'Callie, please! This is complete nonsense!'

Calmly, Callie Taylor Evans Smith stared at her employee. Today was a day for one of those conversations one wished they never had had. Today perhaps more than usual, since a murder, an invasion of property and a potential identity theft were involved. It was all too much for a Monday morning. Fortunately, Callie, who had been up since dawn, had had time to forge a plan.

'Anthony, I understand your concerns, but I am afraid you cannot stay here. Can you imagine all the fuss this story is going to create?' 

Anthony cracked his knuckles, let out a sigh and clicked his tongue:

'I did not do it! Isn't it obvious? Whoever did must be a weirdo geek, a computer genius and an engineering master. As commendable as it sounds, I am none of these things! That person caught on camera happens to look like me and...That's it. '

Anthony bit his tongue and looked at the woman silently pressed against the window behind Callie's desk. She had not spoken a word since the start of the conversation. Since her eyes were hidden behind a large pair of sunglasses, he could not make much of what her face looked like. However, he hadn't failed to notice her shockingly bright red lipstick. Tacky and distasteful, in his humble opinion. 

'Would you mind telling me who you are, and could you please stop staring at me?' 

Throwing her leather jacket over her shoulder and her blonde hair back, she extended a hand to shake his.

'Ellie Gainsborough, nice to meet you. I have been placed in charge of your security, would you accept our deal'.

He snickered at the mention of the word security and detailed her from head to toe. Ellie was barely five feet tall, and he would not quite have described her as athletic. 

'No offence, but you don't exactly look threatening. What is the plan anyway? It has come to my attention that perhaps, just perhaps, I do not want to be part of it!'

'Ellie is a dear friend of mine', Callie smiled, 'She is trained in martial arts, has worked for several governmental agencies and is extremely gifted with technology. Actually, Ellie used to...'

'I think that'll be enough, Callie.' Let's not scare the poor boy!', she brushed off with her Irish twang. 

Ellie placed an official-looking sheet under Anthony's nose with a smirk. 

'Obviously, you cannot stay here, Anthony. When the workday begins, hoards of journalists will be at the door, and you will be their primary target.'

As he moved his lips to retort, Callie waved a hand to interrupt him, slightly raising her voice. 

'Now, I do not believe you to be guilty of anything. Not for an instant.

Yet, we cannot prevent the outside world from drawing hasty conclusions. Therefore, for your safety, I have deemed it better to send you off to our Northern branch in the countryside under the protection of our dear Ellie, where you could keep working from home. You've got family up there, is that correct?'

Anthony let out another sigh. Letting his shoulders drop, he leafed through the document Ellie had given him. It was a contract that ensured the complete confidentiality of anything they may discuss while she was employed as his bodyguard. He pushed the contract away. 

'What other option have I got?'

Ellie bent over the table, pushing the contract closer to him. She was standing so close to his face that he could feel her breath on his cheeks.

'Do you really have to make it so complicated, Anthony? I'll tell you exactly what will happen if you refuse: students blaming you, requesting interviews to demand you justify yourself, and exchanging rumours about you. Staff members will be doing exactly the same. Accusations right left and centre. You can say goodbye to your so precious career and your reputation. Do you understand?'

Anthony lifted his head and agitated the document at Ellie's face, a pen in his left hand.

'It is crystal clear. Just for the record, it's Dr Wilthsire for insignificant acquaintances. I'll sign your deal with one condition.'

Callie nodded in relief. Almost imperceptibly, Ellie grabbed the pen from Antony's hand. When she returned it a few seconds later, it immediately leaked, covering Anthony's pristine white shirt with ink stains.

'Just for the record, Dr Anthony Wiltshire, you should get your head out of your own fucking arse sometimes and pay attention to other people. This could have been a knife. Now, pack your things, your twenty billion books, your aspirins, tea mugs, framed degrees and medals and let's go!. I doubt the trip to good ol' North-West England is gonna be a walk in the park! You can tell me all about your terms and conditions in the car. Come on, andiamo!', 

'Callie, is there any chance...'

Callie pushed him out of her office without a word. She then shook her head and muttered an apology. She did not glance at him as he exited the building, his life's work contained in a single box. As he was placing his belongings in the boot of Ellie's car, he heard in passing:

'Oh, hi, sir! Is it true that you murder people? I take it we won't see you around, and the class is cancelled today?'

He slammed the car door in response and slid onto the passenger's seat. Ellie started the engine and turned up the music volume, tapping her fingers along the rhythm of a heavy metal song. 

'Are you not even going to ask what got me into this situation?', Anthony raised his eyebrow. 

'Nope, none of my business! You don't seem that interesting, sorry', she replied, slightly dancing her spot as she reversed to head down the road. 

'What's your condition?'

Anthony joined his hands. It took him until the next junction of the M40 to finally request:

'There is someone else I need you to protect'.