Chapter 25 Analise's POV After my father made an appearance , my headache got even worse . Noticing Tiffany and Gretchen giving me the death glare , I just wanted to leave . I had no energy to put up with anything else tonight . I was done . I told Emily and Gwen to stay there and enjoy their night , but they insisted on leaving with me . My head was pounding so badly that I didn't argue when Gwen insisted I stay the night at her house . Honestly , I didn't want to go back to Fashion Forward . Gwen gave me a nightgown to wear while she washes my clothes today . I took a long shower as I plotted my next steps . I needed to move a few things forward . I had tipped off Roger and his family that I was only getting started . As much as I loved my new car , I was going to have to leave it here in Gwen's garage until I moved into my home . I needed it to be safe . Hiring a driver / bodyguard as well as a bodyguard was going to have to be two weeks early . I could tell that Sasha , Joyce , or Tiffany would be happy to hire someone to cut my break lines . I would be making that call in the morning . I had already set it up . I just needed to call them and tell them when to start . I knew that my father hated it when I didn't comply . I knew I was in for an argument tomorrow night , and Dad wasn't going to back down . I also knew it would be four against one , which was fine . We did need to have a family meeting . I'm going to make sure that this is the first and last time that Dad ever threatens my business . I finished my shower and just went through the motions tonight , as I did my skin care . I had just started a routine . The ladies suggested that I needed to start a skin care routine when they helped me pick out my makeup . I hadn't spoken to Gwen or Emily on the way home . My mind was working overtime . Gwen knew what the issue was , but I hadn't told Emily . It wasn't that she wasn't a valuable and trusted friend . It was because ! didn't like to talk about it . Gwen only knew because we always went over the applications together . When I saw that Tiffany and Gretchen had applied to be brand ambassadors for Fashion Forward , my hands started to shake . Gwen doesn't know the whole story , but she heard some of it that day . She was happy not just to kick them out of our company , but also to ensure that other companies heard what we had done . Some were surprised , as they hadn't expected us to reject Tiffany Vaughn because of who her family was . She considered herself an influencer , but she didn't have that many followers . She had applied several years ago . She didn't have many followers back then either . She was trying to gain more followers by working here . She has about fifty thousand followers now , which honestly wasn't very many . I didn't eat , I wasn't hungry . I just went straight to bed . I knew that tomorrow was going to be a tough day . I already anticipated how tonight would go . I tossed and turned for hours , unable to sleep . When I fall asleep , the ping of a notification would wake me up . I finally had to turn my phone off at one in the morning . When sleep did finally come , it was filled with nightmares . I woke up when Gwen entered to put my clothes on the dresser for me . I probably got three hours of sleep . I was sure that I would need a driver today . I turned my phone back on and saw about forty text messages O < - Dewelcome Half of them were from Roger . I've never received twenty text messages from Roger in a month before . This had to be some kind of record for him . I didn't read any of the texts . My head still hurts from the stress of last night , and the lack of sleep hasn't helped . I rode to work with Gewn . Emily didn't have to be there until later . I used the time to call and start my security team today . It was short notice , but they would be here this afternoon . I had looked through Roger's texts to see that he wanted me to drop by the company at one . I told him I would be there , but I didn't tell him I would be alone . I went straight to my office and decided to take a nap . I needed to get more sleep today . As much as they all deserved it , I still needed to control myself and what I said . I turned off the light and lay down on my couch . This time , I managed to sleep a few more hours , with no nightmares . Maybe it was because my office had a special scent in it . I felt safe here , but I felt better when I woke up . My new security detail would be here in thirty minutes , and I had gotten ready to go to see Roger . The gate guard had been notified that they would be driving me around for the foreseeable future . I had sent a message to Rodney Briggs before I took my nap , so he was ready to meet us there at twelve fifty . Roger won't be alone . Of that , I am sure . He is going to be very surprised that I'm not alone either . I already know that this isn't going to be as fun as I had imagined . I learned that the hard way last night . I curled my hair and left it down . I liked the waves it made . I quickly put some mascara on and a little eyeliner . I had bought a large brush set , and smudged the copper colored liner , which made my eyes pop . I put on red lipstick , as I was preparing for war . I put on my new favorite outfit . It was a black button - down shirt and my black pencil skirt . I put a slim gold belt around my waist . I never used to wear a belt , but this one was a gift from Emily . She insisted that the belt would emphasize my new hourglass figure . She was right , it did , I slipped on my ballet flats and put my heels into my purse . I hadn't eaten yet , but I was ready early as I wanted to stop and get a coffee , one that I knew I needed . I was in front of Fashion Forward offices at the appropriate time , and they were already there . The one in the passenger seat got out to open my door for me . They both had earpieces and looked formidable . According to the man I spoke with when I called , all of their employees were former military . I didn't ask for handsome guys , but hey , if that's who I was assigned , who am I to argue ? The man behind the wheel was a charmer named Charlie , and Drew was in the passenger seat . Charlie pulled out to leave , and the guard at the gate waved us out . After we pulled out into the street , I asked , " Can we stop for coffee ? I know it's late , but my sleep was terrible , and I need a pick - me - up . It's my treat if you want one too . " " You don't have to do that , Ms. Caldwell . We can get our own , " Charlie replied . " I want to , you guys might end up in a fight , sooner than later , so I want to make sure that I take care of your both , " I responded with a smile . " Gun fight ? Or fist fight ? " Drew asked . " Fist fight , it isn't that serious , well , not yet . But please , for the time being , call me Ms. Wade . My ex - fiancé , Roger Cook , doesn't know that I'm a Caldwell , and he won't until after our wedding date has passed . But I am from the Caldwell family , and you will be seeing them tonight . You don't have to speak to them . I don't plan on speaking to them either , " I replied . 15 274 Unwelcome " Your ex - fiancé doesn't know who you are ? " Charlie asked in surprise . " No , my parents didn't show me off ; they like to be private . I want to get you up to speed . Roger and I were co - owners until I found out that he had married his first love . Making our wedding a sham . He won't file it since I mean so little to him . I sold my shares and informed the investors I had brought in that I am no longer part of the company . The company won't be able to survive without me . He wants me to sign a document that would allow him to steal my jewelry designs today . That is what the one p.m. meeting will be about . My attorney will be meeting us there , and I won't be signing anything . Try to keep a straight face . I'm sure his wife will be there . She was being given my former position in the company . Roger's going to lose it . He needs my designs for the company to be successful . He's about to learn a hard lesson today , " I replied . Charlie pulled into a drive - through and I gave him my order . He ended up paying for all of our drinks , despite my trying to give him a twenty . " Ms. Wade , you've been through enough , so it's my treat today . We have your back . We won't let anything happen to you . " Thank you , Charlie , " I replied in almost a whisper because that was one of the nicest things I've heard in al long time . The fact that it came from a stranger who doesn't even know me hit home . I had to look up and start blinking to keep the tears from escaping . I'm not going to cry , not in front of anyone else . I will probably be crying in the shower tonight , like I usually do .. They could tell that I was upset , so they stopped speaking , and we rode in a comfortable silence as we headed to the company . I had them pull into the visitors ' parking in front of the building . I wasn't an employee anymore . I changed my shoes . I wore the black heels with the red bottoms , and refreshed my lipstick . I felt like I had my armor on . No matter what Roger does or what Sasha says , they can't hurt me . Not anymore , they're not important to me at all . We didn't get out until Rodney pulled up . We all got out together , and I introduced my bodyguards to Rodney . " Roger is going to hate seeing you with them ," Rodney teased . He knows me . He knew that I was already anxious about this . I have been non - confrontational for most of my life . They all walked behind me as headed towards the entrance . I could already see Sasha and Dixon standing at the receptionist's desk . The moment I entered , I heard Dixon call out , " Elizabeth , this was a meeting between you and Roger , Who ar all these people ? " " My attorney and my security . I don't feel safe here anymore , " I replied calmly . " Well , they can't be present for the meeting . I'm sorry , but they have to stay down here in the lobby , " Sasha said as she walked up to block me . are " That's fine , Sasha . Please inform Roger that you're the reason for the cancellation of today's meeting . Rodney , prepare another letter , Please , include the number of units they produced after the contracts expired . I want payment for them , immediately . Also , send Roger a bill for your time . You lost an hour coming here today ," I said as I headed right back to the front doors .