Top priority

As it was said, so it was done. After he and Noah had come to a decision, he went down to the third floor and looked for Anthony and Rebecca. After calling them both and borrowing the office of the manager of that floor, Steve filled them in on the task at hand and the importance.

"I need you two to head over to La Vie en Rose and get the security footage of the past two days. Someone managed to take pictures of Noah during his dinner there, despite the privacy measures that La Vie en Rose has taken for its guests. I need to find out who took those pictures and if they are a threat to him. We have chosen you two to secure the footage and examine it for any suspicious behaviour for your skills and to reward you for the great work you have shown us so far. I don't think I need to explain to either of you the importance of this task and what this should mean to you."

Rebecca and Anthony both nodded and replied in unison, "Of course. We are honoured to be chosen." Steve nodded in response to their reaction and said, "Good. I knew you would understand. Since we want you to gain some experience Rebecca, we want you to take the lead on this and let Anthony guide and help you where necessary so that you can learn from your more experienced colleague. This task takes top priority and I have discussed this with your manager. So, if there is anything that you need to hand over, go take care of that and then head straight over to the restaurant. When you get there, I need you to make sure that no funny business takes place. Keep an eye on everyone and make sure no one is able to delete the footage. Don't bother arguing with the staff. Just ask once and if they give you trouble, just call this number and have him talk to the manager. Better yet. Just call this number when you get there and ask for the manager in the first place. Have them talk to each other and get the job done. Report to me as soon as you get back."

"We understand Mr. Branson. We'll get right on it." After replying to Steve and him making his way to the door to get back to his own work, Steve heard Anthony say, "I look forward to working with you Rebecca. I think this is the first time that we get to work on a task together." Steve chuckled behind a closed fist and thought to himself as he walked away, "That's my boy. Don't waste any time Anthony to make it clear how you feel."

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While Steve got started to finding Noah a bodyguard that met his requirements, Rebecca and Anthony went on their way to La Vie en Rose. Rebecca was feeling quite nervous as she had never been entrusted with something so big. It was her chance to prove herself. She did not want to let Noah and Steve down. Fortunately she had Anthony with her. Though she did not want to admit it yet, having him here made her feel more calm. His presence reassured her. He had been helping her ever since she joined the company, reassuring her that she could do this, showing her the ropes. Though she found him to be quite intimidating at first. It didn't take long for her to see past his towering, glaring presence.

The reason she was afraid of him was because of the way he would stare in her direction. Whenever their eyes met, it seemed like he did not like her, that he was angry about something. So, she would try to avoid him. But he kept looking for her, kept approaching. It wasn't until one day when she had made a mistake and he came to her rescue while she was having a panic attack. That is when she stammeringly thanked him and he smiled at her for the first time as he told her to not worry about it. That was also when she discovered that it was just that his resting face appeared cold and distant. That his glaring was just him looking out for her, making sure she was doing okay. His quiet nature and their big height difference, simply made him appear intimidating but his personality was far from it. So, slowly they got to talking more and more, allowing her to see past his towering presence and see that he was nothing more than a friendly giant.

Back then she was far from ready to enter a relationship with anyone. So, he was nothing more than a friend in her eyes. But these days she was coming to realize that she had begun to like him as more than just a friend. She not only enjoyed his company, she felt herself not wanting to leave whenever they met up. He had even met her little brother and they got along great. Seeing them interact, made her see a future with him. Probably even more than that, she could already envision it. It all just progressed so naturally. He had merged himself into their lives and now she couldn't imagine it without him. But although she felt this way, she was a bit afraid. Afraid to find out that he isn't the man she thinks he is. Her judgement of men has proven to not be so great. And even on the days where she is certain that he is the great man that she sees him as, she tells herself that maybe he only sees her as a friend, a little sister, nothing more.

What she did not know was, that Anthony already had something planned to make it clear to her that he was someone she could lean on, that he wanted to share their lives together and be there for her during the good and the bad.