Gowon's POV

Normally, humans are annoying but the average Nigerian is mental on top. Doesn't matter where they are from, gender, social status, tribe, or religion every Nigerian is mad and this is why Gowon would rather work at Sea because offshore, you get to interact with fewer humans but most importantly fewer NIGERIANS.

He still does not understand why they have to do this personal security business, why can't they just stick to protecting oil vessels, rigs and ships. His Boss, George Amadi said they have to eXpAnD and DiVeRsIfY their income streams, why not just expand into new countries? they have the network already.

He is not even supposed to be the one handling this Yinka Bakare problem this is far below his pay grade but George insisted because 'It is very sensitive' and 'She is Mr. Bakare's only Daughter, nothing can go wrong with this one' because 'Mr. Bakare is like a father to me' George repeated the last phrase like 3 times.

Honestly, If Gowon had a dollar for every time someone in this industry said that about Mr. Bakare, he too would have been a Billionaire by now.

Nevertheless, he gets it, Mr. Bakare and Mrs. Alabi were George's first clients back in the 90s. They helped him break into the Industry and when the Federal Government introduced the Local Content policy in 2010 the Company was one of the most competent in the Maritime security field and automatically became the best choice for the international Oil Companies/ Oil Majors operating in Nigeria because they had the ample experience advantage.

Long story short sha the Company is tremendously indebted to those two.

Which means this contract, (that he had had to redeploy 4 of his best men for) is probably charity work.

The guys are still salty about it because offshore pays more, the only operative who is not upset is MaryJane (The female one) because she has been longing to spend more time with her daughter here in Lagos. She has a 6 year old plus she is a single mother.

AJ has family too but he categorically told Gowon that he doesn't want to spend anymore time with family he said he wants to 'make this money first'. "I see them once every 2 months, isn't that enough?" He ranted when Gowon gave him the bad news.

Lol let's hope that one doesn't end up like George who is currently in the middle of a bitter divorce with his wife that he kept in LA all these years thinking that would keep her happy forever. Now she is divorcing him and wants to take everything (he owns in the US) and the kids. Money is 'sweet' and seafaring is exciting (if you like sailing or the solitude that comes with it) but it can lead to serious emotional detachment from the people (you love), places, memories..... Unwanted memories.

He sighed before ringing the doorbell because he heard she IS problematic and he could tell from her Bio data that she was a drama queen. A 'Climate Justice Activist' according to her website (where she foolishly used her house address in the contact us section).

Climate change activist? In Nigeria? Lol clown.

All these IJGBs and their wahala. The only way he sees this playing out is; she will get tired in a couple of months and go back to the US, HOPEFULLY SOON.

He wasn't even fazed when she slammed the door in his face, he expected much worse. He expected her to call the police like she did to the other guys.

She actually created a major problem for that Company because it is a UK Company and one of the Operatives was not even Nigerian. The poor guy was deported although he is back in the country again because Mr. Bakare is powerful and......kwarraption.

Gowon has already spoken to the Ikoyi DPO and he had a nice friendly chat with the estate manager so his men won't have to deal with any 'misunderstanding' that might arise from her mischief.

After she slammed the door he wanted to go back downstairs for a while to go over their strategy and protocol but he stopped in his tracks when he heard her earsplitting voice ranting on the phone. Her windows were open so he could hear her loud and clear, she was on the phone raging and....crying.

Because of this?

Lol Rich kid problem.

He heard her speaking Arabic, then English, then something else that sounded like French so he decided to wait for the Yoruba call (To her Dad) because she needs to call her father he is the one that hired them. Plus he doesn't want to call Mr. Bakare himself over this. He has never met the Man, he knows the man is chill and all but he doesn't want this to be his first conversation with him.

Rich people don't like bad news, fix the problem or at least have a solution at hand before you give them the bad news. And this is not a problem he can fix this one is their family business they should sort themselves out he will wait.

He decided to kill time by putting a call through to his Deputy in PH to get some updates.

So, in the Company, Gowon is responsible for the Oil and Gas clients (based in PH) while some other guy runs the Shipping arm (based in Apapa, Lagos). So most of the time Gowon is in PH, he trains manages and deploys teams of security operatives to rigs and crude oil vessels/tankers to protect workers and the assets.

He knows his deputy is very capable of handling things, he has taught him well but he is still struggling to let go completely. Not being on top of things out there is nerve-racking because those are million dollar contracts, nothing can go wrong with THOSE ONES, not even a minor security breach, or a pen can go missing on those vessels and rigs. Those are the jobs keeping them in Business. Not this annoying personal security work they want to start.

Babysitting this privileged, possibly mentally unstable... wickedly gorgeous bratty heiress.

Wait did he just thirst lol...... but she is fine nau and it's okay to acknowledge it.....and MOVE ON!.

"We move," He muttered to himself.

Before he finished calling his team leads, she reappeared. That was fast. He thought she was going to make more calls. He expected her to give him attitude because of the look of disgust she had on her face but she surprised him by apologizing for her behavior.

For a split second, he felt sorry for her...small. Honestly he gets where she is coming from, she is an Adult and she needs her space. He cannot even imagine having to live like this, with people watching him and following him around, what if he wants to 'Carry woman' or........'hAvE sOmE fun'(Chase woman)'

Well she is girl she'll be fine and she is probably used to this lifestyle by now.

"Please come inside" She said. "Do you want something drink?" She continued as he followed her.

"No thank you" He shook his head. Again, the complete switch from hostile to hospitable surprised him. Why is she not sticking to the spoiled brat script? What did her grandfather or mother say to pacify her like this? They are going to need that mumu button.

He almost rolled his eyes the moment he stepped into her living room. The apartment screamed 'tree hugger' she had way too may potted plants. If this wasn't a luxury building and if he didn't know that she is the daughter of one of the richest Men in Nigeria he would have thought he was in a herbalist's shop or a weed grower disguising because what in the actual hell?

We get it Aunty, you're an environmentalist.

Also who takes care of the plants? then again is not like she has an actual job so...

"Please sit down" She motioned to a natural fiber Sofa. Luckily it felt more comfortable than it looked. She sat directly opposite him crossed her legs then clasped her hands and placed them on her knees.

"So like I said, i..." Gowon paused; he almost forgot why he was there for a second as her scowl settled on his face. This time he got a good look at her and he was distracted by her eyes and the way she was staring at him like she was about to murder him yet all he could think about was how beautiful those eyes were. He gathered himself quickly because.. WTF!

He cleared his throat and started again. "I am your Security Manager, what this means is I will be responsible for your overall security within Nigeria, i will be facilitating-"

"I know what a security manager means" She cut him off rudely almost as though she was offended that he was explaining it to her.

"Great" He said then continued, "Your father wants a close protection, residential and travel security package. I have assigned four men to you for close protection, they will work in shifts and... they will follow you everywhere." He waited for her to protest this but she didn't so he continued. She looked like she didn't care at this point.

"The fifth operative; Oke is in charge of Surveillance and digital stuff, you have nothing to worry about in terms of privacy, we understand your need for privacy so I have come up with a very unobtrusive but broad security strategy for you. We rely heavily on tech so they won't be invading your physical space. Infact, you won't even notice them in action"

She chuckled sarcastically then said "Your men just moved into my building, I can see them,... I 'noticed' them moving in yesterday, if that is not a form of invasion by your standards then I think we're going to have a lot of problems in the future"

Is it me that told you to call the police for the first ones that were stationed outside your building? He thought to himself but said: "I am sorry, that wasn't our decision, we are only following your Father's instructions,"

"But YOU are in charge of the security strategy, you're the expert why are you taking my father's input" She countered.

He sighed. Omo He didn't know he was coming to attend The Great Debate, he was tired, still had a shit ton of work to do, sites to visit, teams to supervise and this Aunty wants to stress him.

"Did you know they were your Bodyguards?" He asked her.

"Who?" She looked confused.

"When you saw them yesterday? Did you know why they were here or did you just assume they were new tenants? because this is an apartment building anyone can move in right"

"No" She admitted.

"That is what I mean when I say we are very unobtrusive, all we need is your cooperation.....more like your collaboration" He rephrased the last part before it will look like he is giving her orders. He can tell she is a hardcore feminist because these 'climate change' people are in the same group chat with Feminist/BLM/LGBTQrstuv people. They are 5 & 6 lol.

But he understands that they just want you to respect their fundamental human rights and he agrees, he is an egalitarian himself.

But wait what exactly do climate change people want again?

He continued his briefing, asked her some questions about her activities, travel plans, daily schedule, the people she is working with.

"How long will you be in Nigeria for?"

"I don't know" She said flatly.

"Do you think you'll be around for a month, 6 months or a year?" He really needed an answer to this one.

"You know I am Nigerian right?" She eyeballed him "I can stay here as long as I want"

Sorry o! lol, its only rich Nigerians or Nigerians with dual citizenship that carry the Nigerian identity on their heads.

"Oke is going to share our standard security protocol handbook with you today, please take your time in going through it and let me know what you are not comfortable with" He said as he stood up.

She nodded.

"I will come around every week to get your feedback and review the processes" He added. She looked somewhat disappointed or relieved (He couldn't really tell) when he said that. So he gave her his business card and quickly added "You can call me anytime of the day if you need anything or if you want to make a complaint or in the case of an emergency"

She looked at the card then said "You know you didn't have to print this right?"

He looked confused.

"You could have just displayed this on your phone screen for me to scan" She added as she scanned the QR code on the card with her phone.

"Most of our target clients are..... elderly they don't know how to use that" Some of them don't even know what a QR code is they just want contact details.

"They should learn, they know how to send bizarre WhatsApp messages they can learn to scan QRcodes" She said bitterly. "And it will save you people a lot of money you know" She added seriously.

Gowon wanted to drag it but he knew he had to end the debate here, he knew where she was going with it: Deforestation.

"I'll keep that in mind" He nodded then she smiled triumphantly for the first time since her meltdown.

He wanted to call the men up for an introduction but she offered to go downstairs with him to meet them instead. At first he thought she was being sweet but he would come to see that it was a power move. She wanted to take control of the situation.

"I love what you guys have done with the place!" She said to his men downstairs.

They didn't do anything with the place, there was no furniture, just surveillance monitors, equipment, work stations and the micro data centre that Oke was setting up. She got chatty with the guys especially with MaryJane, she loved that there was a female operative on the team.

"I didn't know there was a woman? You said 'four men'" She said to him and everyone laughed.

He had to explain how everyone is referred to as Men on the job. MaryJane had to back him up before she calmed down she was already accusing of 'erasing women'.

Then he introduced Oke. Oke is one of their tech guy he builds most of their software and handles most of the tech stuff, he is even developing a cyber-security service they can offer to some of these oil Companies. This is what George should invest in and not 'bodyguard work'.

He actually put Oke on this job because the guy has been clashing with HR for months now because he wants to work remotely and they don't want to give him that. Gowon wants him to drop every other thing he is working on and focus on the Cyber security project. To be honest this Yinka Bakare job is going to be like a long holiday for them so its a win for Oke and MaryJane. When she finished gisting with Oke she came over to him.

"Are we good?" He asked her.

"Do i have a choice?" She said.

"I'll see you next week then" He flashed a fake smile.

"Okay" She returned the fake smile.

He knows she is going to complain about the Cameras they plan to install in her apartment and around the building and the biometric access control. He knows that she is going to 'carry placard' as soon she goes through that handbook.

A/N: Guys, apologies. Pandemic really fooled me into believing I could pull off this writing hobby seamlessly. I am too busy I swear and I had small writer's block.

Eid Mubarak to my darling muslim readers!

I will try update during the week, ko easy.

⬇️⬇️⬇️Don't forget to vote ;)