Mr. Smith walked in like a storm and walked out like a storm. He was like a human hurricane, destroying and building everything like he pleased. But in Alan's eyes, that was cool. A deep sense of admiration builded up inside him. This is what he want to be, like Mr. Smith. Someone who can't be trampled by anyone. Mr.Smith won the battle without even lifting a hand. The strength of this person was not raw violence but beautifully laid web of information. A web that trapped the prey and left it paralysed. Alan was amazed, inspired and motivated by what happened in last 24 hours of his life. At first he thought, he will lose everything today. But now, things were getting better. He could finally trace the silver lining of the cloud.
He was deep in debate about the three offers. But soon the exhaustion took over, and he slept like a log with a smile on his face.
Life is not that bad.
Alan arrived at the said address at 4pm, fully dressed and tidied up. He was welcomed by the receptionist, who sent him directly to the top floor. This floor was the private detective firm that Rui's father established in last 20 years. It was not a big company, there were less than twenty employees and all of them were dressed casually. Everyone was working at their own pace. It gave the impression of a vacation house rather than an office. Alan walked infront of the cabin located at the rightmost corner and knocked the door.
" Come in. You are here." Mr. Smith raised his head that was buried in the file. "So lad, which of them did you choose?" he asked with a smile.
" All three." Alan said and returned a smile.
" oho….you are greedy. I was expecting you will reject the second one." Mr. Smith laughed.
" No. I am not greedy. It's just too tempting to refuse. However, I have few conditions." He replied.
" That is unexpected. You are still negotiating? I thought these offers were benefitting you enough."
" Mr. Smith, let's be straight forward to each other. I know you want to make me your pawn and Rui's human shield. I don't mind that. All I crave for is power to survive. I agree that I will gain a lot from this deal. Yet at the end of the day, I am your weapon. You will be the one holding my trigger. I don't mind that as well. My only condition is, you take me as your direct pupil without involving any middleman. I want you to be my teacher. I want to learn from the best. Second, I will chose my major for university by myself. I don't want you to interfere in my academia. I will be your employee, but only in this office. Outside these walls, I am still Alan Tuan, a student. Last, I want you to explain everything to Rui. I don't want to hide anything from her and make her feel like a fool. I want her to know that I am her bodyguard and I have accepted this job voluntarily. You see sir, even though she is my employer's daughter, she is still my best friend. I never had a friend before. Rui was the first one who chose to stay with me. I will not stoop low and betray her trust. So, I believe, you should tell her everything."
" Very well. You are smarter than I thought. I accept all these conditions, here are the papers. It's a contract for five year. Until you graduate, you will be part time recruit at this office. You will be work without any reimbursement. Everything you see or learn in this office will be kept confidential. You will work in a team with another employee, Rui Smith. And for your well being, you are bound to take therapy on every weekend. The results of therapy will be checked by me every week. Last, you will be bodyguard for RuI Smith during college hours. If any harm is inflicted on her, you will be held responsible. If this contract is breached, you have to compensate the money that the company will spend on you."
Alan nodded in agreement and went through the file. Then, he signed the name Alan Tuan. When it was all done, he placed the file on table. " Thank you for taking me under your wings. I will be under your care Mr. Smith." Alan bowed to his new master.
Mr. Smith smiled at this little fool. He was very impressed by his sincerity. " Call me boss from now on. Alan, I am a very strict person. So, in future if I am harsh, just don't mind that. I have no intention of exploiting you. You see, this world is a hellhole for omegas. As much as I love my daughter, I also want her to be strong enough to stand on her own. I want her to take over this company, not because she is my daughter but because I know, omegas are capable enough to stand strong without a spouse. I expect the same for you. I expect you to become stronger despite of your past. If one day you want, you can become the vice president of this firm. I have faith in you, that's why I dared to make such offer. Even though you are a savage, you are stronger than omegas and sharper than alphas. I like the odds. A lot." Mr. Smith was interrupted when someone knocked at the door. " Alright. I will go through the admission procedure. I will inform you the details later. And, I expect Rui will raid your house at night after I tell her everything. So, be prepared."
Alan bid him farewell and walked back home. On his way he was absent minded and kept thinking about the future. For the first time, he felt really positive about his circumstances. He was going to have an internship, an elite university and a promising job in future. It seemed too good to be true. It was really hard to believe for him. He felt this sudden sweetness upsurging in his heart that he had never felt before. Maybe it is what they call joy.
Alan reached back home and bought two ice cream tubs on his way back. Now, all he got to do was talk to Rui.
At seven o clock, the stomping sounds reached at his door. With a bang, the door flew open. Rui stomped in with a look that said ' how dare you?'. She kept glaring at Alan and then she took a deep breath.
" care to explain?" With a loud bang, the file landed on the table.
" Rui, calm down."
"Don't you dare! Don't you dare tell me calm down! Alan! What the fuck is this?" She sat on sofa and then furiously grabbed her hair, " I can't believe it. How can you sold me out for sponsorship? I thought we were friends. Damn! Damn it all!"
" Rui, why would you say that? I didn't sold you out. It is a good deal. Think about it, we will go to the same university and I will stay with you. Isn't that better?"
"Do you think I am a joke? Do you take me for a fool? You are going to be my bodyguard, that means if someone shot a bullet at me, you ought to take it. If I jump off a cliff, you ought to jump with me. You are obligated to protect me with your own life. Do you have any idea, how that makes me feel?" Rui was losing her mind. The friend that she almost lost few days ago was now her bodyguard. Damn it!
" No, it's not like that. Rui listen to me. Please try to understand, I will protect you with my life anyway. Now I am getting paid for doing that. Isn't that a win win situation for me? And I am not a fool, if a bullet is shot at you, I will just let you be shot. Why would I take it for you? I mean you are thick skinned, you will not even feel it." Alan tried to crack a joke to distract Rui.
" Alan, don't fuck with me. This is just unfair to our friendship. I can't agree to this."
" Rui, please. Please try to understand. I am being hired as your bodyguard and your job partner. In return, I will be provided with sponsorship. At the end, I will be the one at advantage because I will study at the best university, learn managing confidential data from your father and remain by your side to protect you. I will get to keep my friend, my studies and a nice job. It is the best deal I ever got. I am really happy about it. I just wish you will support my decision. Please Rui? " Alan grabbed Rui's hand and convinced her in a gentle tone.
" Alan, what is wrong with you? Can't you tell the glass is half empty, why are you claiming that its half full. My father is using you to protect me and to affirm my position in his company. I refuse to become the reason of your exploitation. I refuse to use my friend as a human shield. I refuse to hide behind your back and let you take it all for me. I can not do that. How can I support such a thing."
" Rui, you don't want me to get in danger because of you, fine, then just become stronger. Become the person who could hide me behind her back. But until then, please let me protect you." Alan rubbed Rui's head," And who will try to harm a worthless dumb like you. It's a very easy job, if you ask me. All I gotta do is mooch off money from your father. He he he."
" Don't you hehehe me. I will not hehehe with you. But if you really want it that much then just go with it. I will not support this stupid contract but I will try my best to keep you safe. If I won't get in trouble then you got nothing to worry about. Right? Hehehe." Rui smirked.
" he he he ", Alan grinned along.
While digging the icecream, both of them talked about the past, the present and the things that future beholds. Slowly, the night sky darkened, a new employee and employer relationship was formed between these best friends.