Zachard repeatedly bounced his legs as he reviewed the bodyguard profile sent by his father.
There was no need for security or personal bodyguards—Zachard alone was enough.
He graduated from Officer Candidate School, although he had to step back due to his parents' constant complaints—Zachard was sure he could look after himself. Furthermore, he was only here, out of state temporarily for his father's business and had plans to return soon. Unfortunately, he found himself stuck as an intern at his father's international company. With a sigh, Zach contemplated his situation.
At that moment, a familiar profile appeared on his screen—it was the girl he had encountered a few days prior.
"Reine Kue," Zach chuckled at the coincidence. What a small world it was.
Perhaps this decision wasn't as bad as he initially thought.
---
Shooting range.
The sharp sounds of gunfire echoed through the air. Reine focused intently as she took her shots, then removed her headphones.
Freeya passes by and exclaimed, "Reine? What are you doing here?"
Reine settled into a chair and replied, "I'm here to train; my skills have really declined."
Freeya raised an eyebrow, "No, I mean—why aren't you at the Neo-Gen headquarters? You were supposed to be there for the selection process—Mr. Leighton will personally choose his bodyguards."
Reine peeled off her gloves and responded, "I'm not applying, remember? I thought I made that clear."
Freeya grinned, "I assumed you were joking. So...I went ahead and submitted your profile with the others."
"I'll reject the offer, so withdraw the application or say it was a mistake. I'm sure it won't be a problem," Reine replied, a hint of frustration in her voice.
Freeya nodded , "Yes, umm and surely there are so many applicants so the chances of you being chosen are likely slim..."
Freya returned to her desk, and just then, the phone rang.
She picked it up, her face lighting up with excitement, but that quickly changed to concern.
As Mr. Pickerin walked by, he asked, "What is it, Freeya?"
Freya set the phone down and replied, "Sir, our team has been chosen by Mr. Leighton, but he specifically wants someone to lead the team."
"That's great! who?"
Freeya forced on a smile," Reine Kue"
"Well, that's even better. I can finally give her something to work on," he chuckled.
Freeya scratched her head, looking a bit uneasy. "Well, the thing is, sir, Ms. Kue has already opted out from this assignment."
"What—why? Is she unhappy with the salary?"
"From the very beginning, she made it clear that she wanted to keep a low profile for a few months before diving into big projects," Freeya mentioned.
Mr. Pickerin frowned as he stepped into his office, with Freeya trailing behind him. Moments later, Freeya walked out.
Later.
Reine sipped her coffee while glancing over her schedule for the upcoming month. Just then, her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Mathew.
"How's work? Miss me a little?" the text read.
Reine chuckled, and out of nowhere, Freeya appeared.
Freeya stared silently at Reine for a few minutes before suddenly dropping to her knees.
"What—What are you doing, Ms. William?" Reine asked, bewildered.
Freeya looked up at Reine, "Ms. Kue, no, Reine, you have to help me—help us. Our team got picked by Mr. Leighton, no tests required. There's just one condition: you have to lead the team. You can choose anyone you want. Please just say yes!"
Reine was taken aback, speechless.
"Mr. Leighton said he'd increase the pay if you're part of the team. Please, Reine, our company is counting on you. We're on the brink of bankruptcy—you're our last hope," Freeya pleaded earnestly.
Reine rubbed her temples, feeling overwhelmed. "I—I'm not sure..."
"Reine, if you don't agree, I'll get fired. Everyone will lose their jobs, people will go hungry, we'll end up homeless—"
"Okay."
Freeya's eyes widened, "Huh?"
"Get up. I'll do it."
Freeya sprang to her feet, beaming. "Reine, you're the best! You're truly a lifesaver!"
Reine shook her head, "Just send me the documents later."
"By the way, do you know Mr. Leighton?" Freeya asked.
Reine glanced at Freeya, who had just been begging on the floor but was now buzzing with excitement.
"I mean, why would he want you to lead the team if you don't know each other?" Freeya continued.
Reine was just as puzzled. But with the suspicious look Freeya was giving her, Reine become even more irritated.
As if noticing, "The documents will be on the way. I'll send you the profiles of the rest of the people too. You can pick anyone you think is capable, but you need to form the team by next week." Freeya gave her a friendly pat before leaving.
That escalated quickly. Reine returned to her seat, still trying to wrap her head around what just happened.
People started whispering.
"You think she's pulling some strings?"
Another added, "I mean, she got hired even after a bunch of people were let go. There's got to be someone powerful backing her."
Another chimed in, "Looks like we had our hopes up for nothing, huh?"
Reine sighed. She didn't want to draw attention, but turning Freeya down outright didn't feel right either.
In the following days, Reine busied herself with assembling the team.
There was Bryan Lu, a quiet, introverted guy. He might be tough to communicate with, but his work efficiency so far had been impressive.
Then there was Wyatt Johnston, the archetypal bodyguard. He consistently completed tasks on time, received positive reviews, and had no complaints—a clean record.
Next were Shawn Valdez and Lexi Valdez, a pair of siblings. Their work ethic was incredible, and they had received high ratings, but their extroverted personalities could be challenging to manage.
Lastly, there was Kai Park, the youngest of the group.
Reine had never excelled in team dynamics, but it seemed trouble had a knack for finding her. She sighed inwardly, reminding herself that she only had to endure this job for the next six months.
The schedule didn't appear too strict either. Among the chosen companies were Larc Security and Briranch Protection Firm. Clearly, Mr. Leighton was someone of great importance and vulnerability, necessitating substantial protection.
Reine hadn't yet looked into him, as she was too preoccupied with the task of assembling a team. All she knew was that Mr. Leighton was 25 years old, the only son of one of the wealthiest families from somewhere—Reine wasn't one to keep up with the latest gossip.