A year later GREG is busy inspecting his parade. Several meters from him at the landing strip BELLE's Jet just landed. Touchdown and she gets off excited. Inaudible conversation between her and one of the officers as she inquires about her father's whereabouts.
Excited she rushes to the parade ground holding her bag pack in one hand. Finally, she spots him and quietly sneaks behind him signaling the team on the parade with a hush sign.
GREG notices his team is restless on the parade floor looking behind him
He turns back, pauses in astonishment tears welling up in his eyes hugs her tight and lifts her off the ground ,he places her back down looks at her as if confirming its truly his daughter, he salutes her, then hugs her again, then salutes once again.
BELLE smiles slightly embarrassed
"Enough… enough...Papa"
GREG
"Welcome home princess!"
He whispers holding her tightly by the shoulders
BELLE sternly
"Dad, You need to stop calling me that."
GREG
"Welcome home princess!!."
he shouts on top of his lungs smiling the boys on the parade floor murmur in excitement. GREG clear his throat turns back to them sternly
GREG
"Attention!"
Everyone scuffles back to position.... he smiles picks his daughters bag pack, holds her firmly by the arm as they leave the barracks. GREG In excitement calls his brothers.
"She is back am buying dinner tonight!"
Later that night, BELLE is the first to arrive at the restaurant her sister BELLA arrives shortly after and rushes to hug her tightly.
BELLA pulling away from the hug inspects her sister
BELLA
"Aaaa...I thought you starved at the military…you haven't even lost some weight…Dad really exaggerated that you looked skinny."
BELLE
"What…you can't see it? am sure I have lost a lot of weight "
She inspects herself doubtfully.
Just then TIM arrives and hugs them tightly together
BELLA
"I was just with you yesterday...why Are you hugging me so tight"
TIM
"Ooh.."
He lets go of BELLA and focuses his energy on BELLE
BELLE In a suffocated voice
"I can't believe I survived deployment just to be asphyxiated in a hug"
TIM smiles and lets go.
Just then GEORGE and GREG arrive as well .GEORGE salutes her and proceeds to sit down. They all sit and make their order which arrives shortly after. They start having dinner as they chat on
GREG
"Princess since you have left service do you mind helping JOHN?"
BELLE with a full mouth
"Papa, you know you can tell me if JOHN has something on you...for years you have been asking me to work for John"
TIM
"We all know like a mermaid the gun has its own siren and when it sings its hard to ignore ,so we are hoping the next time the siren calls it wont be the last time we see you .JOHN is a safe option plus we get to see you often"
GEORGE
"To be honest I don't want you to go on another deployment, I don't sleep well when you are overseas"
BELLE
"Okay ...you all seem really serious and worried now I will talk to JOHN next week then."
They continue to eat and chat the night away cheerfully.
A few days later BELLE is seated at a traditional Korean restaurant waiting for JOHN. She stands up to greet him
BELLE
"Uncle…John!"
JOHN
"Princess waa…you are back…look at you… its so good to see you…Sit sit…"
He ushers her to sit as the lady of the restaurant brings the food in.
BELLE
"Dad told me you have something for me…"
JOHN
"Eat, eat… first"
As he serves her more food. BELLE starts stuffing food in her mouth
JOHN
"I need a tactical trainer…"
JOHN continues amidst eating
"…My tactical trainers keep quitting"
BELLE Food still in mouth
"Probably because you pay them poorly"
JOHN
"Aiiii…how could you think lowly of me, our employees have the best packages in the private security field…I will be honest because am your uncle .I have seen you growing from the day you were born…and that is why I think you are the best for this job"
JOHN
"Eat ea…"
Adding food to her plate
BELLE
"It's hat bad huh?"
JOHN pauses and looks at her
BELLE
"Considering you are bribing me with food it must be awful"
JOHN waving his chopsticks
"No…it's not like that…"
JOHN places down the chopsticks and continues
"Okay so let me be straight…There are several teams based on ranks. The most elite team reports
to the tactical trainer and they are the reason my tactical trainers have been resigning"
BELLE leans forward smirking in delight
JOHN picks up his chop sticks again...
JOHN
"See, I knew you would be up to it...I have been begging your dad to let me employ you…plus the pay is luxurious…are you in.."
BELLE In a delighted voice
"When do I start"
JOHN
"I must warn you this team of four is a nightmare"
BELLE
"Four! Honestly, I thought you were talking about a whole platoon (Pausing…) on one condition...the company must not question my methods of training."
JOHN chuckles and responds
"So long as you don't kill anyone I will not question your methods. Princess, you know in the military there are structures and rules, it's almost possible to tame a man…but here in the private security field they not bound by discipline and punishment…they are ruthless borderline shameless
Sigh...
Plus, you will be training everyone…these four are just an extra head ache. You start on Monday no takebacks you already said yes…"
(In a serious tone)
"Hey princess... if it gets out of hand you can pull out…I have seen some of the toughest men quit this job…am not saying you are delicate you are ruthless (He chuckles) the number of times your dad had to go to school because of fights..."
BELLE
"now why would you bring such things up when someone is eating...besides most of the times I was fighting bullies.."
JOHN smiling
"I know I know..."
BELLE
"I hope the food in the cafeteria is good"
JOHN smiling
"Five stars…!"
They continue eating and chatting away.
Come Monday morning BELLE walks into Wolves Security building to find JOHN waiting for her at the reception dressed in a black and white pant suit and heels.
JOHN pleased to see her
"I almost thought you had changed your mind"
BELLE
"And miss out on five-star cuisine…no way!"
JOHN smiles and ushers her to the lifts area.
JOHN
"The boys…your four headaches… are on their way back from an assignment I will send them your way as soon as they are back ,let me show you to your office"
JOHN takes her around the facility explaining everything, showing her various training rooms and teams.
JOHN
"…and last your office...do you like the view?"
There is no view just another building blocking the view and another building blocking the view of the other building.
BELLE
"I love it..."
She smiles as John leaves her to it. Just as she sits on her desk about to checkout her laptop the boys come back from escorting a high-profile client.
Four men in their early and mid thirties wearing black Military clothing and boots as well as tactical accessories. They are each holding onto rifles chatting away happily.
JOHN to the boys
"Guys there's someone I need you to meet...she owns you now...she is in her office …say Hi"
HEAD
"Pfft…Aren't you tired of hiring these people…"
ALLURE
"Are you sure she wont run away like the others did ?"
AUGER in an Excited tone
"Wait did you say she? We have never had a lady before. Is she pretty?"
JOHN
"Drop dead gorgeous!"
He smiles pockets his hands and leaves for his office. The boys on the other hand ignore BELLE'S office and walk straight to their changing room. JOHN looks over his shoulders and walks back to the changing room…smiling with content as he walks in…
JOHN
"I would like to warn you about the new trainer…her code in the military used to be Crow…She really loooooooves to hold onto a grudge…"
The boys laugh sarcastically
AUGER
"Well, we are eagles, ostriches and cocks... our claws are trembling..."
More laughter from the Boys. JOHN amused leaves the changing room and peeks into BELLE'S office.
JOHN
"The boys need to see you in the changing room..."
BELLE
"In the changing room?...sure"
She walks to the changing room knocks twice, no one answers she shrugs and enters the changing room. The boys intending to make her uncomfortable, she finds AUGER and AEGIS shirtless.
BELLE unbothered without flinching talks casually.
"Hi boys, I have already been briefed..."
She moves closer and maintains eye contact with each
BELLE
"HEAD… the leader, the family man
AEGIS...the angry volatile hot head
ALLURE...the one who runs his mouth a lot and
AUGER...the womanizer...
Am BELLE…"
AUGER moves uncomfortably closer to BELLE until they are almost nose to nose, with a cheeky low voice, asks
AUGER
"would you like to hold my gun?"
BELLE looks at him straight in the eye moves closer till the tip of her heels are touching the tip of his boots
BELLE
"It depends ...what are you packing?"
AUGER fumbles as he had not expected such a bold reaction. BELLE then looks down at his crotch area then back into his eyes and lowers her voice
BELLE
"Are you sure you want me to hold it...should I use one hand or both?"
AUGER quickly moves away.
BELLE
"Am sure you have been briefed as well…If you have any more questions, come to my office... and if you are going to ask me about your guns please come holding it in your hands...I don't want to speculate"
She leaves the room and goes back to her office
ALLURE snickers
HEAD to AUGER shrugging
"...You started it.."
ALLURE to AUGER laughing hysterically
"but man you had options, like you could have even gone like....I could destroy your world am packing a rocket launcher...legs on my shoulder baby...."(while mimicking the position of holding a bazooka while kneeling)
HEAD and AEGIS amused.
The boys finish changing and go to their office on work on reports.
The next day the boys are at the shooting range as BELLE wanted to know their capabilities before commencing training. She arrives a bit late milkshake in hand...wearing a black pant suit with a black shirt and gold heels. AEGIS stumbles as he stares at BELLE…he looks away fast after stumbling.
JOHN
"A bit dramatic don't you think?"
BELLE
"what...the late arrival or my funeral attire"
JOHN
"The milkshake..."
BELLE shakes her head and smiles...
ALLURE looks at AUGER
ALLURE
"your moment to redeem yourself man...today you have a long-range sniper rifle ...the possibilities are endless...I know its a long shot ...but I always hit the right spot....I.."
AUGER interrupts him angrily
"Seriously stop! "
The other boys smile as they gear up and prepare to take their shots
JOHN pleased with himself whispers to BELLE
"You know... your file doesn't mention your mark man ship...my boys here think you are the best pilot they will ever meet ...they are excellent shooters and today they think they are about to flaunt their skills (sighing contentedly)... today a princess is going to pulverize their egos..."(Another contented sigh)
BELLE looks at JOHN suspiciously. JOHN Looks back at her defensively
"What... I mean…I love these boys they are the best team I have…but they are a pain…so, anytime I get a chance to get back at them am going to take it…don't judge me very soon you will understand where am coming from.
BELLE shakes her head .The boys signal they are ready to take their shots. BELLE starts to walk towards them
JOHN
"Where are you going with the milkshake"
BELLE opens container lid drinks the remaining fluid and hands him the empty cup then walks towards the boys smiling.
JOHN scoffing in disbelief
"I was not going to drink it... I just wanted to hold it for you"
BELLE to the boys
"Okay boys let's see if you know how to use your guns"
ALLURE looks at AUGER and smiles. The team sets up and takes the first few shots well.
BELLE
"Increase the distance to the targets"
Again, the boys succeed but shakily...
BELLE
"Increase!"
The boys look at each other start murmuring amongst themselves. No one could take the shot she gives them a second chance still no one gets the shot she asks them to try once more and they loose it. AUGER shoves the gun in her hand arrogantly
AUGER
"I think you can show us how"
without saying a word she takes the gun lies flat on the ground, aims and lands the shot instantly. Not giving the Boys a chance to recover from their first shock…
BELLE
"Increase!"
She lands another shot...
BELLE
"again!"
and another one…
JOHN winces in mockery...laughs to himself...
"clawless Ostriches and cocks!"
She then stands up unbothered, gives the gun back to AUGER.... who is shocked beyond words and walks back to where JOHN was standing amused.
The two of them start walking back to the offices.
JOHN
"I could hug you but that would be weird... we are at work"
BELLE
"Yes, no one should know we know each other outside work it will ruin my credibility"
JOHN
"But I already told everyone you are my niece"
BELLE in a disappointed tone
"Seriously...now everyone will think I got this job because of nepotism"
JOHN
"But you did...my connection to your dad and Uncles is the reason you got this job, of course you are qualified and since when have you cared about what people think of you?"
BELLE with a slight pout
"Okay, buy me milkshake later"
JOHN
"I will princess"
BELLE shoots him a a death glance then whispers biting her teeth
"Please don't call me that at work"
JOHN smiling
"Do you know why your dad and uncles started calling you that?"
BELLE
"Am sure you are about to tell me"
JOHN
"Well ever since you were young we noticed you had "rough tendencies"(doing air quotes) so your So your Uncles thought that if they called you princess it would grow on you and you would become a bit "softer"(again air quotes)"
BELLE
"Why because I was always involved in fights?"
JOHN nods his head in agreement.
JOHN
"But surprisingly enough not once did you fight your sister in fact you always fought for her .No opponent was too big for you, you protected her through all her school years...(chuckles) ...but as for everyone else we are still hoping (He mockingly crosses his finger) princess..."
BELLE looks at him stubbornly as they enter the offices.
Back at the range the boys are still in disbelief.
HEAD releases an exhausted sigh as he talks to his boys
"We all read her file..."
The other boys nod confused
AEGIS
"...and even did a proper background check ...how on earth... is that even humanly possible? like what she did"
All the boys sigh in disbelief as they walk back to the offices.
Later that week one night...
BELLE dressed in a red long sleeved turtleneck formal gown with a thigh high slit is sitting across her sister dressed in a black formal gown as well. The sisters are attending a fundraising event. They are in a cheerful mood. Suddenly Her phone rings…it's the office She excuses herself and goes outside to pick it up…just as she walks outside the event Hall she halts in shock as she sees AEGIS.
BELLE
"What… what are you doing here? why are you dressed for work?"
AEGIS stares in awe and fumbles through words
AEGIS
"You...(sigh)…We need you a VIP client has requested for urgent transportation…"
BELLE tilts her head still waiting for an explanation
AEGIS
"…Air transportation…JOHN told us where to find you"
AEGIS clearly distracted by the dress.
BELLE texts her sister and asks AEGIS to lead the way. The two of them walk to the parking lot where HEAD is on the wheel, AUGER is sitting next to him and ALLURE is pacing and stretching outside the vehicle waiting for them. ALLURE pauses mid-stretch when he sees her.
ALLURE
"WooooW!…"
AUGER stares
BELLE to ALLURE
"What…"
ALLURE
"The… dress… you..."
BELLE
"You have never seen a woman in a dress before?"
BELLE seats on the back right
ALLURE Whispering to AEGIS
"She is frightening even when she looks nice…my tongue can't seem to form compliments"
AEGIS pushes ALLURE to the middle and he sits on the other side of the window. HEAD starts the engine and they drive off.
The team arrives at the designated pick up point where they wait for the client on the roof top next to a chopper. The client in formal wear appears from his premises busy looking at his phone just as he is about to get on the chopper notices BELLE and pauses.
CLIENT
"Wow…I didn't know Wolf Agencies hired them preeeetty like this!"
BELLE scoffs and gets into the plane ignoring the CLIENT who straps next to her excited. She lands the plane and escorts the CLIENT to his meeting as the boys check the perimeter and wait by the exits. As BELLE and the client walk toward a meeting table the CLIENT tries to place his hands on her back.
BELLE Biting her teeth while feigning a smile
"If your hand lands on my back , even by accident you will leave this meeting without it!"
The CLIENT quickly drops his hand
BELLE
"Do you know why the slit on my dress is that high?"
the CLIENT looks down at her slit
BELLE
"There is a gun holster on my thigh…you know in case I need to reach for my gun faster"
The CLIENT looks up so fast
BELLE
"Look keenly at my hair pin..."
The CLIENT gasps as BELLE smiles it's a dagger disguised as a hairpin
BELLE Whispering to the client
"What am trying to say is we run a security firm not an escort business one wrong move on your end and you might leave here in parts. You know I heard somewhere that nowadays you can transplant any human body part even arms, don't you think a soldier who lost his arm fighting for his country deserves an arm more than a pervert who wants to grope a woman he just met twenty minutes ago?"
She turns to him smiling.
The client afraid rushes away from BELLE and joins a meeting table. BELLE on the other hand sits by a bar and surveils her surrounding.
The meeting ends while the client is saying his goodbyes, BELLE and the Boys wait by the chopper. strong night winds are blowing her dress but she seems unbothered.
ALLURE
"Why is she unbothered what if we see what's …beneath"
BELLE
"I can hear you…and what's beneath is very dangerous"
Awkward scoff from the men
Just then some tipsy men come close looking at her slit
BELLE in a cheeky voice to the drunk men
"You want to see?"
The men smile and nod cheekily
BELLE smiles as well
AEGIS
"That crazy woman..."
Walking toward her trying to stop her
Without warning She instantly flips her slit and the Boys as if by reflex quickly look away AEGIS almost falling in his steps. AUGER on the other hand just looks on.
AUGER Chuckling
"So that is what she meant by something dangerous beneath"
ALLURE
"What are you talking about…"still not looking
AUGER
"No look"
HEAD and ALLURE slowly turn to look and see BELLE removing a gun from a thigh holster. Sigh of relief from the boys as the drunk men run away in fear. BELLE smiles and puts her gun back just as the CLIENT joins them.
On the flight back the client, scared, refuses to sit In front .HEAD sits with BELLE and she flies them back to the CLIENT premises .As soon as the she lands the chopper the CLIENT rushes inside without looking back she smiles pleased with herself as she walks back to the parking lot.
Again HEAD is on the wheel, ALLURE next to him, BELLE sits at the back right AEGIS in the middle and AUGER on the left side. BELLE is looking outside the window as they drive on. AEGIS is occasionally staring…at her. Without looking away from the window BELLE crosses her legs with the silted thigh on top of the other leg revealing the gun…AEGIS scoffs… and looks ahead.
The vehicle speeds on the lonely tarmac at night.