Chapter 46

Sam strides through the glass doors of the SimQuest building, his confident steps betraying a hint of anticipation. The guard, a familiar face, greets him with a nod.

"Morning, Mr. Briar," the guard says, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. "Gail's been expecting you."

Sam offers a polite smile in return. "Good morning. I appreciate you letting her know I'm here."

With a swipe of his keycard, the guard grants Sam access, and he proceeds towards the elevators, his mind already focused on the day's tasks.

The sleek, modern lobby bustles with activity, and Sam nods to a few familiar faces as he waits for the elevator. The chime signals its arrival, and he steps inside, pressing the button for the top floor.

As the elevator ascends, Sam takes a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the discussions and decisions that lie ahead. His collaboration with Yuna has been fruitful, and he's eager to share their progress with Gail.

The doors slide open, and Sam strides down the hallway, his gaze fixed on the familiar door to Gail's office.

Gail looks up as Sam enters her office, her brow furrowing with concern. "Sam, I'm glad you're here. I heard about what happened last night. Are you alright?"

Sam pauses, surprised by her words. "How did you know about that?"

"The police contacted me," Gail explains, gesturing for him to have a seat. "And one of my friends at the station let me know the details." She leans forward, her expression serious. "I wanted to make sure you were safe."

Sam settles into the chair, his gaze searching Gail's face. "I'm fine, thanks to my training. But I'm curious - how many connections do you have, exactly?"

Gail's lips curve into a small smile. "Enough to keep an eye on my team." She leans back, her expression softening. "I care about the people I work with, Sam. And I don't take threats to their safety lightly."

Sam nods, his respect for Gail growing. "I appreciate that. It's good to know I have someone watching out for me."

Gail's expression hardens as she regards Sam with unwavering seriousness. "I will be assigning a bodyguard for you in the future. You are not to go home or go anywhere unless you are accompanied by him."

Sam's brow furrows, and he leans forward in his chair. "Is that really necessary? I can take care of myself."

Gail's gaze is unyielding. "Don't overestimate yourself, Sam. Many people out there are strong, and they have dangerous abilities. If you're targeted by one of them, you wouldn't even know how you died."

Sam feels a chill run down his spine at Gail's blunt warning. He swallows hard, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "I understand. I'll accept your arrangement."

Gail nods, her features softening slightly. "Good. Your safety is important to me, and I won't take any chances." She pauses, her eyes conveying a hint of concern. "I've already made the necessary arrangements. Your bodyguard will be here shortly to escort you home at the end of the day."

Sam opens his mouth to protest, but Gail raises a hand, silencing him. "No arguments. This is non-negotiable."

Sam exits Gail's office, his mind still processing their conversation about the need for a bodyguard. As he walks down the hallway, he spots Kendrick accompanied by two women.

Kendrick's eyes widen slightly upon seeing Sam. "Well, well, if it isn't our resident up-and-coming developer," he says, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I must admit, I'm surprised to see you doing so well."

Sam furrows his brow, unsure of Kendrick's meaning. "Why wouldn't I be doing well?" he asks, his tone cautious.

Kendrick merely shrugs, his gaze shifting to the women at his sides. "No reason, really," he says, his voice taking on a flirtatious edge as he turns his attention to the women. "Now, where were we, ladies?"

With that, Kendrick dismisses Sam and continues down the hallway, the two women trailing behind him.

Sam watches them go, a faint sense of unease stirring within him. He can't quite put his finger on it, but something about Kendrick's demeanor and the way he had addressed the situation leaves Sam feeling unsettled.

Sam puts Kendrick at the back of his mind. He needs to meet with Yuna to continue working on the Monster Hunter simulation and heads to his workstation. The familiar hum of computers and chatter of developers fills the open-concept office as Sam makes his way to his desk.

Kendrick looks at Sam's back, his brow furrowing slightly. "How is he fine after what happened?" he murmurs under his breath.

The two women beside him glance at each other, sensing a shift in Kendrick's demeanor. "Is something wrong?" one of them asks, her voice laced with concern.

Kendrick turns to them, his expression smoothing over into a charming smile. "Not at all, my dear," he says, his tone light and reassuring. "I was just thinking about a minor work-related matter. Nothing to worry about."

He slides an arm around each woman's waist, steering them down the hallway. "Now, how about we get out of here and find a more private place to continue our conversation?" he suggests, his voice taking on a suggestive edge.

The women giggle, their attention now fully focused on Kendrick. "Lead the way," one of them purrs, her fingers trailing along his chest.

Kendrick's lips curve into a satisfied smile as he guides the women towards the elevator, his mind already whirring with a new plan. "I'll need to take more drastic measures to deal with this little problem," he murmurs, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The elevator doors slide open, and Kendrick ushers the women inside, his thoughts consumed by the task at hand. Whatever Sam's connection to Gail, Kendrick knows he can't afford to let it interfere with his own ambitions. He'll have to find a way to neutralize the threat before it becomes a liability.

As the elevator ascends, Kendrick's grip on the women tightens ever so slightly, his mind already formulating a strategy to ensure his own dominance within SimQuest. Whatever it takes, he'll make sure that Sam Briar doesn't stand in his way.

///

Please provide power stones, and leave a comment and review of your thoughts so that I know people are interested in this story.

Advance chapters in my P@|r$0n/Najicablitz