The arrival of Wallace Gregory and his team brought a massive sigh of relief to Nick and his colleagues, but that peace was short-lived. The company was quickly turned upside down by this high-energy bunch.
After finishing their corporate security training, these guys began a scorched-earth sweep of the facility. They didn't just map out every square inch of the office; they went on a shopping spree for surveillance tech, with the newly built R&D center getting top-tier priority.
Furthermore, they installed high-tech turnstiles at the main entrance and forced every employee to swap their old badges for new, encrypted ID cards. They even set up X-ray scanners and metal detectors near the lobby to screen every bag and visitor. Now, employees felt like they were going through TSA just to get to their desks.
Not stopping there, the team coordinated with HR to draft a new employee handbook, which now included ironclad sections on security protocols and NDAs.
Then there was Nick, who became their primary "High-Value Target." The tall, imposing Ryan Orston was assigned by Wallace to be Nick's personal driver and detail. To be honest, while Nick didn't hate having a driver, he found having someone that handsome following him around a bit annoying. He couldn't help but notice the girls in the office park saw Ryan before they saw him, which sparked a minor dent in his ego.
If it were up to him, he would have preferred the nondescript Brent Gallaway, but Wallace had vetoed that immediately. In his words, Ryan was meant to "draw fire"—his presence was so loud that people would focus on the bodyguard instead of the principal, making Nick safer. It was the "Intimidator" strategy: most CEOs are followed by large, imposing figures because they act as a visual deterrent. Someone like Brent, the "gray man," was better suited for undercover work.
Ever since Nick told them they could pick their own uniforms, the team had been obsessing over the details. Besides tactical black utilities for daily patrols, every man got two sets of slim-fit black suits, overcoats, crisp white shirts, and navy ties.
Coupled with their military posture and off-the-charts masculinity, they quickly became a dashing sight around the office. They were a total magnet for attention. Some women from neighboring companies even started befriending the Militech staff just to get the scoop on the "new guys." This gave the women in the office a huge sense of pride, while the guys started grumbling in resentment.
The tech geeks, in particular, watched the heart-eyes from the female staff and gnashed their teeth. But what could they do? They weren't as fit, they couldn't fight, and their only edge was their IQ. Unfortunately, as STEM guys, they weren't exactly smooth. You can't just corner a girl in the breakroom and woo her with Python scripts.
Nick was equally annoyed, mostly because he wasn't used to having a "tail" everywhere he went. Since moving here, Tyler had bought a fleet of company vehicles, including a Volkswagen Touareg specifically for Nick. He hadn't driven it much, but now that Ryan was behind the wheel, it had officially become his mobile office. He finally realized the perks of a driver: he could actually take a nap on the way home instead of yawning behind the wheel.
"Where to next, sir?" Ryan asked, glancing back as an exhausted Nick climbed into the rear seat.
Nick leaned back and closed his eyes. "Go pick up Wallace. We're going to go check out the apartments the company rented for you guys."
"Copy that," Ryan nodded.
For the last few days, the team had been living out of a nearby hotel while HR finalized their housing. The word had come in that afternoon that the units were ready, so Nick wanted to show the leads around.
The new complex was about a five-minute drive from the office—a sleek, high-rise development designed for young professionals working in the tech zone. However, most of those professionals couldn't compete with the local real estate investors, who had snapped up the units to use as high-end rentals.
Militech had leased five large three-bedroom apartments in the building. HR had already gone in to swap out the standard furniture. Since they had fifteen guys, they couldn't give everyone a private room yet. As these were transitional units, they'd installed high-end solid wood bunk beds. They were a far cry from the rickety metal frames found in college dorms—these were wide, sturdy, and comfortable.
The units came fully loaded with 4K TVs, high-end kitchen appliances, and central air. Best of all, the company was footing the entire bill, saving the vets a fortune in Florida rent.
"What do you think?" Nick asked as they walked through the first unit.
"It's great. Way better than I expected," Wallace said, cracking a rare smile.
Ryan was even more hyped. "When can we move in? I'm over the hotel beds. I've slept in bunks for the last six years; I'm actually used to them."
"I think you guys are just gluttons for punishment," Nick joked. "Look, it's a tight squeeze for now, but it's just a transition. Once you guys settle in or get serious with a girlfriend, we'll look at individual housing. Anything else you need?"
"This is perfect," Wallace said, shaking his head. "The setup here is ten times better than the places we found when we first got out of the service."
Nick nodded. "Alright, move in whenever you're ready. The company covers the HOA, utilities, gigabit internet, and heating. You're on your own for groceries if you want to cook, but we'll keep the office kitchen stocked."
"And since I know the night shifts are a grind, we're adding a monthly 'lifestyle' stipend to your checks. That should more than cover your meals."
"Thank you, sir!" the two said, clearly stoked.
Nick waved it off, his expression turning a bit apologetic. "Look, New Year's Eve is just a few days away. The company can't be left unguarded, so I'm going to have to ask you guys to hold down the fort. I feel bad—it's your first New Year as civilians and you're stuck working."
Wallace immediately shook his head. "Sir, it's no big deal. We've spent plenty of holidays on deployment. This is nothing."
"Exactly," Ryan added with a grin. "We already saw our families right after we got out. One New Year's shift isn't going to kill us."
Nick looked at them, impressed by their attitude, and nodded. "I appreciate that. I'll make sure you guys get plenty of comp time once the holiday rush is over."