Arthur is hired to protect Ariadne. The daughter of a disgraced senator from a would-be kidnapper, Mr. Eames.
Confessions of a Point Man
1.
~ Arthur sat behind the wheel of his car and watched the people walk by. The radio was faintly buzzing with the news of the world when he got the inspiration to take notes.
He pulled out of his breast pocket the small, ever so useful notebooks he favored for keeping records in. In the digital age, he was like a caveman when it came to somethings. He liked paper over a computer screens. He favored a ball point pen in black ink over a key board with spell check. He like to write in sharp small cursive writing and keep journals of his ideas. It helped him to keep his thought safe in a world where there were no secrets.
'Cobb has me meeting with Mr. Richard. The former senator who was impeached under accusations that he took bribes. I saw his house this morning, met with his staff and even got to see the VanGough. I think he needs a lot more security than I can provide if he really is guilty of embezzling billions from the American people.'
Arthur safely tucked his small notebook back into his breast pocket. He wasn't sure if Richard was guilty or not. That wasn't the issue. What mattered to Arthur was if he could protect the man.
Arthur's friend and contact, Dom Cobb had brought him into the former senator's world that morning for a job interview. Cobb had been working as chief of security for years now, but with the added pressure of the senator's misdeeds, Cobb could no longer do the job alone.
~ "I don't know if you read the papers, Arthur." senator Richard said curtly. "But it seems my good fortune has a lot of people suspicious."
Arthur looked over the man he would have to protect. He was tall and well groomed. He had been trained for years in the ways of a consummate politician. Everything about him had no doubt been focused on and perfected.
"See, I've always been lucky in making money. But, some people took this idea that I mislead share holders and used government money to take down competition is more interesting." Richard had said as sat in an expensive leather chair across from the Point Man.
Arthur kept his mouth closed and his opinion to himself.
Cobb looked hopeful that Arthur would be taken on as security and they would be able to work together.
"Senator, there is no one better than Arthur." Cobb said. "He's the best at what he does and I've never known anyone with more discretion."
"Is that true? Can you keep my personal business to yourself?" Richard asked.
"I keep everything to myself." Arthur said coldly.
"Do you think I'm a crook? Do you think I stole money from the American people?" Richard asked sourly.
"It doesn't matter what I think. My opinion of your ethics in not a factor in if I'll take this position." Arthur said.
The disgraced senator looked surprised that Arthur might not want to work for him.
"Well, I hope you will take this job. Mr. Cobb speaks very highly of you and I've come to trust him." Richard said.
"Like I said, I haven't decided yet." Arthur told him.
~ It was a simple meeting. Arthur had just about decided he wouldn't work for the over confident man who clearly was a crook. His house alone was a mansion that showed he had more money than he knew what to do with and clearly loved showing off that fact.
This was a man who stayed in the Hamptons all summer in a large beach house. A man who had bank accounts in non-extradition countries, and who was above the law. Arthur knew he couldn't protect a man like that. How could he protect a man who thought he was invincible?
He was downstairs in the lobby, waiting for the valet to bring his sensible car around when he was captivated by the small painting on display.
It was clearly a VanGough, although it was much smaller than he expected it would be. He carefully approached it and took in the bold, unforgiving brush strokes and bright colors.
"Doesn't exactly go with the decor, does it?" a voice came behind him.
Arthur turned to see a small framed, dark haired young woman carrying a clip board and cell phone in her hands. She looked professional in her tweed dress and simple, classic jewelry. Most likely she was a secretary or personal assistant.
"Well, it's a masterpiece." Arthur said as he went back to looking at the painting.
He appreciated art in every form and hadn't gotten the chance to see a real VanGough in years.
"I think it's terrible. I'm not a fan of his late work. The poor man was descending into madness and people only capitalized on his death. The whole thing is macabre." she said standing next to him and looking over the painting.
"I wouldn't let your boss hear you talk like that." Arthur said with a light smile.
"He knows how I feel." the young woman said with a shrug.
Arthur turned to look at her. Not his normal look of her clothing and appearance. The look he gave everyone to gauge if they were a threat or not, but a real look.
She was uncommonly pretty. Not fashion model pretty, but her looks were exquisite and classical. She appeared to be in her early twenties and her clothing and style barely concealed the carelessness of youth.
"I take it you haven't been working for the senator for very long." Arthur noted and looked over her nice shoes and even nicer jewelry. Nothing on her was low end or fake. She must be paid well.
She rolled her eyes.
"My whole life. I'm Ariadne Richard. I'm his daughter." she said casually.
Arthur kept himself composed.
"Let me guess, you're Arthur. Mr. Cobb's friend come to interview for the security position." she said as her attention was focused on the painting.
"Yes." Arthur said stiffly as he felt a slight twinge of embarrassment at having been caught not knowing Richard even had a daughter and that he almost told her what he really thought of the senator, his tacky house and garish displays of wealth.
"Mr. Cobb speaks very highly of you." she said cooly.
"That's nice." Arthur said just as cooly.
They looked at the painting for several seconds before the valet came to tell him his car was ready.
"It was very nice meeting you, Arthur." Ariadne told him before walking away. Her expensive shoes making a pleasing clicking noise as she left him.
~ Arthur was watching people in his car a few hours later. His hand itching to write something down about Ariadne. He reached for his journal again and scribbled.
'His daughter seems very intelligent. We discussed art for a little while as I waited for my car.'
He knew he should voice an opinion about the senator, but lost his nerve.
Suddenly his cell phone rang.
"You got the job." Cobb was saying on the other end when Arthur answered the insistent ringing.
"Right." Arthur muttered and watched a family cross the street in front of him.
"Do you not want to work for the senator?" Cobb asked.
"It's fine. I can protect him so long as he is willing to follow the rules." Arthur said.
"Oh it's not him you'll be protecting, Arthur." Cobb laughed.
"Who then?" Arthur asked. He didn't like jokes.
"His daughter. Ariadne Richard is the one you're going to be baby-sitting." Cobb said.