[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3zQdPsp.png[/img][/center][center][h3]Stallo City (D9), Early Morning[/h3][/center]
[quote=@Balthazar007]
Jorath, his wife, and their two teenage children were waiting for Zara at the bottom of the stairs. It was strange, seeing such a high profile man surrounded by his loving family. 

[color=f9ad81][b]"Dad! What are we waiting on!"[/b][/color] pouted the daughter, apparently not having noticed Zara. She sounded like a spoiled brat. The mother shushed her. And the son pretended not to hear any of it, continuing to play his handheld video game, from the comfort of a hotel sofa. Maybe loving family wasn't the right description for this particular family. 

Jorath merely rolled his eyes. The big man's attention was on Zara. [color=f9ad81][b]"Hello there!"[/b][/color] he bellowed. [color=f9ad81][b]"Are you ready to get going!?"[/b][/color] 
[/quote]
Zara wore a smile on her face the moment her eyes fell upon the man, for one because she had been eager to see him up close for the first time, but mainly because he would be the source of her big payday. She'd gotten some money upfront from one of his staff as preparation budget - the small chip clinked around with her keys inside the breastpocket of her suit - however it had been only a teaser as far as she remembered; the headache she'd gotten that day from reading that ridiculously complicated contract, as well as the insufferable personality of Jorath's head of staff, still made her cringe inwardly even to this day.

[color=orange][b]"Mister Jorath, it's nice to meet you,"[/b][/color] she said with a slight bow after stopping in front of the lounge. [color=orange][b]"Thank you for employing my services and trusting me with your safety,"[/b][/color] she stifly recited the words Verus had instructed her to say. Jorath, either unaware or pretending, did not comment on her behavior and simply nodded in return. [b]"I also have big hopes from you,"[/b] he responded to her as he made a small gesture to a person of his retinue. The man, similarly suited to Zara, moved to escort Jorath's family out of the building. The daughter rolled her eyes, while the son barely looked up from his video game as he stood up. Jorath's wife simply smiled and nodded, her gaze flicking briefly to Zara before returning to her kids, urging them to walk out of the hotel. Soon just Jorath and Zara were left in the lobby.

Zara watched the whole scene unfold silently, only slighly raising a brow at the side-eye she'd received from the woman. After a few moments, the two were left alone in the lobby - as much 'alone' one can get with a man of Jorath's standing, of course. Zara's reptile senses could feel invisible eyes locked on her, no doubt Jorath's secret guard were watching her with as much attention as they would scan an open square for potential hostile actors. Then Jorath gestured towards the revolving doors of the hotel exit, a relic of the past that some more high-end hotels retained as a status symbol, and addressed her.

[b]"Let's talk as we walk, shall we?"[/b] The man said to Zara, eyeing her patiently for a moment before taking off first. Curiously, Zara fell into step beside him as they made their way out of the hotel lobby. [b]"I really appreciate you taking on this job, Zara,"[/b] he continued, his voice low. [b]"Verus has made me aware of your past, and I'll have you know I appreciate an [i]experienced [/i]bodyguard, especially where we are heading."[/b]

Zara nodded, her expression serious. [color=orange][b]"I take my responsibilities very seriously, Mr. Jorath. You can count on me to do everything in my power to protect your family."[/b][/color] Jorath turned to her, smiled, and clapped her on the back. [b]"We'll get along just fine the two of us,"[/b] he said as he started walking towards the aircar his family had boarded. [b]"Go to Verus for any questions you might have, I am sure you two will get to know each other nicely during our trip,"[/b] were the last words he left her with before the driver closed the passenger door behind him.

[color=orange][b]"Fuck..."[/b][/color] Zara rolled her eyes and sighed at the mention of the canine. [color=orange][i]"It's fine Zara... it's just one man, you've dealt with worse than that... yeah..."[/i][/color] Just as she was hyping herself up a bit, lost in her own little world, she felt a presence creeping up behind. Before she could even turn around to look at who it might be, a gloved hand landed on her shoulder.