Paragon

⊰❉⊱ 67 ⊰❉⊱

I took my own car for once. 

This time I didn't want to be seen with a driver. After all not many mortals required this kind of employment if they had one to hand... I never did get around to telling Quinn what this job entailed. But not even I fully knew.

A much more important conversation had taken place.

I watched the beginnings of rain obliterate themselves against the windshield. She needed a clearer head and some time to think through what she said. In the moment was one thing. Once emotions had settled it was another–but Quinn was never one to act purely on impulse. She considered. She always thought actively.

I drummed my fingers against the wheel as I turned under the tunnel that would lead me into the heights of Canary Wharf. It always felt so out of place in this city of low lying architecture. One moment you were in London, then it felt like New York was towering over you.

I was early.

I was nothing if not prompt and I was here to test this organisation as much as they were scoping my potential. I glanced at my laptop that sat in the passenger seat. Dreadnaught Security Solutions... quite the headline. 

The tunnel spat me out suddenly on the clean, modern network of Canary Wharf's roadways. Skyscrapers towered above the car in every direction. I was after one in particular. It was taller than the rest. For all purposes it looked like many of the surrounding financial buildings. Deliberate of course.

I pulled up outside the outlandish ground floor lobby. Floor to ceiling glass rose thirty feet high. The reception desk was made out of solid stone and swept out making the two receptionists look laughably small. The security detail however, were much larger.

A suited man with white gloves appeared outside my four-dour. A formal enough car for this environment but not going into excessive expense to avoid notice. Nothing like the cars I had blasted through the streets of Japan. 

I dropped the keys into his waiting hand and pulled up the collar of my winter trench. My suit was a different colour underneath but Quinn had taken the time to pick out my tie. Those burning green eyes alight as she very deliberately tied it at my neck. I smirked as I passed through the rotating doors.

A receptionist with a quick eye watched my approach with a measured smile and tucked her hands before her. God, they were as well rehearsed as Quinn's staff.

"May I help you, ma'am?"

"Please. I'm here for a meeting with Dreadnaught Security." I answered, not bothering with the full name. No other company would share it.

A face lit up in recognition and she pressed a number on one of many phones and smiled.

"Give me just a moment."

I used the seconds to scan how many cameras this lobby contained. I stretched my neck after I counted more than twelve in this room alone. Perhaps this was not a good idea. They were exclusive which meant they documented their people well. But this was not the first time I had encountered mortal private security...

"They're ready for you on floor 45." She nodded once and pulled a card before a scanner. It beeped. "Please look into the camera here." She instructed, as a green light appeared on a small camera from the desk.

I kept my expression neutral. I'd have it gone by sun down.

"Brilliant, here's your visitor's pass and have a good morning." She smiled, offering my pass. 

I mirrored the smile and heard her heart increase. I took it from her and glanced at my snapshot. Not too many footprints Fletcher...

The security teams tried not to watch me too closely for comfort but I know they did. The footfall was not heavy at this hour so there was nothing else to do but scan for threats. Oh, how I fit that bill.