My first day as a Secure365 employee had been, well, eventful to say the least. I'd gone from a washed up, fucked up ex-squaddie to respectable member of society, with a platinum company credit card and a very nice car, in what seemed like a matter of hours.
On the whole though it was a better experience than an assessment day, or having to do one of those fucking NVQs the careers advisor had told me were oh so necessary to land a decent job.
Well, now I had a decent job, and one I was well trained for. Something told me that this role would be challenging and possibly a little dangerous. Basically it was going to be fun!
Fortunately, Lauren was happy to help me find my own style while shopping at Westfield. Although I didn't love the extreme makeover she had initially suggested, I hoped she would slow down and listen to me. Even though my credit card was used a lot, I kept purchases reasonable and stayed under the 5K limit.
Most of the items I bought would be covered under the company's employee benefit of paid work-wear. She lectured me repeatedly, insisting JJ would agree if he knew better. By the end of the trip, I had pretty much everything I needed to get me started and I'd barely touched my 'own' money.
My one success for the evening, the one thing that made me feel happy was convincing Lauren and JJ to let me take them for a meal; it seemed only fair after all their help.
After paying the bill and saying goodbye, Lauren gave me a hug and JJ wished me luck. I got into my Beemer and enjoyed the plush seat.
Meeting JJ was fortunate. I spent a happy moment considering the fact that, if I fell asleep right now, it would be the second most comfortable place I'd slept in all year.
---
The apartment was stunning and I loved it.
Well, actually, the flat was plain, with a small kitchen, a pokey en-suite bathroom and a main bathroom. However, the complex had everything a busy executive would want including secure parking, 24-hour security, mod cons, a gym and access to a small pool.
So, despite it being late, I found myself at the pool wearing a Speedo Aquablade swimsuit I had treated myself to while shopping.
Growing up, I didn't have friends nor participate in activities. Instead, I spent most of my time reading at home. I had no interest in typical kid activities and didn't get much exercise until I learned how to swim.
Swimming became my passion and gave me fitness, confidence, and solitude. Swimming was a solo competition, with me as both winner and loser. Each time in the water or gym, I aimed to improve. I cherished this independent pursuit, swimming with returning grace and reconnecting with my inner thoughts. It was a rare chance to reflect.
I've likely exhausted my lifetime dose of luck. I survived IED attacks in Basra and ambushes in Grishk, and now I've secured a job. It feels like a higher power is watching over me, and I hope it's true given the friends I've lost.
I wondered if perhaps it was mum; We had the traditional mother-daughter reconciliation when I was sixteen. I'd realized then that being a moody fuck wasn't mature. After that, we didn't have much time together.
She told me she had cancer six months later, and seven months after that, she passed away with me by her side. Her last words telling me it was going to be all right, that she loved me and that I was to stay strong and follow my heart.
At 17, I was broken when the only person in my life passed. I did what I had to and signed on the dotted line. The army basic training helped bury my grief.
I miss her though. I miss her everyday. It's her strength I draw on through the rough times; fighting through the pain and the fear, every time telling myself that whatever I was going through, it's nothing like what mum had to suffer and she always smiled, she always had a smile for me.
I wish I was half the woman she was, she was exceptional and I loved her, still love her, with all my heart.
---
The pool is cool and dark and perfect for my thoughts; as I sliced through the water, I felt the knots and aches of the months living under cardboard begin to ease. It's good to be exercising again; it's good to have a purpose. Performing a tuck turn at the end of the length, I turn my mind back to our client, pushing away the dark thoughts. I'd dug out the file when I got home and had read it through twice before I was satisfied I'd got everything I needed out of it.
Robert Armstrong, successful captain of an arms industry, appeared to have a happy family life. However, reports revealed that he and his wife, Jenna, were involved in extramarital affairs. Despite this, they maintained a public façade of being a content couple. I wondered if the family business benefited from hiring their children. Maybe it was beneficial for both.
The Armstrongs have two children, Richie and Rebecca, who both work for the company. Richie, their son, joined the Marketing and PR department after finishing school, but only seems involved in organizing charity events and fundraisers.
The youngest daughter, Rebecca, is the Head of Sales Development; a lofty title for one so young but there was little else to go on. The file indicated that she was Oxford educated, gaining a masters degree in Classics before she left to join daddy's business. Her university days were virtually a blank, none of the usual drunken student stories, no protests, nothing; and if she'd dated anyone in the five years she was there, the file didn't say. It was as if she was a blank page in the dossier. The investigative team found little beyond corporate information.
Interestingly though, I like enigmas; it didn't hurt that she was gorgeous as well.
I ploughed on through the water, shaking my brain and putting the 'enigma' behind me.
After a quick workout, I planned for the morning's meeting. I'll have to wake up early for the two-hour drive to Bath, possibly three with traffic. Though tired but refreshed, I knew another swim wasn't possible tomorrow. To get a decent night's sleep, I went back to my apartment.
Sadly, I woke up at 5 am, screaming from the return of faces and voices. I can't help but wonder if perhaps paying for treatment would get me a better service, help end the relentless sight of those faces.
I entered JJ's meeting address in my sat-nav and drove towards Mr Robert Armstrong via M4.
---
'Oh my fucking God; she is going to be the death of me, I just know it.'
I don't believe in love at first sight, that's just sentimental bullshit, but I do believe in lust at first sight; I always have.
This time, though, it's different and I don't know why. It's only an instant in my life but time appears to have slowed down, it's like every combat situation I've been in, it's like the ambush and the bombing; I can see every change in those brown eyes as they go from shock, to surprise, to relief, to anger all in the briefest of seconds. I'm absolutely captivated by her eyes, they are fucking gorgeous.
Jesus, I'm supposed to be here proving that I can protect Robert Armstrong from danger and here I am thinking about how hot his daughter is.
'Time to get your head back in the game Freen, back to fucking work.'
As I look back at Rob Armstrong, I see his angry bodyguard approaching with hostile eyes. I recognize the dangerous look from my experiences in Basra. He quickly moved towards me around the desk. He lost control and wasn't as good as he thought he was. The first blow was expected but I surprised him by dodging and throwing him across the room. He got up and faced me again.
"Pieter...!" Mr. Armstrong shouted as his bodyguard approached me, "Stop this now! leave her alone.."
He must have been worried for me, though there really wasn't any need. Despite being smaller, I was faster, more agile, and smarter than his guy.
From my point of view, it was also when I got to catch sight of Robert and his daughter and got distracted by the brunette with the brown eyes. I noticed that she had moved to stand next to her father.
She looked across as she glared at me, her arms folded across her chest; my concentration ruined for the briefest of seconds.
'Stay with it, Freen, focus...before you get hurt.'
I dragged my eyes away from the girl and her father and faced Pieter. I wasn't expecting that he would simply turn to leave as he apologized to his boss. The sneer he gave me was expected, though. I just chuckled as he closed the door behind us.
As I stood, I heard a slow hand clap from behind the desk and turned to see Miss Armstrong regarding me with cold contempt.
"Oh very well done, Miss Sarocha," she said her voice dripping with sarcasm, emphasizing my name with scorn.
"You turn up at our home to talk about our security arrangements and the first thing you do is knock our bodyguard nearly unconscious. Tell me, were you born this fucking stupid or did you just evolve this way in whatever gutter you grew up in?"
I stared back at her, I can't decide if I hate her for her fucking bitchiness or if I'm impressed. I've never really met a woman that was that openly confrontational.
My ex was a bitch a lot of the time in our relationship, especially towards the end, but she was never this aggressive; not like this Armstrong girl. I think it's refreshingly honest.