And Blackberry was underestimated by almost everybody.

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BLACKBERRY

-1-

Blackberry

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Upon closer inspection, Cornelia Lorique’s office had an air of deceit about it, but Chairman Morris was not one to notice these things. He was rather blinded, so to speak, by the vast room only occupied by a desk that appeared as big as his double bed. Despite the window front behind said desk, the room was only dimly lit, receiving a rather gloomy look by the dark walls and grey carpeting. Opposite to him, behind that desk, was an office chair matching in size. But the thing that captured his attention most was the person who occupied said chair. He wasn’t sure what it was about her – her blonde hair, falling playfully into her face, her long legs in those pants entirely too skin-tight to be socially acceptable, or her cleavage cut so low it was obvious that no, she was not wearing a bra.

Lorique herself was not quite so enthralled by the man across the desk.

He had the body of a man who had spent most of his life with words and little of it with actions; his jacket stretched over his belly and sagged around his shoulders. His cheeks sagged just as much, his eyes were a watery blue and his oddly colorless hair seemed to stick to the side of his head.

Not that he was very different from other clients. Lorique had long learned to conceal her disgust with a smile that – for a moment or two – managed to lure the chairman’s eyes up to her face.

"So, what exactly are your preferences, Mr. Morris?"

Oh, any way, darling, I’m all yours.

"Well, I was tending toward the middle range. I just want to know my daughter is safe, I don’t actually expect any harm to come to her."

Lorique slowly let one leg glide over the other, smiling winningly.

"Yes, a good bodyguard is expensive these days. But let me assure you that you’ve come to the right place."

Morris seemed almost hypnotized by one slender hand sliding over her thigh, licked his drying lips.

Oh, I’m sure of that

"My employee will spend two days away from our agency, is that correct? Gin?"

Without waiting for a reply, she poured him a glass and placed it before him, somehow miraculously reaching over the enormous desk.

He carefully wiped his hand dry on the fabric of his pants before allowing himself to take a little sip.

"Like I said, my daughter returns to her boarding school tomorrow."

Lorique nodded gravely.

"The ideal situation for an attack."

"I would be devastated, should something happen to her. She is the only daughter of my late wife, she means a lot to me."

"But not as much as your wallet."

Sweat was gathering on Morris‘ upper lip as he hastened to explain.

"Well, you know, since there is no real reason to be worried-"

Lorique stopped him with a gracious gesture of her hand.

"I understand, Chairman, I understand."

Morris cleared his throat.

"He is free to go the moment my daughter sets foot into the school building."

Lorique smiled and flicked her hair over her shoulder with a turn of her head that was almost movie-worthy.

"I’m glad we can come to an arrangement that leaves us both… satisfied."

She winked at him, noting the sweat that was slowly gathering on his forehead in little droplets.

She shifted pleasantly in her seat, her top moving with it, almost, but only almost allowing her conversation partner to see her nipple. She didn’t seem to notice and shifted through some files on her desk.

Chairman Morris noticed.

He moved sideways ever so slightly, squinting his eyes, nothing but the woman’s chest on his mind.

Just a bit more, come on. Just a bit. I only want to see what color it has...!

"Blackberry."

He jumped.

"What?"

"The man I will assign to you. His name is Blackberry."

"'Blackberry'?" Morris echoed.

Lorique smiled.

"I wouldn’t quite call him great, but…He will, shall we say, suffice."

She smiled and pressed a button let into the smooth surface of the desk.

"Blackberry, please."

The door in Chairman Morris’ back opened. Had he been paying attention, he would have noticed that far too little time had elapsed for the entrance to be believable, but he was distracted by a white hand sliding over a knee.

It took him several seconds to tear his eyes away from the sight and raise them to meet the new arrival. The man seemed, for a bodyguard, surprisingly small and lean. The dark suit he was clad in made him appear almost fragile; it achieved exactly what was desired. The chairman was so unimpressed by Blackberry’s appearance that he failed to realize the man was not only broader but also a good deal taller than he was.

The bodyguard took his stance in the middle of the room, folding his arms behind his back. He gave Lorique a brief nod, his black hair moving with it, and carefully looked Chairman Morris up and down.

"Ma’am," was all he said.

A hint of annoyance had crept into Lorique’s voice as she continued.

"Blackberry, this is Chairman Morris."

Blackberry nodded.

"Good morning, sir."

"You are required to escort his daughter to safety. Do you think you are up-"

She interrupted herself.

"Do you think, Blackberry?"

He pondered this.

"Sometimes, ma’am."

Chairman Morris raised an eyebrow, it was hard to determine whether he was appalled or pleased.

Lorique’s voice had an unpleasantly sharp tone.

"Very well. Do you think you are up to the task of escorting a young woman to and from the limousine?"

Blackberry tilted his head, his face bare of any expression.

"I believe so, ma’am."

Lorique glared at him.

"Well, that’s something, at least. Mr. Morris, if you believe my choice is the right one, I suppose our meeting is hereby concluded."

Morris nodded. He took his time rising from his seat, his eyes apparently glued to Lorique’s midriff. It was obvious he was reluctant to leave her presence, and it wasn’t because of her personality.

She nodded to him and focused her attention on Blackberry.

"Report back to me once the assignment is fulfilled."

He nodded.

"Yes ma’am."

She scrutinized his emotionless face for a moment,

"I expect the assignment to be fulfilled."

There was a glint in her eyes that almost made him smile.

"Yes ma’am."

"Chairman Morris will brief you about your duties. Of everything else you have been informed."

There was a brief nod of understanding between them before Lorique once again focused on the chairman.

Without rising from her chair, she stretched out her hand which Morris shook with some difficulty.

She threw on her most dazzling smile.

"I do hope you will be satisfied with our service, Mr. Morris. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you."

And you.

Morris motioned to Blackberry to follow him and made his way to the door; it shut with a soft click behind them.

Lorique dropped her smile immediately.

Without any apparent movement, she rotated her chair by 180°, now facing the windows with the green, endless pastures and the sunlit driveway. After several seconds, a black limousine appeared on the road, slowly making it’s way through the hills, a foreign object amidst nature.

A door at the side of the room opened almost silently and a hunched man shuffled inside, despite his nearly eighty years an impressively stern look on his face. He straightened his flawlessly clean suit and gathered the used gin glasses into his hands. Even though he moved through the room almost without a sound, Lorique did not seem surprised as he spoke.

“Lying is extremely bad taste, Miss Cornelia. Your brother would never have approved of it.”

Lorique smiled to herself.

“I didn’t lie, Porter. I merely chose my words carefully."

“He would never have approved,” the old man repeated, more forcefully this time.

“Well then, let us thank whatever god or goddess you pray to that he isn’t with us any longer.”

She rotated her chair once more, again without any sign as to how she did it, and opened a drawer to sweep the papers on her desk – as if she was foolish enough to keep files! – into it.

"I almost feel sorry for the chairman. He’ll be in for the surprise of his life.“

Porter glared at her, but with a certain fondness in his eyes that betrayed his grim face.

Lorique chuckled, a deep, throaty sound, and didn’t even seem to notice the butler’s expression.

"Blackberry isn’t great. The man is a fucking genius.“

"Well, I’m sure you’re very lucky to have such a loyal servant, Miss Cornelia.“

Lorique twisted the corner of her mouth into a vague smile.

"Possibly.“

Porter harumphed softly and made to leave as Lorique once again turned to the window and stared at the point where the black limousine had disappeared between two green slopes.

"Good luck, Chairman Morris,“ she said softly, „you’re going to need it.“

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Chapter 1 of the first longer story I'm going to post. Reviews are always appreciated, even negative ones. :)