Chapter 67 – "Security for Taylor Swift"
PRIVATE AIRFIELD – LOS ANGELES
The roar of Taylor Swift's private jet engines echoed across the private airfield as the aircraft slowly taxied to a stop. The sun shone brightly in the blue Los Angeles sky, and the security team was already positioned around the runway. Grant, impeccably dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, was at the front.
He maintained his firm and professional posture, observing every detail around him. His trained eyes noticed any suspicious movement, any detail out of the ordinary. His hand rested near his concealed holster, his pistol discreetly hidden under his jacket.
The jet stopped. The stairs were positioned. And then, Taylor Swift appeared at the aircraft door.
Even with sunglasses on, Grant could see that she was smiling politely at the team waiting for her. She wore a casual yet elegant outfit, with an oversized gray sweatshirt and black leggings, and white sneakers. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a simple bun, and she descended the steps with the grace of someone accustomed to this kind of reception.
Grant stepped forward, surveying the surroundings before she touched the ground. Two other security guards were right behind her, but he was the team leader on this mission. When Taylor finally reached the ground, Grant greeted her professionally.
— "Miss Swift, I'm Grant Tucker-Pritchett, responsible for your personal security during your stay in Los Angeles. Welcome."
Taylor removed her sunglasses and smiled at him.
— "Thank you, Grant. And you can call me Taylor."
Grant nodded.
— "Alright, Taylor. We'll ensure your arrival is smooth. Your transportation is ready."
He discreetly signaled to a black armored SUV, which was waiting with the engine running. Taylor walked towards the car, while Grant and the other security guards positioned themselves strategically around her. Even at a private airfield, security was never guaranteed. People could pay employees for information, paparazzi were incredibly resourceful, and any slip-up could compromise the artist's safety.
When Taylor got into the car, Grant sat in the front seat next to the driver, always alert. The convoy left the airfield without incident, and Grant took a deep breath, focused on the mission.
Over the next few days, Taylor's schedule was intense. Meetings with the team, rehearsals for the shows, discreet interviews, all carefully organized.
Grant was always nearby, analyzing each environment before she arrived, staying alert to potential threats, planning evacuation routes, and making sure that every person around her had been properly vetted.
The singer, in turn, was extremely polite to everyone. She treated the security guards with respect and even joked occasionally.
During one of the rehearsals, Taylor made a point of talking to her team, including Grant.
— "Guys, I know you're all working hard to make these shows amazing and safe. So, I want to thank you all for your dedication."
She paused, looking at each employee.
— "And I also have a surprise!"
The employees' eyes widened. Taylor smiled and continued.
— "I want each of you to invite someone special to watch the show. Friends, family, boyfriends, girlfriends... whoever you want! It will be my way of thanking you for all the hard work."
The team applauded excitedly, and Grant raised his eyebrows, surprised.
Taylor then looked at him and smiled.
— "That goes for you too, Grant."
He chuckled softly and shook his head.
— "Thank you, Taylor. I'm sure my family will love it."
— "How many people do you want to invite?"
Grant thought for a moment. His parents, Mitchell and Cameron, would definitely come. Hailey and Alex had already freaked out when they found out he would be working for Taylor Swift, so they couldn't be left out. Lily, his little sister, would also love to go. And Claire and Gloria were Taylor fans, so he was sure they would like it too.
— "I think seven people would be great."
— "Done!" Taylor said, smiling. "It's going to be amazing."
Later that night, Grant went home to share the news. As he entered the living room, he saw his parents on the couch watching TV, while Lily was playing with a tablet.
— "Hi, family." He said, throwing his car keys on the table.
— "Hi, son!" Cameron replied. "How was your day protecting one of the biggest stars on the planet?"
Grant smiled.
— "It was good. And I have a surprise for you."
Mitchell looked curious.
— "What is it?"
Grant crossed his arms and said casually:
— "Taylor gave me tickets to her show. I can take seven people."
For a second, there was silence.
Then, Cameron let out a high-pitched scream of excitement.
— "OH MY GOD! AAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Mitchell laughed, covering his face with his hand.
— "Okay, I figured that would be his reaction."
Lily looked at Grant with sparkling eyes.
"Taylor Swift? Really? I'm going to see her?"
Grant smiled and bent down to give her a high five.
"Yes, little sister. You're going to see Taylor Swift live."
Lily jumped for joy.
Cameron grabbed his phone and immediately started typing a frantic message.
"I need to tell Hailey and Alex NOW! They're going to freak out!"
Grant laughed.
"I figured. And besides you guys, I also invited Claire and Gloria."
Mitchell nodded.
"Good choice. Claire has been a fan forever, and Gloria loves live music."
Cameron was still excited.
"Son, you have no idea how much this means to me. Taylor Swift is legendary!"
Grant laughed.
"I noticed."
Minutes later, Grant saw his phone vibrate with the reactions in the family group chat.
Hailey: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
Alex: "TAYLOR SWIFT?! I LOVE YOU, GRANT!"
Claire: "OMG!!! This is going to be AMAZING!"
Gloria: "Thank you, my love! It's going to be wonderful!"
Cameron: "MY SON IS AN ANGEL ON EARTH!"
Grant laughed and put his phone in his pocket.
He knew that concert night would be unforgettable for his family.
Now, he just needed to continue ensuring Taylor's safety until then.
Chapter 68 – "The Night of the Show"
SOFI STADIUM – LOS ANGELES
The night had finally arrived. Sofi Stadium, one of the largest and most modern stadiums in the world, was packed with fans eager to see Taylor Swift live. The Los Angeles sky was clear, and the weather was perfect for a concert.
In the middle of the crowd, in the VIP area very close to the stage, Mitchell, Cameron, Claire, Gloria, Haley, Alex, and Lily were all gathered. The location offered a privileged view of the spectacle that was about to begin.
Haley and Alex were in pure ecstasy, holding their cell phones, ready to record everything.
— "This is surreal!" — Haley said, looking around. "We're meters away from Taylor Swift's stage!"
— "And all thanks to Grant." — Alex added, smiling.
Mitchell looked at Cameron, who could barely contain her excitement.
— "Cam, breathe. You're trembling."
— "MITCHELL, WE'RE AT A TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS?!"
Mitchell smiled, shaking his head.
— "Yes, love. I have an idea."
Gloria was next to them, holding Lily's hand.
— "I like Taylor Swift, but this energy from the crowd… ¡Dios mío! This is something else!"
Lily looked at her and then at the stage, her eyes shining.
— "I've never seen such a big show before!"
Claire crossed her arms, observing the movement around them.
— "It's incredible how Grant managed to get this for us. I never imagined I would be here."
— "That's right." — Mitchell said, smiling. "But I'm even more impressed to see Grant working with one of the biggest stars on the planet."
— "Speaking of which..." — Haley interrupted, pointing to the side of the stage. "Look!"
Everyone turned their attention to the side of the stage.
And there he was.
Grant appeared on the side of the stage, walking alongside Taylor Swift. He wore his discreet yet elegant black suit, typical of high-level security guards. His eyes were attentive to everything around him, ensuring there were no threats or unusual situations.
Taylor, in turn, was stunning in one of her iconic show outfits. Her blonde hair shone under the stadium lights, and her smile showed her excitement for what was to come.
Grant walked a little ahead of her, and when they reached the stairs leading to the stage, he extended his hand to help her up.
His family's eyes in the audience were glued to him.
— "MY GOD!" Cameron exclaimed. "MY SON JUST HELPED TAYLOR SWIFT ONTO THE STAGE!"
Mitchell smiled proudly.
— "He's completely professional. He looks like a Secret Service agent."
Haley and Alex were freaking out.
— "I can't believe our cousin is up there!"
— "He's like, LITERALLY next to Taylor Swift!"
Grant helped Taylor get to the backstage area, where she disappeared to prepare for her grand entrance.
Lily looked at Mitchell, her eyes wide.
— "Daddy, Grant is so cool!"
Mitchell patted her head and smiled.
— "Yes, honey. He is."
The stadium lights dimmed, and a momentary silence fell over the crowd.
Then, the first chords of a song echoed through the loudspeakers.
The audience erupted in screams.
Colored lights illuminated the stage, and suddenly, Taylor Swift appeared in the center of the structure, holding the microphone and smiling at the crowd.
— "LOS ANGELES! ARE YOU READY?!"
The response was a deafening roar.
The show had begun.
In the audience, Grant's family jumped with excitement. Cameron was shouting the lyrics to the songs, Haley and Alex were filming everything, Claire was clapping excitedly, Gloria was smiling and swaying her head to the rhythm of the music, and Lily was singing along.
Mitchell simply watched it all, feeling incredibly proud of his son.
Grant was backstage, always attentive. His job wasn't finished yet. He would stay there until the end of the show, ensuring that everything ran perfectly for Taylor and his team.
But, deep down, he knew that this night would be unforgettable for everyone.
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