Peggy's Apartment
"You're such a player!" Missy exclaimed, rolling her eyes.
Missy didn't even know what to say anymore, and Adam was completely speechless. Sure, he'd been joking around with Max back then, and Max and Caroline had taken it as a laugh, but if he actually spelled it out loud, people would totally get the wrong idea about him.
Sigh.
Being a guy isn't easy—especially for a guy like Adam, who often feels like life's dragging him along for the ride.
Adam stared off into space, lost in his gloomy thoughts.
"Why'd you go quiet? Did I nail it or what?" Missy teased, jumping on his silence like a hawk.
Adam tilted his head back at a dramatic 45-degree angle, trying not to let the sadness get to him. But Missy, like any other girl, wasn't letting up—she kept pushing.
"So, how many girls have you messed up, huh?"
"Why do you even wanna know?" Adam shot back, glancing at Peggy. He was done with this topic and decided to flip the script. "What, you interested or something?"
"Hmph!" Missy let out a scornful snort and hung up the phone.
Beep beep. Beep beep.
Hearing the dial tone, Adam's lips curled into a slight smirk as he set the phone down. His mind drifted to Sheldon. He stepped out, crossed the hall, and knocked on the opposite door.
"Boss," Lisa, his assistant, said as she opened the door and waved him in.
"Those six female bodyguards—did you hire them yet?" Adam asked straight up.
"Yep, they're all set up in the apartment downstairs. Want to check it out, boss?" Lisa replied, all business.
"Yeah, but hold off for a sec," Adam said with a nod. "You and Ada handled the security company together?"
"Uh-huh," Lisa said. "Ada made the call, and I helped pick 'em out. They're the real deal—fighting skills as good as any guy, and they're all legally packing heat."
"Does the company have a branch in California?" Adam asked.
"Should do," Lisa said, caught off guard for a second. "They're one of the top outfits in the U.S. With all those Hollywood stars in LA needing protection, I'd bet they've got a spot there."
"Cool, then get on it," Adam said, filling her in on the plan to hire security to escort Sheldon to Chicago. "One male guard to keep things safe on the road."
It's over 2,000 kilometers from Pasadena to Chicago, cutting through a ton of states and counties. Who knows what could go down? In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon's paranoia about horror movie tropes is just for laughs, but in this wild mashup of TV worlds, anything's possible.
"Oh, and this guy's gotta have a good vibe," Adam added. "Plus, he needs a happy family—wife, kids, the whole deal."
It's a long haul, and babysitting someone like Sheldon? If the guard's got a short fuse, Sheldon's weird demands might push him over the edge. Forget running into some deadly curve—he'd probably take Sheldon out himself, like Sun Wukong offing Tang Seng in A Chinese Odyssey. Even a chill dude might not cut it; he's gotta have a family to keep him grounded.
No kidding— not everyone's built like Leonard! Even Adam, who's gotten so much out of Sheldon, sometimes wants to deck him. Leonard's patience? That's years of training from his mom, Beverly, turning him into the ultimate Ninja Turtle. Given half a chance, even Leonard's got limits. Remember that time in The Big Bang Theory when they were waiting for the Nobel Prize call? Sheldon was dozing off, and with his okay, Leonard hauled off and slapped him silly. Everyone was jealous—they'd all dreamed of landing that hit.
Adam smirked to himself, recalling a story he'd read on pat-reon:belamy20 about a guy with quirks just like Sheldon's. It was funny as hell and oddly spot-on.
"Also, throw in a female companion," Adam went on. "Doesn't need to be a pro guard, but she's gotta be super patient—like nanny or kindergarten teacher-level patient."
Even with all the rules for the guy, it's still dicey. A woman could keep Sheldon in check and buffer him from the guard, avoiding any… unspeakable drama. Women just handle Sheldon better. Think about it: aside from Leonard, the big players in his life—his mom, grandma, Penny, Amy—they're all ladies.
"Bonus points if she's into science, comics, movies, or games," Adam mused. "But if that's tough to find, just make sure she's got a saint-level temper. Oh, and no matter who you hire, they've gotta be really nice."
"…" Lisa just stared, dumbfounded. Who is this Sheldon guy? It's like the boss is terrified someone's gonna snap and take him out.
Still, she grabbed the phone and dialed up the security company's contact. "Got it, boss. I'm on it."
The second the call connected, Lisa's vibe shifted—total boss-lady mode. Working for a guy like Adam, who's got cash to burn and loves splashing it on stuff like this, toughens you up fast. 💪
She rattled off Adam's laundry list of weird requests, and the company didn't blink—promised to nail it. For a price, of course.
"Get it done right; money's no object," Lisa said coolly. That's the kind of flex you get around here.
"All set, boss," she said, hanging up and switching back to regular mode.
"Nice work," Adam said, satisfied. "Come with me to check Peggy's security setup."
"Sure thing," Lisa agreed, leading him downstairs.
Thanks to some serious cash flow, the downstairs apartment was now a full-on security hub—close enough to protect Peggy without cramping her style.
"Six female guards total, two per shift, round-the-clock coverage," Lisa explained. "We've got micro cameras at the building's entrances and on Peggy's floor. If anyone sketchy gets close, they'll spot it and deal with it ASAP."
Adam eyed the two tough-as-nails women and didn't doubt their skills for a second. He told them to stay sharp, keep it tight, and tossed in a fat bonus for good measure. They lit up—money talks.
Later, back at Peggy's place, she griped, "Hey, what's this? I've still got calculations to run!"
"You can crunch numbers anytime, but sleep's non-negotiable," Adam shot back. "Bedtime's now—my call!"
Peggy tried to fight it, but she didn't stand a chance. He shut her down quick.
An hour later, while they were… let's say, deep in conversation, Adam's phone buzzed. He ignored it—too busy. But then the apartment door swung open, and unfamiliar voices hit his ears. Adam froze solid.
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