwork with you." Roy answered as he held out a folder. "Technically he was hired directly by you and not LCM or Lovewell Publishing so there isn't a human resources department to take care of it for you. That means all of his paperwork and financing is your responsibility. Since I'm your lawyer, I drew up the contract myself and thought I should come in person to explain it."

"And Koty has already seen and signed these?"

"Yes. I meant to do this sooner but then you had Genny and I heard there was some excitement and Fait warned me about the board meeting and some other stuff happened on my end anyway so..."

"I understand. It's fine."

Fait went back to her own desk, with Genevieve in tow, and decided to ask more about the injury later.

As tempted as she was to ask Koty, she felt it might get him into trouble with Chance. She didn't want Chance to get angry and fire a talented bodyguard over something so minor.

Of course, she had no idea that the two were old friends and that there was no way Chance would fire Koty over such a situation. He would just find some way to annoy him later to vent his frustration.

"Hey Roy, where did you find the applicants for this bodyguard position?"

"Is there something you don't like about Koty? I can find you another bodyguard."

"No, that isn't it at all. I'm just curious." The last thing he wanted was to get someone else.

Chance knew Koty and liked Koty. He was annoyed with him sure, but he still wanted him to work for him.

Roy nodded and explained the process.

"Oh, well, Fait knows a guy that was friends with Mack. She said he keeps track of all sorts of talent from all sorts of industries. In this case he recommended some people to her and gave their profiles over to me. I tested each candidate and Koty was the top scorer. He also passed the interview and his background check didn't come back with anything serious so he was the first pick."

"I see."

Roy went on and started explaining the paperwork but Chance was focused on his own thoughts.

'So it really is just a coincidence that it's Koty.' That thought helped Chance relax his guard against Koty.

Even though they had been friends before, he was still apprehensive about fully trusting Koty. With everything Jerome had put him through, he had to consider that it was possible that Koty was somehow planted.

He was relieved to hear that there was no way that was possible.

Be betrayed like he was really did something to Chance's mind. Never before in his life had he been so paranoid towards people.

"Alright, so just sign here, here, here, and here." Chance snapped back to reality as Roy pointed out a few blanks on the last few pages.

He picked up his pen and signed where he was told.

"And with that, you have officially hired Dakota Flynn as your one and only bodyguard." Roy shook Chances hand and smiled.

"Thanks for all the help with this. Both yours and Fait's."

"Ah, don't worry about it. It's what we do."

"Still, you have clearly gone out of your way with this."

Chance looked towards the door and then pressed a button on his intercom to call Fait.

"Yes, Addison." Fait still sounded slightly aggravated. He was going to have to own up to his injury after all.

"You can bring Genevieve back in now."

"We'll be right in."