"Do you have any NDA form in your wallet?" Boss asks while unlocking the locker.

"I have two." I reply. We are in the front room of the guard house, where the supplies are kept.

Boss nods. "Don't let any visitors stay alone with him unless they sign that thing."

"Do you really think I would need it? You're going for a lunch break and he is home." I ask, wondering the necessity.

Boss chooses a worn out set of car keys from the wall hanger. He's taking the smallest car then– the one we use for coffee runs and grocery shopping. It's an old Civic with enough mileage left for another ten years of smooth drive. But I couldn't imagine him driving it though. It's not his type.

"Never underestimate what Ash can do. I'll be gone for twenty minutes and that's enough time for him to get naked with three girls. It doesn't matter where he is." He says removing his gun effortlessly and securing it in the locker.

"In that case, I'll take one more form." I pick another NDA from the folder set on the table, though I can't imagine such a scene. It'd take me twenty minutes just to chat up a girl to go for a coffee with me.

"Alright. Don't call me unless it's code red."

"Yes, boss." I give a curt nod and walk towards the main house leaving boss to his lunch break. 

The main house is a two storey building set on the center of half an acre of greenery. First floor is opulent in decorations to impress the guests —TV, couch, wall paintings, photos, showcase with various trophies—everything was huge and yet tasteful. It also housed an office at the backside where the staff clocked in clerical work that goes with the music industry. The second floor is Ash's personal quarters with two bedrooms, a studio room and a living room. The staff quarters behind the house contains the kitchen. I know the whole place like the back of my hand. Still I got a special tour of the second floor yesterday, to refresh my memory boss said.

The second floor is in total contrast with first floor. A small three plus two couch with plain wooden tables are the only furniture in the living room.

Jonas winks when I reach the living room door. He is on tier two duty this week.

"He's roasting Kester." He whispers when I cross the threshold and enter the living room.

Ash is sprawled on the couch, glaring at Kester who's standing in front of him.

I take position behind the couch with wildly beating heart.

Today is my first day in personal tier duty of my bodyguard career. I'm buzzing with excitement. It's only for twenty minutes. But it's an important step. And I will make boss proud.

"I'm not asking this for my own benefit!" Kester screeches and thumps a rolled paper on the table in front of Ash. 

"That's so generous of you.. Still the answer is no!" Ash screeches back and unlocks his phone, ignoring Kester. His screech was worse than Kester's, more cringe worthy, as if he purposefully did a mocking mimicry of Kester's voice.

"Ash, tell me one reason, one good reason to not do this colab. She is just like you, a growing star in the music industry. Her fan base in Europe is crazy. If you release a track together, then her fans will become yours too." Kester pleads. He works for Henry, Ash's manager.

"Who do you think I am?" Ash asks sitting straighter, from my position I can only see the mop of dark curls on his head. His tone is indifferent.

"Come on, Ash." Kester pleads again.

"Answer the fucking question."

"Pop music artist."

"Am I a nobody?"

"That's not what I meant, —"

"Answer the fucking question!"

"No, you're not. You are so popular, you got a wax statue right next to Michael Jackson in Madame Tussauds." Kester says with a pained smile.

"How long have I been singing solo?"

"I didn't mean your solos aren't go—"

"ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION!!"

It's excruciating to watch a man wringing his hands in front of a boy who is half his age.

"Four years." Kester's voice has gone down.

"And YOU are teaching ME why singers do a colab, huh?"

"I was just pointing out."

"What? That I don't have a working brain of my own? What? Tell me!" Ash thunders. His fans say he has an angel's voice. His voice is the only angelic quality he has, all others are demonic or so I was informed time and again.

"It's my job to tell you the benefits of the contract." Kester gives a tentative smile again.

"Your job is to file the contracts I signed. Not advice me on what to sign. Get out." Ash bends his head back to his phone.

"Ash, just think—"

Kester stops mid sentence and covers his head as Ash hurls his phone right at Kester's head, thankfully it misses his head with a wide margin. It's hard to stay still even though I know he would miss.

"Get this man out of my sight. NOW!" Ash yells.

I'm aware of his famous temper— the temper of a self entitled, rich boy. Up close, it's uglier than I imagined. It's not even warranted in Kester's case.

Kester hurries away at last, giving up. 

"Get my phone." Ash calls out to the void of the living room.

He must be addressing me, even though he didn't acknowledge me when I entered the room. I'm the only one left in the room. The phone is face down on the carpet near the opposite wall, I walk over and retrieve it.

When I hand it to him, his gaze roam over my body, sizing me up. "Are you new?"

"This is my seventh month."

He tsks. "That's what I said. New. First time inside the house?" 

Technically, no. I've been inside the house multiple times. But he means my duty in his living quarters. He isn't happy to have me here.

I rub my neck in sudden nervousness, "yes…." I never had to talk to him before. I'm not sure how to address him. He celebrated his twentieth birthday two months back. He's five years younger than me.

Boss calls him by his first name. Hell, the whole world calls him Ash. Maybe I should also use Ash.

"Where is your boss? How dare he leaves me alone with a novice?" He snaps. "You're all giant puppets with no real brain!"

Ash is never satisfied with any of the guys in security team, he wants boss to keep him guard at all times. I know this. But still the insult hurt.

A groan reaches us before Henry appears at the living room entrance. "Stop bothering the staff." 

Henry is one of the few who can handle Ash to some extent. I relax my shoulders and step back to my position.

Ash jumps up with a huge smile on his face. All his irritation gone. "Hen!!!" 

He gives Henry a hug, meeting him halfway to the couch.

"Why would you hit Kester in head? He was helping me!" Henry settles on the opposite couch with a sigh. He is fifty-eight. I don't know why he still works, that too with a demanding client like Ash.

"You should know better than to get help from condescending assholes. Also, didn't hit him. Ask this buffy." Ash points a finger at me before settling next to Henry. 

Buffy? Well a lot better than brainless puppet, I suppose.

Henry waves an arm, like saying, forget it, "we have to make a decision today, Ash. I was closing up the video venue contract for next week's shoot, that's why I sent him." He rubs his bald head, worrying the few hairs left there.

"Well, now that you're here, you can hear my answer. It is NO. I won't feature in Benny Jane's song. There, no work for you. Go home and rest." Ash pats his back gently. 

"Why the fuck not?" Henry glares taking off his glasses. 

"I hate her perfume." Ash says with a shrug.

I suppress my chuckle. They both are facing me, it won't do me any good if they catch me laughing.

"The fuck Ash!" Henry curses removing his eye glasses and furiously rubbing at his eyes.

Would he too get a roasting of 'do you know who I am' quiz from Ash? Henry keeps cursing and Kester got it for a lot less.

But Ash surprises me by actually answering. "I'm being serious right now! I hate it. It's like your nose is dipped in rose water and pulled out and then dipped in cedar. It completely clashes and too strong. How do you expect me to work with her for three fucking months?" 

"Ash, we are talking millions of dollars here. Can't you, I don't know... dip your nose in something you like, before coming to the shoot?" Henry says.

Ash laughs and I can see the charm, I can see why his fans love him so. There is a child like innocence in his face when he laughs.

"You are precious, Hen. But no. Can't do. No way."

Kester peeks his head inside the living room door, "Henry, I got a call from Janette. She wants an answer. Like right now!"

Ash picks the glass water bottle Henry kept on the table and flings at Kester's head, as I watch, it shatters hitting on a pillar that was on the side. He has the worst aim, we all know that. Boss makes sure there's nothing breakable around for that reason. Why does Henry carry a water bottle made of glass when he works for Ash? Is it my duty now to notice such things and secure them?

I wince when a pathetic scream fills the house and Kester's head hides behind the door again.

"NEVER SHOW YOUR FACE!" Ash shouts.

This is a Code Red — Whenever Ash stands up with closed fists and screams on top of his lungs, it'll only get worse from there.

"Where the fuck is your boss?" Henry asks me, clutching his temples.

I relay the question back in my Secpho mic. The Secpho phone line is open ended, meaning it's always connected in the team network. Someone is always listening on the other end. I can mute mine if I want. But the line is open for anyone to exchange messages with others in the shift. Like walkie talkies. Only without saying over after every sentence.

Lunch break for boss is over though.

It would have been better to hand out NDA forms instead of informing a code red situation on my first day.