Ike stood at attention with Roy at his side, the image of the perfect soldiers, as the President walked into the Oval Office. The man moved past them and sat behind his desk with a world weary sigh, his eyes running over them critically.
"At ease fellas," he called out in a warm southern drawl that could only come from someone growing up in Georgia. "Now I know you two are wonderin' why I called you in here and I aim to tell you. I've just been appointed president by the good people of this here nation and my secret service is in need of young blood. That's where you two come in. Both of you were highly decorated for your age and rank before you got hurt overseas and I'd like to make you my newest members. Now Roy," he turned his eyes to the red headed one, "you'll be assigned to me, I'll have my head of security run you through all the mumbo jumbo... And you Ike will be assigned to my daughter's protection detail."
"Yes sir Mr. President," Ike and Roy said in unison.
"Now Roy the man you need to see is waitin' on you outside, you're dismissed."
"Yes sir Mr. President," Roy saluted and practically marched out, leaving Ike standing there awkwardly.
"Why don't you sit on down Ike?" The President motioned to a seat across from him and Ike reluctantly took the seat, wondering why he was still in the Oval Office. "Now Ike I'm sure you're wonderin' why I assigned you to my daughter and not myself when you earned more recognition in the line of duty than Roy. Well, to be honest with you, my daughter is not happy I won this election. Me winning meant she had to move on back home with daddy when she's been little miss independent since the day she graduated high school... Truth be told she isn't just unhappy Ike, she's royally pissed at me. I can't tell you the last time I talked to her where she wasn't rantin' and ravin' against me, even saying how she wished me and my late wife hadn't adopted her.
"She's refused to do online courses at her university so she goes there everyday, which I'm sure I don't need to tell you is a security nightmare. I have my best men watching her, one of whom is a dear friend of mine I've come to rely on heavily to report to me when she even tries to sneak out. He told me that someone closer to her age might be able to control her a little because, let's be honest, the girl is a rebel. I chose you because you have survived some hellish situations overseas and I think you're the only one who can keep her in line. Are you up for the task Ike?"
"Yes sir Mr. President," Ike said with a nod.
"I'm going to give you some special orders now boy, orders that you do not tell another living soul understand? I don't care what you have to do to keep her in line, you do it. If she needs to be tied up in her room I'll support your decision understand? I cannot have a disaster from her end up on the news for the world to see. Do you understand me?"
"Yes sir Mr. President," Ike nodded once again, not quite sure what he had just agreed to.
"Excellent, you're dismissed," with that he turned his eyes to the papers on the desk and Ike stood up, ready to face whatever nightmare awaited him.
XxX
"You know," Snake, the head of the president's daughter's security said as he walked beside Ike down the carpeted hall towards the young woman's room, "I stopped smoking ten years ago. I met this girl and I'm back to a pack a day from all the stress."
"She can't be that bad," Ike said incredulously.
"Kid she's a nightmare, and that's coming from an ex spec ops soldier." They paused in front of a door and Snake raised his hand to knock.
"Go away!" a feminine voice called from inside and Snake sighed as he opened the door.
"Sorry to bother you ma'am but I have your latest service agent here to meet you," he said as they stepped into the room, Ike respectfully keeping his eyes down just in case she was indecent. "This is Ike Greil, he's an ex marine, been through hell and back just to babysit you." Ike looked up at Snake sharply, surprised he was so snarky with the daughter.
"He doesn't know what hell is," the voice sneered and Ike finally looked to the young woman perched on the bed. She had a textbook on her lap, one earbud hanging from her pointed ears, and the most beautiful blue eyes Ike had ever seen. Her long brown hair was pulled up in a sloppy bun, her clothes baggy and looking worn. "I'm Zelda Nohansen, the president's daughter... well more like his trophy he brings out every once in awhile to impress important people." Ike tried to remain neutral when she insulted her father like that, making her eyes narrow.
"It's nice to meet you ma'am," he said with a nod and she rolled her eyes.
"Keep telling yourself that," she said and popped the other earbud back into her ear.
"I'll show you to the office where we have her schedule laid out, we'll figure out the best rotation for you," Snake said and Ike nodded, sparing one last glance at the woman on the bed before following Snake out of her room.
XxX
Zelda stared after the newest member of her security detail as he left her room, trying to figure him out. He seemed like another cliché military guy, but something in his eyes when he finally looked up at her told her otherwise. Curious, she pulled her phone from the spot by her knee and pulled up her texts, particularly the ones to her best friend since childhood.
'What can you pull up on Ike Greil. Ex marine, now on my service detail.' She sent the message off, waiting on her blonde friend to respond. She turned her eyes back to the political textbook on her lap, tapping her pen in the margin impatiently. Her phone buzzed and she picked it up, happy to see Link come through once more.
'Ike Greil. Age 26. Served as a marine from age 18 to 26. Honorable discharge due to injury. Handpicked by president (your daddy) to serve as your new bodyguard. High marksman and hand to hand rankings. Set some records while at basic. Mother and sister still alive. Father deceased.' She sat back against her plush feather pillows, absorbing the information gathered by her resource at the FBI. Another text came through and she checked it with a smirk. 'He's hot as hell.'
'You're telling me.' She sent the message and began typing another. 'Anything else on him?'
'That's all I've got with my clearance. His injury and deployments are classified.'
"Dammit," she sighed and set her phone beside her, more curious than before.
XxX
"She has classes from oh-eight-hundred to sixteen hundred everyday," Snake said as he handed over her schedule, Ike staring in silent appreciation at the massive number of classes she was taking in a semester. "Before her dad was elected she lived in an apartment off campus... I'm sure he told you she was bitter about being here."
"Something like that," Ike answered vaguely as he memorized the classroom numbers. "What about extracurricular activities? Any volunteer work?"
"She frequents a homeless shelter downtown," Snake said with a shrug. "She helps serve dinners Saturday night since she's not allowed to go out and party anymore. The most important thing I can stress to you is to keep her on a short leash. The girl is tricky and more devious than you'd think."
"Understood. Any boyfriend or girlfriend?"
"Ha, would you want to be the guy who has to meet her dad?" Snake asked and Ike snorted.
"Not in a million years."
"Exactly. She's got a friend who works for the FBI, so don't be surprised if the next time you see her she knows half a dozen things about you." Ike nodded at the information, storing it in his brain. "She has a few wild friends, some of which her father has forbidden her from mingling with while he's in office."
"And they're the ones she tries to sneak out and see right?" Ike ventured the guess and Snake nodded.
"You got it... I can start you tonight if you're ready."
"Yeah why not?" Ike shrugged and Snake held out a earpiece.
"Wear it at all times for check ins," he said as Ike worked the wire under his shirt and plugged it into his ear. "You're the youngest on her detail so I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to chat you up. Obviously you can talk to her but, and I can't stress this enough, do not let your guard down."
"You got it," Ike said with a nod and Snake held out a hand.
"Good luck kid, you're going to need it."
XxX
"Enter!" Zelda called at the polite knock on her door, ready for her first one on one time with her newest security guy. He stepped into the room, Zelda noting the earpiece already in place. "My aren't you looking the part now," she said in a fake drawl, mimicking her adoptive father.
"I've heard you're quite a pain in the ass to guard," he said as he stood in her doorway, Zelda raising an eyebrow at his blunt words. "I just want you to be warned that I'm not going to be fooled by your act."
"What act?" she asked innocently and he just gave her a look. "Fine," she rolled her eyes and looked his suited body over, contemplating whether or not flirting with him would get her anywhere. "Tell me a little about yourself."
"Why don't you tell me what you know?" he counter asked, Zelda surprised by him once more. "I know you have a friend at the FBI and I'm sure he's given you what he can already."
"I like you," she said with a genuine smile on her lips. "You're kinda a dick but... it's refreshing. Everyone else treats me like I'm a princess."
"I'm not going to do that," it sounded like a vow and Zelda felt her heart skip a beat.
"I would expect nothing less from an ex marine," she said and he nodded once. "How will you treat me?" she asked curiously and he gave her a slight smirk, Zelda feeling her heart speed up at the sight.
"However I feel you deserve," he said and Zelda knew one thing in that moment. She had to have this man. It was wrong on so many levels, hell she didn't even know if he was straight, but she would have this man as more than her secret service agent. How to get him was going to be a challenge she was already liking the idea of.
"Sit down Ike, I don't bite," she said as she patted the bed beside her. "I really would like to hear more about you from you."
XXX
Me? Self control issues? Indeed. I've had this idea in my brain ever since I watched House of Cards on Netflix with my babe (go watch it if you haven't, it's amazing) and finally gave into the temptation to post it. Special thanks to concisponci for listening to me pitch this ages ago and encouraging my reckless posting! Let me know what you think! Much love, Leigh
