THE MOMENT
"You like pizza, right? Everyone likes pizza," the blonde smiled as soon as Ryan opened the door. She held a stack of two pizza boxes from a place he didn't recognize named 'Mundo's Pizza'. "But, I brought two because not everyone likes pineapple," she shrugged and tried to step forward, but Ryan inched the door closed.
"Who are you? I didn't order pizza, what do you want??" He wasn't normally a nervous wreck; but, people were trying to kill him. He wouldn't have even risked opening the door, except he was waiting on his new bodyguard.
"Oh, duh, sorry," She giggled and shook her head. "My name's Morgan! I'm your bodyguard for the next 24 hours; it'll be a total breeze," she giggled. "Oh right," she met his eyes and gave a very deliberate and exaggerated wink. "Ozone sent me," she said.
"Come inside! Hurry!" he opened the door just wide enough for her and the pizza boxes, then he slammed it shut as soon as she was in.
"You?" Ryan could appraise her now that the door was safely closed. She had short, curly blonde hair and a tan, wearing a baby pink button blouse and denim shorts with white sneakers. "You're my bodyguard??"
"For the next 24 hours at least," she nodded. "You'll have to renegotiate with Ozone if you want more time after that. But, he said this was just a temporary gig until your private force is here and ready to take over. So, even if you want more time, you might get someone else assigned."
"Can I get someone else now...?" he asked.
"Way harsh!" Morgan giggled and shook her head. "Sorry, I'm already here on the job. But, trust me; you'll make it through the next day. So.. pizza?" she showed off the boxes again, then moved further into the house.
"You're... what. 20? 25?" Ryan followed her into the living room. She'd dropped the pizzas on the coffee table and made herself at home on his couch with a slice of ham and pineapple. "I paid good money for a top assassin and you're it??" he asked. He requested an assassin specifically because it made sense to him in his current situation. If he didn't know people were trying to kill him, he might have opted for a more general bodyguard.
"I dunno?" she shrugged. "I can tell you Ozone is always honest in his deals, his reputation is important. I don't know what you worked out, but I got the job. That means he thinks I'm a good fit."
"Alright....," Ryan sighed. He didn't have any options at the moment and he trusted her enough to feel safer with her than he would alone. "So, how're you going to keep me safe?" he asked.
"Not sure. How are you being attacked?" she asked.
"You don't have a plan? Check the perimeter? Monitor communications? Anything to actively keep me safe?" She stood from the couch and carried her slice around the room while still taking bites here and there. She eyed every corner, and even peeked out the window.
"Looks good," she replied after a few minutes. Her original slice was gone and she picked up a second one as she sat down again. She glanced at the black screen of the TV, then took a second look around the living room. "Where's your remote?" she asked. At least Ryan wasn't afraid for his life anymore. He'd grown so annoyed it overshadowed that worry. He was willing to accept she was quirky and skillful up to a certain point. But, that was too much. How did she miss it? He walked stiffly toward the coffee table and grabbed the black remote from between the two pizza boxes and held it up.
"How the hell can I trust you to protect me when your observation skills are utterly useless!??"
"Are you just, like, not going to chill out at all?" she asked.
"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT ME NOT WATCH TV!"
"They're not mutually exclusive, right?" Morgan asked.
"ON THIS JOB THEY ARE!" He was the client and he demanded to get what he paid for.
"That's super lame....," Morgan shook her head. She sighed and reached into he small purse by her side with her free hand, the one that wasn't holding pizza. Then, Ryan wasn't exactly sure what happened next. He saw her pull out something that looked like trading card. He was so interested that he saw artwork of a sleeping gnome on the front; but, it only lasted for a second. After she pulled it out of her bag, the card disintegrated. Then, he blacked out as he wondered where the card went.
Ryan woke up first, then instantly sat up. He was on his own couch with a blanket covering him and Morgan was on the recliner laughing at something on TV.
"What.. happened...," he wasn't asking about the nap; that was easy enough to attribute to Morgan. Instead, he was more focused on the pile of bodies in one corner of the living room.
"Hey, good evening. Right on time," Morgan looked at him and smiled. "Your contract's up in about half an hour.. but, I think your security team...," she gestured at the bodies "... didn't have your best interests in mind. You might want to get ahold of Ozone if you want someone to take my place. They tried to get here early, late last night, and tried to get to you in your sleep. I interrogated one of them, and he spilled everything. There are still a few guys out there waiting to try their turn."
He'd slept through the whole thing, and she did her job. Appearances be damned, he was suitably impressed. And, the tight window helped steer his decision.
"I'm sorry I doubted you. Will you stay on please? I'll renegotiate with Ozone, but I'd like you on the job still...," he said.
"No thanks, I'm good," Morgan smiled and shook her head.
"What? My LIFE is in danger! I'd really like you to protect me! I'll do whatever it takes, you can watch TV and eat all the pizza you want, I won't make a peep!" It was a short trip from the couch to his knees.
"No, sorry," Morgan shook her head. "You say you won't make a peep, but my dude," she had a somber expression as she denied him. "Your snoring is wayyyyy totally an assault on my ears."