For Your Protection: Chapter Two

Two

Shane Pearson was late for his second job interview.  As he raced around his house in an absolute panic he almost trampled right over his little sister who was getting ready for school.
“Watch it,” she hissed as only a 7th grader could.  “Where are you going dressed like that?” she asked as she took him in.  “You trying out for 50 Shades?”
“Ha ha ha…I don’t even know what the hell that is,” Shane said as he stood in front of his mirror.  “The guy said to come in a suit and tie.  It’s not like I picked it out.”
“The sleeves are too short,” she said as she walked up and tugged on the jacket.  “They’re supposed to reach down to your hands, aren’t they?  I mean I don’t know a whole lot about suits, but something tells me—”
“This was all I had,” Shane said as he glanced down.  Dammit, she was right though.  The jacket was too short and the hem of the pants would look terrible if he had to sit down.  His little sister Naomi was smirking at him.  “Is it really that bad?”
“It certainly doesn’t make you look good,” she said.  “But it does make you look…formidable?”
“It’s not that bad,” a new voice said.  Thank hell.  Shane smiled knowing that if anyone would find something positive in this shrunken suit it was his mother.  “I’m sorry though, Shane.  Your dad…he wasn’t as tall as you.  And…with money being so tight…”
“Mom, it’s fine,” Shane said as he bent down to give the woman a kiss.  “I’m honored to wear dad’s suit.”
“He would have been so proud of you.”
“Proud?” Naomi asked.  “Of what?  This is the only job interview he’s had in months!  I bet they’re only calling him in because of how big he is!”
“Don’t start, Naomi,” Shane’s mom said in a warning tone.  “We’re lucky he got a call back.  This is good money from what I’ve heard.”
“What company wants to hire a bodyguard with no experience?” Naomi groaned as she held a low-cut sweater up to her chest.  “I mean, did they even tell you who or what you’re going to be protecting?”
“They said I’d get all the answers I needed at the second interview,” Shane said as his mother dropped a steaming mug of coffee into his overly-large hands.  He sauntered towards the front door as best as a young man could who was well over six feet tall.  His size made him so self-conscious but he had to wonder if his little sister was right to an extent.  Would he have been interviewed for this job if he wasn’t so damn big?  For once, he was happy to not think about it.  As his sister said, money was tight so this was a great opportunity.  He hated that his mother and little sister were like hovering little ants next to him.  No one understood why he was so tall – there wasn’t anyone over six feet in his family as far as he knew and he was almost 6’5”.
“Finish your coffee on the drive,” his mother chided as she took away his mug to pour in a thermos.  “What time are you supposed to be there?”
“I think I’ll still make it,” Shane said as he checked the time on his cheap watch – yet another inheritance from his father.  His hazel eyes danced as he tried to factor in traffic, the drive, the parking and the security of Telescope Records.
“Put a jacket on,” his mom said.
“None of them fit,” Naomi said with a giggle.
“They fit,” his mom said defensively.  Her face was still pink as she appeared in the small foyer of their row home with a thermos in one hand and a black and white plaid scarf in the other.
“Don’t worry about it, mom,” Shane said in a soft voice as he took the scarf first and wrapped it around his neck.  “The jacket with the suit should be fine.”
“I just hate it,” his mom said softly.  “You just never stopped growing and with your father—”
“Mom,” Shane said, bending down to give his mother’s crinkled cheek a kiss.  “It’s fine.  Things’ll start getting better.  I promise.  Spring will be here before you know it and this new job should really help us out.”
“I hope you get it.  I know it’s selfish, Shane, but I really hope you get this job.”
“He will,” Naomi said as she brushed past the two of them.  “If they’re just looking for a gigantic lummox to take up space—”
“Naomi Pearson!” her mother shouted as she sprinted down the street to wait for the bus on the corner.  “That girl…”
“It’ll be fine,” Shane said.  “Just have some coffee waiting for me when I get home.”
“You’re a good son, Shane,” his mother said.  “I just wish I could be a better mother.”
“You’ll work again when the time’s right,” he said as he kissed her again.  “But I do have to get going.  I’m interested to see what this is all about.”
“You and me both,” she said.  “Good luck.  Not that you’ll need it.”
“I’ll need it, alright,” Shane said with a wave as he crossed the street to get to his car.  It was old and the inside smelled like crayons – but it was his and he loved the grey clinker.  “See you soon.”  Once his mother shut the door and he climbed into the car his confident demeanor started to fade.
He needed this job.
Not only for him but for his mother and his sister Naomi.
They were this close to losing their home when he received the callback for this random bodyguard work.  Honestly, he didn’t even want to apply but when his sister cracked a joke about how Telescope Records were looking for ‘large’ guys, he decided that there was no harm in applying.  He had never expected anything.  Even when he explained to the people that he didn’t have a lot of experience (AKA, any) Telescope Records said that they would still like him to come in.
Shane blew air between his palms as he smacked them together and waited for the car to warm up.  It was odd – but who was he to question it now?  The money would be a huge help and the hours would allow him to spend some time at home with his mother to keep her company until he was able to move out.
If he was able to move out.
His mom would get so depressed on some days that he wondered if he really could leave her alone with Naomi.  Naomi was a decent little sister and a decent friend, but she was still only in middle school.  Shane could at least provide a semblance of adult conversation even though he wasn’t quite twenty.
The ‘check oil’ flashed on and off on the dash but Shane had to ignore it as he put the car in ‘drive’ and started his trek over to Telescope Records.  He couldn’t help but wonder why some high end record label would be interested in someone like him – so young and so inexperienced.
But still…he wouldn’t question it.

***

Pulling into the parking lot Shane felt his nerves finally getting to him.  On the outskirts of the busy town he didn’t think too much about the city but in the heart of it all, he still felt like a small country boy even though he had only seen cornfields in passing.  Hmmm…maybe a huge small country boy.  But that was beside the fact.  After paying the parking attendant for a spot near Telescope Records he noticed that his car stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the sleek, expensive sedans and freshly washed SUVs.
“Must be nice,” he couldn’t help muttering to himself as he put the car in ‘park’ and exited with a frown.  Glancing around he noticed a few people walking around the lots – all in crisp business suits – and he tugged at the scarf his mother had given him self-consciously.  There wasn’t even a thermos to be seen – everyone was holding a fresh familiar white and green cup of coffee as he went past and through the doors.
“Name?” a tired woman asked as he stood at the front desk.  Despite her sleepy eyes, the woman was a complete knock out.  He supposed that she would have to be to work the front desk at such a prestigious record label.  When she finally lifted up her eyes, her expression changed slightly.  “Oh.  Are you here for the windows?”
“Windows?”
She pursed her lips.  “Yes.  We’re supposed to have the front windows cleaned today.  Are you here for that?”
Shane frowned.  Surely he didn’t stand out that much?  Frustrated, he ran a hand through his near black hair.  “Uh…no.  I’m here for an interview?”
“You don’t need to interview for the windows.”
“It’s not about the windows,” Shane said, growing a bit irritated.
“So…for what?” the woman asked, also getting annoyed.
“Telescope Records?”  The woman shot what she thought was a sneaky smirk to the man standing next to her.  What was with these people?  “You can check for my name,” Shane continued.  “I have an interview with Davis Kraft.”
She arched what must have been a heavily manicured brow.  “Really?  You have an interview with Mr. Kraft?”  She started to type away on her computer, her fingers furiously moving from key-to-key before her expression changed as the hazel eyes and black hair filled her screen with a photo identification..  “Mr. Pearson?” she asked, glancing up at him.
“Yes.  Yes, that’s me.”
“You…you do have a scheduled appointment at eight,” she said.  Shane was pissed because she sounded annoyed…still.
“Thank you,” Shane said, relived that someone finally would have to start taking him seriously.  “What floor?”
“Twenty-second,” she said as she reached for a pass and handed it to him.  “Fourth door on the left.  I’ll let his secretary know that you’re on your way up.”
“Thank you again,” he said as he took the piece of paper.  “Have a good day.”
“It’s certainly off to a great start,” she said drily, returning to the screen.
As Shane rode up the elevator he tried not to focus on the people standing in there with him.  The smell of expensive perfume dried out his nostrils and some of the obvious businessmen in there eyed him up like an unwanted intern.  He lifted his chin and focused on the numbers at they went from the single digits, to the teens and finally the twenties.  By the time he was at his floor he was the only one left and as the doors opened he was immediately greeted with another beautiful woman – but this one – wasn’t near as friendly as the other one – if such a thing were even possible.
“Name?” she barked as she held out her hand.  Shane assumed she wanted the pass and immediately handed it to her and she scrutinized it quickly.  “Mr. Kraft’s in a meeting right now.  Take a seat and he’ll be with you when he has the chance.”  She narrowed her eyes as the large man took a seat in one of the white leather couches.
Looking around, Shane looked for a magazine.  This felt like he was going to a dentist’s appointment rather than an interview.  The room was clean, sterile and everything was white, black, or silver.  He felt out of place in his under-sized suit with his mother’s thermos of coffee in his hands.  He didn’t want to say that he was embarrassed…but confidence certainly wasn’t filling him to the brim in that moment.  He tried to watch the woman at the desk as she idly typed away and answered the occasional phone call, but at one point she caught him staring and shot him an icy look before swerving around in her chair so her back was to him.
That hurt.
Between phone calls, a buzz came from the woman’s desk and Shane lifted up his head as he heard her pick up the receiver.  “Yes?” she barked.  “Oh!  Davis, I’m so sorry—” she was cut off at Shane heard the person on the other line snap something incoherent.  “Yes.  He’s here.”
Shane sat up straighter in his seat as she spoke into the phone but didn’t turn back around in her chair.  Her voice was calmer now, almost apologetic as she stammered over the phone.  Once the conversation ended, she set down the phone and swirled back around in her chair.
“Davis will see you now,” she said as she lazily motioned to the door behind her.
“Thanks,” Shane said, unable to stop himself from smirking as he stood up.  The girl was obviously embarrassed about him hearing her get reprimanded over the phone.
However, if a girl like that could be stunned into submission, what was this guy going to say to him?
It had been a long time since Shane remembered being nervous about anything but as he walked up to the large door he couldn’t help but notice that his heart was pounding against his chest.  What was he so nervous about?  He had met Mr. Kraft before and he seemed like a decent guy.  Hell, he must have been decent to take him for this interview considering how little experience he had.
“Ahh…you’re here,” a friendly voice called to Shane once he had opened the door.  This voice sounded nothing like the one which had been snapping to that young redhead on the phone.  “Come in, come in,” he said as he brandished his arm.  “Take a seat.”
“Thank you, sir,” Shane said as he closed the door behind him.
“Sir?” he coughed out.  “I call my dad, sir and I hate it.  Please, call me Davis.  All my friends do.”
“I was not aware that you had friends,” a small, feminine voice chided.
Shane looked around the room and tried to locate the source of the voice but couldn’t see anyone else in the room.  As he walked across the expansive carpet and took a seat in front of Davis’ massive work desk he continued to glance around.  Davis didn’t even comment on the small voice and instead came around his desk to shake his hand.
“I’m so happy you could make it,” he said.  “It’s wonderful to see you again.  You’re as tall as I remember.”
“You as well, sir – I mean, Davis – I mean, it’s good to see you, you’re not tall.  I mean!  You are tall, sir!  I mean, Davis,” Shane said with a red face.
“Relax,” Davis said.  “I see Anya spooked you pretty good out there.”
“Anya?”
“One of my assistants,” he explained.  “The redhead?  She’s a handful, isn’t she?”
“I…I don’t know…”  He was still looking around the room.  “I hope I didn’t interrupt a phone call or anything.”
“A phone call?” Davis asked, tilting his head.  “Why would say that?”
“I thought I heard a voice,” Shane said.  “Is someone in here with you?”
“Yes,” the same voice chirped.  “Down here.”
Shane lowered his head as Davis stepped away.  There was a girl on his desk.  A tiny girl.  His mouth opened and closed a few times.  He was making quite the impression – he was sure of that.  “You’re…you’re a…”
“An Assist,” the voice said, standing up and crossing her arms.  “An Assist mini, if you would like to be technical but judging by your appearance, I do not think that will be necessary.”
Shane’s dark brow furrowed.  “What do you mean by that—”
“Just ignore Lux, she’s always this pleasant in the morning, and afternoon…and night,” Davis said as he walked around the desk and took a seat across from her.
“I didn’t know you had an Assist, sir,” Shane said, his hazel eyes widening as he took her in.  Living in the poor part of town, seeing Assists was actually more of a rarity that made him comfortable considering they were so popular right now.  He had no idea that the minis were so…human-like.  He leaned forward slightly to take a closer look.
“Do you mind?” she snapped as she stumbled away from his looming face.  “Ever heard of personal space?  It is something you humans appreciate, last I heard, so if you do not mind—”
“I…I’m sorry!” Shane blurted out as he pulled his face away.  Why was his face reddening over a computer?  He looked down again as he swallowed.  She certainly didn’t look like any computer he had ever seen before.  Soft, dark hair and bright green eyes.  Her clothing was simple enough and what looked like a pair of tiny headphones hung around her neck.  “I didn’t mean to stare,” he said again as he tried to focus on Davis who was remaining silent.
He wasn’t sure why, but Davis was smiling.
“I see you two are going to get along just fine,” he said grandly.
“Us?” Shane asked.  “W-what do you mean?”
“Shane Pearson,” Davis said as he glanced down at a piece of paper on his desk.  “You here for the bodyguard job position, aren’t you?” Davis asked.
“Well, y-yes, I am.  I was told this was a second interview—”
“And it was!  And I can see that you’re going to work.”
“Work…for what?”
“You have found a smart one, Davis.  That is for sure,” the tiny Assist remarked.  “You really did not tell him, did you?”
“Tell me what?” Shane asked.  “What does this have to do with the job?”
Davis grinned.  “Tell him, Lux.”
“You tell him,” she sniffed.
“Tell me what?” Shane asked.
“This…” Davis said grandly as he waved towards the Assist, “…is your job.”
Shane felt his face fall.  He was being hired to watch…after a computer?  After an Assist?  He cracked a smile.  This had to be a joke.  “Are…are you  kidding?”