8.1
Georgina
I down several gulps of water from my bottle, my heart still racing after my run while Vi updates me over the phone on the latest developments in her business life.
"I'm on my way to Miami," Vi informs me. "I’m looking at samples for the new line.”
Last year, Vi developed her own resort wear line of clothing inspired by places she’s traveled around the world. She got good reviews and after a big Hollywood celebrity was photographed wearing one of her designs, she was put in some exclusive boutiques in Miami.
“Send me photos?”
“Top Secret photos,” she says. “I’m in Miami for a week, unless you’d like me to stay in Denver to help make sure you take advantage of the whole two hot guys situation."
"You're such a generous person. But I'll pass, since there will be no ‘taking advantage of two hot guys’."
Vi sighs exaggeratedly. "I saw you with one of those two hot guys, and trust me, Nathaniel Ashby looked like he would be more than happy to be taken advantage of, specifically by you."
"Nothing is going to happen between me and Nathaniel Ashby, Vi –"
"You heard your father. He wants you to milk that football player for an endorsement."
"Is that an innuendo? Because if it is, I'm not even going to dignify that with a response."
Vi laughs. "I give the both of you a week at the ranch before Nathaniel Ashby has you bent over a fence.”
"Who says Nathaniel Ashby is even going to the ranch?" Suddenly, I'm suddenly distracted by a loud buzzing noise. "What the hell?"
A remote-controlled helicopter appears above the wall between my house and the neighbor's, a plastic object dangling from it. Oh my God. "Is that a… blow-up doll?"
"Where? What's going on? Is this your neighbor's blow up doll we're talking about?" Vi asks.
As if there are any other blow-up dolls in my life.
But I'm too preoccupied with what's happening to immediately answer. I watch the helicopter hover above the wall just inside my backyard, the plastic doll dangling from it with limbs askew.
"I'm not entirely sure what's happening…"
I don't get to finish my sentence before the crack of a gunshot pierces the air. The helicopter bursts into pieces, and the blow-up figurine zigs and zags erratically back and forth a few times before collapsing into a heap on the grass. I turn, my mouth wide open as Blair materializes in the backyard, giving orders into her earpiece. "Get inside the house, ma'am," she commands.
"Blair, you realize that’s just the neighbor's –"
"Step back inside the house, ma'am."
"What's going on, Georgina? Was that a gunshot?" Vi asks. "Are you okay?"
I step inside the kitchen, closing the French doors and watching Blair intently. "I'm fine. It's not me who’s being shot at. Blair shot a toy helicopter… or maybe the blow-up doll. I'm not sure. It might have taken down both."
"What?" Vi asks, laughing. "A toy helicopter and a blow-up doll? What the hell is happening at your house?"
"I'm not sure, but I'm going to find out," I answer, crossing through the house to the front door. Blair might have told me to stay inside, but she can't be everywhere at all times. "I think the neighbor flew a toy helicopter into the yard."
"And your security detail shot it down?" Vi asks. "How exciting. Wait, what does the blow-up doll have to do with it?"
"Vi, I'll call you back."
"No way! Put me on speaker! I want to hear what's going on," Vi begs.
"Um…” I say, distracted by the insanity of what just happened. “I need to talk to Blair and David."
"Georgina Carter Aschberg, if you cut me out of the drama, I swear I’m going to ditch Miami and show up at your front door!" Vi yells just before I hang up.
I make it down the driveway to the gate before Blair spots me, following down the driveway behind me at a fast clip. "Ma'am, I told you to stay in the house."
"Why?" I ask. "Because you think there was an assassination attempt made on me by a remote-controlled helicopter and a blow-up doll? Really? Death by blow-up doll?" I ignore her order, pushing open the gate to find David outside.
With Adriano.
Adriano has his hands over his head and his palms pressed against the stone wall in front of our houses. For a second, I just pause, sucking in a deep breath as I gape at him. He's shirtless, of course – at this point, I'm not convinced the man actually owns any shirts - his rippled back muscles on full display. It’s the most distracting thing I’ve ever seen. When he sees me, he grins. "Well, sugar, I have to tell you, I'm disappointed to be getting felt up by your security guard and not you." He looks over his shoulder at David. "Would you mind trading places with her real quick?"
In response, David puts a hand firmly in the middle of his back, pushing him harder against the wall. "Shut your mouth."
"David!" I protest. "Come on. Be reasonable here. He's obviously not trying to kill me."
"Kill you?" Adriano asks. "Why would I be trying to kill you? I was just trying to get your attention."
"You were trying to get her attention by flying a sex doll into her yard? Yeah, you're a real Romeo," David says.
"The bomb squad will be here to check for chemical weapons in a minute," Blair notes.
"What the hell are you talking about?" blurts Adriano. "Chemical weapons? Are you insane? That was a joke. It's a blow-up doll, for shit's sake."
