31. Walk Beside Me

Tatum did as Brianna asked. He made his way in between the front seats to do as she ordered. 
“I can guide you where to go,” Tatum mentioned as he typed in the address.
“I need to see different routes possible so we can lose them on the way. That’s why I need the navigation guide. Unless you are confident you can do better, I suggest you hurry,” Brianna stepped on the gas pedal as she saw the car behind them was catching up. 
“They are hellbent on sending you to your grave, Sir,” Brianna gave Lucien a glance through the mirror. She just realized she did not know his name. He said it earlier, but as she was focused on the address being punched in, she did not give his answer much attention. She didn’t even notice that she coldly corrected him since it was the man beside him which she was asking for the name. 
“Call me Luci!” Lucien noticed Brianna did not know how to call him. He felt annoyed. He tried to tell her earlier, but she shut him up, now he demanded. 
While Lucien was annoyed, Tatum was surprised again at how his boss wanted to be called. Luci is a nickname only his mom and dad calls him as he allows. Not even his friend from his childhood days till now can call him that at their will. 
Actually, it’s because it somehow sounds feminine that Lucien didn’t like the nickname to be casually called of him, but when it’s his parents, he is well comforted that it’s used in a way of endearment, not teasing him in any way at all. He felt it familial in a way. 
“That’s nice. You don’t seem too bothered about being chased by top rankers mercenaries,” Brianna praised him. It was good for her because she could be more efficient without so much panic. If her clients freak out, it can be chaotic. Chaos means fatal. She may fail in many ways. She may even lose her life. But with how Luci is reacting right now, with his confidence and nonchalance despite the fact that they are being chased by very capable assassins, she was proud to think that this man trusts in her ability to protect him. And he even confirmed her thoughts.
“I am sure you can beat them,” Lucien answered with ease. Then he called someone on the phone.
“Enzo, do you have eyes on us, now?” he asked directly to the point as soon as his call got answered.
“Good.” 
That was all he said before the call got disconnected.
“Anna, our men, are waiting by the next block,” Lucien leaned over. “They will deal with the men chasing us, and we can go on our way,” he was no longer as annoyed as he was earlier. He was relieved the backup team had arrived. “Let’s go to the office.”
“Can we get some weapons first?” Brianna may sound asking, but she was actually demanding. “We can’t be sure nothing alike will appear within the day. I need something to make sure I can keep you safe. Something more. One weapon won’t be enough.”
“You can tell me what you need, and we will ask for someone to bring it over. I need to work. You can wait for your weapons while I attend to my paperwork,” he answered.
“Okay, I just hope your building security is reliable for you to stay there while we wait, and I need them asap,” Brianna backed down. What she said was her suggestion to make sure of his safety, but since he declined, she could not do more than obliged. She really just hoped he was as secure in his building as he claims. Then she turned to ask Tatum to turn the navigation going to the office as per the client’s order.
Just as Enzo told Lucien, a team of Leandro Michaelson’s private army was in the position to attack the group of mercenaries chasing to kill Lucien. They had men on both sides of the road. Two cars blocked the road as soon as Brianna passed by. But Brianna did not change her speed. She knew well this was not the time to feel comfortable. Those mercenaries could still be lucky or extremely capable of surviving even the team that came for backup. If they are dealt well with, that would be good news, but as long as no reports of them being totally wiped out, Brianna had the feeling they would be back very soon enough. She has to be prepared. She has to be alert. 
They soon arrived at the LM Realtors Company building. Brianna gave new orders to the driver as she pulled over by the entrance of the building.
“Please check the car for any tracker and put a chest of weapons in preparation for any surprise attacks like what happened today. We can never be as vulnerable as to how we had been earlier. That is no different with suicide,” Brianna did not even ask Lucien about her orders. She did not think she needed to. Lucien didn’t mind either, but Tatum was feeling he was caught in the middle. The lady has a point, but would his boss, Lucien Michaelson allow such insolence of her ordering things around without even consulting the boss about anything?
“Boss..?” Tatum just called for confirmation while Brianna was already walking her way around to open the door for her client.
“Do as she says” was all that Tatum got before his boss stepped out of the vehicle. 
“I’ll give this back to you later,” Brianna hurriedly spoke before she closed the door.
“She even got my sunglasses,” Tatum murmured his complaints as he got off from the backseat to move to the driver’s seat and do as she ordered. “But hell, she is cool! She can even make the boss agree to everything she says.” Tatum shook his head.
“Oh, right! I have to check this car for any trackers and fill a chest of weapons to keep in here.”
Then he left the area. He has to head to the Old Michaelson. He can ask them to check the car for any tracker device attached to it, and about the weapons, they will have the best of what they would need. He was sure of that.
Brianna and Lucien walked into the building like a couple. But instead of the man guiding and guarding the woman, it was Brianna who was walking behind Lucien with protectiveness. Lucien did not notice until he saw their reflections from the glass walls. She was wearing dark manly sunglasses. It would have been weird for a woman to use, but she was carrying herself with confidence that even Lucien was fascinated by how she looked so cool. Her posture was obviously smart, alert, attentive, and emitting a silent warning to whoever wanna try to piss her off. She was in her full bodyguard mode. She was wearing corporate clothing style, a champagne creme set of slacks pants, and a shirt. Her hair was neatly tied up in a low ponytail. She was wearing thick dark sunglasses, emphasizing her refined, milky white skin and naturally pinkish lips. She stands tall, only a few inches shorter than Lucien. He tried to walk slower to let her walk side by side with him, but as he slowed down, she did the same. 
“Walk beside me, Anna,” Lucien pretended to give her orders. And she did as he told her to do. They were walking side by side until they reached the elevator lounge.
“Do you need anything, Sir?” she asked. 
“I’m still thinking, I will tell you when I am ready, stay close,” he made himself sound serious, and Anna bought his strategy.
Lucien was inwardly laughing at his cleverness. He knew that if he just ordered her to stay close, walk side by side with him, without an acceptable reason, she would coldly deny and disobey, thinking she would have to do her bodyguard duties behind him, not just beside him. So he pretended to be thinking the whole ride up, and Brianna stayed close as per his order. Waiting for whatever he was going to say. Until they got into his office door, she was waiting. She spoke out when she could no longer wait.
“Sir, do you need anything?” Brianna asked courteously.