A form of rebellion

The elevator doors opened as Noah and Steve arrived at the underground garage. They walked out and they each made their way to their own car. They had driven here separately yesterday because initially Noah had an appointment later in the day that would last till quite late. If Steve had come with him in the morning, he would have to wait until Noah was done and Noah would have to go back to the office after his appointment instead of being able to head home to Laila. Or he would have to have the driver or a taxi pick him up. But this seemed just as easy. So, they had agreed to head to the office separately, not knowing that they would be staying there all night and that all Noah's appointments would be cancelled.

But now that they were heading back home, it appeared that the surprises of yesterday had not finished yet and stretched out well into the next day. They had taken just a few steps into the parking garage when a third person suddenly showed up behind the two of them and said in a low, commanding voice, "Leave your car where it is. Take Mr. Branson's vehicle back to your home."

Of course both Noah and Steve were surprised by this person suddenly calling out to them, so they tried to turn around but their faces were pushed back to face the front as the man said, "Don't look back. Keep looking forward. Don't do anything suspicious. You don't know who might be watching."

Noah would not take this for an answer and said, "Well at this moment I don't know who YOU are. Care to tell me or am I just supposed to follow whatever every stranger tells me." Though Noah had a pretty good idea who the man was, he did not like the way the situation was being handled and so he wanted to get some clarity from the man before they did anything else he said.

But in the same unaffected, cold, authoritarian voice he said, "I am your bodyguard. Sent by the secret service. So, although I am a stranger to you, I need you to trust me."

Noah was still not very pleased and said in an unhappy voice, "It is kind of hard to trust someone you aren't allowed to even see, don't you think?" Steve was feeling very amused by their interaction. He didn't know if it was the lack of sleep or if it was something else. But he didn't think he would get to see Noah throwing such a clear tantrum. He was really looking like a kid that wasn't getting his way and was sulking about it. So, he defied everything that was said as a form of rebellion.

But fortunately the man was a trained professional and handled himself as such. So, this question, that was more a remark than an actual question in need of an answer, was answered calmly as well. "I can't have you knowing anything that you don't need to know for your safety and my own, and one of those things would be my face. I need to protect my identity or more the lack thereof. After this week, I will need to go back on actual missions and anyone being able to identify me as a person working for the secret service, would be a threat to me and my missions."

Noah could not argue with that logic and he was beginning to realize that he was being difficult for no reason. So, he let out a sigh and as they walked towards Steve's car, he said. "Fine. I can accept not being allowed to know anything about you. But can you at least tell me why we can't take my car?" The man nodded, something which they could not see, before he answered Noah. "Yes. That is information I can tell you. As I was not here when the threat started, nor was I here at the beginning of yesterday, I have not been able to identify and eliminate all threats. From the moment I got here, my main priority has been to keep you safe by keeping an eye out for all new threats that tried to approach you. Everyone that seemed suspicious, seemed to want to do you harm."

After a split second of silence the man said, "BUT, we don't know if they have done anything before I got here, for example something to your car. After all those threats from that man who seemed irrational and like someone who wouldn't mind playing dirty, and you being so unwilling to budge, I have a bad feeling about this. So, I would rather be extra careful and avoid any unnecessary risks until I have time to examine them. Tomorrow I'll come and look at your car. If everything seems normal, you can drive it back to your home tomorrow."

Though Noah wasn't happy about the matter, he did understand his reasoning. As someone working in the security industry, he understood where the man was coming from and appreciated him calculating in all the risks like that. So, he replied to the man's explanation by saying, "Very well. I'll follow your lead on this. As long as you get me safely to my wife, I won't complain how you get me there. I just hope your partner is as calculated as you are and manages to keep my wife out of harm's way."

The man reassured Noah that he was and that both his wife and Steve's girlfriend were in good hands. But what they didn't know was, that although this agent was indeed a calculating person, so was Harold. Soon, his calculated yet unpredictable, irrational ways, would give them all a surprise they did not want.