Page 23 of The Ranger
Josh chose me for this assignment as I’m a bit of a tech geek, following the world of quantum and AI, although I wouldn’t claim to be an expert.
Given I’m going to become a father in the next few weeks, I was happy to step away from the sometimes-dangerous/sometimes monotonous bodyguard roles I’d been doing.
I definitely wasn’t taking on any of the black ops work.Josh and Aidan are recruiting new team members to pick up where they'vemostlystepped away from.
After ironing my blue shirt and slipping on the dark gray pants and matching jacket, I pocket my phone and smart key for the Maserati and head down to the meeting room.
“Morning, Cole.Wow, don’t you look fancy.”Penny grins from reception as I pass.She takes a sip of her coffee, and I wink at her.
“If you play your cards right, Penny, you could be my future wife.”
She blushes.
And my job here is done.
“Scarlett would claw my eyes out; we both know that,” Penny calls as I keep walking.
See, this is my concern.Everyone has connected us romantically because of the baby and already consider me the failed should-be husband.
I grit my teeth, slide my sunglasses onto the top of my head and walk into the meeting room where Aidan, Josh and Thomas are waiting.Josh is tapping away on his laptop, while Aidan finishes a phone call.
Aidan lets out a whistle.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m wearing a tie.Let’s move on.”I plonk down into the chair and lean my forearms on the table.
“Really, I thought you were going on your first date.”Aidan grins like an idiot.
“Ha, fucking ha.You’ve seen Scarlett’s waistline, right?I’m not a virgin.”
“Dead man walking, I think is what she called you last week.”Thomas chuckles.
Keep laughing boys, I had my face in her pussy two nights ago.
“Dr.Nathan Whitaker has a Ph.D.in quantum engineering and is the CEO of QuantumCore.He is expecting you in forty minutes,” Josh says, breaking the banter.
Forty minutes?Jesus, I thought I had at least another hour.
“Does he think I have a time machine?LA traffic, Josh.LA traffic.”
“Then let’s make this brief.”Josh slides his finger across his touchscreen laptop, ignoring my concerns.
When Josh gets focused, nothing and no one, except maybe his wife, can distract him.He’s a Navy SEAL, so I’m not surprised.I worked with the teams a few times, and know just how meticulous, tenacious and sharp they are.
Much like the Marines and other special forces, including Rangers like myself.
Now I continue to work with a wide range of highly trained military experts.BHS only recruits the very best, and if that makes me one of them, I’m proud as fuck.
“You’ll meet with him under the guise of a job interview.Your name will be Cole Reynolds.”
I grin, and immediately Aidan rolls his eyes.“Settle down.He means moreDeadpoolReynolds, thanThe ProposalReynolds.”
“I’m impressed that you know so many Ryan Reynolds movies.”Thomas laughs.
“Man-crush?”I lift a cheeky brow, and Aidan gives me the bird.
“Moving on.We don’t have time to fuck around,” Josh says, swiping his screen faster, then glances back at me.“You’re the ideal person for this client given your interest in this industry, but I do have one concern.”
I pause, unsure where he’s going with this.
