To May's surprise, instead of forcing entry, the man simply stood in front of her door. He took out a touchpad and stylus, then began taking notes.
May furrowed her brows in confusion. What was going on?
The man scrutinized her apartment entrance, scribbling continuously. After a few minutes, he put away his devices and reached out.
Certain he would now break in, May stepped back, her lips pressed into a thin line. This was it.
But then something unexpected happened.
Ding dong.
The doorbell chimed.
May blinked in disbelief. What the—?
May froze, her heart racing. The doorbell chimed again, its cheerful tone jarring against the tense atmosphere. She hesitated, torn between answering and staying silent. Curiosity battled caution as she crept towards the peephole.
Through the distorted lens, she observed the man. His demeanor was oddly... professional. Not menacing or aggressive, but patiently waiting with a touchpad tucked under one arm.
Against her better judgment, May called out, her voice trembling more than she'd like. "Who is it?"
"Good evening, Ms. Davies. My name is Kai Ward from CSS—Complete Security Service. You've commissioned us for your protection."
May's mind whirled. Could this be a ruse? A clever ploy to gain entry? Her hand hovered over the doorknob as she hesitated.
"How do I know you are who you claim to be?" she asked, striving to keep her voice steady.
He slid his hand into his jacket taking out his wallet. "This is my ID," he said, holding it up for her to see.
"Those can be faked," she nearly harumphed. Did he take her for a fool?
"I commend your caution," he said, "but in this situation, it's entirely unnecessary. I assure you, I'm here for your protection, Ms. Davies, though I assume my words seem untrustworthy to you. How can I prove my identity?"
May furrowed her brows in thought. This was indeed difficult. No matter what he said or showed, there would always be a chance of deceit. Was there a way to check his identity without his involvement?
Her eyes lit up as an idea struck her. Turning off the speaker, she asked, "Rob, can you check his identity?" She was certain the AI had been listening to their conversation.
"Yes, M. One moment."
She knew it. Rob's findings would be more trustworthy than anything the man could produce.
The silence stretched on. May assumed Rob needed to access a database, which would take time. She remained patient, though the man outside seemed confused by her silence.
"Ms. Davies?" he asked.
"One moment," she answered, quickly turning off the speaker again.
Soon, she heard Rob's response. "The man in front of your apartment is Kai Ward, the chief security officer at CSS. Would you like me to list his professional achievements or personal information?"
May nearly collapsed with relief upon hearing Rob's words. So this man was indeed who he claimed to be, not a killer out to take her life. She hadn't realized how tense she'd been. As she relaxed, her legs wobbled, threatening to give out. She leaned against the door, breathing deeply to compose herself. Then she straightened up and opened the door with a click.
"You can come in."
"Thank you," he replied with a nod, his tone still neutral and professional. He didn't show any change in his expression, even when his eyes fell on the cleaver in her right hand.
"Would you like me to take my shoes off?" he asked politely, treating the deadly weapon as invisible.
"N-no, you can keep them on," May gesticulated for him to enter, only belatedly realizing that by doing so she was swinging the knife left and right.
As he walked past her, brushing against her due to the narrowness of the corridor, her heart still accelerated. She watched him warily, still a little nervous, despite Rob's confirmation.
As he stepped into her apartment, his eyes scanned the room with practiced efficiency.
Still carrying the knife with her, she followed him and signaling him to sit down at the dining table.
Kai Ward obediently took a seat, his movements deliberate and controlled. He placed his touchpad on the surface, then folded his hands neatly in front of him. His gaze met May's, unwavering and professional.
"Ms. Davies, I understand you must have many questions," he began, his voice calm and measured. "I'm here to address your security concerns and implement the protective measures you've requested."
May hesitated, still clutching the cleaver. She lowered herself into the chair opposite him, keeping the knife visible on the table. "Before we get to that, I would like to know why you forced your way into the building," she said, the tiniest sliver of doubt still in her mind.
His brow furrowed slightly. "It's standard procedure for us to assess the exterior security measures before making contact," he explained. " Our records show that we sent an email detailing today's appointment. Did you not receive it?"
May's eyes widened in realization. She hadn't read the confirmation email herself, having left the entire process to Rob. He was the one who had informed her that the security service would start working this very evening. He had simply answered her question at the time, not mentioning any other content of the email. She couldn't very well be angry at a program, so she blamed it on herself. It seemed she had much to learn about communicating with the AI to prevent such incidents from occurring.
"I... I might have missed it," she admitted.
He nodded understandingly. "That's quite alright, Ms. Davies. Given the circumstances, it's perfectly natural to be on high alert. I guess that is why I had this slightly unusual welcome?" He paused, his gaze flickering briefly to the knife on the table.
May nodded, loosening her grip around the cleaver and pushing it aside, though still within reach. She was slightly embarrassed, but also didn't feel that there was anything wrong with her response in that given situation.
"What would you have done if I didn't open the door?" she asked, now curious.
"Excuse my bluntness, but your current security is hardly a challenge for someone with expertise. I could have gained entry in under thirty seconds and—if that were my aim—neutralized you in another ten," he stated matter-of-factly.
His words drained the color from May's face. Had this man been her would-be killer instead of her protector, she and her unborn child would have perished in less than a minute.
May struggled to maintain her composure, but her hand trembled visibly on the table. She pulled it back into her lap and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
The man's piercing gaze softened slightly as he observed her reaction. "I apologize for my candor, but it's crucial that you grasp the gravity of your situation."
May nodded, still shaken.
He reached for his touchpad, opening a file. "Let's start by discussing why you felt the need to engage our services," he said, his pen hovering over the screen. "The more detailed your account, the more comprehensive our protection can be."