Beneath The Surface

Chapter 9: Can We Do This?

Are you free for dinner tonight?

I am but I have company tonight...

Oh, is something wrong? Are you ok?

Just some security scares recently...but I'm fine

I'm assuming there's no way for us to meet outside alone then?

Would be tough...

What if you came over? If you're comfortable, of course.

Let me check with them...

Your safety comes first.

While waiting for Aika's reply, Nat did a quick Google search and frowned. Maybe he shouldn't have asked.

It's an okay but they'll need to do a quick check before...

By all means. Can I fetch you from work?

I'll be waiting.

Won't need to, I promise.

10 minutes to 6, Nat signalled for his personal assistant to knock off and immediately headed for the carpark himself.

Nat got out of the car and headed up to Aika's office. He immediately spotted Aika's personal security detail outside the office and greeted her while handing her a drink. 

"Thank you for protecting Aika." Nat gave her a tiny bow as she let him pass. Nat greeted a few of Aika's colleagues as he passed by, Aika had introduced him to them previously.  

"Knock knock." Nat peeked into Aika's open room as he knocked on the glass door. 

"Who's there?" Aika recognised the voice and looked up, smiling when she confirmed that it was Nat.

"Nathaniel Lee." Nat couldn't think of anything.

"Wow, you suck." Aika chuckled as she grabbed her things and walked towards Nat. Nat offered to carry one of Aika's bags and she naturally handed it over to him. 

"Have fun on your date with your boyfriend, Director!" One of Aika's colleagues called out teasingly as Aika and Nat walked out. Aika shot her a joking glare while Nat just blushed. 

"Ate, I'll go with Nat's car if it's okay?" Aika carefully asked her security detail.

"Mr Lee, we'll just need your cooperation to do a quick check of your house later." Nat nodded obediently.

Reaching the car, Nat placed Aika's things in the backseat with his and got into the car, where Aika was already buckled.

"They'll be following behind." Aika glanced to the black sedan behind Nat's Mercedes GLE.

"I hope I'm not making things difficult for everyone?" Nat but his lip as he drove off, the sedan following.

"It happens here and there, about once or twice a year over the last 5 years. It'd be back to normal soon, I hope." Aika sighed as she leaned back into the seat.

"Are Ma'am, Tricia and Jillian doing ok? Especially Ma'am. The news didn't sound too good." Nat had read about the threats made to the OVP recently and was worried.

"Security got even tighter for mama but other than that, she's doing great as usual. The hospital is a pretty safe space for Patty, Jill is coping well too." Aika bit her lip ever so slightly.