General Bradley and a Cup of Coffee

Bradley raised an eyebrow. Samuel looked at Nancy, surprised by her statement.

"What?" Nancy sternly said before pushing Samuel behind her. "I said he's mine." She concluded.

Bradley frowned but then bursted into laughter.

"You're a surprising child," Bradley muttered. "Say, Nancy, was it? Do you even know anything about my boy here?"

That caught Nancy off-guard. She didn't know even a single thing about Samuel, while the General seemed to know about everything.

Before Bradley could say something more counteracting, Nancy fixed her eyes on him. If nothing else, her chip should be able to show her an answer.

So far, the system has shown her chemical composition and regular health status. If she could focus more, maybe there was a chance of learning about DNA type and resemblance as well.

If she could, she'd know on the spot about the relationships between people.

"Did I say something wrong?" Bradley smirked lightly.

Nancy had nothing to say. She pressed her lips together in frustration.

"So what?-"

"Do you want to learn more?"

Something that intrigued Nancy was the drive to learn. The General knew it well.

"Do you know more than me?" Nancy muttered in utmost curiosity.

Bradley nodded slowly before offering a hand. Nancy raised her hand to grab his before Samuel slapped it back.

Nancy was irked and looked back at Samuel sternly. Bradley raised an eyebrow. All the attention was on Samuel, but he seemed unfazed.

Though he looked as scared as ever around Bradley, right now, he was unfazed.

"Sir," He gazed at Bradley, then turned over to Nancy. "Nancy," He called the two of them calmly. "You must not go with him, and Sir, you must not touch her."

Bradley narrowed his eyes.

"I apologize for my discourteous acts. However, what is wrong must not be done," Samuel added before pulling Nancy behind her, grabbing her wrist tightly.

"Samuel. How dare you fucking touch me?" Nancy eyed him down.

"Uh, uh." Bradley mumbled with his index finger, moving to and fro, "Are these your manners?"

"Sir, regardless of our ranks and occupation, the top priority is always the job, as you told me. Am I wrong? Here, my job is to prevent any meeting between my employer and anyone who is not my employer's past acquaintance. Or anyone that exhibits danger in any way." Samuel explained. "Sir, you are not my employer's acquaintance."

"Regardless of our ranks?" Bradley smirked before pulling his hands back and clapping them together.

Nancy stared at the two men glaring at each other. A moment ago, Samuel was so scared of just the General's name and presence. Now, he was declaring war.

"What if…" Nancy muttered. "What if your employer wants you to follow her regardless of whether her meeting is with an acquaintance, or not?"

Bradley burst into laughter, clapping his hands vigorously when Nancy attacked Samuel with her words. What a promising girl!

Samuel glared at her in shock. She raised her eyebrows, demanding an answer. Bradley stood there and enjoyed the scene in its utmost originality.

"Let's all grab a coffee, yeah? Coffee in a public place. What could go wrong?" Bradley convinced the two with sweet words.

And so, they were at a cafe with Bradley. Crossing his legs as he leaned back in the chair, Bradley was dressed in casual clothes.

Coming to notice it, he looked young for a General. His hair was still dark in color, though his sideburns had a little gray to them. Nancy wasn't sure if he dyed those or not. He had sharp features. 

But his overall features were young too. Early 40s max. What was all this? Samuel was a first sergeant at 23 years of age, probably earlier than that, considering he had left the military. And Bradley, a young General.

Bradley should've been in his late 50s. Maybe he just looked young. But everything about Samuel was suspicious.

Everything.

"Samuel," Bradley called him, breaking the mind map inside Nancy's head.

"Yes, Sir." Despite every reaction he gave towards Bradley, his responses were still neutral.

"It's been 10 years since we saw each other. Do you have nothing to say to me?"

10 years?! Nancy started to count on her fingers, and Bradley quietly smiled as he noticed her doing so. Wait, that means Samuel was 14 or 15 when they last saw each other?!

Why were he acquaintances with the General at such an early age?

"I…" Samuel seemed to have a lot of things to say. "I apologize, as I do not have anything to say."

"Is that so?" Bradley smiled. "That hurts, Samuel. I missed you so much, and you didn't?"

Nancy narrowed her eyes. What was going on?

"Sir, forgive me for I must ask… How come you have arrived in New York." Samuel asked.

"Family," Bradley muttered. "And a request to fulfill."

No one wanted to ask him further. His tone was as scary as it was. Imagine getting on his nerves.

"Nancy, what would you like to know?" Bradley asked with a smirk.

Nancy wasn't sure if she should question someone like Bradley. But she had to give it a go, even though Samuel had a troubled expression on his face. He wanted to get out of there soon, and it was visible on his face.

But it was an opportunity for Nancy.

"What is the relationship between you and Samuel?" Nancy bluntly asked, trying to look unfazed by the General's intimidating gaze.

"Isn't that obvious? He's my subordinate." Bradley bluntly replied, fixating his eyes on Nancy for this unusual question.

She had to make sure they weren't biologically related. She nodded.

"I thought you guys were relatives…" Nancy clarified, only to narrow her eyes to Bradley's reaction.

He smirked as he stared straight into her eyes. Supporting his chin with his index finger, he stared Nancy down for her statement. Relatives? His smirk was eerie and cornered across his face.

Nancy wasn't sure if he was lying or not. His face was saying otherwise.

"Why did you want to have coffee with us?-"

Samuel stood up.

"Sir, we must take our leave." Samuel quickly muttered.

"Is that so?" Bradley asked.

"Yes, Sir."

"No."

"I apologize. However, Nancy has a curfew, and we cannot stay any longer." Samuel said, eying Nancy to not utter a word.

"What?!" Nancy objected.

"Is that so, Nancy?" Bradley asked for confirmation.

Their fate was dependent on Nancy's answer. Samuel wanted to leave, and Nancy wanted to stay.