06: 26 Year 11 Months

"Have you packed your luggage?" Ashton doesn't look back because he doesn't feel the importance of that, instead he keeps on doing what he's doing. 

"Just packing some stuff  which I left in the office." However, Ashton replies to the question. 

He is in the office right now, taking his necessary items along with him as he won't be coming here often now as he has been assigned to his new job. 

"Great! Meet me at my office when you are done." The lady informs Ashton, still standing at the door. 

"I just remember that you once said you don't stand nepotism." He mutters slowly before she can leave, deliberately talking loud enough so that she can hear at the end of the room. 

"And?" She questions, waiting for his answer. 

"And now I'm packing up because you want me to babysit your niece. Family comes first for you, doesn't it?"

Ashton finally turns around, examining her facial expression while he delivers his statement. As usual, her posture and expression both are hard to interpret. 

"It's business when it's money. Smith is paying you big cash so isn't it strictly business, Coopers?" She asks using the same tone as his, making Ashton sigh. It's never a success arguing with this lady.

"You know I hate babysitting kids. You have promised me my next mission would be something serious." Though Ashton isn't a person who likes throwing tantrums about work but sometimes he is just like everyone, fed up with work. 

He has a bad record with brats. Last time he was hired to guard the rich spoilt kid of a millionaire celebrity, he almost quit his job. He had been spit on, had to spend  several nights with drunk teenagers which was very cringeworthy, had little time to even rest because that little monster was a hyperactive rascal. He has always thrived for action but in that case only action was handling drunk teenagers and saving that kid from angry girls who wanted to take several kinds of revenge on him because he cheated on them.

From what he has learnt, he can tell It's also a rebellious teenager who wants to break every rule that has been set for her. Let's forget the teen dramas and parties. When he talked to the businessman himself regarding the contact there he also learnt there was no direct threat on her way, It's just he wants his daughter safe from any possible harm. No action required here either. 

Ashton didn't want to take the job but he doesn't run the firm where he works at, he had to listen to his boss and do what she says but that doesn't mean he can't be upset about it.

"Iris is 19 and is very responsible so don't worry about babysitting a kid. And about that next serious mission, you still have to gain a lot of experience and skills to become a secret agent, young man. Don't go ahead of yourself." She leaves with that. 

Hope Moore, the strict and cruel boss of PSF. She has the reputation of being ruthless to her employees but that's just rumours because she doesn't cut them slacks. Work always comes first for her and that's why she hired Ashton when he first applied. She liked his desperation and dedication, she wasn't wrong with her judgement of him that's for sure. 

Finding no other way but to oblige, Ashton goes back into packing his left over stuff. As tomorrow is the first day of the month, he has to join tomorrow on urgent notice. He is hired as a 24/7 hours bodyguard so he is required to bring his belongings with him. He has signed a contract for one year. Hopefully, for the sake of big deposits, he can deal with all the drama.

                                ●●●

"What would you like to order?" The waitress asks while her eyes are glued to Adam but Adam doesn't seem to be aware of it. However, Amy is surely watching everything. 

"Simp." Amy says, smiling at the waitress who blushes uncontrollably knowing it was meant for her. 

"What?" Adam asks. 

"Sorry,slip of tongue. I meant one sub sandwich for me." Amy elaborates herself while the blushing waitress clears her throat. 

"Same for me." 

"Would you like some drink?" 

"To get wet?" Amy teases but this time the waitress whose name tag says it's Maggie, ignores her remark. 

"I meant to say two diet coke please. We need to get our throats wet, It's been dry for a while now." 

Adam looks at Amy suspiciously as her facial expression says she is trying to be sarcastic but Adam doesn't understand why.

"Don't you see how she stares at you with dreamy eyes?"Amy asks Adam while slapping his arm when the waitress leaves them alone. 

"No." He replies, dryly. 

"God! It's your perfect time to get laid. This chick is already on her knees." 

"And why are you so excited about it? Do you perhaps want to bang her?" 

"I would if she was into me." 

"Did you just come out to me?" Adam chuckles. 

"I thought you already knew I'm bi." Adam chokes on the water he was drinking. 

"Damn, I was kidding." Amy admits, throwing a tissue paper in Adam's way to clean up the mess he has just created. 

And time goes by them talking about things, It's mostly Amy talking about things Adam doesn't find interesting but he doesn't dare telling her that, he just keeps nodding his head occasionally. 

"Adam and Amy?" A guy approaches them when Amy is explaining something to Adam regarding some kinds of memes. Adam is thankful Amy has finally stopped talking.

Before they can meet with confusion the guy shows them a tattoo on his wrist, showing he is one of them. In their gang, It's their rules to have a wrist tattoo of the gang logo as a member. 

Both of them nod their heads at the man, giving him the opportunity to drag a chair and have a seat. 

"So you are the new recruit. Jamie Anderson, isn't it?" Amy asks the pale skinned man who doesn't waste any time to light a cigarette and has huffs and puffs from the cigarette sets on his hand.  

The man finally nods his head much to Amy's annoyance. Who does he think he is to behave as if he were already the superior of them? When he is the newbie. 

Not gonna lie, Amy is kinda blown away by the beauty of the man. His pink lips set well with his pale skin and blonde hair. His lean and tall figure is like a plus point. He seems taller than Adam and Adam is 6'2". Amy clears her throat, trying to hide the fact that she is intrigued by this mysterious man. 

"We were waiting for you. I'm Amy and this is Adam. We are a team from now on." Amy informs the man who is still busy is smoking.

However, Jamie stops smoking for a while, he takes a bored look at both Amy and Adam for a while before coming back to smoking without saying anything.  He just nods his head only.

If he hadn't called them earlier, Amy would have believed he is a mute. No matter how beautiful and flawless  the man looks, Amy is annoyed by his unbothered behaviour. If they have to work together, they need to know each other, discuss things. Isn't it the whole point why their boss asked them to meet before work? 

While Adam enjoys his food, Amy keeps eyeing the weird man who has already finished a cigarette in a few minutes. 

"Are you mute or something?" Amy didn't intend to sound rude but she did sound rude though it got the attention of the man. Jamie snaps his gaze at Amy, his hard eyes looking at her without blinking which almost takes her breath away. She has never seen so beautiful eyes before, eyes that don't show any kind of emotions.

"Don't feel the importance to talk to someone when It's not important." Jamie answers, proving to Amy that he does speak. He speaks spice. 

Amy officially dislikes this guy. He is moodier  than Adam.  Except Adam, Amy doesn't like moody people. Not like this Jamie guy like people. It seems like he hates the existence of everyone besides him.

"We are working together and you don't find the importance of talking or even introducing yourself to us ? Ever heard of professionalism?" 

"You are Amy, age 27, parents dead, no siblings, was sold to a brothel at age 14 and killed the owner of the brothel in the following year and now you are here." Jamie speaks nonchalantly, eyes on Amy the whole time. He then turns to face Adam.

"And you are Adam, age 24, don't have a mother but you did have a father whom you brutally killed when you were 11 thus you joined the underworld when you were just 11 with the help of a local gangster. '' Jamie again turns his gaze at Amy who looks speechless and bothered. Never expected someone to hold her past in front of her like it means nothing.

Adam doesn't like to hear about his past either. Specially how he had to kill his father at the tender age of 11, it brings back the old and painful memory of his life, memories which never fade away nor do they even let Adam forget them. 

Adam pushes away all the emotions that are trying to crawl towards his mind, he doesn't have to feel emotional when he is at work and does it need to be reminded that his work is to either kill or to torture? In this field when you let emotion guide you, you let your enemies take advantage of you.

"I did learn about the people with whom I'm about to work for a while. Did you?" He asks Amy, mock and pride thick in his tone. 

Adam doesn't like the tone he is using. Adam is no amateur if It's what this guy thinks. Thinking highly of yourself is not only a sign of stupidity but it's also a confirmation that you are narcissistic.

"Jamie Anderson, age 27, the computer nerd who is also a skilled shooter. Lucky you didn't have to kill anyone to get here. Your uncle was enough." Adam proves him wrong, taking another bite of his sandwich.

"Impressive." Jamie utters, smiling a professional smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

"Let's talk later then." Jamie stands up and walks ahead, taking his leave.

"What an asshole!" Amy comments as soon as he leaves them alone. 

"I think he is alright. Just a little show off guy." Adam states his opinion about their new teammate. 

"Whatever." 

"Why are you so bothered?"

"I mean I have never seen a man so beautiful before but his personality ruined it for me." Adam chuckles at her frustration. 

That sounds like Amy. Everyone who has a stick between their legs is either beautiful or hot to her. She is also never shy about voicing her thoughts about them. Not that she ever tried to talk about Adam this away. They were the siblings duo the first time they were teamed up to work together.

 "You said the same thing about the bartender that night." Adam successfully reminds her of her habit.

"That's another thing but this man is really beautiful. But he also beats you to the level of arrogance." She speaks up which causes Adam to roll his eyes.

"What? You are of course an arrogant son of a bitch." 

"Shut up and get ready for work." 

"That arrogant idiot is coming back." Adam looks back after hearing Amy, she is right. He is coming back but why though?

"Just wanted to tell you that you got my age wrong. I'm turning 27 next month.Right now I'm 26 years 11 months years old."

"Is this dude serious?" Amy asks to particularly no one, watching Jamie walking away once again. 

"I think so."