Chapter One: Who Are You?
Alex Rider walked purposefully through the large doors at the entrance to the MI6 headquarters, known to the public as the Royal and General Bank .His long, even strides quickly took him to his destination: Alan Blunt's office. Blunt was the head of MI6. He had sent Alex on a large number of missions and had asked Alex to come and meet his new partner. Alex ran a hand through his sandy blond hair and sighed. This was not how he had wanted to spend his day. His girlfriend, Sabina Pleasure, had just moved to America and he missed her. He had wanted to write to her. The door of Alan Blunt's office was now in front of him. He rolled his dark brown eyes one more time, then stepped inside.
As Alex had expected, Blunt's assistant, Mrs. Jones, was already seated inside. A girl who looked to be Alex's age was with her. He suspected that she was his new partner. Something about her seemed familiar to him as he took in her long, wavy brown hair and dark blue eyes. She smiled at him as Mrs. Jones noticed him and rose to introduce the two teenagers. For some reason that Alex could not think of, he was nervous and his heart fluttered as the girl smiled.
"Alex", Mrs. Jones said with a small smile, "meet Alex." The teens wore looks of surprise on their faces. "We have the same name?", the girl asked . "Not exactly." Alan Blunt corrected her. "You don't have the same last names. Gregorovich and Rider are quite different."
Alex turned to the girl. If he had been surprised before,he certainly was now. "Your last name is Gregorovich?! Are you related to Yassen?!" Yassen Gregorovich was the world's most deadly contract assassin. He had killed Ian Rider, Alex's uncle, along with a large number of other people as well. He was wanted all over the world, but somehow he never seemed to get caught.
The girl was equally incredulous. "You're Alex Rider?!" , she asked. Suddenly the look of surprise on her face turned to one of happiness as she grinned and hugged him. He made a face and turned away. She released him and sadly looked into his eyes. "You don't remember me, do you, Lex?" she asked softly.