Atticus stared at the mountain of books on the table, his frown deepening. Maya had gone off to handle "important business," but not before warning him to read every page because there would be a quiz later.
"A quiz," Atticus groaned as he flipped a page like it personally offended him. "What am I supposed to do with all this?"
"Hey, handsome," a familiar voice chimed.
Atticus looked up to see the quirky male nurse approaching.
"Hey, uh… umm…" Atticus snapped his fingers, trying to recall the name.
"Ken," the nurse supplied.
"Yes! Ken. Exactly. Sorry," Atticus chuckled awkwardly.
"No problem, handsome." Ken's attention shifted to the books. "Oof… trouble in paradise?"
Atticus raised a brow. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"
"Oh, please," Ken scoffed. "With Maya around? She's terrifying." He shuddered dramatically.
Atticus smirked. "Well… okay, as long as you're not scared."
Ken leaned over the table. "So what are you doing?"
"I was told to read these," Atticus said helplessly.
Ken gasped and grabbed one of the books. "Oh my God—George Hellen?! He's the best bodyguard in the entire city."
Atticus blinked. "Really? I didn't know that."
"You have to read this. It's a classic," Ken declared, hugging the book like it was sacred.
Atticus gave a confused smile. "Right… classic."
BANG!
A loud crash echoed from the hallway. Instantly, voices erupted as people ran toward the sound.
Atticus and Ken exchanged one look—then took off toward the hall.
On getting to the hall, they met a man tied up, his face was covered by a face mask and he was wearing white coat inside out and a stethoscope around his neck. He was pinned down by two security guards.
"How did he get in?" some people gossiped.
"What happened," Ken asked a group of ladies.
"That guy is a pervert. I was changing my dress in my ward and he walked in," one of the ladies answered.
"Pervert," others chorused.
"And the fact is that he is not a real doctor, he is wearing another person's coat,"
"I guess he is one of those men who try to go to the vulnerable places to take advantage of women," they shook their head.
Atticus looked closer at the man, that aura around him, that quirky clumsiness or unnecessary attention seeker.
He hissed and his frown deepened. "Ah, shit,"
He knew who this gentleman was.
"Send him to jail, call the cops," someone in the crowd said.
The man widened his eyes and glanced at Atticus.
Atticus once again hissed. He raised his hand and everyone looked at him.
"There is no need for that and he is with me," Atticus said. Everyone gasped.
"How does he know him?" people whispered.
Atticus shot Thomas a deadly stare. "He is my secretary. I called him here, and he was supposed to enter the hospital like a normal person."
Thomas chuckled nervously and lowered his head.
Ken blinked in confusion. "Wait—you're just a bodyguard… and you have a secretary?"
Atticus' eyes widened as he darted his gaze left and right. "Oh—uh… emm… well…"
He cleared his throat. "He's actually… my friend. Yes. My friend who… likes to pretend to be my secretary."
"Ohhh," the crowd chorused together.
"So, sir," one of the security guards asked, "you're confirming that this man is with you?"
"Yes," Atticus replied with confidence. "And he is not a pervert. I vouch for him."
"Oh. Alright then." The guard nodded and signaled the others to release Thomas.
Thomas stood, dusted himself off dramatically, then removed his mask and bowed.
"Very sorry, sir!"
"It's no problem," the guard said before waving everyone back to their duties.
Thomas turned to Atticus with a shaky smile—only to freeze when he saw Atticus' glare burning a hole through him.
He cleared his throat.
"I… brought you snacks," he said weakly, raising two chocolate bars like a peace offering.
"Couldn't you just enter the building like a normal person? Why did you even dress like this?" Atticus frowned, eyeing Thomas' ridiculous disguise from head to toe.
Thomas puffed up a little. "Oh, I didn't want people to find out that you're not just a bodyguard. Remember—low-key!"
Atticus blinked at him. "Who enters a hospital and immediately gets asked for their purpose? If you're close to me, who cares?"
Thomas froze. "Oh… I see. I didn't really think about it."
He lowered his head dramatically like a child scolded in class.
Atticus groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "Don't be so dramatic. It's fine now."
Thomas instantly brightened. "Really?" His eyes sparkled as he stepped forward for a hug.
Atticus instantly stepped back.
Thomas froze mid-hug, nodded to himself and said, "Right. Yes. Personal space. My bad."
Atticus shook his head in disbelief.
Atticus ate the bar of chocolate while Thomas briefed him on the books, telling him the most important things and anything that might be useful.
Atticus nodded as he listened. The ladies around watched him with admiration.
"... And that's the end," Thomas mumbled as he placed the last book down with a heavy bang.
Everyone turned to them and Atticus snapped at Thomas.
He coughed, awkwardly.
"Sorry," he said, laughing.
"Who is this," a familiar voice said behind them. Thomas quickly stood up while Atticus just turned still sitting to see her.
Sophia eyes scanned Thomas.
"Who are you," Sophia asked again.
"Thomas ma'am, I'm Atticus's secretary," he replied.
Sophia turned to Atticus who didn't flinch.
"Secretary... You know for a bodyguard you're terrible at it. Have you ever seen a bodyguard with a secretary?" Sophia asked.
"Well, if you want me to be a bodyguard, you know I have some tricks," Atticus replied.
Sophia looked at him closely.
"Ma'am, it's time for the gun-skills test," Maya announced, though her eyes kept drifting suspiciously toward Thomas' outfit.
"Okay, let's go," Sophia said, standing up and heading toward the door.
Atticus followed behind her.
Thomas hurried after them, still clutching his chocolate bars.
Maya paused, turned slowly, and eyed him from head to toe.
"…Are you coming too?"
Thomas straightened proudly. "Yes. As emotional support."
Maya blinked. "Emotional support for who?"
Thomas pointed at Atticus. "Him."
Atticus sighed. "I do not need emotional support."
"Says the man who almost got homework," Thomas muttered.
Maya rolled her eyes. "Let's just go."
And with that, the chaotic group marched to the training room.
The shooting practice room was wide and bright, its walls made of thick soundproof panels. Targets hung at the far end, lined in neat rows. Each lane had a glass divider, a simple table, and safety gear placed on top. The air smelled faintly of metal, and a soft hum from the ventilation made the room feel cool and calm.
Atticus smirked as he looked at the pieces of the gun on top of the table.
"You've to assemble the gun and shoot at the middle of the three darts," Sophia said. "Everything in 60 seconds," she continued.
Atticus nodded as he looked into Sophia's eyes, she looked serious. Her earlier behavior was gone like it never came.
They locked eyes.
"Your time starts now," Sophia said as she pressed the button.
Atticus looked down at the gun parts, he smirked.
"Let's play," he mumbled and began