Terms and Conditions

Times like this, I wished I were still in the field—where most of my problems were solved by shooting at them.

As John and Mei drew closer to the mansion, raised voices drifted through the doors. An argument. They stopped just outside. Even through the thick wood, the words were sharp enough to make out.

“But my love, you know how busy I am. I can’t just drop everything and come whenever you want—and I’m here now, aren’t I?”

“I needed you yesterday.”

A middle-aged man in a tailored suit opened the door for them and stepped aside, ushering them in. Inside, they found Aria arguing with her fiancé, Ryo Sera.

The moment Aria noticed John, her expression brightened instantly. “Oh—hello, John. Welcome to our home.” Then she held herself back; when she noticed Mei next to him, her smile faltering slightly.

Ryo turned around. The smile he’d been wearing vanished, replaced by a guarded, assessing look.

“Ryo,” Aria said quickly, “this is my bodyguard, John Mercer. And John—this is my fiancé, Ryo Sera.”

So, this is Ryo. Skinny build. Blond hair. Diamond earrings. Gold-framed sunglasses. A pink shirt with the top three buttons undone, a white fluffy jacket draped over his shoulders. Tight white leather pants showing ankle, college shoes. I’ve seen worse. Aria, on the other hand, was dressed in a yellow crop top and yoga pants, slightly sweaty—probably in the middle of a workout when he’d shown up.

Ryo extended his hand, palm down, casual to the point of disrespect. “I don’t know whether I should thank you for saving my girl,” he said, “or blame you for being so incompetent that she ended up in that situation in the first place.”

John glanced at the offered hand.

Do you want me to shake it… or kiss it?

He took Ryo’s hand in a firm grip and squeezed. Ryo let out a high, involuntary sound and yanked his hand back, shaking it.

John met his eyes calmly. “Funny to hear you talk about absence when you didn’t bother showing up while 'your girl' was in the hospital.”

Ryo stiffened, then slid his arm around Aria’s waist, pulling her close. “We love each other deeply,” he said smoothly. “She knows that no matter how far I am, my heart is always with her.”

Aria let out a strained, awkward chuckle. “Uh—don’t you want to introduce your friend, John?”

“This is Mei Lee,” John said. “She’s A.E.G.I.S. representative.” Mei dipped her head slightly, smiling without a word.

Ryo looked her up and down. “Never liked tall, muscular women,” he said flatly. “Not my type.” Aria flinched. “Babe—”

John noticed the tiny twitch at the corner of Mei’s eyelid, though her smile didn’t change.

“Well,” Ryo said, clapping his hands once, “that’s my cue to leave.” He pulled Aria into him and kissed her with his eyes locked on John the entire time.

Hmm. Possessive much.

“I’ll leave my beloved wife-to-be in your hands, John Mercer,” he said softly. “Now, shoo; shoo. Move out of my way.”

As Ryo brushed past them, John turned to Aria. Her cheeks were still flushed from the kiss.

“Did your sister give you the papers I brought for both of you to sign? Mei’s here to collect them.” Aria nodded. “Yes. They’re with my sister, in her office.” She gestured down the hall. “Follow me—I’ll show you.”

*****

They walked down the hall and stopped at the sisters’ office. Aria knocked, and Rina’s voice called for them to come in. Rina was seated behind her desk but stood as soon as she saw them. “Hello, Mr. Mercer. Welcome. Please, come in.”

Four chairs sat in front of the desk—two on each side, facing one another across a low table.

“Hello, Miss Kingsley, I’m Mei Lee from A.E.G.I.S. I’m only here to collect the papers Mr. Mercer gave you. I don’t want to waste your time.”

“No, no,” Rina replied quickly. “Please, take a seat. I actually wanted to speak with someone from your company about the terms and conditions section of these papers.”

John and Mei sat on one side. Aria and Rina took the other.

“Would you like some morning tea?” Rina asked. “I also have a fine white wine—gifted by some of our western friends.”

“Sis,” Aria said quietly, “don’t you think it’s a little early for wine?”

“I was only trying to be hospitable to our guests, Ari,” Rina replied.

“No, thank you,” John said evenly.

“I’m fine as well,” Mei added. “Now, as a representative of A.E.G.I.S., what questions do you have regarding the contract?”

Rina slipped her glasses from the pocket of her white blouse and put them on. “There’s a clause here requiring our permission for audio and visual recording. May I ask why a bodyguard would need to record their client?”

Mei answered calmly, “Because, Miss Kingsley, you’re not only under our protection program—you’re also part of our investigation.”

Both sisters stiffened. “Our… what?” they said at the same time.

“Investigation into what?” Rina demanded.

“The missing idols case,” Mei replied. Aria went pale and began biting her nails. John noticed immediately. Then Rina’s voice sharpened. “We are victims in this case, and you want to investigate us? Who do you think you—”

“Your father requested it,” Mei cut in firmly. “We don’t act on our own without authorization.” Rina froze. “Our father asked for this…?” She stood abruptly and moved to her desk. “I’m calling him.”

While Rina dialed, Aria picked up the pen and signed the papers. “If Dad wants it,” she said quietly, “I don’t have a problem with it.”

Rina glanced over her shoulder. “If you’re feeling so cooperative today, why don’t you show Mr. Mercer his room?” Aria nodded. “Okay.”

John stood, following her as she gestured toward the door. Mei remained behind in the office while Rina continued her call.

“Come on, John,” Aria said. “The guest rooms are in the west wing.”

*****

As they walked, John counted five maids moving quietly through the house. “No butlers?” he asked. “Other than the man who opened the door.”

“Just Al,” Aria replied. “The rest of the staff are women.”

“And if something happens inside the house that requires a man?” John asked.

“Then Al handles it. Or outside security,” she said casually. “Dad is in Europe most of the year and rarely stays here. He wanted this house to be a place where we’d feel comfortable as women. That’s why most of the staff are women.”

“Your father must trust Al a great deal to leave him here with you.”

“He does,” Aria said. After a brief pause, she added, “And Al is a eunuch, so… yeah.”

“Oh, I get it now.”

I’d like to meet their father up close someday. He seems… interesting.

They stopped in front of a door. Aria opened it. “This is your room. You’ve got your own TV, bathroom, and shower. If you need another bathroom, there’s one down the hall next to the master bedroom.”

She pointed to a red button on the wall. “That’s the maid call button. Press it and someone will come to help. If you need something late at night, the kitchen’s near the main entrance. Any questions?”

“Yes,” John said. “Where’s your bedroom?”

Aria straightened slightly. “Uh… our bedrooms are on the top floor. Mine’s directly above yours. Rina’s is on the east wing, above her office.” John chuckled softly. “Just wanted to know where you’d be.”

“I’m going to do my morning practice,” Aria said.

“And I’ll check the perimeter,” John replied. “Get familiar with the place.”

“Okay. Catch you later,” Aria said, then turned and walked away.

John stepped inside the room, set his duffel bag down, and left again, heading toward the entrance.

*****

On his way out, John ran into Mei again, the signed papers in her hand.

Mei let out a long sigh. “She signed it, but… there was a heated argument between Rina and her father. It didn’t sound like they were on good terms.”

“Good to know,” John said. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette as he pushed the door open.

Outside, just as they approached the car, Mei stopped short. “Oh my god.”

John lifted his gaze from the tip of the cigarette to the coupé they’d arrived in. The side was scratched deeply with a car key. Across the door, one word was carved in jagged letters.

GORILLA

Mei clenched her fists. “First that comment about me, and now this. That son of a—”

“There goes this month’s paycheck,” John cut in calmly.

“Five seconds,” Mei said through her teeth. “That’s all I need to snap that twig in half and fit him into a briefcase.”

John glanced at her. “Isn’t it a little early in the morning for that kind of dark crap?”

“Shut your mouth, smartass,” Mei snapped. “The least I’d do is use him as a foot warmer the next time I see him.” She got into the car and slammed the door, peeling out of the driveway moments later.

John watched her go, exhaled slowly, and muttered, “So much for first impressions.”