Unwanted Protection

Bad News

Meryl sat uncomfortably in front of her father's desk, looking out the immense window that faced the one of the many houses gardens. She had been waiting here for about thirty minutes of her life, and her father still did not come to tell her of the 'important' news he had for her. She was beginning to think he wasn't going to show like the many times he had done on her soccer games, swim meats, and school award shows. Not that she was blaming him, he was a busy man was he not? Only he had no time to do anything with his daughter, not even tell her that he was going to be a little late to their meeting.

She had come with much hesitation, the whole reason she had left the house was to be free and do as she had wanted to do so long ago. She didn't want to be a prisoner inside the many lonely rooms, dens and kitchens, waiting for her disappearing father to show his face for one minute before he was out the door to handle more business. But even so, here she was again, going through the routine she had done when she was a child; waiting. Although her dad had called with a worried and urgent voice. "You must come back to the house at once! Even if it's just to talk! Come now Meryl, be at my study by 3:00 pm on Saturday when you are free of College."

Well here she was! And you, like usual, are not.

She was about to give up on the pointless waiting when she heard the study doors open hastily and her father's footsteps approaching her. She didn't turn around to greet him, she stayed facing the window, at the many marigolds below. The footsteps stopped behind her chair by the desk. Even then she didn't turn around, she placed her hands in her lap, preparing herself for whatever excuse he would give her. Her brilliant gray eyes dulled at the thought. The moment stretched on, none of them speaking, but in the end, her father turned to his desk, and sat down at his own chair. He glanced weakly at his disappointed daughter.

"Can I say anything to make you feel better?", He asked breaking the silence.

Meryl took her time answering. "No, not really, but do tell me why you have summoned me here on this Saturday."

He nodded, his gray hair had increased since the last time she had seen him. It somewhat saddened her to see her dad ageing. His eyes reflected her disappointment, he knew she was mad. But his eyes were a deep blue, the kind that once you look at, you can't look away from. Hers was her mother's.

"You must take this with great ease, I know you won't like it, but you have to bear with me. It's very hard to explain, and by the end of our conversation, you will have more anger towards me then you do now. Don't look at me like that now, you'll have plenty of time to glare at me like an angered teenager when I'm finished. You see, you know, I am a very rich company owner, and throughout the time, I have grown richer, and with that, there are more people in this world want my money, and I think they plan to do it through you."

Meryl took it all in, softening her stare, she knew very well, that her father was right about her becoming even more angry with him. "What do you mean by me? You know very well that I am not going to take over the company! Everyone in your company knows you're going to give me some of the profits, but nothing more."

"I think they are going make me hand it to them, so that way, there is no way that I can prove they stole it from me." He held up a hand in Meryl's attempt to argue. " The only way they can hurt me is through you, they will either hurt you, or kidnap you. I think this, because there are many times where the servants have discovered that there has been many break ins at night. Many of the times, nothing valuable was missing, but one morning, your bedroom was completely trashed, the window was cracked where they had broken in, all your college entry papers were gone from where I had put them."

Meryl groaned. "OK, I see, What does this have to do with me coming all the way over here?" She felt what was coming deep down in her stomach, crawling around trying to find a way to settle.

Her dad looked deeply at her, making his wrinkles more visible, making him look more older and fragile. " I want you to have a bodyguard."

Meryl stood up from her chair, knocking it down. "I will NOT have someone follow me everywhere I go! It's not fair! How can you say that? Do you realize how much that would invade my privacy? I WON'T have it! I have enough trouble trying to prove I didn't get into College because of you being my father! having a bodyguard will just make it worse! I won't be able to be COMFORTABLE anymore!"

To her surprise, Meryl's father just gazed at her with a sad even stare. He didn't speak, but it was clear he would not change his mind, she would have someone following her every move, weather she liked it or not. Meryl looked down, forcing back her tears. How could this have come to this? She wasn't even done with her first year of College, and there she was again, a prisoner. She knew her father did it for her safety, but just now that she was beginning to have new friends that were actually normal, and did not necessarily have a rich father. Now she would have to introduce them all to her bodyguard, remembering she was never going to be able to do what someone normal would do. She clenched her fists, shutting her eyes tights, facing the ground. Why why why why?

"I'm sorry...." her father managed to say quietly. " I know it was the beginning of your freedom, but I just don't want you to get hurt!"

"Then why don't you send me away from here? Why don't you let me live where no one know the hell you are? No one know who am I...." You might as well let me die with mom.

"You know that won't work, everywhere you go, there will be someone who has heard of me, my power, my money, and you. I know it won't be easy, but it's a professional, I promise, I know he won't let anyone or anything hurt you."

"That doesn't matter! Who cares if he's the best in the world? That doesn't change the fact that I will be followed around by a guy I don't know! That does not comfort me that only makes me wish I was.... I was...." Meryl snapped and stopping herself from saying something that would hurt her father.

She looked up and saw for the first time in this visit her dad. He was a fairly tall man, in his younger years, he had been slim, strong and attractive. Age had made his stomach bulge a little, made his eyes seem more sunken, made his once perfectly toned skin, pale. But his eyes were as penetrating as ever. She looked away and her eyes fell on the envelope in front of her she hadn't noticed before. In minute neat handwriting, it had her name plastered on the right hand corner. She outstretched her hand and touched it,

The envelope itself seemed aged and worn, although it appeared as though it had never been opened. She wanted to open it and discover who had written to her, she knew it wasn't her father, his handwriting was loopy and big, unlike the envelope writing.

"That is for you, but you may not have it just yet. It's from your mother to you, she told me to give it to you in the right time." Her father stated, as though she had not snapped at him with a nasty tone, as though they were as close as could be.

Meryl looked up, how had it come to this? Just yesterday she had been so happy she had passed her semester exams, that were given every six weeks. Now in less then two days probably she would have some guy follow her every move, she wouldn't do anything her father would not know about. She was going to say this, that it wasn't fair, how come she had to be the daughter of a wealthy man, but instead she said something else that was in her heart. " So when is the right time? When I am thirty and pregnant?"

Her father smiled weakly, but he didn't answer her question. " I bet you are worried that I will know your every move, isn't that why you left? Because you were tired of the conformity here? Well I'll have you know, you will have a bodyguard and nothing more. That means you will not have security cameras or anything like that, but you will have to move to a new apartments, since your pursuers already know where you live."

Meryl didn't believe her father. "What? You mean I won't be heavily guarded?"

"Of course not! Well, not like that, your bodyguard will only be able to tell me something if he thinks you are in danger of your pursuers, and nothing more. That means you are free to go to wild parties and me not know about them!" He responded with a chuckle.

Meryl was a lot happier, that made all the difference. "So, do you know his name? anything? When will I be meeting him?"

"Well...You will meet him Monday, I can't tell you his name at this moment but you will like him, a perky young fellow..."

"You mean he's young?" Meryl asked with shock, all the bodyguards she had had always were in their mid thirties or forties.

"Yes, Well he looks it, not much older then you." Was her father's answer.

"But how is he one of the best if he is a beginner?" she blurted, if she was really in trouble, and she was going to have someone follow her for her safety, she at least wanted it to be someone who knew what he was doing.

Her father smiled a sly smile, like he knew something she didn't. "Oh I am very positive he is not a beginner, but you'll have to meet him to know what I am talking about."

For the rest of the meeting, they just shared details of the situation. Her father explained how she would have to move into a new home, because he was worried they had her address already. The apartment was not bad, not many people knew about her, and if they did, they wouldn't recognize her right away.

At last it came for her to leave, she still didn't feel very assured about it all, she still disliked the thought of someone following her around forever. She was going to her new apartment, to get situated, because she couldn't stay here. She stood up and hugged her father, despite it all, she loved him dearly, if anything happened to him, she would surely die.

"How will I meet him?" she finally asked at the front door.

"You will know it when you do, he will be at school." her father answered calmly.

"But... I don't want him at school! Is there any other way?" She pleaded.

"It's the safest way"

"I've got a bad feeling about this...." Meryl thought out loud, but it was true, her stomach had a feeling crawling around her and it wouldn't go away, as though her body knew of something she didn't.

"You'll know who he is, that's all I can say OK? He isn't all that bad, try to get along OK? He'll tell you all the other details." Her father assured her

"OK... better get going then. I'll see you around.... Take care please" She added with worry in her eyes.

"And you don't grow any older Ok?" he said as she went out the door in to a splendid afternoon. She was halfway down the drive, to the car that would take her to her new home, when her father called out her name. She turned around and walked back towards him. In his hand he had a folded paper that he hand to her. "Take care hun" he said before he pushed her gently out again.

She didn't dare open the note until she was in the car with the waiting chauffeur. Her fingers clumsily opened it with wonder. Not much was written on it, just a sentence that meant nothing then, but would mean a lot later on.

Vash is more then what you think; don't do something you might regret.

So your name is Vash huh? Nice name I suppose.... She leaned her head back Well we will have loads of fun will we not?

here it is! Well I hope I didn't bore you too much! OH well! REvieW!! and will anyone tell me what's Vash's last name if he has one???