I had problems, possible solutions, and hurt feelings on my mind. Karina Koyvokov recruited me personally to BOSS. She was my instructer and I thought she believed in me and my talents. And now I had to accept that she was our enemy.
Why would she do something like this?
We got out of the base quickly after we had located Alexander X's mansion, and were now speeding through the city on our way there. I looked over at Zander. He looked pissed off. He was deep in thought and I didn't dare talk to him.
He sharply turned the car to the right, making my head slam against the window. I muttered a few words of dissapproval. The car stopped abruptly. "Get out. We're switching vehichles," he commanded. "I need something faster."
He was reaching into the back seat and gathering our stuff. I get out of the car and slam the door. "What the hell? Be quiet, Decklynn," he whispers harshly.
I grab my pack from the back seat, and then go around the back of the little car so I'm facing Zander. "This is huge. Stop being stuck-up and talk to me so we can figure this out. I'm pissed... your pissed... so instead of sitting in silence let's be pissed together and save our Agency."
I finish my mini-rant and realize that I had been inching closer with every word, but he hadn't budged. A flashback of his lips across mine filled my mind, but I quickly dissmiss it. I focus my gaze not on his lips, but on his eyes, where I can see him thinking.
Suddenly, he spins on his heels leaving me in an invisible cloud of his clean scent. He walks over to an Audi that he had been eyeing from the other road and brushed the snow off of it. He grabs a lock picker from his pack and goes to town on the door lock. I guess a broken window won't suffice this time. After two minutes, he's in the car. I wait for him to unlock the passenger door, and then I get in as well. We deposit our gear into the leather seats in the back. He pops open the under side of the driving wheel and hotwires the car. It roars to life in the empty street. "We have to let this baby warm up," he coos as he caresses the steering wheel.
"You are going to have to let me drive this one," I tell him.
He looks at me shocked. "Really? You drive?"
"I drive! And Audis are my favourite." He looks impressed. Any animosity that he had towards is gone... I think. When his face turns doubtful, I decide to expand. "I like speed."
"Well, Decklynn... so do I." And with that he accelerated hastily and spun the car around. We were back on the free way and zooming past other cars. He was a good driver.
"What happened to being quiet?" I tease.
"Okay... it's time for a spy lesson. Number one rule is be quiet at all times and never attract attention."
"I learned that the hard way today," I respond humbly.
He laughs. "Yes. Yes you did. And also the sexual way." I blush. "Anyway, what I was going to say is that I have an exception to that rule..." He pauses to look at me. "Listen carefully. When it's fun and appropriate, make all the noise you want."
"Well, that was underwhelming."
"What? It's a great rule."
"I could have told you that," I scoff.
"But you never would have done it," he points out. I just eye him suspiciously. "Get the laptop and search for tuxedo rentals around here." He totally just changed the subject.
"Why in the world do you want a tuxedo?"
"I looked him up before we left. He's having a party."
Oh wow. We were really going undercover. I guess the switch in vehicles makes sense now. Results flood the page. We must be in a partying area. "Uh, turn left in a mile."
He does as I say and we end up in front of a high-end rental shop. But it's closed. "Too bad. That one looked good. There's another we could try up-"
"It's good."
"It's closed," I remind him after he interupts me.
He rolls his eyes. "Obvs. All the better to break into. Wait here."
I watch him soundlessly as he takes his pack and then disapears into the darkness on the side of the building. What the heck is he doing? I find my inared goggles and search for his figure inside the store. It looks like he isn't in yet. Smash. He climbs through what must be the window he just broke. He walks into the store and stops a few feet in. The alarm? I didn't know he could disarm them.
I can see Zander's figure changing into the suit now. Once he seems satisfied, he walks over and picks out something from the opposite racks. He holds whatever it is up and admires it. Then he walks confidently toward the front of the store. I put down the goggles because I can see him through the windows of the store now. He unlocks the door simply, walks right through, and out comes a dashing Zander. His svelt, black suit fits him perfectly and he takes on a mystifying persona. Drapped over his arm are his body suit he changed out of, and a garment of red silk. Oh crap. That's for me.
He slides back into our Audi and shivers. "It's cold," he states plainly. I nod.
He hands me the silk dress. I let the material glide over my fingers as I examine it. Zander pulls back onto the freeway. "This is high quality stuff," I tell him.
"I know! This is the nicest suit I've ever worn," he responds excitedly. "Can you steer while I do my bow tie?"
I reach over and take the wheel with one hand. He lets go and ties the bow tie around his neck. It's black - to match the suit, and the collared shirt is crisp white. He finishes and resumes his grip on the steering wheel.
"Get dressed," he suggests giving a nod in the direction of the back seat. I comply and climb back there.
I take off my body suit and hold the dress up to figure out how to put it on. It has tiny straps that criss-cross in the back. The back itself plunges dangerously low. "Uh,... Zander... this is really skimpy."
He looks at me in the mirror and I quickly hold the dress against myself to cover up. He doesn't seem to notice. I can only see his eyes. They squint a little and I can tell he is smirking again. "I know. I did that on purpose. Alexander is a ladies man. He'll adore you and your legs in that one," he tells me.
His eyes turn back to the road. I accept the fact that I have no other choice, and put on the dress. I crawl back into my seat in the front - trying not to wreck my beautiful dress. "I'm not saying you don't look great already... but maybe you should put your hair up. It is a black tie event afterall," he says attempting to cover his butt with a compliment in there.
I look at him to protest that he should have to do the same, but stop when I realize he already looks like a movie star. His hair is perfectly out of place, and there isn't a thing he could fix. I turn to the mirror in the visor in a huff. I sweep my long locks into a bun and pull a few short layers down in front of my face in order to achieve the 'effortless' style. I open the glove box. "Maybe it's a girl who drives this car and there is some make-up in here somewhere... Aha!" I pull out a travel-size make-up bag and wave it in front of his face.
"It is most likely a gentlemen who drives this Audi, and that is his girlfriend's stuff," he teases.
I look at him with innocent eyes. "Girls can drive fast cars too, Zander." He chuckles.
I am pleased when I find eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick in the bag. "Perfect," I exclaim. I apply them.
"We're here," Zander informs me - just as I am happy with my look. He drives slowly up one way of the elaborate circular drive-way and the butler opens my door once Zander stops the car. The butler offers his hand and I take it as I swing my legs out of the car. And... I now see what Zander meant about my legs. There is a very tall slit that opens at my thigh. Yikes. "Game time. Be a spy, Decklynn," Zander whispers before I exit the car. Right. Be the sexy young woman who wears red gowns. Be attentive and never draw attention unless it's fun and appropriate. Yes, that should be easy... or not.
I stand with my arm linked with the arm of the butler while we wait for Zander to come. He gets out and hands the key to the chauffer. "For Labelle," he tells him.
He walks around the car while fixing his cuff links. The butler obviously overheard the name that Zander used. "Enjoy your evening Mr. and Mrs. Labelle," he tells us. He extends his hand, which was mine in it, towards Zander to hand me off. Zander looks at me as he approaches. His eyes roam down and then up my body, which is more or less on display in this dress. I don't know if it is part of the play, or if he just couldn't help himself. He took my hand and then linked my arm in his like a good gentleman. "You look ravishing, Ms Labelle," he compliments smoothly as the butler smiles approvingly at us. Zander thanks the butler and leads us away.
"We look old enough to pass as married people?" I ask him, half joking.
He responds seriously. "Probably not. But they don't dare question rich kids with rich parents - which we most definitely look like."
I nod. We travel gracefully up the steps to the mansion. I feel exposed as I sense my left leg open to the cool air. I hear Zander chuckle beside me. "See? All these dudes are staring at you."
I peek around at the old and young men in the entrance. Some are gorgeous and some are creepy, but most of them are indeed looking at us. I feel my cheeks heat and I want to cling to Zander, but I know I can't. I have to act cool. I have to act like this is normal. Once we enter the ballroom there is no longer a population of bachelors, but beautiful young women, in evening gowns. And they are staring at no one other than my lovely spy partner. We pass a few of them who audibly sigh and gush at his stature and good looks. He smirks at me. "You're not the only one," he teases. I roll my eyes.
One particularily stunning brunette stepped in front of us. Zander smiled easily at her and greeted her. "Hello," she responded in a British accent, "What is your name?" The question was directed at me, which took me by surprise.
"Uh,.. I'm Lisa Labelle," I answer. I mentally face palm myself. What a stupid name! The girl nodded and then pointed a manicured finger at Zander, but her eyes were still on me. I interpret this as a question as well. "He's Jack." That didn't seem to satisfy her. "He's my boyfriend." That did. That is obviously what she wanted to know. Duh.
"Oh," she responded with a pout. "That's too bad." She placed a delicate hand on his chest. Zander looked down at the beauty in front of him with an ammused smirk. The bastard seemed to relish in this attention. "Well, I'm Gabriella. And, I am always available." I gawked at her as she left us alone. I turned my gawking to Zander, who was still smirking.
"What?" he asked cockily.
"She just sacrificed herself to you!"
He shrugged. "Pretty much." He unlinked his arm from mine, and instead put it around my back. His face had been wiped clean and he was now serious. He leaned down to whisper in my ear. Lord, he had to stop doing that. "It's your turn now," he whispered.
I saw the young man coming towards us and I tried to act flirtily with Zander as he neared. "Excuse me," a handsome voice interrupted our act. I look at the man in front of me. He was shorter than Zander, but just as good-looking - if that was possible. "Would you mind if I borrow your lovely lady for a dance?" he asked Zander.
I couldn't help but look up at Zander in fear. Surely he wasn't going to leave me alone with this guy. Zander looked back at me like he was deciding what to do. He could say no, right?