Walking through the halls leading to what would be Ashley and Nicole’s home, Dorian began to feel his mind wander to the myriads of identical pces that these halls resembled. His mind already instinctively turning out the conversations Nicole and Ashley were having in this moment. Something about how tired they were, or was it about the gas station they stopped at before they got back on the pne? It was the same pce that Dorian was able to get a pair of shoes though they were far from proper by any standards. Really just a pair of pstic sbs with rubber straps on them to serve as flip flops. Dorian remembered Nicole promising him she’d buy him proper shoes once they got him some proper clothes as well. Dorian found himself even grateful that he even had something to cover his feet beyond those boots he wore before. Keeva seeming all to eager to toss his old clothes in the first trash can they found.
With a nudge to his back, Dorian blinked himself back into the present as he peered over his shoulder to see Keeva bringing up the rear. Her brow rising slightly as Dorian waged his back at her. The conversation had and ending within these two gestures.
“Here we are!” Nicole sang as she stopped before an unassuming door as unassuming as the rest though her gesture seeming like it was some grand reveal or something. With her keys slipping into the lock, she opened the door and stepped off to the side to allow Keeva to step around Dorian and enter the home first.
Dorian noted the way Nicole stood in the threshold of the doorway. One foot in, one foot out as she stopped her daughter from entering with a gentle hand against her chest.
“Oh just one second sweetie, the house is a bit of a mess is all and I want to be sure I didn’t leave anything out in the open for our guest to find.” Nicole said with a mock embarrassment at the thought before smiling at her daughter with Keeva finally coming around to the entryway.
“All clear ma’am.” Keeva said and gestured everyone inside, Keeva locking eyes with Dorian for a moment as the two understood each other. Dorian recognizing a security sweep when he saw one but opted to say nothing.
Watching her from this vantage point in the doorway, Dorian saw the way Ashley took it all in. A bright smile on her face that never quite made it to her eyes as she ran a hand through her hair and shut her eyes tight. Perhaps to keep the tears from flowing over her cheeks that reddened with the added stress of finally being home. The way her hand raised to her face as she pulled her lips back in a way that wasn’t a smile, more like her teeth bared in overwhelming frustration as she bowed her head and finally allowed herself to break. The tears coming quick as they streamed down her face as Dorian’s movements came faster.
Stepping over the threshold of the doorway, Dorian stroked a hand against Ashley’s back and seemed to summon her out of her own mind long enough for her to press her face into his shoulder. His hands wrapping loosely around her back as he held her. His eyes scanning the room as Keeva’s lips pulled into a ft line across her face. Nicole’s brow knotting in such a way that conveyed in a mix of curiosity and something else.
“Ash, you know where you are right?” Dorian said, his words an attempt to ground her in the moment as he felt her head nod against his shoulder. “Tell me where you are now then.”
“I’m home…” Ashley said with a croak and a sob as she summoned a lung full of breath and coughed out another sob that wracked her body. Her arms curling up around her torso as she curled into Dorian’s chest. “I’m finally home!”
“Sweet heart!” Nicole cooed as she pced a hand at Ashly’s shoulder. Dorian watching as Ashley pulled away from Dorian to colpse into her mother’s arms now as she let out a wail and a cry. Muffled only by the blouse she screamed into.
“Pup,” Keeva called as Dorian whipped his head around to see Keeva standing off to the side. “Let’s get you settled in alright?”
Turning his attention back to the moment with Nicole and Ashley, Dorian noted the way Nicole pulled her gaze up from where she held her daughter and gave a look to Dorian to continue. With that, Dorian turned to Keeva and followed her deeper into the house. Many of the lights turning on automatically by their walking as Keeva gave him the full run down of the house. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a home gym and an office. Kitchen was free reign if he ever got hungry and the workout gear was the same though Dorian thought that Keeva may have made it a point to mention the kitchen first.
“Finally, what will be your room for now. You’ll take my room I’ll be staying with Nicole in her room for the time being.” Keeva said.
“You two normally share a room?” Dorian asked as he looked on at the room ahead of him. Bare bones with a queen-sized bed with the sheets and comforter made up. A basic dresser Dorian was sure he’d seen in literally every hotel room he’d ever stayed in with even a TV on top of it no less.
“Pup…” Keeva said, her voice a warning shot. “Been a long day and I’d really appreciate something other than sarcasm out of you.”
Seeing the look on Keeva’s face, Dorian could tell that she meant this much and opted to shelf a response. Thinking silence, the better answer to her remark.
“Think about yourself for tonight and I’ll think about what they need. Get some rest pup, I’ll see you in the morning.” Keeva said with a wink before shutting the door.
Left in the silence of the room, Dorian stared on at the bed before him before turning his head to the door leading out to the rest of the house. The lights inside the bedroom hadn’t automatically turned on but the city scape outside the window offered a dim light. Enough for him to safely see everything around him. His minds eye fshing back to Ashley’s form sleeping in the bed, curled up between the sheets as he watched her sleep. Her body tightening and rexing as she mumbled and murmured in her sleep. A knot forming in his stomach as he thought about the way the tossing and turning got more violent before he pushed the thought away. Reminding himself of Keeva’s words as he summoned a lungful and exhaled the breath between his lips.
Sitting at the foot of the bed, Dorian stared out at the cityscape ahead of him. Highways with cars passing through, buildings lit to repce the stars in the sky. The city still alive but in its own way calm. With a stomach full from a heavy lunch and the soft bed under him, Dorian could feel the pull and allure of sleep at his shoulders. The way it felt like the bed itself were pulling him back to y down. To rest for now. As though some deeper instinct inside of him, some animalistic part of his body said that he ate and now it was time to sleep since that’s what animals do. Perhaps getting some rest would do him some good as well.
Slipping himself under the covers, Dorian id his head onto the pillow and felt his body rex. His mind almost slipping away instantly after his head hit the pillow as sleep quickly took him. Deep and dreamless as a bck void consumed his eyes and silence consumed his hearing. The only real sound coming from the way the house seemed to creak and settle in on itself from time to time. Beyond that, not even an AC unit kicked on to wake him at all which made it all the easier to hear the door to the room opening a few hours ter. The soft padding of feet walking across the hard wood floors trying to walk as quietly as possible. Dorian’s eyes snapping open at the sound of the door opening before feeling his body ease at the sight of the figure now standing on the side of the bed.
In the dim light of the room, Dorian didn’t think Ashley could see if he was awake or not as she just seemed to stand there for a moment. Her feet stepping from one side to the other as though she couldn’t decide if she should stay or go. Eventually deciding that she could make her choice after sitting down at the edge of the bed. The motion of Ashley sitting was enough for Dorian to recognize that this would be an appropriate time to appear awake, but chose to wait just a moment longer. Just as he felt Ashley’s weight give from where she sat at the end of the bed, Dorian made his own waking presence known.
“You just going to stand there all night?” Dorian grumbled in the silence of the room.
“Sorry I was just-” Ashley began.
“Save it.” Dorian said and pulled the covers open. Ashley silently crawled into bed right beside him. Dorian hadn’t even bothered to wear anything beyond the sweats and shirt Nicole gave him. Ashley, however, opted for an oversized men’s button down for her own pajamas. One that hadn’t been washed by the smell of the cologne still clinging to the fabric. An odd scent mixing with the smell of the shampoo in Ashley’s hair as she pressed her back to Dorians’ chest and took his wrist in her hands.
Pulling Dorian’s arms around her waist till they were wrapped tightly around her form, Ashley pushed herself further against Dorian’s chest before Dorian understood what she expected. His arms locking around Ashley’s body while his face nuzzled into the back of her neck. Taking in the deep scent of her shampoo as he could feel her hair against his face and knew she’d finally gotten to freshen up with a shower. Ashley’s arms ying over where Dorian’s sat now as she curled in on herself. Dorian curling in on her as well with his legs tangling between hers as her hands found their way to his to do the same. Fingers knotting together as Ashley gripped his hand as tight as her frail fingers could possibly manage. Dorian returning the gesture though with enough pressure to let her know he was here.
“It’s my dad’s.” Ashley said, her voice soft enough to temper the silence between them.
“What is?” Dorian asked, his voice a low grumble as he kept his eyes shut, sleep still working its way over his form.
“The shirt I’m wearing?” Ashley said as she turned herself around enough to look at Dorian who opened an eye to look back at her. “I didn’t want you to think that I was…”
“He’s got good taste in cologne.” Dorian said as he drew in a long breath and exhaled. “You smell better though.”
Ashley let out a soft chuckle at this remark that even earned a smirk out of Dorian. Reaching his hands up around the back of her head, Dorian pulled her head in closer to his chest and tangled his legs with hers once more. Holding her close enough that Ashley could burry her face into his chest if she wanted. Close enough that she could easily hear the beating of his heart. All the while, Dorian rested his chin along the crown of her head before a breath hitched in his throat and his eyes snapped open at the feel of a pair of lips against his neck. No doubt Ashley could feel the way his heart quickened at this before she nuzzled closer to his chest. Dorian choosing to let the moment be as he forced himself to rest and shut his eyes tight.
~Hours Later~
Waking to the sun pouring into the room from the window, Dorian stared up at the ceiling as he felt a weight pressing down onto his chest. Ashley’s hair spreading out across his arm as it remained wrapped around the small of her back. Her body curling up along his side as she pressed herself as close as she could to him. The button down she wore before wrinkled and tanged along her body with a few buttons coming undone as they each tossed and turned through the night. Dorian’s eyes watching her sleeping peacefully before his brows rose at the sound of the door opening and a pair of near silent steps walking into the room.
Standing with her arms crossed over her chest. Keeva raised a brow to Dorian ying in her bed with Ashley sound asleep in his arms. Keeva’s lips pulling back into a ft line as she looked to the ceiling and wagged her brow before gazing at Ashley’s sleeping form. Dorian only watching her expressions change as he rolled his eyes and flicked his gaze over towards Ashley. Keeva gesture Dorian to follow her out of the room.
“Ash.” Dorian whispered in her ear as Ashley’s eyes shot open and his arms found their way to her back. Holding her close to his body as she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. “Keeva needs me for something, get some more rest.”
“But…” Ashley protested as she tightened her grip around where her arms wrapped around the back of Dorian’s neck.
At the slightest tug, Dorian felt Ashley’s arms fall away from his shoulders like fog cascading down the side of a mountain. Her arms returning to fold up against her chest as she grabbed her bed shirt tight and pulled it around her form. Her body rolling over with her back facing Dorian now as she pulled the covers up.
Walking out the door, Keeva shut the door gently enough to avoid making any commotion as the two of them walked near shoulder to shoulder through the halls of Nicole’s home. Any remark Keeva could have made, Dorian figured, would be met with an equal amount of bite from him. Because of this, the two walked in silence with Keeva walking ahead of him just enough to lead the way to another part of the house. The home office as Dorian remembered.
Keeva wrapping her knuckles on the door and poking her head inside before opening up the door the rest of the way. Gesturing Dorian to follow her inside as Nicole sat at her desk. A pair of reading gsses sitting on the edge of her nose with her long hair tied back into a loose pony tail. Her fingers working across a keyboard and the motion never even slowing as she looked up to regard Dorian with a bright smile. Once more, her makeup done up, though this time with a crimson lip instead of ruby from the day before.
“Good morning.” Nicole greeted as she set a still steaming cup of coffee out in front of her. “Please take a seat, I saved you some coffee, you can take your time drinking before we get started.”
“Started on what exactly?” Dorian asked as he wrapped his hands around the coffee mug. It was still warm but not scalding hot which allowed him to take a decent swig and wake up his mind with the surge of caffeine.
Raising her reading gsses up to the top of her head, Nicole regarded Dorian for a moment before letting her brows slip to confusion for a hair of a second.
“You wanted to talk business; this is where were going to talk business.” Nicole said before turning her attention to Keeva. “Would you mind seeing if Ashley is awake yet Keeva?”
“Right away ma’am.” Keeva said as she stepped out of the office but not before boring a hole into the back of Dorian’s head with her gaze.
When the door tched shut, Nicole pulled her gsses from her head, folded the bows and slipped them down the front of her blouse. The very same that sat open along the neckline without a neckce. Dorian furrowed his brows at that before turning his attention back to Nicole who folded her hands in font of herself.
“You wanted to know what I do and I want to know if you’ll be the right fit for what I do, so what do you say we consider this an interview.” Nicole began as she paused for a moment and searched Dorian’s face but found nothing beyond a sheer wall in pce of an expression. “The position you’ll be interviewing for with all intents and purposes will be part of the security team so while Keeva will be your boss, I’ll be Keeva’s boss. Is that something that’s reasonable for you?”
“Yes ma’am.” Dorian said as he straightened up and held his coffee in his p. His posture fixing itself to a level of professionalism expected in a setting like this, even if his clothes might be found cking.
“Fantastic, now I have a few questions and I’d like you to give me your best answers.” Nicole said. “I don’t want you to think about the answers too hard this isn’t a quiz with right answers, just answer to the best of your ability. Make sense?”
“Yes ma’am.” Dorian repeated and watched as Nicole fshed him a smile before she continued. Not even bothering with a prompt it seemed as she looked off to the side to summon a thought and the question came after it. Almost as if she were making conversations.
“So, let’s say,” Nicole began as she tented her fingers and leaned back in her chair to look at the ceiling. “You have a wolf, a goat, and a head of cabbage and you need to get all three across the river, but your boat can only carry one at a time. The wolf will eat the goat if they’re left alone and the goat will eat the cabbage if it is left alone. What do you do?”
Cssic logic puzzle, Dorian thought to himself as he took a moment to think over the answer. Staring past Nicole’s form as he visualized the scenario in his head before finally coming to an answer.
“I'll need to take the sheep over to the other side of the river first. Then I'll need to take the cabbage next. I can't leave it there with the sheep so I'll have to take the sheep back to the other side with me and grab the wolf. That way the sheep is on one side, the cabbage is on the other and the wolf is with me. When the wolf is with the cabbage on the other side then I'll take the sheep and have all three safely across.” Dorian said and saw a smirk py at the corners of Nicole’s lips.
“You answered that faster than most, are you a fan of logic puzzles or did you hear that one before?” Nicole asked.
“When you look at all the moves you can eventually exhaust all possible options till you reach one that gives you the best result.” Dorain said.
“That applies to small puzzles like these but what happens when the moves you can make are in the hundreds or the thousands and you only have time to consider two or maybe three?” Nicole asked. “Obviously you can’t exhaust all options and apply the most reasonable answer from there so what are you left with then?”
“In a situation like that, I’d defer to experience over everything else.” Dorian said.
“Interesting answer, nice to see your ego isn’t so fragile that you’re incapable of asking for help. How about a soft ball this time. Why are manhole covers round?” Nicole asked as she propped her elbows onto the desk and cocked her head to the side.
Leaning back in his chair, Dorian took a moment to sip his coffee to consider an answer. Thinking to himself that perhaps this was more a curve ball than a soft ball as there perhaps wasn’t a right answer. Even more as she seemed to really want to test that assumption about his ego with this as well.
“If I had to guess,” Dorian began and thought over his answer for a moment longer. “Circur covers were probably easier to manufacture and produce before precision instruments were avaible.” Dorian proposed and saw the way Nicole’s features widened with curiosity as she considered his answer.
“I suppose you’re probably right about that; we’ve had iron working for years but you don’t really think about how recent advancements really changed how we shape the world around us or how old certain pieces of our world are.” Nicole said before leaning back and pursing her crimson lips in considering for a moment longer. “If that’s true though then why not make them squares? Figured that might be easier to produce, wouldn’t it?”
“I suppose you’re right about that.” Dorian agreed as he considered another answer. “Maybe making them circur made them easier to spot when you needed them.”
“I suppose you’re right about that, finding a circle in a road of straight angles would be easier than finding a square, wouldn’t it? How about one st question then.” Nicole said as she let the suggestion hang in the air for a moment before asking. “Let’s say you’re a warden tasked with overseeing one hundred prisoners in an open field and armed with only a pistol and a single bullet. If the prisoners think they have a greater than zero percent chance of escaping, they will try to escape. How do you ensure none of the prisoners get away?”
In Dorian’s minds eye, his expression fshed with shock and disdain at such a question. What kind of interview was this? What kind of question was that? His mind ran with each while his face remained pcid as he took another sip of his coffee. His answer coming to him in the span of time it took for him to bring the coffee to his lips, take a sip, and return the cup to his p.
“Inform all the prisoners that attempts at escape will not be tolerated and any attempt will result in the person beside them being executed regardless of conviction.” Dorian said with the same tone of voice someone might inquire about the weather to a taxi driver.
“Hmmm, interesting answer.” Nicole said as she drew herself back to lean in her chair. “How’d you come that conclusion?”
“Back in World War One, soldiers in the trenches were given oil for their feet to prevent trench foot.” Dorian began and avoided the more gruesome details of what trench foot entailed. The ck of circution, the splitting of skin, the eventual infection that led to gangrene and ter amputation. All from walking around with wet socks and boots. “To ensure every soldier applied the oil correctly, every soldier was tasked with oiling the feet of the man beside him.”
“Comparing soldiers to prisoners is a little presumptuous, don’t you think?” Nicole asked as she raised her head enough to regard Dorian down the edge of her nose.
“Discipline is expected out of both; the only real difference is how that discipline is maintained.” Dorian said as he let an expression slip by way of his face tightening for a fraction of a second as he wondered what kind of psychopath screening test this was.
“You’ve shown just as much in entertaining these questions, that’s for sure.” Nicole said as she pulled her gsses from where they hung at her blouse. Flicking out the bows as she set them on her face before turning her attention to her computer. “I’ll be honest with you Dorian; you have my curiosity and that’s not something I give out freely which is why I’ll be giving you a probationary offer. The answers you gave to the questions I asked you clearly show you have a mind built towards logic and problem solving and I think that may transte well to the security team. But answers are only worth as much as the words you use to say them, so I’ll have you and Keeva joining me on a small business transaction to see how you perform in the field. If you perform well enough, I’ll see to it your compensated well with our company.”
“I’ll hold off on accepting until you tell me what exactly your company does.” Dorian said with an edge to his voice he hadn’t meant to put there. Enough that Nicole noticed as she swiped her gsses from her face and began to pull at her bottom lip with the bow.
“I wasn’t lying to you when I said I’m the head of an investment firm Dorian, but I was only telling you a half-truth at that. When Ashley went missing and the police were worthless in helping me find her, I had to make a few deals to track her down which meant making myself valuable to people who deal in arms, drugs, and most of all, secrets. I’ll be honest with you when I say I don’t deal in any of those personally but I do handle the money that’s exchanged between those commodities. Filtering it enough that it can’t be traced back to those who are spending it.”
“You’re undering money.” Dorian stated and nodded his head. Suddenly having a former SAS operative as a body guard made perfect sense.
“That’s exactly what we do here. If that’s not something you’re willing to entertain, then I’ll have Keeva drop you off wherever you need and this is where we part ways, however,” Nicole said, letting a silence hang in the air for a moment. “You’ll be sworn to secrecy yourself about this which means you can’t tell Ashley or anyone else what you do beyond what will be stated on your job description. What do you say Dorian?”
“I’d say Keeva is full of shit if she thinks this is being on the right side of a set of sights.” Dorian began before finishing off his coffee. “When do I start?”
