7 yrs, Gone and Forgotten

Chapter 1: Morning Routine

       The summer breeze felt so good rustling through my hair as I sat in front of my favorite coffee shop looking into the sky at the Eiffel tower that seemed to cast its shadow everywhere. The guards, Lance, and Lane after so many years had finally taken kindly to sitting with me in the mornings and enjoying coffee as well.

      Being twin brothers, they looked identical, sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, six feet tall and built like linebackers, the only difference was Lane had a scar across his right cheek after breaking up a bar fight about five years ago when Mandy and I got into some trouble. The only time they aren’t with me is when I am with Scott and Theo, and if one thought Lance and Lane were intimidating, they should see Scott and Theo. Scott was the biggest of the twin brothers, while Theo was the thickest built of the two, both with their raven hair and brown eyes.

      “You going to get that Lee?” Lance asked, breaking me completely out of my thought pattern. Leona might have been my name, but everyone called me Lee, which I liked. For some reason a nickname seemed to suit me on matter what my real name was. “Lee?” He asked again completely breaking my racing thoughts.

     “Yep.” I laughed as I answered my phone and pulled my calendar book from my bag. “Marlette security consulting and training, how can I help you?”

      “Hello, this is Light Industries Designing, and I was calling to see about setting up a security detail with the Marlette brothers for an upcoming event.” A screechy annoying feminine voice sang from the other end of the line.

      “Are you interested in consulting or training?” I wasn’t sure what else to offer her, we didn’t offer security details.

     “Are you deaf or stupid, I don’t want either, we need detail.” She hissed.

     I cleared my throat and smiled best I could, I wasn’t a violent person, nor was I one to get into any kind of confrontation, but for the first time in my life that I could remember that woman was pissing me off and I was ready to run my hand through the phone and strangle her. “I am very sorry, but as far as I know we do not offer detail, however if you will leave your name, number, best time to reach you, and dates that you need this I will pass the information onto Scott or Theo and have them get in contact with you as soon as impossible.” I shook my head at the questioning looks that Lance and Lane were giving me.

      “Fine.” She huffed, “Are you competent to write down the information?”

       I gritted my teeth, “Yes ma’am.”

      “Like I said before this is Light Industries Designing, the number I can be reached at is 999-542-1243. And please have them call asap so that we can work out the when and where.” And just like that she hung the phone up.  

      “Uff!” I huffed as I laid the phone down on the table with a loud thump once again gaining the attention of Lance and Lane.

      “You alright? I don’t think I have ever seen anyone get under your skin like that.” Lane laughed.

      Lance slapped his shoulder and turned to me with a serious expression. “Seriously, are you alright Lee?”

      I nodded my head and offered the best smile I could. “Yea I am alright. Just that woman run all through me, and for the first time in my life I think I had violent thoughts towards someone.”

     “What did she want?” Lane finally stopped laughing and turned his expression serious like his brother.

     “She wanted security detail and got angry because I told her we didn’t offer that. We don’t do we?” Maybe I misunderstood the whole situation and maybe they could help me, without me having to go to Scott and tell him about all this.

     Lance shook his head, “Not that I am aware of. And I have been working with them as long as you have. The only detail I know of, is the detail that they provide at the Marlette mansion and that they provide you using us.”

     I picked my phone up and offered them another smile. “That’s what I thought, thanks guys.” I dialed the number and held the phone to my ear as it rang. “Now if you will excuse me, I need to call Scott and let him know what’s up.” They nodded as I sat there and waited for Scott to answer the phone.

     “Hey Lee what’s up?” Scott sung through the phone.

     “You are awful cheery, what are you doing?” I giggled. I loved how they could always be so lighthearted when they spoke to me.

      “We are fixing to hit the mats with a few new trainees for the mansion, and you know how I like to spar.” He laughed, “Now to what do I owe the pleasure of hearing my little sisters voice so early in the morning?”

       “Well, I kind of got a funny call and had to deal with a weird woman on the phone that made me want to strangle her through the phone.”

      “Wait a minute,” he interrupted me, “Someone actually made you angry. Whoa, now I am interested.” He taunted over the phone. He was right though, in seven years, no one had even heard me raise my voice, let alone have a violent thought.

      “Yea okay, I am only human, I can get angry sometimes. But that isn’t the point. She wanted us to provide security detail and got upset when I told her we don’t do that, so she insisted on speaking with you and I got her information for you.”

     “That’s interesting. You are right we don’t typically do detail work; however, I have had to two or three times over the last few years to grow our clientele. Text me the information, I will contact her, and we will look at the books this evening to see if we have anything open and if we can do it.”

     “Can do.”

     “Oh, and Lee, don’t forget we have that dinner at the mansion this weekend to celebrate your birthday.”

     I rolled my eyes, I loved their family, except for Mildred, his stepmom, she kind of gave me the creeps and I didn’t even know why. “Fine, fine, I remember. Now go do your thing and I will see you this evening.”

     “Good deal, bye.” And the phone clicked in my ear.

     “Come on boys, I still need to pick a few things up for dinner tonight, and then get the orders out for Mandy before the evening.” I grabbed my things, depositing them in my bag and motioning for Lane and Lance to follow.