Chapter 6 THE OFFER.

CHAPTER 6: THE OFFER.

Ray had spent the weekend wondering what the new week, starting from Monday, had to offer. He was quite positive that his venture out on Monday would turn out well for him. This new week would make it three weeks since he had been redundant, searching for a job.

But fate seemed to had finally smiled on Ray. Now, he had a VIP access to the richest man in Miami Florida, who feels indebted to him. Ray didn't know what was in store, but he was sure it was going to be good.

Finally, the Monday morning that Ray had been waiting for had arrived. He had woke up as early as 5 am. He did some workout at home to get pumped, then he hurriedly showered, and got dressed in his ash suit, as he quickly headed downstairs.

"Have some breakfast, will you." Lin offered Ray. Ray was amazed, but he sure didn't turn down the offer. Ray sat on a stool by the island in the kitchen as he munched on the food. It tasted as good as it smelled. "This is good Lin." Ray praised her, as she also munched on her's.

"See you later." Ray hurriedly got up, exiting the house. "Go get them soldier." Lin said. "Will do, ma'am." Ray replied, saluting. As the door shut close after Ray's exit from the house, Lin shook her head left to right, scoffing. A silly thought had crossed her mind.

______

"We're here." The taxi driver declared. "Oh!" Ray said, a bit startled, being pulled out of his thoughts. "Here you go." Ray paid the taxi driver and exited the vehicle. Beside him stood a gigantic building, all covered in majestically in glass. And at the top, the name Doom was beautifully placed.

He walked straight to the front desk meeting a lady well dressed in a white long sleeve shirt, ans a bow tie, with an ash skirt, with her blonde hair properly knotted behind. "Hello sir. How may I help you?" The lady at the front desk asked with a courteous smile.

"Hello. I'm here to see Salaz-" Ray halted his speech. "Sorry, Mr Salazar Doom. I'm here to see Mr Salazar Doom." Ray corrected himself. "Okay. What's your name?" The lady asked. "Raymond Lee." Ray answered.

"Okay sir. Just a moment." The lady requested, as she typed into her computer.

"Sorry, but you're not scheduled to see the CEO today, or at all." The lady at the front desk said, nodding her head in the negative. "Oh. I see, but he asked me to see him two days ago." Ray protested.

"Sorry sir, but there's nothing that can be done about this except you were scheduled to see him." The lady humbly explained. Ray felt disappointed momentarily.

Then like a light switch came on in his head, his eyes lit up. "Oh , right. He gave me this card." Ray presented to the lady the gold coated card. "Oh my! I'm so sorry sir. Please forgive me." The lady apologized. She recognized the VIP access card.

"Give me a moment." The lady at the front desk pleaded with Ray, gesturing with a lift of one finger. Ray smiled in acknowledgement, as she took up her phone and made a call.

"Sir, you may proceed to the private elevator, the elevator to the right. Head to the thirty seventh floor. Someone is waiting for you there." The lady explained. "Thank you very much." Ray appreciated with a smile and proceeded to the elevator.

As Ray got to the elevator, he turned around to notice folks looking at him. 'What the hell? Did I do something wrong?' Ray pondered within. The folks wondered who he was to be following the private elevator.

Immediately the elevator opened, Ray caught sight of a man, the same man he saw Salazar Doom instructing the night they first met. He had a tough and stern look on his face, with a scar cutting across his left cheek.

"Follow me." The man said to Ray, turning away immediately and walking the other direction. Ray scoffed, but followed after him.

They got to a door where a lady sat at a well arranged desk. She was the secretary to the CEO. "Welcome sir." She smiled at Ray. "Thank you." Ray reciprocated the smile. Ray noticed that the door opened after the man escorting him pressed a button bear the door knob, and it clicked open.

The man first walked in, then ushered Ray in. Ray was once again stunned at the beauty and aesthetics of the office. The wooden trimmed furnitures blended accurately with the modern glass looks.

"Good morning. I'm glad you made it." Salazar stood up as he offered Ray a handshake. "Thank you sir." Ray said, humbly receiving the handshake. "Please, sit down." Salazar offered Ray. "Thank you sir." Ray sat down, still letting his eyes dart around to absorb the beauty and ambience he saw.

"So, you saved my precious daughter single handedly, from four savages. Tell me, how were able to do that?" Salazar asked, as he leaned into his reclining chair.

"Well..." Ray cleared his throat. "My combat skills was honed when I served in the United States Marine Corp." Ray revealed. "Really?" Salazar's eyes widened. At this point, Ray noticed that Salazar got a notification, similar to the one he saw outside at the door before it opened.

Salazar pressed a button and the door swung open, and his daughter walked in. "Hey dad." She walked up to her father and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

She turned and looked at Ray. "Hey." Agnes was really delighted to see Ray. "Hey. I see you're well." Ray said, smiling as well. "Yeah, all thanks to you." She replied still smiling widely, as she sat beside Ray.

Ray noticed how beautiful she was, with her long blonde hair and blue eyes looking so bright. The toll that the trauma of the night of the attack had taken on her had waned.

"So you were saying that you served in the Marine Corp?" Salazar asked to confirm. "Yes sir." Ray answered. "Really? Wow." Agnes was amazed. She wondered what a handsome looking guy like Ray was doing in the Marine Corp.

"Can I see your ID?" Salazar requested. "Sure." Ray reached for his wallet in his suit pocket and handed it over to Salazar. He noticed how the man who led him into Salazar's office looked at him disgustedly.

"Hmmm. I see you were a Corporal. Raymond Lee." Salazar said, looking at Ray. "Yes sir." Ray answered. "So what happened? Because you're obviously no longer with them." Salazar asked, scrutinizing Ray.

"Well, I was dismissed from the Corp because the charges of disobeying a direct order, which in turn saved lives of innocents, and stood up to my superior. In their terms, I 'assaulted' a superior'." Ray summarized.

"I see." Salazar pursed his lips.

"So, you're obviously jobless at the moment. Aren't you?" Salazar asked. "Yes sir. I've been searching for a job, but I haven't been able to secure any." Ray replied.

"Hmmm." Salazar reasoned. "Okay, how about I offer you a job, but it'll be perculiar to my daughter Agnes." Salazar said. "Okay..." Ray adjusted himself, as he arched a brow at Salazar, awaiting clarification.

"I want you to be my daughter's bodyguard. I don't know why, but I trust you. Your salary will be very generous amount of ten thousand dollars a month. So what do you say?" Salazar offered.

It was a no brainer for Ray. "I'll do it." Ray didn't hesitate. "Excellent. Here, have this." Salazar gave Ray an envelope. Ray received it and peeked into it. It was fifteen thousand dollars. "That's just to appreciate you for saving my daughter. And it's from I and my wife to you." Salazar said.

"Wow! I don't know what to say. Thank you." Ray appreciated, as Agnes was all smiles beside him. "So fill in this paperwork, and after that, you're officially welcome on board." Salazar said smiling. Salazar knew Ray would be an asset to him, with the kind of skills he possessed.