:

Seeing the door starting to open slowly, every conversation died down and almost everyone aimed at it with practice reflex. The only exception was Michael who had to drag away two very unwilling people who wanted to stay here and know what was going on on the other side of that door but Michael knew better. Nathaniel always put his family first and this time was no different, he had gone out of his way to get his mother out of her office, going so far as locking himself up with a very dangerous person to make sure they stayed safe. While he was acting as director of security waiting for Jean to recover from his injuries, Michael knew that Nathaniel had an insane amount of authority in the Lyndon tower, second only to his grandfather who was the CEO. Thinking about it, that was an irresponsible amount of power to give to a teenager and every privileged kid would have abused it by now.

But Nathaniel never did. In fact he always made a point of talking to anyone that he interacted with with the same degree of respect, even their security personnel. Even if he was respectful, he was also unmoving and rigorous beyond belief, that is why he forced them to increase their training and their strictness in their job. Like he was always repeating, before thinking about protecting the company, they needed to be able to protect themselves.

"Bryan! James!" Michael called the two guard that he posted on the elevator.

Hearing their name, the pair made their way quickly from the elevator and looked at Michael expectantly.

"Secure them, do not let them leave." Michael ordered quickly.

"Michael, what are you doing? I'm ordering you to let us leave!" Robert shouted, enraged.

"Michael? I'm not so sure about this…" Bryan starts to say anxiously.

"I'm going to give you the choice. Secure them here or take it up with Nathaniel later and explain to him why you let his family members get into harm's way. I'm going to strongly advise you to pick the second option."

Looking at each other with fear and apprehension in their eyes, Bryan and James quickly took position to secure them.

"What the hell are you doing!? Let us leave or I'm going to fire both of you!"

"Forgive us sir but this is the best for you and for us."

"Since when is my own security more afraid of your son than myself?" Robert asked Mary.

"Sir if I may. Some words start spreading about some things that happen in Italy and Saudi Arabia among us and we all watch the news. I don't know if some of it can be traced back to Nathaniel but I would very much like to not have to figure it out by myself." James answered respectfully.

"I see. I'm sure that I don't need to stress enough how important it is for these rumors to stay between you right? I would hate to have to call that NDA you all have in your contract into question, do we understand each other?" Robert said in a neutral tone but his eyes promising a whole world of hurt.

"Yes sir." They both said at the same time.

******

Opening the door slowly, Nathaniel got out of the office and faced the people who were aiming their guns at him with an appeasing hand raised. He was surprised to find that Lina, Scott, Lucie and Camilla were also there.

"It's okay guys, the situation has been resolved for now." Nathaniel said, watching everyone lowering their guns to the floor. "What the hell are you four doing it here? You are supposed to be on leave."

"I came here to see my dad when you triggered the alarm. I relay the information to everyone, luckily Lucie and Scott were dropping their gear in the tower so they came quickly. Camilla just got here. No news from Jon, Hans and Na-Yung so far, I don't think they saw the text I send them." Lina resumed quickly.

"Alright. Since you are here, I'm going to use you. Scott, Camilla get in the office and keep an eye on the woman in there. Do not engage in conversation with her because you will be outsmarted. Don't let her come near you at any cost, even if you have to shoot her to prevent her from doing that."

Nodding, the two of them made their way to the office before closing the door behind them.

"Good, where is Michael?" Nathaniel asked.

"I'm here. Glad you alright, I needed to get your mother and grandfather out of here in case of danger. Pretty sure I lost my job by doing that." Michael said with a shake of his head.

"Not if I have to say something about it, good job Michael. Keep the lockdown on but you can free all security personnel from the floor except the one guarding the entrance and exit." Nathaniel said, while he was busy writing something on a piece of paper he took from the secretary desk.

"Yes sir." Michael nodded before starting to give orders.

"Lina, Lucie, start running a complete background check on all of those names. Use every database that we have access to and even some we don't. Tell the others that they don't need to come here, we have the situation under control."

"Nathaniel, can I ask who all those womens?" Lucie asked, looking at the list.

"Not who but what. These are all cover identities from the woman that is inside this office."

"But there are at least fifteen names on that list!" Lina said incredulously.

"Yes and these are only the ones I know, I suspect they are many more." He nodded.

"You seem to be well acquainted with that person, what are you looking for exactly?" Lucie asked, looking at him with rapt attention.

"I expected to die in that room or at least get out of it bloody and against all odds, she chose to surrender. Something changed in her and I want to know what. Find it. Now, excuse me but I need to have a talk with my family before I go in there again. Get me the second you find something."