A knock on the glass of the office door brought her head up. She smiled, pushing her work to the side to open her hand toward the chair in front of the desk. "Have a seat Mr. Moseley and tell me how I can help you."

"Thank you, Ms. Smith." He took the seat and opened a file in front of her. "I've been looking at our schedule for the next few months and, at Ms. Baxter's recommendation, I think we should hire Mr. Branson's company again for a… longer engagement."

Ms. Smith paused, narrowing her eyes at Mr. Moseley. "Is there something particularly distressing about the upcoming itinerary?"

"It's a bit risker than we've done in the past and I don't think your basic security detail'll be enough." He pushed the file toward her. "Mr. Branson's men are more than capable of handling the situation."

She sat back, rocking a bit in her rolling chair. "Well, at least you've given up trying to cancel these trips."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Mr. Moseley's teeth ground together and she caught it.

"Something else?"

"It's also because of those threats you've been getting lately."

"Ah, right." Ms. Smith nodded at him, "Our radicals. Every good, evil world-dominating corporation needs a few… Just to be legitimate."

"I'm being serious Anna."

"So am I Joseph." She covered his hand to squeeze it. "Do whatever you think's necessary to make us as safe as you feel appropriate and I'll abide by your wishes."

"That's a lot of leeway."

"Short of keeping us here or wrapping me in bubble wrap. You're in charge of my safety but not my nanny."

"Understood Ms. Smith."

Anna smiled and took the file, "Anything else?"

"I've called Mr. Branson and scheduled a meeting for this afternoon."

"He does like to have enough time to prepare his people." Anna flipped through the file, "You putting someone on me isn't going to make my job easier. It might even make everyone I meet with feel a bit more worried about the level of danger they're investing in if they work with us. Hulking presences don't tend to lend well to transparency."

"It's the risk but you're the face of this organization and I believe in protecting it to make sure the work we do continues."

Anna nodded, "So do I." She tapped her fingers along the file, "I've got one condition for this, if Mr. Branson agrees to what you're suggesting."

"What's that?"

"Mary gets someone to follow her around too."

Mr. Moseley cringed, "Mrs. Crawley'll hate that."

"Then she'll have to grin and bear it."

"She'll complain about all the suffering it'll cause her."

"She'll have to suffer in silence then." Anna winked at him and handed back the file. "I'll be at the meeting. I've got another appointment right before it so it might be a little tight but I won't be late, I promise."

"I trust that." Mr. Moseley took the file back. "Thank you, for understanding."

"If it's something that you and my personal assistant think are necessary steps, then I trust that my head of security isn't just yanking my chain." Anna paused, "How long has Ms. Baxter been sitting on this idea?"

Mr. Moseley winced, "Since that incident in Mumbai."

Anna groaned, "Why didn't she tell me?"

"She thought she'd worry you and after what happened…"

"I'm fine, Mr. Mosely, really." Anna forced a smile at him. "If she wanted stricter measures we could've discussed this then."

"She didn't want to rush you." Mr. Moseley tapped his fingers on the file, nervously shifting it in his hands. "And she thought that, with your therapy just finishing, maybe it was a better time to talk about it now."

Anna grabbed her pen for something to turn over in her fingers and nodded, "She's not wrong but I think it's all better now."

"It's none of my business and I-"

"Joseph," Anna held up the hand not holding the pen to stop him. "It's fine. In fact, I find it very comforting and kind to know how much both of you care about me. It's… It's a wonderful thing to know about my co-workers."

"Subordinates, you mean?"

"We don't think that way here Mr. Moseley."

"Of course not ma'am." He snorted, "Not out loud, anyway."

"Never out loud." Anna turned back to her paperwork, "And I'll see you for the meeting this afternoon."

He stretched his shoulders back and adjusted the clasp of his hands at his waist but otherwise remained stationary. Something ticked at the corner of his eye and he turned his head as a shadow passed around the corner. A finger went to his watch and tapped the surface once before tipping it to catch the light.

"Copy that John. Report."

"Possible disturbance to my left, east side of the building. Passed around the corner." John tipped his head forward to get a look at the entirety of the glass-walled conference room where a few men and women argued furiously about something. "Holding my position on the MP. Would recommend a move from Green to Yellow."

"Copy. Please hold position John and keep your eyes on the MP. Color change under advisement. Will update soon."

"Received Control." John shifted his position a moment to gain a better view of the conference room as a lanky man in a suit with a matching earpiece joined him. "Talbot."

"Bates." Talbot took position opposite him, keeping his head on revolve. "How's the life of a PPO treating you?"

"Making me regret wanting all those overtime hours for qualification choices." John shook his head, "But that's what the wife wanted."

"How's it feel guarding the man she wanted more?"

John shrugged, his eyes darting back to the room. "If he weren't what he is, I'd almost feel sorry for him."

Talbot laughed, shaking his head before tapping his watch, "Ready to receive." His face hardened a moment before looking at John. "Copy. Please relay to John."

John frowned before listening for the crackle in his earpiece. "Ready to receive."

"Detected possible threat. Remove principle and exfil now."

"Received Control, beginning exfil route Delta." John rolled his eyes at Talbot and they pushed into the conference room. "Apologies, ladies and gentlemen, but we've got to remove the minister."

"Why?"

John took a breath, "Because there's a possible threat."

"I'm in the middle of arguing-"

"Aren't you always?" John latched a hand under the man's arm. "Apologies Mr. Fitzgibbons but we're under orders and your safety is our first priority."

Keeping his body in front of Fitzgibbons, John shouldered through the corridor toward the fire door at the end of the hall. Talbot kept at their rear, his head on a constant sweep, and tapped his watch. "Open fire doors, without alarm."

"Done. Proceed to roof exit."

John pushed through the door, keeping Fitzgibbons behind him, and ascended the stairs with his left side leading. Their steps on the concrete stairs echoed and reverberated around them until they reached the rooftop exit. Waiting a second for the 'all clear', John pushed through the door and grunted when something hit his chest three times.

His back hit the ground, driving the air from his lungs, but his fingers immediately scrabbled in his jacket. In a second he brought out his Walther and aimed it between his bent legs. The man holding a gun took all three of John's shots in a second, falling back in an imitation of John's earlier move. But John kept his gun up and eyed the roof before pushing himself to his feet.

With a nod toward the door, his hands still holding his gun as he readied to raise it, John led Fitzgibbons and Talbot to the waiting helicopter. At John's signal, Talbot climbed into the cockpit and readied them for ascent while John guided Fitzgibbons into the rear. They were off within a minute and, once John got the headset over his ears, he nodded toward the fourth man in the rear with he and Fitzgibbons.

"I'm sure you've got a lot to say about how that all went."

The auburn-headed man glanced up at John before making a final note on a tablet. "Actually I thought that went rather well. You took three to the chest and kept going so I'd say your dedication to duty is commendable."

John snorted and dug the slugs from his shirt, noting the holes now showing off the black vest there. "Still kicks like a horse." He dropped the blanks into the man's outstretched hand before rubbing his chest. "And with live targets?"

The man opened his hand toward Fitzgibbons. "The Minister here is very active in the belief that our men need practical training."

"Mr. Branson's helped me out of a jam or two before so I don't mind being a part of his operations on the off chance he's training a new recruit." Fitzgibbons turned to John, "But you're not a new recruit, are you?"

"I'm sure you figured that out when you realized you were sleeping with my ex-wife." John sat back on the chair and nodded at Branson. "So, do I make the cut?"

"Mr. Bates," Branson extended a hand toward him, holding a badge and pin in place with his thumb. "Welcome to Branson Personal Security."

John tucked the walleted-badge into an interior pocket and pinned the BSP on his lapel. "Looks good on me."

"That's good to hear because we've got a meeting and you've already got your first assignment." Branson handed over the file. "More PPO work."

John took the file and ignored Talbot's laugh over the microphone from the cockpit. "We landing this bird before we go to babysit someone else?"

"Mr. Fitzgibbons is taking another team at our offices and we're going to our next meeting." Branson turned back to his tablet so John had to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention.

"In this?"

"They've got a helipad."

John groaned, "Let me guess, rich on someone else's money?"

Branson gave a smirk that sent an unsettled feeling into John's gut. "Just read the file and then make up your mind about our next clients, yeah?"

"You're the boss." John opened the file to read as Talbot wove them through the city.

Anna assembled her things, smiling at the tall woman who joined her on the walk to the glassed-in conference room. "And how was your evening Mary?"

"Dud, as usual. But the grand Mr. Carlisle is willing to donate to the cause." Mary shuddered, "For compensation, of course."

"Of course." Anna nodded, rolling her eyes. "But this is why you're the one meeting with him and not me."

"Because you would've given him a right cross over the table for the suggestion?"

"Or more than that."

"It's fine." Mary shrugged, "Better than me getting airsick."

"We've got a private jet."

"I don't want to spend the entire time on a luxury ride in the toilet."

Anna winced, "True. What about your son? He could enjoy the ride."

"George is begging not to have to spend another set of holidays with his grandparents and I'm tempted just to bring him along with us."

"I'd love to have him along." Anna shrugged, "But I'm not sure your six-year-old will enjoy Nepal, Malaysia, and Mynamar."

"Maybe best he stays where we don't have to worry about a legion of vaccinations for him then."

"My thoughts exactly." Anna opened the door and the men in the room, with one other woman, all stood up. "Sorry everyone, please be seated."

They all took their chairs as Anna selected the one right in front of the auburn-headed man and Mary took the seat on her left. "It's good to see you, Mr. Branson."

"And you Ms. Smith." He winked at Mary. "How are you Mary?"

"Well enough Tom. How's Sybbie?"

"With her mother today but that's other news." He shook her hand across the table. "Mr. Moseley here's been telling us all about your plans for this half of the year."

"Only this half?"

"We don't want to get ahead of ourselves."

"No, we don't." Anna looked around the woman at her right to nod at Moseley before turning back to Branson. "I do hope our request hasn't upset you unduly."

"It's our pleasure to work with your company." He motioned to the men on either side of him. "We're all pleased to be here."

"Perfect." Anna opened one of the folders in front of her. "Mr. Moseley and Ms. Baxter should've sent you all the relevant information for the passports, papers, and medical warnings so our itineraries could be as unchanged as possible."

"Got them here." Branson tapped his and the men on either side of him opened theirs simultaneously. "The back half of this year's looking a little full for you."

"It is." Anna's eyes caught for a moment on the bulkier of the two men with Branson. "We've got three countries on the docket this time around for a total three months of travel. That's hefty, I know, but it's the best way to work it out this time around."

"These aren't exactly safe countries." The lankier of the two men flipped through his pages, "Based on your research you do this all the time but I'm hesitant to suggest some of these locations as the kind you want to travel in any capacity."

"You're right." Anna smiled at him and the man blinked. "We do this all the time."

"What I meant was-"

"Mister?"

"Talbot."

Anna nodded her head toward him, "I apologize at the potential offense in my joke, Mr. Talbot, but I do this at least six times a year. Mr. Branson's handled our security on all of those trips for the last three years and I don't take this lightly."

"No, she doesn't." Branson winked at her, "And it's been an adventure every time, if I can say so."

"I wish we didn't have to say so." Mary took a breath before accepting a glass of water. "But we get the job done, Mr. Talbot. These aren't pleasure cruises or photo ops. These are serious business matters and we take our security just as seriously."

"Hence why we're here." Branson tapped the list, "Based on these locations, however, you'll need a slightly larger protection detail than we've done in the past. Especially for Myanmar and Nepal. Malaysia I think will be normal threat level but I'll not take any chances."

Anna nodded, "Any personal recommendations?"

"I've got a few and I think I know a couple rentals that'll work for the kind of cars I want us driving to these locations." Branson pointed to his right, noting Talbot. "Henry Talbot'll be working as Mary's personal bodyguard, since she's not partial to flying too often, and handling any possible airlift we need in these locations."

"You fly?" Mary blinked at Talbot, "Off the handle or just machines?"

"Helicopters, hovercraft, and small aircraft certified." Talbot shrugged, "Working on larger aircraft certification but I used to be in the RAF so I'm qualified."

"We'll see." Mary sighed, "And what about Anna? Who's she getting?"

"John Bates." Branson pointed to the man on his left. "Our most recent, official, hire."

"As in this morning." Talbot muttered and Anna turned to Branson.

"He's fully qualified, I assure you. Recently discharged, honorably, from his work in the SAS and then as part of the London Met. He's been a PPO before."

Anna met Bates's eyes. "Liked it?"

"It had its moments."

"And now?"

He shrugged, "This feels a lot better planned than those operations were."

"We do our best." Anna gave him a little smile before turning back to the folders before her. "I'll just give you all the basic rundown then. We usually land after a redeye-"

"Because you're workaholics?"

"Efficiently down to the wire, Mr. Talbot." Anna sized him up a moment. "We've got meetings almost from the time we hit the ground. Usually in stuffy conference rooms either at the hotels where we're staying or the businesses we're hoping to cooperate with in very crowded metropolitan areas. We need as much time as we can manage."

"That could represent some problems with security." Anna swiveled her head a moment toward Bates to see him studying the layouts. "Close quarters, high vantage points, crowded ingress and egress-"

"Most of the problems we deal with revolve around being British in developing nations, Mr. Bates, not snipers."

"But we're here because you're received threats, Ms. Smith." Bates set the folder aside, "And because of what happened in Mumbai."

Anna swallowed, "You've done your research."

"I had the time." He interlaced his fingers, setting them on the table in front of him. "Being British isn't as important to me as the fact that someone seems interested in you in a bad way and they might try something stupidly dangerous."

"Be that as it may," Anna held her face steady, "The second half of the trip is outreach and that can't change."

"What kind of outreach?" Talbot frowned, leaning over the table slightly.

"Community outreach, to give back since we're planning on getting something out of this arrangement." Anna nodded toward the folders, "The details are inside."

"Why did you choose these?" Bates raised an eyebrow. "Odd selections, speaking from a personal perspective."

"It's subject to the environment. We're planning to help in the replanting of a forest in Myanmar, starting a community center in Malaysia, and we're hoping to get some schools off the ground in Nepal by rebuilding the roads to get there." Anna flipped the pages to show the plans. "We're designing a few alternative ideas in case those plans fall through with our on-the-ground research groups and the local needs."

"I can already rule out three of these in Myanmar." Talbot drew his finger down the page. "They're far too difficult to keep secure."

"Perfect." Anna smiled and nodded to the woman on her right, who immediately noted it on a tablet. "We want your help to arrange these and find something safe but also beneficial to the communities where we're working. Efficiency and efficacy are equal partners in our ventures here. We want what we do to last and to be useful, not just as photo ops and good press."

"Give back to them so they like you?" Bates mused and Anna turned to him.

"Giving back because it's the duty of the able to give all they can. It's responsible and sustainable development, which are the backbone ideals of this company."

"Excuse John," Branson put a hand forward, "He's straight from his service days so he's a bit rougher around the edges."

"I'm outspoken, not rough around the edges."

"Whatever he is," Anna looked Bates up and down. "I do hope we can all be professional in the sense that this is what we do here and your presence is specifically to facilitate those motives."

"You're the boss." Talbot supplied but John continued holding Anna's gaze.

"In the case that I'm the boss, my word is the last word and always goes." Bates went to speak but Anna held up a hand. "Unless there's a bomb about to go off or we're in direct threat, we're following a set plan. Understood?"

"Understood." Bates edged a bit of smile and Anna blinked at it before shaking the image away to listen to Branson.

"As Henry said, you're the boss and we're yours to command."

"Perfect." Anna shrugged, "Then we just need your security assessments to finalize the plans and then be wheels up in a week I hope."

"You'll have it by end of the day tomorrow." Branson stood, reaching out to shake Anna's hand again. "It's always a pleasure to work with your company Ms. Smith."

"Just as it is to work with yours." Anna flicked her eyes to Bates, still with the small smile on his face. "I hope we continue to work well together."

"We will." Branson took his hand back. "But, before we're wheels up, I'd recommend Mr. Bates and Mr. Talbot take on their PPO here first. I want you all comfortable with one another before we're in the middle of a crisis."

"Sounds fair." Anna turned to Mary, "What do you think?"

"I think we'll have to keep them around anyway so might as well." Mary shook her head, "Not that we're not capable of protecting ourselves or anything."

"It's nothing to do with your inability to protect yourselves." Branson cut in, "It's all to do with keeping your focus where you need it by taking something off your plate."

"Like the feeling of being broken in?" Mary eyed Talbot, "I'm sure it'll be a bit before I get used to you the way I do a new pair of shoes."

"I'll try not to chafe or give you blisters."

"I'm sure you will." Mary frowned, "We'll not be ready for them until tomorrow. There's a few meetings this afternoon and a gala tonight that-"

"I'm sure we can host Mr. Branson here and his team at the gala." Anna put a hand on Mary's arm for a half second. "It is our gala, after all."

"If you say so."

"But she's right," Anna turned to Branson, "They'll have to stat officially tomorrow. None of our other meetings would be ready for the interruption PPOs would cause."

"Then I'll just confer with Ms. Baxter here." Branson nodded to the last woman in the room. "She's always got the bead on everything."

"She's my life saver, that's for sure." Anna turned to the slightly gaunt and rather quiet woman. "If you could get Mr. Branson the schedules he needs for his people and then coordinate with him about tonight's gala."

"I'm on it Ms. Smith." She motioned to the three men, "If you'll come with me I think we'll have some spare tuxedoes for you to wear tonight."

"Monkey suits, my favorite." Talbot winked toward Bates before trailing Branson and Baxter out the door. Bates followed a moment later, his eyes still on Anna before the edge of the conference room blocked the view.

"Tosser."

"What?" Anna turned to Mary, frowning at her. "Who?"

"The one you've got me stuck with." She almost tore into her cheek with the force of her jaw grinding on it. "I know Tom picked him on purpose."

"Tom only ever picks those qualified to do what they do. He wouldn't go out of his way to make our lives harder."

"He might for me." Mary shook her head, "He's been trying to get me to date outside my social circle for awhile now and this'll be how he does it."

"By sticking a charming, rather attractive, albeit outspoken PPO on you?"

"Exactly." Mary took a deep breath before forcing it out her nose. "That man's got a pair on him the size of-"

"I'd rather not know the size of your brother-in-law's family jewels and I'd be terrified to know how you know." Anna collected her things. "Otherwise, I think it'll all shape out quite nicely."

"They're giving you a recent hire."

"His CV's not anything to sneeze at."

"I never said it was." Mary checked her phone. "If I don't leave now I'll be late and then the whole day's an avalanche of delays."

"Go on." Anna waved her on, "I've got the fort held down here."

She watched Mary hurry to her office before walking the length of the corridor to her own. The door had barely whispered shut when a creak on the hinges had her turning to see Bates there. "Was there something else you wanted to discuss Mr. Bates?"

"I was curious if you had meetings that would prevent me starting this afternoon."

Anna pursed her lips, opening her calendar before shaking her head. "I'm all free. Most of it's emails and work so you'll be bored out of your mind."

"I don't mind that." He shuffled, "And I hope you don't mind me nosing in so soon."

"Seeing as you'll be shadowing me at the gala tonight, I could use to get a little more used to you." Anna took a seat at her desk. "Most of my former PPOs on these trips were Branson. But now that he's got Sybbie and we're a little tighter about our security, I need to get to know more people on his team."

"It's a good team."

"Says the man with a single day of experience."

"A single day here, ma'am, not of experience."

"Oh?" Anna leaned back in her chair, motioning to the one in front of her desk. "Do tell all about it Mr. Bates."

"I'm not one for gossip."

"And I'd rather we not be better strangers." Anna waited until he took the seat, noting his alert posture. "What kind of officer were you?"

"The kind where they told me what they wanted and I got it done."

"No backup?"

Bates shrugged, "If I got capture, they trusted I could get myself out." He almost managed a snort. "There was one time they all took bets on how long it would take me to get back to base."

"Did you win?" He blinked at her and Anna gave a shrug of her own, "If it were me, I would've bet on myself."

"I did beat the odds every time." Bates paused, his fingers interlacing. "How long were you held, when you were captured?"

Anna pursed her lips, her fingers tightening on her chair, and swallowed. "What?"

"How long were you held captive in Mumbai?"

"How'd you know?" Anna swallowed again, trying to wet her throat. "That wasn't in the official report or any of the files Branson would've given you on me. Hell, that was before we even started working with BSP."

"It takes one to know one." Bates nodded at her, "When I mentioned Mumbai earlier I noticed the twinge of fear in your eyes. You're very calm about it. Cool and collected, which tells me you've sought professional help for whatever you went through. But it's still there, like a shadow on your eyes."

"That's not the whole truth though, is it Mr. Bates?"

"No." He gave a small smile of his own. "It does take one to know one and, as a former captive, I'll tell you that it never goes away."

"No?"

"No." He shook his head, "There'll always be the nightmares. They'll always be something that doesn't change when everything else does."

"How long did they hold you?"

"It's not a contest to say longer than you."

"But how long, Mr. Bates?"

His jaw flexed before he answered. "Long enough for my wife to leave me."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not. Not if it got me away from a woman who wasn't going to wait for me." Bates took a breath, "How'd you end up in this business anyway?"

"Mary's father owned the firm when it was a small, family thing. Local builders and urban planners. She brought me on to manage the philanthropy side of it when they got bigger under her husband's management. And, when Matthew died, I bought the company from her."

"Why?"

"She needed to focus on something that wasn't her family's legacy for awhile and I wanted to do what I could to maintain it." Anna shrugged, "Matthew's the one who helped strengthen the foundations and practically it built it from the ground up. He's the reason the brand exists and then, when I took it over, Mary say she couldn't run it anymore."

"But Mrs. Crawley still works here."

"She's still involved in a lot of it and her reputation gets us a lot of meetings and helps us with government contracts but she's mostly here for the presence." Anna shook her head, "Most of Mary's time is spent on her father's estate now and she doesn't want more of the business than that."

"How'd you manage to buy her out?"

Anna laughed, "I've been investing money since I was sixteen. That's when I left home and built an app for phones that got me a 'tidy sum', as they say."

"How tidy?"

"Tidy enough to invest in a few different enterprises and build a name for myself as a brand consultant." Anna gesticulated to the office around her. "That's when Mary hired me and I took over the company after that."

"Then it's your life?"

"It is now and I love it." Anna shivered, "The constant problem solving of how to get it all off the ground and keep it standing."

"With your philanthropy thrown in."

"It's a selling point for our projects over our competitors because it's more than just sustainable building." Anna paused, licking at her lips to speak again. "It's community building and integration. The staff at our hotels, hostels, and businesses are ninety percent native. And eighty percent of the management on the ground are native."

"Ambitious."

"Necessary." Anna pointed at herself. "No one trusts the Westerner to come in and do anything but try to get a photo op."

"From painful experience."

"But everything about what CS Consulting and Management does is about making it something people can own for themselves." Anna shrugged, "That's the sustainability of our brand and why people hire us."

Bates was quiet a moment. "Is this what you saw yourself doing in school?"

"I always wanted to the change the world." Anna smiled, "Did you?"

"Can't say I ever had a desire to do more than serve a greater purpose."

"Is that accomplished as you bounce around in a truck on the backroads o South-East Asia with us?"

"It's not where I saw myself serving, no." Bates shrugged, "But if it's serving a greater cause or a nobler purpose than I can't complain really."

"Good. I can't stand complainers."

"I cam curious," Bates held up a finger, "Why South-East Asia?"

"It's a place forgotten about but always in the center of things." Anna leaned back in her chair. "It's where people took what they wanted and didn't give back."

"They did the same thing in Ghana or Nigeria or the DRC." Bates made a face, "Why not go there?"

"We're working that way." Anna sat up straight again, "Our focus was to work out of our hub in Hong Kong and make our brand something people could trust. Something they'd want to make their own."

"And then?"

"The hope is to circle out in a spiral. We've got some plans for Jo-Berg and Madagascar but it's always touchy working with governments." Anna sighed, "I guess we'll see what the future holds."

"I guess you will." Bates stood, "Thank you, for allowing me the time."

"Like I said, I'd rather get to know you if you're to be my shadow." Anna chewed at the inside of her cheek when she caught the stretch of his jacket over a holster under his arm. "Are you always armed?"

Bates paused, "Don't tell me you hate guns."

"I don't mind guns as long as the person holding them knows what they're doing with them." Anna pointed at his, "I just need to know how to account for time at metal detectors if you're my new shadow."

"That's all?"

Anna nodded. "They're a tool, like a hammer, and offer the same potential for harm and hurt as they do for help and protection." She went back to her work, "It's all about the person wielding it."

"How very open-minded."

"When one needs the protection of a gun as often as I do in my work, Mr. Bates, it's difficult to sit on the moral high ground about their use."

"You wouldn't have been the first."

"I don't want to be at all." Anna looked him over, "I think you'll fit in rather nicely here Mr. Bates, if you don't mind my saying."

"Not at all ma'am." He nodded to her before taking a static position at the door.