"I still think I should have gone with you." Kara whined, her mournful voice coming through Alex's earpiece just as her limousine was slowly pulling up the mansion's driveway. Alex could practically see the epic pout that was no doubt making its way across her younger sister's face.
"And I still think you shouldn't. You're much more useful on extraction duty tonight. Don't worry, I'll be fine." And she would be.
She couldn't bring any weapons, of course, and the mansion was surely going to be crawling with guards, but if she was smart and sneaky, she wouldn't have to fight at all tonight.
"Just sit tight and wait for my signal. I'll call if I'm in trouble." She said quickly before tapping the earpiece into standby mode. Her time was running out.
Just as she finished, the limousine parked right in front of the mansion's lavish entrance. Her driver circled around the car and opened the door for her before offering his hand. She rolled her eyes but took it anyway as she stepped outside, high heels clicking on the pristine white stone.
The mansion was huge and absolutely lavish – dark grey stone highlighted with white marble practically shining in the moonlight. Dark green vines twisted and interlaced over and up the walls, making it look artfully overgrown. And coming from inside – warm orange light and sounds of soft music mixing with chatter and laughter. The charity ball was already well under way. It would have looked inviting if Alex hadn't heard of the owner.
Tristan Remington Jr.
As arrogant and spoiled as his name suggested, he seemed to have his fingers stuck in a boatload of criminal activity, judging by Winn's research. Sadly nothing could be proven so far.
He made it on Alex's personal shit list when she heard rumors about his support of anti-alien sentiment. She would have liked an opportunity to kick him where it hurt anyway, but tonight she had an even better reason.
Mr. Remington was in possession of something that didn't belong to him and she was about to take it back.
Big, buff guards were standing near the door, sizing her up before dismissing her as a threat. Alex grinned and made her way over, flicking her hair to the side as she strolled straight to the giant wooden door, her shoulders straight and gait confident.
The guard at the door looked her over once as well before moving his eyes back to the guest list. "Name?" He said, his voice sounding almost bored.
"Alex Danvers", she said, confident that Winn managed to get her on the list. Her faith was confirmed immediately when the guard nodded once.
"And are you here alone, ma'am? Says here you have a plus one as well?"
Right, of course . She'd only managed to convince Kara not to come with her just before the party. Winn must have played it safe.
Just when she was about to shake her head and head in, a voice piped in behind her. "Right here! Sorry I'm late. Traffic, you know how it is."
Alex's eyes widened as she recognized the voice. She whipped around, coming face to face with the ever surprising Maggie Sawyer.
Where did she even come from? Alex's eyes flew around the courtyard again, watching as several more cars pulled up, people already spilling from them and slowly forming a line behind her. And how did Maggie even know…?
She turned her eyes back to Maggie, trying to ignore her very tight, very red dress and forced her lips to stretch into a smile. "Hey, there." She said stiltedly, her eyes burning into Maggie's as she forced the surprise away and tried to play along. What other choice did she have? If she pretended not to know her, they could both have their cover blown.
"This is your plus one, Miss Danvers?" The guard asked to confirm and Alex decided to pause for a bit. Just to make Detective Sawyer squirm for a few seconds.
It would serve her right. What was it with this woman and her repeated and unwelcome intrusions on Alex's missions? Just because the last one ended on a high note didn't mean Alex would welcome it in the future.
It seemed she waited a second too long to punish her because Maggie looked up at her, threw a devious and magnetic smile her way before she turned to talk to the guard herself. "It's Mrs. Danvers, actually." She said then leaned in conspiratorially, one of her hands reaching out for Alex's forearm before her fingers slid down its length and squeezed Alex's hand intimately. Alex had to fight off a shiver at the contact, her jaw clenching in an effort not to fall open. "I put a ring on it just a few weeks ago." Maggie said to the guard. "And how could I not? Look at that grumpy face! She's still annoyed I was late. Isn't that cute?" She said as she turned to Alex, her other hand coming up to smack lightly at her face before cupping her cheek.
Alex blinked, completely speechless.
She couldn't even look at the guard or the line of guests still waiting for their turn, who were all watching them intently. She focused on Maggie instead and that infuriating grin on her face. She was honestly half tempted to blow their cover just to show her she couldn't just traipse all over her mission and just…Just say….Things like that .
"Oh don't be mad, honey." Maggie said again, this time her voice an octave deeper, as if she was actually trying to endear herself to her wife. It was absolutely ridiculous and not at all believable in Alex's opinion. Especially when Maggie bit her lip regretfully, her eyes big and dark in the soft light. She focused on the sight of her white teeth digging into a blood red bottom lip, but only because it would help their cover and finally move them through the door. Where she could yell at Maggie as much as she wanted. "I promise it won't happen again." Maggie continued, her fingers squeezing on Alex's once before pulling her forward, her other hand dropping to curl around her neck. Then she stepped closer and leaned in.
Alex froze. Her breath cut off suddenly as she watched Maggie close her eyes and advance on her, as if in slow motion. She was wearing heels but Alex was too, so she still had to stand on tiptoes to reach her.
To kiss me. She's going to kiss me .
Helpless to resist, Alex found herself unable to move, her lips opening slightly in welcome before she could stop herself. Her heart thumping in her chest, she closed her eyes as well, dipping her head just a fraction of an inch forward.
She had to do it. There was no way to back out now. She would endure the kiss for the good of the mission and only for that reason.
A long second passed and when the kiss landed to her cheek instead, she let out a short huff of breath, her lips tingling with unfulfilled expectation. And relief of course. Not disappointment.
Relief.
She flushed immediately, ignoring Maggie's smug expression when she pulled back. She nodded to the guard instead, who waved the inside immediately when their eyes connected, looking just as bored as before. Alex clenched her jaw again and started walking, her hand squeezing Maggie's as she pulled her along.
She is going to pay for that.