I spun around on the barstool, nearly losing my balance. Daniel stood there watching us, blue eyes unreadable.

"Oh, hi Mr Hunter," I said, aiming for casual even as my face burned. "Derek was just, um, telling me to be careful."

Daniel arched an eyebrow coolly. "Is that right? Should I be concerned about Ms Watson's safety around you as well?" His tone held a biting undercurrent.

I opened my mouth to protest but Derek beat me to it, eyes narrowing.

"No need to get your knickers in a twist, Mr Hunter. I was warning Emily about your bloody stalker problem, which you've clearly neglected to mention." He crossed his arms. "You know, the psycho who ran Natalie off the road? Emily's getting threatening notes too now."

Daniel's cocky facade slipped. "What? What are you talking about?"

I cleared my suddenly sober throat. "Um yeah...I've gotten a few weird calls lately. And notes saying to quit working with you or else. I didn't want to worry you so I kinda downplayed it." I bit my lip.

Daniel looked poleaxed. Scrubbing both hands roughly through his hair before spearing Derek with a piercing look.

"Explain. Now."

Succinctly Derek recapped my handful of unnerving incidents, from the menacing notes to my near-miss on that darkened road weeks ago. With each detail, Daniel grew visibly tenser, blue eyes stormy. I squirmed on my stool, unaccountably feeling I'd disappointed him somehow by not confiding my troubles sooner.

"It's probably not connected to your Natalie situation though," I rushed to add. "I'm sure Ben's security team keeps obsessed fans far away from me on set." But my reassurance rang hollow even to my own ears. Derek merely shot Daniel a pointed "I-told-you-so" look.

Daniel visibly struggled to calm himself, muscle ticking along his taut jawline.

"Regardless, I should have been informed immediately of any and all threats made towards members of my staff." Voice lethally soft. "As a lead producer, this lapse in security protocol falls squarely on me. You'll have round the clock protection from here on out."

I gaped, waving both hands as I slid tipsily off my stool. "Whoa whoa, let's not get carried away! I don't need, like, round-the-clock bodyguards." I hiccuped. "It was just a few creepy calls...nothing Ben's team can't handle..."

But Daniel wasn't having it, gripping both my shoulders almost roughly, eyes blazing.

"Don't you dare downplay this, Ms Watson! Your safety could be at serious risk because of my damned association. I should never have..." He broke off, raking both hands through his hair in self-recrimination.

"This stops now. I'm getting you top-tier security, effective immediately. No arguments!" Daniel bit off before I could protest further.

His aggressive protectiveness was admittedly kind of hot but also seriously unnecessary. Before I could point this out, Derek stepped casually between us, peeling Daniel's clenched fingers off me.

"Easy there, Mr Hunter. Our girl's a bit tipsy and you're manhandling." His reproving look softened slightly taking in Daniel's obvious distress. "But you're right - Em's safety is paramount so let's figure this out tomorrow with clear heads, yeah?"

I wrinkled my nose in annoyance but stayed quiet. Killjoy Derek being the lone voice of reason was irksome.

Daniel visibly wrestled his towering temper under control with effort. Stepping back stiffly out of Derek's space.

"Yes, you're right, of course." Voice tight. "My apologies, Ms Watson. We'll... revisit everything tomorrow after I speak with Ben and Giuseppe. Perhaps you should call it an early night."

~

I nodded reluctantly as Daniel advised me to call it an early night. The rational part of me knew there was wisdom in waiting until morning to fully discuss my unsettling situation, but the emotional, tipsy part wanted to keep pressing my case so that I didn't need round-the-clock bodyguards following my every move. However, the stormy, resolute glint in Daniel's eyes told me any further arguments would be pointless.

As we headed out into the cool night air, I wobbled slightly in my heels, the multiple cocktails I'd consumed finally catching up to me. Daniel's strong arm shot out instantly to steady me, grasping my elbow. His concerned gaze swept over me with an unreadable expression. "I should never have left you unguarded at that bar," he muttered, seemingly to himself.

I waved a hand airily, aiming for nonchalance. "Oh please, I don't need babysitting! I'm a big girl, I can handle a few creepy notes." Even as I slurred the words, I knew I wasn't helping my case for self-sufficiency. Daniel's mouth thinned, his eyes were glinting.

"Regardless, it was irresponsible of me. From here on, your security takes utmost priority." His tone brooked no refusal.

I sighed gustily but knew better than to keep arguing. Daniel could be implacably stubborn when he set that laser-sharp mind to something. And for some unfathomable reason, he'd set it firmly now to my personal protection. Still, this level of protectiveness towards a mere PA seemed excessive. Natalie had ostensibly been his serious love interest, the tragic girlfriend suddenly ripped from his glittering world by a depraved stalker( as told by Derek). Her situation called for drastic security measures. Me - I was nobody special. Just the help.

Brow furrowing, I peered up at Daniel quizzically. "Why do you care so much anyway? About keeping me safe? You barely know me." I meant the words innocently enough but Daniel looked oddly stung, raking a restless hand through his artfully tousled hair.

"I know we haven't spent much time together, Ms Watson..." He trailed off awkwardly, uncharacteristically seeming at a loss for words. "But I consider every person working under me my responsibility to protect. When someone threatens my staff's safety, I take it very personally."

I bit my lip, reading the grim truth in his stormy eyes. Still, something niggled at me that there was more beneath the surface. Some deeper untapped vein of emotion towards me specifically that Daniel wasn't fully acknowledging. But the alcohol swimming in my system muddled any probing for clarity here.

We walked in pensive silence to my apartment building nearby. The brisk night air helped clear some of the fog from my brain but did nothing to unwind the tense set of Daniel's shoulders.

I didn't dare speak, sensing Daniel needed space to wrestle the revelation of my undisclosed threats into some semblance of perspective. His body fairly vibrated; maybe with some suppressed aggression, hands shoved deep in his pockets and jaw granite-hard. It was a far cry from the usual polished movie star charm and easygoing confidence he projected to the masses.

This was Daniel stripped raw - dangerously intense, emotionally volatile. Despite barely knowing him, I had an inkling not too many people got to witness Daniel Hunter with his suave facade stripped away. The magnitude of his reaction to my relatively trivial troubles surprised me. And, if I was being fully honest with myself, thrilled me a tiny bit.

At my building entrance, Daniel visibly grappled to rein himself in, ramrod straight spine softening marginally as he turned reluctantly to leave. "Get some rest, Ms Watson," he directed, attempting some lightness but missing the mark. "I'll send a car for you first thing tomorrow so we can get fully briefed on new security protocols."

His words held grim finality; and before I could reply, he continued tensely. "And please, Ms Watson...if anything else remotely suspicious occurs tonight, if you get the slightest sense you're being watched or threatened, call me instantly."

He speared me with those penetrating blue eyes in emphasis and I swallowed hard, managing a faint jerky nod.

Daniel still hesitated, seeming unwilling to exit my orbit just yet. I gave him a gentle smile, hoping to convey some measure of reassurance. "I'll be fine... Mr. Hunter, really. Try not to worry so much!" I nudged him playfully. "Wouldn't want to prematurely wrinkle that flawless leading man complexion of yours."

I meant to lighten the mood but my teasing attempt fell flat. Daniel just watched me silently for another endless moment, face unreadable. Then he exhaled harshly, squaring his shoulders.

"Good night then... Ms Watson. Lock your door." Curt, clipped words held an undertone of some suppressed emotion I couldn't quite decipher. But before I could analyze further, Daniel turned sharply on his heel and strode off into the night without a backward glance.

I watched his retreating form pensively, nonplussed by his edgy demeanor. Shaking my head, I keyed inside and took the elevator up to my modest apartment. Slipping off my heels with a relieved groan, I scrubbed both hands down my face tiredly.

What an emotionally charged evening!

I quickly washed my face and changed into comfy pajamas before double-checking that my door was securely locked. Daniel's tension had been contagious and I irrationally found myself peering surreptitiously through the peephole into the empty hallway.

Get a grip!

I mentally chided myself even as I latched the extra deadbolt for good measure. No one knew where I lived besides close friends and obviously no crazed stalker lurked beyond my solid door. Still, I couldn't fully shake the uneasy prickle between my shoulder blades as I wandered my small apartment, flipping off lights.

Ok try to sleep Emily...

~