"We will be in Mexico soon." I speak soothingly as I stroke Daniel's hair back off his forehead.

He nods, but he's still wound as tight as a coiled spring from our journey through the airport. "Fuck knows what's going to be waiting for us when we get there." He mutters before finishing his vodka and coke.

"We will be fine... just got to keep walking." I wiggle my eyebrows to lighten the mood, remembering the firm instructions Daniel used to give me.

He smiles half heartedly.

"Come on, don't let the press ruin our time away from home. Chris warned you what the airport was going to be like, especially once they realised we were in New York. The pictures of your party went viral in minutes!" Chris had prepared us both for how the studio had ensured exposure of the party was everywhere.

"I know." Daniel pinches the bridge of his nose. "I don't know how to explain it... I just hate all those people being near you... within touching distance! Anything could happen to you! I feel like I can't breathe because it's outside of what I can control." He shakes his head. "I'm not making any sense."

"Yes you are! You want to protect me... us... and, I love you for it." I feel a slight smile tug at my lips that he's actually talking to me about how he's feeling.

Daniel cups my face in his large hands and presses his forehead gently against mine. "I love you too." A smile then breaks across his beautiful face, causing fine lines to appear on the sides of his eyes. "There were some stunning pictures of you at the party."

I blush slightly at the compliment. "I don't know about that, but I didn't stick out like a sore thumb like I thought I would!"

"Babe, I wish you could see how I see you... just for a second." He kisses my lips softly. "Then you would never feel insecure again because you would know that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

The blush deepens across my cheeks as I look away from his azure blue eyes down to my fingers.

"I also love that I can still make you blush." He chuckles as he presses his lips to my forehead.

"Stop with the compliments now." I tease. "I'll look like a beetroot by the time we get off this plane."

He holds his hands up in defeat. "OK, no more compliments." He laughs heartily.

"We're about to land." The air hostess announces.

****

"Fuck!" I exclaim a little too loudly when I notice the amount of reporters waiting outside the airport.

Daniel's head snaps up from his phone and he abruptly follows my gaze. "Holy shit!"

The sea of reporters catch sight of us and a frenzy begins. The press swarm towards us as Daniel's arm locks protectively around my shoulder. Feeling myself begin to tremble, Daniel immediately holds me close against him.

"I'm here and you're safe." He says clearly in my ear as we approach the wall of people.

I look up at him with wide eyes, but know I have to stay strong. My instincts scream at me to rest my hand across my stomach to protect our babies, but I fight the urge to draw any attention to them and instead cling onto Daniel. "I know... keep walking, right?"

He nods in return, and we pick up the pace.

Reporters soon circle around us, and Daniel has to push our way through. The flashes of the cameras blind me, but we both refuse to give them a reaction.

"Come on guys, give us some room." Daniel says in frustration, but it makes no difference. I can feel the panic beginning to rise up and soon the room starts to spin a little.

Questions are shouted at us from all angles, making it difficult to distinguish their voices. As we walk I can hear that most of them are about Daniel being shot and how he's feeling now.

"Lizzie, any comment on you being the poster girl for Banner Hotels?" The reporter directly to Daniel's right asks clearly.

"Lizzie, we hear you've landed a very lucrative contract with Banner Hotels. Are you feeling up for the challenge?" Another reporter shouts over the furore.

"Lizzie, how do you think you can juggle both your relationship and your business?" Another one asks from somewhere in the crowd.

I'm too shocked to answer. My face must give away my surprise because thankfully Daniel steps in to answer. "No comment." He says through gritted teeth.

We keep up the pace and soon we are seated in the waiting car. The drive speeds away and finally I feel like I can breathe.

Daniel is sat staring out of the window, lost in thought. I reach across to squeeze his hand as we journey closer to the hotel.

"Who knew you had landed the deal with Banner Hotels?" He turns his head slightly when he breaks the silence.

I frown while I think. "Me... you... my parents... Caroline, Jeremy, Sarah, Ben, Rhys... Ashley, Helen... and Harrison, of course. Why?"

"Someone tipped them off... and my money is on fucking Harrison!" Daniel is literally vibrating with anger as we turn off the road and onto the hotel complex.

"We don't know that-" my words are cut off by Daniel with a wave of his hand.

"Well, we're about to fucking find out." Daniel comments abruptly as we both see Harrison waiting for our arrival.

Daniel is out of the car before it has fully stopped. He strides swiftly up the marble steps towards Harrison. I scramble out of the car and race towards the two men as fast as I can, feeling the heat engulf me after the coolness of the air conditioned car.

Harrison looks crisp and collected, whereas Daniel is wild and untamed. "Did you tip them off?" Daniel asks the second he is level with Harrison. He stands with their noses almost touching.

"Well hello, Mr Weston. Welcome to my hotel." Harrison smirks towards Daniel as if he silently challenging him to punch him in front of all of the holiday makers who are now watching Hollywood royalty shouting at the owner of Banner Hotels. "Shall we go through to my office?" Harrison gestures into the beautiful cream stone building.

Daniel reluctantly nods when he notices the people watching.

"Hello, Lizzie. You're looking radiant today. Would you care to join us?" Harrison wears a smug grin on his face.

I glance between the two men and know Daniel is barely containing his anger. "Hi, Harrison. Yeah, I had better." I march between the two of them, not looking at either of them as I pass through.

"This way." Harrison says calmly and directs us into a private room.

Daniel attempts to take my hand, but I pull away and glare at him.

"It was him!" He whispers desperately into my ear.

"You don't know that. He is my client... my only fucking client! How dare you accuse him like that in public, when we're his guest!" I whisper through gritted teeth before leaving Daniel standing in the lobby.

Entering Harrison's office, he takes the seat behind a huge desk. The view of the ocean behind him is exactly what I've seen on several occasions and I wish I could appreciate the view... but I'm too angry.

Daniel slams the door behind him. "Well, Banner. We're in private now, and you didn't answer my fucking question. The media in New York had no idea where we were heading... then by the time we land here they knew about Lizzie's contract with you! So you better start fucking talking!" He leans down on Harrison's desk staring him straight in the eyes.

"Daniel! You're so out of order! Why would Harrison tell the press about me? You need to apologise... right now!" I demand forcefully, but Daniel doesn't turn round. He continues to glare at Harrison, waiting for an answer.

Harrison then holds both his hands up. "OK... It was me!" He grins.

Daniel launches across the desk and grabs the front of Harrison's blue linen shirt. He pulls Harrison up towards him. I lunge at him and grab his arm. "Daniel! Stop!" I scream.

Daniel turns his head towards me and his eyes seem to clear from a haze. He lets Harrison go and sits down heavily. Daniel doesn't take his eyes off him. Harrison smoothes his shirt before also sitting back down, leaving me standing between them.

"Why would you do that?" I ask bitterly. The guilt rises up in my stomach that I didn't trust Daniel's gut. I then swiftly take the seat next to Daniel and wait for Harrison's answer.

"I thought I would give you some real positive publicity. The only stories in the media about you are as Daniel's girlfriend. They either read your too ordinary, too dependent, money grabbing... the list goes on. Then you nearly die... twice... and still the media is all over Daniel and you're just some unfortunate sole in the way! Well, here at Banner Hotels we don't see you like that!" He nods before he stands to face out of the window. "Lizzie, you... in your own right... are news worthy! Your work is award winning... your ideas are visionary... and Banner Hotels are very proud to have teamed up with such a creative mind! We... I... wanted the world to know that you're not just some movie star's girlfriend... that you're brilliant in your own right! Also, I'm not going to lie... the connection to you has done wonders for our media presence too!"

I feel my mouth open ajar at Harrison's passioned speak. My head spins towards Daniel who looks just as shocked as I do. My heart plummets when Daniel stands up. Shit, I think to myself, I'm not sure what Daniel is going to do or say.

"Well, Harrison. At least we agree on something... she is brilliant in her own right! But you... my friend... have fucked her over doing this now!" Daniel turns on his heels and marches out of the room.

"Your boyfriend is wound a little tight... you should book him in for a massage. We have an excellent spa here." Harrison's smooth voice oozes sarcasm.

"Harrison, you were out of line. I truly appreciate the way you see me, and I know we have come up with a wonderful campaign. However... you should have consulted with me first so I could have been prepared. Daniel is not wound tight... he's going through something that you can't really understand! Please cut him some slack, he nearly died too... protecting me!"

"You were in that position because of him!" He says flatly.

I shake my head. "Harrison, I don't want us to fall out as soon as I arrive. But, please don't mention to me again that you feel Daniel is to blame else we will have a major problem. I'll see you tomorrow to start work." Without waiting for Harrison to respond, I leave the room closing the door behind me. 

- hey guys

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Whose side are you on - Daniel or Harrison?

So they've arrived in Mexico and it wasn't exactly the best start for them!!!

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