Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 299

“I’ll step out for a bit. Grandma, Emmie, if you need anything, just call for the nurse. I’ll be back soon,” Larson said.

“Go on, don’t worry about us,” Emma replied quickly.

Larson smiled. “It’s not like I have anything pressing. I’ll just be a moment.”

His grandmother’s room was a private suite, meant for serious cases. Last night, both he and Emma slept there—he took the couch, while Emma had a fold-out bed for family.

They’d only hired the nurse today, but she was only responsible for medical care. When it came to meals, Larson wished he could find a dedicated housekeeper to help out.

He mulled this over as he left the hospital room and stepped out of the ward.

In the elevator lobby, five or six men stood ramrod straight. When Larson emerged, they immediately snapped to attention, forming a line and squaring their shoulders.

Larson sighed. “Did Mr. Fairchild send you all over here?”

“Yes, sir,” the one at the front reported. “Mr. Rossi, there are also a few of us posted on the first floor and under the windows outside the room.”

Larson stared at them in exasperation.

He eyed their matching outfits, rubbing his temples. “Listen, don’t scare everyone! Security here is just fine. You don’t need to be so intense.”

“Mr. Rossi, it’s our duty.”

Larson could only give in. He knew there was no getting rid of them. “Fine, but at least try not to stand out so much. Blend in, will you?”

When he’d flown home with Emma, there had been at least thirty bodyguards scattered among the regular passengers on their flight. On the next plane, another few dozen followed right behind.

Latham was seriously overdoing it.

He understood the need for tight security abroad—his father’s side of the family was ruthless, and they’d love nothing more than to see him dead. But here, back home, all this seemed unnecessary.

The bodyguards felt a bit put out themselves. They really were trying to keep a low profile; they wore plain T-shirts, but somehow all ended up buying identical ones. And with their height and muscle, they still stood out, but what could they do?

Larson toured the place but didn’t look too impressed.

Latham noticed. “Given the short notice, this is the best we could find.”

“It’s fine. As long as it’s livable. Emma and Grandma will only be here for a month, and after that, who knows if we’ll even stay in the country. No point in major renovations—just swap out the furnishings.”

“Understood.” Latham already knew Larson’s tastes and guessed the flashy decor would be a turn-off.

“Any luck with a housekeeper?” Larson asked, his main concern.

“It’s been tough to find someone on such short notice. Should I arrange for someone from overseas?”

“Let’s do both—keep looking here, and bring in a couple from abroad if you can. The more, the better.”

Since he was out already, and Latham had some business matters to discuss, Larson agreed to stop by the office—a company still in the early stages of setup—even though he was eager to get back to the hospital.