First Saturday of February 2008,
Time: 8am,
Location : Mbano
I was busy enjoying the roasted yam my mother served me when I got an unexpected call from my boss. I nervously answered the call without wasting time, equally wondering why he was calling by that hour.
‘’agent val, where are you?’’ my boss asked in his usual gruff voice.
‘’I’m at home sir’’ I stammered, standing up nervously as if the man was right there before me.
‘’report to my office immediately. It’s very urgent. You have five minutes’’ he ordered.
‘’yes sir’’ I breathed sharply even though deep down I was extremely unhappy. I planned spending the weekend with mum after staying away from home for so long and I just couldn’t imagine how disappointed she would be, seeing me leaving just an hour after I got home.
Anyway that’s exactly the life of an agent. My life and everything belonged to the government and I had no reason to protest because I clearly knew what I was getting into when I applied to join the department of state services.
———————
I slowly made my way to the kitchen to tell my dear mother that I was leaving again. Luckily for me, I had no much explanation to do. One look at my face told her everything. She simply shrugged and bit her lips as I made my way towards her.
‘’I guess the call was from your office?, when am I seeing you again?’’ she asked.
‘’maybe today, maybe tomorrow. Once I’m free, I will be back here’’ I answered with a forced smile as I hugged her.
———————-
one hour later @ DSS Quarters Owerri
As I drove into my work place, I couldn’t help but wonder why my boss needed me so urgently. I wasn’t really holding any sensitive material or position at the moment. The general election of the previous year and every post election security matter has already been dealt with. I really had hoped on having a wonderful weekend with mum only to be ordered back to the office. Yes I really was far from happy but I hid my feelings as I appeared before my boss who was in his office with a senior colleague who was in charge of the governor’s security.
‘’agent val, I gave you five minutes to report here but you took an hour?’’ my boss asked with a frown while I quickly apologized.
‘’I’m reassigning you. From now you are part of the state governor’s security, any problem with that?’’ he asked.
‘’no sir’’ I answered, wondering the reason I was chosen for such a job since I clearly knew that we lost none of the agents working with the state governor. I instantly felt there was more to it.
‘’agent mike will brief you more on your new assignment’’ my boss added, nodding at the senior agent who smiled at me while I nervously stared back at him as he opened a file he was holding.
‘’According to your file, you are currently 26years old. A law graduate, did remarkably well in law school, been out of the country twice, still single and from a royal family’’ agent Mike calmly summarized my life as I stood still.
‘’have you ever been in real combat before?’’ he asked.
‘’no sir?’’ I answered, wondering why he asked such a question, since he was with my file which clearly stated that I had been in the department for just a year and few months and only worked at the vetting department.
‘’good, the governor needs a well educated and exposed agent of your age to watch over his rebellious daughter who will be arriving the state this evening. She is 24years old. A Harvard graduate and it’s her first time of coming home since her dad became the state governor, so listen carefully to what I have to tell you. Before accepting to come home, the girl made her father promise not to cage her, nor suffocate her life with security and bodyguards. She wants to live a free life and mingle with people like she used to do in the past. But you know we can’t let that happen. Her father needs someone within her age range to be with her all the time as a friend without her really knowing that the person is an agent and that’s where you fit in. You get me?’’ he asked.
‘’yes sir, I understand. I think I have seen a similar movie sometime back’’ I answered freely.
‘’shut up. This is real life. Don’t mess this up or you will see yourself out of this department. The governor is very close to the president and he can ruin your life if you play with his daughter’s safety’’ he threatened seriously while I instantly hid my smile as my heart froze.
‘’I need not to tell you that the governor has a lot of enemies and you are being assigned a very tasking job’’ he added while I looked down with slight tension as the burden of my new assignment played before me.. It really would be my first major tasking assignment outside office work and I couldn’t imagine protecting a very rebellious governor’s daughter all on my own without any backup. Yes I was a good shooter but I really was yet to face any combat and with the way I was seeing my new assignment I felt a day would come when my shooting skills would be needed. I hated being with rich kids, talk more of protecting a rebellious one who could spend all her time putting herself in harm’s way.
‘’lord help me’’ I breathed.
To be continued.


Episode 2
An hour later,
Agent mike and I arrived at the governor’s lodge. I was super excited and nervous at the same time. I knew my new assignment had lots of benefits and risks as well. I really didn’t know what the future had for me but yes I was so ready for my new assignment.
‘’please don’t screw this up. It’s my job and yours that are on the line here. This assignment is a very difficult one I know but make sure you are focused and make use of the training you got. Be focused and never lose guard’’ Agent mike advised as we got out of his car while I nodded quickly like a new student.
I was led straight to the governor’s sitting room where the governor’s wife was anxiously waiting for us. The smile on her face clearly showed how happy she was to see me. We barely had settled down before the governor joined us.
(We all stood up to greet the governor who surprisingly offered his hand for a handshake).
‘’here is agent Val sir. He is the best agent for the job’’ agent mike addressed the governor who left his eyes on me for few seconds.
‘’you look very familiar young man. Have we met before?’’ he asked curiously. I nervously nodded.
‘’yes sir, before the governorship election, I was among the agents that cleared you when you showed up at our office’’ I answered.
‘’ah no wonder, I guess you have been briefed on the nature of your new assignment?. My daughter Clara isn’t an easy person to deal with. You need to be enduring and very smart to deal with her. She may not want you by her side but always find a way to be at her side. I can’t allow her to move around on her own like she does in U.S. Please protect her for me’’ he pleaded, smiled and left us without another word while his wife who had been silent all along cleared her throat.
‘’you will have everything you need provided for. Just make sure you keep my daughter safe. You will pick her up at the airport by 4pm’’ she said softly as young beautiful girl walked in on us, smiling pleasantly.
‘’yes meet Vivian. She’s the daughter of my husband’s brother and she’s equally very close to my daughter Clara. She will assist you in getting close to my daughter. She knows everything about your assignment. She will also go with you to the airport this evening. Consider her your partner’’ she calmly introduced the young lady who quietly sat beside her.
—————————————–
Minutes later, I returned to my apartment in town to pick up few things and equally prepare myself for the new assignment. I really didn’t have enough time to mentally prepare for the job but deep down I felt it was going to be dangerously fun and a great experience. Vivian looked like a nice and understanding lady and I couldn’t help but wish that the governor’s daughter could be at least half understanding as her.
I nervously prepared, got my stuffs ready and headed back to the governor’s lodge where Vivian was dutifully waiting for me. The smile on her face as our eyes met was enough to put silly ideas into my head but I quickly shut it out of my mind because I knew perfectly well the risks involved in having silly ideas.
By 3:30pm, we headed to the airport. I did the driving while Vivian sat beside me asking lots of curious questions which I answered calmly. There wasn’t any doubt she was a very friendly person and the way she related to me made me very much relaxed.
‘’so is there anything else I need to know about Clara?’’ I kind of asked as we approached the airport.
‘’hmmmm well, she’s a very difficult person to be with but believe me she can equally be very friendly and jovial whenever she feels like. She takes time in choosing her friends and I pray she accepts you, if not her dad won’t have any other choice than to look for your replacement. She also has tons of admirers which doubled since her dad became the state governor. You know she’s a very good catch’’ she answered freely while I smiled.
‘’so how long have you been an agent?’’ she asked.
‘’just a year and few months’’ I answered.
‘’I never knew the department has young fine guys like you’’ she complemented while I blushed.
——————————–
@THE AIRPORT
After waiting for almost an hour, the plane we were expecting finally landed, bringing our nervous wait to an end. I couldn’t help but make the sign of the cross as we waited to Clara to show up.
‘’are you nervous?’’ Vivian asked with a smile.
‘’not really ‘’ I lied. She offered her hand which I took.
‘’just relax’’ she breathed with concern before pointing at the girl we came to pick up.
‘’here she is’’ she added excitedly.
————————————————-
We soon met up with Clara who hugged Vivian happily before nodding at me as she probably wondered who I was.
‘’I hope he isn’t security?’’ she asked Vivian with a smile.
‘’no, he’s a family friend. Does he look like a security guy?’’ Vivian answered while Clara laughed.
‘’he doesn’t look like security but I haven’t seen him before. Have we met before?’’ she asked me.
‘’oh my name is Val, a family friend. The last time we met was years ago when we were still very little. I think we were still in primary school back then’’ I lied like Vivian earlier advised and of course Clara bought it.
‘’oh val. Hmmmm nice name. hope you will be as sweet as your name?’’ she joked, making me a bit relaxed with her playful nature as we exchanged glances while Vivian rolled her eyes as she listened.
‘’I hope you are not hitting on him because he is mine?’’ Vivian finally added, while Clara laughed.
‘’of course not my dear, I’m not’’ she playfully answered as I helped her carry her big travel bag.
Deep down I couldn’t help but wonder if Vivian meant her words or was just playing around. Yes as a young guy, silly ideas always tend to get into my head.
Only time will tell.
To be continued

Episode 3

Val’s side of the story continues

Clara and Vivian chatted endlessly as we headed back to the governor’s lodge from the airport. I simply focused on my driving while listening to all they discussed. I really was enjoying my job and Clara wasn’t really as troublesome as they painted her to be.
In no time we got to our destination without any issue. Of course I was happy. I passed the first stage of my job very easily.

‘’hey Clara, please I will like to be with you when ever you are leaving the house to keep your company. All you have to do is just to notify me on time. So let’s exchange phone numbers please’’ I begged as we got out of the car. She silently stared at me for a while before throwing a quick look at Vivian who shrugged. There wasn’t any doubt she was trying to make out the reason for my gesture.

‘’come on, you have done pretty much enough by picking me up at the airport. I’m very much fine by myself. I really don’t need anyone to watch over me. I can give you my phone number but I clearly don’t need your protection or company, whatever you call it. Okay?’’ she answered with a smile while I scoffed.

‘’jeez I wasn’t talking about protection. I have nothing much doing and I’m always bored. So the best thing you can do for me is to take me with you whenever you are leaving the house so that I can at least have a breath of fresh air’’ I pushed on. She rolled her eyes and smiled once more.

‘’so you mean you have no job or something?’’ she asked.

‘’yes things are very hard in this country. It’s been two years I left school, yet no good job is forthcoming and that’s really why I’m here. Perhaps your dad could help me out if he sees how close we are’’ I answered faintly. For the first time, Clara looked at me with pity in her eyes. She drew close and held my hand.

‘’it’s very hard to see an honest guy these days. Fine I will always take you with me wherever I go. Relax, I will force my old man to get something for you’’ she promised, exchanged numbers with me and headed to the mansion with Vivian. I swallowed hard as I watched the two ladies disappear. I really felt very bad lying to her but then I did it to protect her. I was only doing my job.

———————————————————–

The rest of the evening was very uneventful as Clara spent the evening with her family while I rested in my room, wondering how the next day would be like. However at exactly 9:05pm, Vivian showed up at my room, surprising me with her presence.

I quickly sat up, thinking that I was in for another assignment but she smiled and sat at the edge of the bed.

‘’hmmm relax, I only came to check on you’’ she breathed, flashing her charming smile on me..

———————–

Vivian’s side of the story

I really wasn’t fond of guys because of the nasty experience I had with them right from high school to college. Returning to Nigeria in 2007, I still kept my resentment and distance from them. Yes my decision to stay away from guys caused me less stress, less worries and less thinking. I loved my independence and surely was enjoying every bit of it. Moreover the power and attention I got from being the governor’s niece was equally enough to bring up my pride and ego. I enjoyed being the center of attraction and gossip. Of course I had numerous admirers. I had lots of rich suitor’s coming for me but none of them won my heart because all I saw in their eyes was desperation, greed and business. I needed someone who would love everything about me and not what he stood to benefit from me. I needed nothing but pure and simple love. In fact I needed a simple guy who had ambitions devoid of greed and deception.

From the moment I saw agent Val that fateful Saturday, I instantly was drawn to him without really knowing the reason. Maybe because he somehow looked like my immediate senior brother or maybe because of the innocent look he had which I had never seen in any agent. I liked him, I wanted to be his friend and I just couldn’t help myself but the only problem I had was that he looked way too serious like someone scared of playing with his job. I had to find a way to make him loosen up with me without making it obvious that I was falling for him.

I had to make my way to his room when I couldn’t control my feelings any longer. But don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t in his room to seduce him but just to keep him company for a while

CLARAS(THE STATE GOVERNORS DAUGHTER) NOT WIFE.And don't copy and paste another persons work without you being given go ahead.......you did not even put Valentine Nkemija Name there(from coolval)................This is not good at all

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS STORY BUT NOW I'M CLOSE