Open Case File [COMPLETED]

A Challenge

"Mason, if you keep talking I will throw my coffee at you. Though you might not care about being burned, you will care if your suit gets stained."

"How low of an opinion do you have of me?" he asked.

Grinning, Carter sipped from her mug. "You're the one who's had a shovel just as long as I have."

Mason narrowed his eyes then shrugged and walked away. Blessed relief. As she headed towards the conference her team would be in for the day, Donovan walked alongside her. His silence annoyed her since it was heavy with all the doubts Mason had planted. She wished he get a life that didn't involve gardening.

"Have a good day," she said, putting a hand on the door handle.

Donovan shifted as if to kiss her but she pulled back.

"Don't," she said. "Don't be insecure."

He nodded once and left her. Carter watched him, still amazed he could think there was anyone else but him for her. The dumbest smart person she knew.

Carter entered the conference room and nodded hellos to her teammates and settled into a seat. Talk of what Bryce was working on and how they'd be able to help floated around the room. Carter didn't say anything, information would be given in time, and speculating about it grained nothing. When everyone had arrived their team leader, Special Agent Ross stood up.

"As you all know," she said. "We will be joining forces with Special Agent Adams for the time being. This is not permanent. He will explain more when he arrives."

As if summed by the statement, the door to the room opened and Bryce Adams strode in.

Carter finally understood.

The man was attractive in a way that almost seemed unreal. Not only was it his overall appearance but how he held himself. Nothing about him said he was arrogant, in fact, he moved as if he wasn't aware that he garnered looks. He was relaxed but not cocky. He simply was.

Carter, along with everyone else, followed his process to the front of the room. It couldn't be helped, everything about him drew the eye. When he faced the team, he smiled a warm, easy smile and Carter couldn't understand how that one gesture could somehow enhance his looks but also make her feel like she didn't need to feel intimidated by them.

"Hello everyone," Bryce said. "Thank you for being willing to help with my operation. As I'm sure you already know I hit some complications with the agent I was working with and I need a new female companion to go undercover with me." He gazed around the room as if making sure to connect with each member. "I'll cut to the chase, I've already decided who will be working with me."

No one moved but still, Carter sensed that everyone had frozen.

"Agent Owens, we'll be working together," Bryce said.

Everyone's gaze landed on Carter and she inwardly cursed. Outwardly, she nodded.

"Okay," she said.

"Great. We have a lot of information to cover so we'll get started."

******

"You understand what role you'll be playing?" Bryce asked.

Carter nodded as she continued to scan through the file on the tablet. It was a lot easier than looking at him. She'd gotten over the high level of his attractiveness, but her brain still wanted to analyze why his presence held a weight, a lure that drew attention. It went beyond his looks, into the way he spoke, the way he conducted himself, and even the way he gestured.

She figured it was why he made such a good agent and one specific to creating assets. His looks drew people to him and his manner put them at ease. At the end of an hour, she could imagine how anyone would willingly trust him. It wasn't that he lied well, it was that he told the truth in a way easy to accept.