Cerberus

1. Seattle

It was raining when Kassidy walked out of the parking garage and up to The Westin in downtown Seattle. He wasn't surprised, of course, it was almost always raining in Seattle. Especially in the fall. It was a hard contrast to the sunny, warm weather he'd grown accustomed to in San Diego where he'd been stationed the last 8 years between deployments.
With a shake of his head, he opened the umbrella given to him by his new employer. It came with the black suit tailored to fit him, the ear piece and walkie, new phone and work ID badge, all of which were delivered to his door last night. It wasn't a long walk to the back entrance of The Westin, but he didn't want to soil the new suit in the rain, especially on his first day.
The door now before him opened with a pop after he swiped his badge over the access magnet. Hurriedly, he walked in and double checked that the door had closed behind him before shaking the umbrella off and closing it. The security guard stationed at the door checked his ID badge and motioned him in before another staff member offered to take his umbrella.
"Good morning, sir, do you need any assistance finding anything?", the staff member asked as Kassidy passed the umbrella off to him.
"No, thank you." Kassidy had already studied the entire buildings layout and knew exactly what he was looking for and where he needed to be. First, he needed to check in with the lead guard to receive the key card to the suite he'd be staying in, then after dropping off his things, which consisted of a single large duffel bag, he would report to duty for his new employer, Lewis Jackman.
Kassidy wasn't a fan of wasting precious working hours, so he made short time of it. He found his new superior, an older but still plenty fit and perceptive bald man by the name Brian Jacobs, dropped his things off without more than a brief security sweep of the suite, then made his way up to the penthouse. His keycard granted him access to the private elevator and he pressed the button for the topmost floor exactly at 5:55am. Right on time. Kassidy was always on time. It had been drilled into him since the day he turned eighteen and left to join the Marines.
With a ding, the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. Kassidy was greeted by two men in black suits that matched his own, with curled wires coming out of their shirt collars and to their ears. The blank faced men stopped him as he stepped out and checked his ID badge. He recognized both men from the documents he'd poured over the days prior. The first man, Osman, was in his forties and broad chested with black hair and a close cropped beard. He stood back as the second man, Isaac, who was only in his early thirties with loosely curled, shaggy brown hair and a much leaner disposition, stepped forward to pat him down. After verifying it was him, they each stepped back as if allowing him entrance. Osman seemed to be weighing him with his eyes before speaking.
Likely, he was taking in Kassidy himself. Kassidy was big, to say the least, especially when considering that he was only twenty-six. If one only took in his blond hair, closely cropped at the nape and longer at the top and a clean shaven face with brilliant deep blue eyes, it would be easier to guess he was only on the waxing side of his twenties. But, his height and muscular build often offset the assessment. His high school years playing rugby followed by his years in the Marine Corp had sculpted him into a mass of muscle and power. He wasn't the cut and clean sort of muscular, he was thickly built and just over 6'3".
"You're right on time, boot." Osman said eventually.
"Yes sir." Kassidy ignored the dig.
"You went over the documents?"
"Yes sir."
"You found Jacobs alright?" Osman said.
"Yes sir." Kassidy repeated.
"Is that all you know how to say?" Osman retorted.
"No sir." Kassidy said in monotone.
Osman smirked and said, "Right, well then boot, follow me.", and proceeded down the hall and to the penthouse doors, Isaac following up the rear.
They paused while Osman took out his badge, knocked, then swiped it to open the door. It swung open soundlessly to show the entrance room of the penthouse. Osman and Kassidy walked in and Isaac closed the door behind them, presumably to take up position outside. Kassidy followed Osman further inside.
"The boss'll be waiting for you just behind those doors in his office", Osman gestured towards the wide double doors before them, "don't keep him waiting."
Kassidy looked at Osman, the man just barely shorter than he was, and nodded. He approached the doors and knocked twice.
"Come in." Was the only answer he received, it's owner possessing a husky voice from the other side. Kassidy took a deep breath, then pushed the right side door open and stepped inside.
Before him, seated at a massive, dark stained oak desk placed in the center of the large, bookshelf lined office space, was his new employer. Lewis Jackman. Lewis was an older man, the thick file Kassidy had read on him said he was in his late sixties, and quickly approaching seventy. He had dark grey hair combed back over his head and light green eyes that brimmed with a sense of knowledgeability.
"Kassidy Harris, welcome. What punctuality you possess." Jackman stood from his desk and extended his hand in greeting, "welcome."
Kassidy took his hand and shook it, "it's a pleasure, sir."
"Ah, good grip," Jackman said before gesturing towards one of the seats placed before his desk before retaking his own,"that's always a good sign in a man." Kassidy sat. "Well, let's not beat around the bush, as I have a busy day ahead, I'd like to welcome you and thank you for choosing to join my team of body guards. Your reputation proceeds you."
"It's an honor, sir, and I appreciate the opportunity." Kassidy replied.
"The honor is all mine, young man. I trust mine and my daughters lives are safe in your hands."
He was referring to his daughter and only child, Lydia Jackman. She worked for her fathers company, but after reading more on her file, Kassidy knew it was more of a formality. She was well known in socialite groups across the country as an extravagant party goer who lounged, shopped and traveled as her heart desired, all on her fathers very wealthy dime.
"Of course, sir." Kassidy replied.
"I won't take up any more of your time, Mr. Harris, please do spend the rest of the day acclimating to your surroundings. We'll be in Seattle for the next three weeks before heading back to New York briefly. I will see you again tomorrow for duty." Jackman stood again and walked to the door, placing his hand on the knob before saying, "I want you to feel as though you belong here, Mr. Harris. My life is in your capable hands, but I still want you to be your own man as well. All I ask, is for your loyalty to the task you have undertaken." Jackman looked deeply into Kassidy's eyes.
"Yes sir." Kassidy held his gaze. Jackman smiled and opened the door for him.
"It was a pleasure finally meeting you, I look forward to seeing you around, Kassidy." With that, Kassidy stepped out and Jackman closed the door behind him. Osman was waiting there to escort him back out and to the elevator.
Kassidy used the free time he had the rest of the morning to unpack and hang the clothes he had neatly packed into his duffle. Then, he opted to change out of his suit and into a grey crew neck sweatshirt and a pair of jogging sweats. It was only 7am by now, and he wanted to get a run in to work out his nerves and clear his head. He'd only been out of the service for six months. Acclimating to civilian life had been... challenging thus far, to say the least.  He was hoping that the structure of security detail might be more like his life had been in the military. Always a place to be, someone to report to, orders to follow.
He shoved his key card, wallet and phone into his pocket and placed his headphones in before heading out the door and down the hallway. He was really only a floor beneath the penthouse, in one of the luxury suites positioned there, but he opted to take the stairs down. Before he could make it to the stairwell, however, the door he was passing down the hallway from his own slammed open.
Instinct kicked in naturally for Kassidy as he easily evaded the perpetrator. He whirled, grabbing the stranger by the forearm and twisted so they were spun around and away from him. With a shove, he slammed them against the wall and pressed his own weight against their back. Against their... very curvy build.... And against their, extremely toned hind end.
Kassidy let his eyes focus in on the perp he'd apprehended, and froze. Chest and face pressed up against the wall, ice cold green eyes stared daggers at him from behind the veil of her long, soft black hair.
"What the actual fuck!" Lydia Jackman hissed at him.

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For the sake of plot building, these first few chapters might be a little on the slow side, but I promise I'll try to keep things rolling so we can get to the good stuff 😜 - Megz