Axel
I looked up from my whiskey glass, my cold blue eyes fixing the older businessman sitting opposite me with an intent stare.
“How much?” I said softly, in a deep monotone.
“You heard me. Listen, I’ve had a look at your previous work and spoken to your...references. I know this isn’t the type of contract you usually take. And I may be being damned paranoid, but I can’t shake the feeling that the risk is greater than you or anyone else suspects.”
“Right. So this isn’t simple babysitting, knocking some sense into some over friendly jocks. I know, Andrew.”
As I spoke, I saw my potential future employer visibly flinch.
“How the fuck?” The older, and now very worried, man leant forward, his hand reaching for the panic button under his desk. “I never told you my name, did I?”
I leaned back, trying to relax my muscular frame into as non-intimidating a position as was possible when you’re 6’ 5” and 260 lbs.
“You don’t need to press that. I’m on your side. Plus, your name is on that certificate over there.”
I gestured with my glass towards the faded, yellowing certificate on the far wall, a good 10 feet away. If I was to be completely honest (which I never was, especially when trying to impress or intimidate), my eyes weren’t that good. I had heard of the heat this guy was facing through some old contacts. The sort of contacts you needed when you were an ex-vigilante slash criminal turned gun for hire, mercenary, bodyguard… hell, I’d do a fucking dog protection service if the money was right.
I’d even managed to find out his address, name, and a good idea of what his pretty daughter looked like from squinting at her almost-private social media pages.
Damn, from what I could see she was about an 8. Maybe a 9 after a few drinks. If only I was a few years younger… Nah Axel, you know what happens when you get involved with women… trouble. Strictly professional on this one. Plus she’s probably way out of your league..
“Truth is, Andrew. I’m good. I’m really fucking good. That’s why I’m expensive, right?” I took another gulp of whiskey.
Jesus, this is nice stuff. If this is what he has in his office, offering it to muscled, scarred thugs, I wonder what he keeps in his private collection? Probably fucking gold plated bottles.”
I leaned forward on my elbows, my t-shirt barely managing to contain my bulging biceps and chest muscles. I raised my left eyebrow, knowing it would accentuate the scar running from just above to just below it. I knew I looked mean. Mean and hard as fucking nails.
“I know the heat you been gettin’. I know the type of hardcore criminals who want in on what you develop, right? And these guys don’t fuck around. Good thing is, neither do I. Shoot first, ask questions later. And I ain’t bad in a fistfight either. And when I say I ain’t bad, I mean I ain’t never found no one who can beat me.”
I drained my whiskey. Andrew poured me another, his gaze not lifting from my face. I had his full attention. I knew he was impressed, intimidated or slightly jealous. Probably all three.
“Thanks.” I raised the glass. “Last one for me. I drink more than three, bad shit seems to happen. Even if I ain’t looking for it!”
I took a smaller gulp and continued my sales pitch. Not that it was needed. I just enjoy attention. Especially the attention this guy’s dolled up secretary with the nice butt and tight top gave me in the waiting room. I wasn’t looking at her, but I knew she kept looking at me.
“So, let me backtrack some. I took the liberty of doing some research, called in some favours. I’m a step ahead of these bad guys, right? And let me tell you, 9 out of 10 of them won’t even come close. ‘Cause I still got favours I ain’t called in yet. Helped a lot of people out in the past, see?” I winked. “And I’ve done this shit before, tangled with the sort of bad dudes breathing down your neck. And I won.”
Andrew shook his gaze from me, composing himself.
“Very impressive,” he murmured softly.
My “charms” hadn’t worked for too long. He sat back up straight, returning to his businesslike demeanour more quickly than I’d expected. I was impressed. This guy was tougher than he looked. Fuck, you’d have to be to sit in an office all day, year after year. Ain’t good for your soul.
“Like I said earlier,” he continued; “I did my research too. Not, uh, in the same way as you, but still. I thought you were good before you walked in here. Now I know you’re the man for the job.”
He stood up slowly and held his arm out. Palm slightly face up. Passive, but not a pussy. I stood with fluid and grace, for a very big man who’d had three whiskeys, towering over the businessman. His eyes widened, clearly impressed. I grabbed his hand, firm but not bone breaking.
“Alright,” I said. “Consider me hired. Now, you probably don’t have me down as the type of guy but I’m legit...these days. I’m gonna need a contract, and 10% upfront. Expenses, right. Ain’t putting that shit on plastic!”
I gave him what passed from me as a smile, a half grimace, half smirk. Trying to break the ice, but probably looking like I had indigestion. I did humour, but didn’t smile a lot since, well… since my wife ran out with the fucking Fed-Ex guy. Or milkman, details didn’t matter too much. Last I heard he didn’t walk too good these days, whoever the fuck he was.
Now ain’t the time to dwell Axel. Bad shit’s happened. Shit that’s in the past. You ain’t no fucking fool these days.
“I’ll swing by tomorrow afternoon to get the contract. Don’t do snail mail, emails or fucking Whatsapp for that matter. Like to stay under the radar. Makes my job a damn sight easier an’ all. I trust that will be enough time for your pretty secretary to type something up?”
I jerked my thumb behind me, gesturing to the door. Andrew laughed.
“Her? I pay her to answer the phones and look pretty, and flirt with any old businessman I think might be trouble. Works as well as you’d imagine. No I’ll do this one myself, I think.”
I barked a short laugh. “Fair enough. ‘Least you know it’s done right first time eh? I know exactly what you mean. Don’t get far in my line of work unless you trust number one, and those handful who have proved they ain’t corrupt as fuck, or morons. Or both, those are the worst.”
He half turned on the way back to his desk, pausing to pass me a parting gaze.
“You know what? I think our jobs might be more similar than you think. You could have just described high level corporate bullshit in one sentence! I’ll have to remember that line…” He sat back down in his plush leather armchair and nodded my way. “Until tomorrow, then.”
I’m guessing that means: “Fuck off now, we’re done here.”
I left quietly, feeling the secretary’s gaze on me as I passed through the outer office. Probably a sight for sore eyes, all the stiff, sleazy old business types that come through here. I gave her something to look at, walking slowly past her, brushing my slick, greased hair back with my left arm, flexing my bicep as I did so. I could hear cotton rip in the cheap fabric of the short sleeve of my tight plain black T shirt. I paused at the door on the way out, bending down to re-tie a shoelace which didn’t need retying.
Well, it’d be rude not to give her something to fantasize about later…