I want to thank Jadenanne7 by help me in the translation and adaptation of my story for English. Thanks very. Thank you very much for his invaluable help!
Lizzie sat in front of the mirror, putting the finishing touches on her makeup when the phone rang. She answered without looking, knowing it was Red.
"Lizzie, I'm waiting for you in the car," he spoke softly.
"I'm on my way down," she said, hanging up.
Lizzie took one last look in the mirror and liked what she saw. Her backless blue dress matched her eyes, the neckline flattered her cleavage, and the waistline and skirt shaped her body perfectly.
She was accompanying Red to a reception where the next target of the Blacklist was going to be. It was a fundraiser, destined to help charities that took care of children with cancer. Their target was a man known as Sebastian Schmitz, who like many others, liked to play the part of a good samaritan, but in reality exploited child labor in his factories located in underdeveloped countries. In addition to exploiting children, he was also involved in human trafficking, prostitution, and drug running in several countries.
When Lizzie arrived at the car, Red could not disguise a look of admiration.
"Lizzie, my dear, you look wonderful in that dress. I'll have my work cut out for me just keeping all those men away from you…" Red said in a jovial tone, but deep down he knew it was true. It would be a challenge to keep himself focused on the job while she was looking so wondrously beautiful, and within arm's reach.
"What? Red don't exaggerate. This is a mission and I'm not letting anything get between us and our target. Besides, you were the one who said I should put on something sexy and eye catching to get Schmitz's attention, since he's known for being incapable of resisting a beautiful woman."
Although she was right, the problem was that he wasn't worried about Schmitz at the moment, but with himself, considering that he had been in love with Lizzie for quite some time. It was only Tom's looming presence that had kept him from approaching her. However, it had been over 6 months since she had been separated from Tom, and during this time Red and Lizzie had become very close and she had learned to trust him. This new closeness in their relationship had awakened the feelings he had been trying to control for a long time. "Dembe, we're ready to go," Red said as they entered the car.
Upon arriving at the site of the reception, a luxury hotel in the city, Red opened the door for Lizzie, and after offering her his arm, led her to the salon. As he held Lizzie's arm, he couldn't help but notice the multiple male eyes watching her as they passed. He fought the urge to be a possessive, primitive alpha male. Lizzie walked distractedly by his side, oblivious to the thoughts that were running through his head. Noticing this, Red couldn't help but give small smile of satisfaction.
Red and Lizzie were taken to their table as soon as they arrived. "A glass of champagne for the lady and a whiskey for me, please," Red asked the waiter.
"Where is our target?" Lizzie asked, looking around the room discreetly.
"There, near the entrance…" Red said, pointing to a tall man with gray hair who looked to be near 60. Despite his age, he was still a charming and elegant man.
"I'll approach him discreetly to see if I can get his attention," Lizzie said as she rose and moved toward the blacklister, leaving Red sitting at the table to watch all of her movements. Lizzie neared Schmitz as he turned to leave the room, placing herself so that he inadvertently ran in to her.
"Ohh I'm sorry, sir. I'm so clumsy," Lizzie said sweetly while blinking up at him shyly.
"It was nothing," Schmitz replied, looking at her with open admiration. "Here, let us go to a quieter place." He grabbed her arm and lead her to a more deserted area of the room.
"Are you here alone?" he asked with interest.
"I actually came with a friend," she replied, smiling quietly.
"My name is Sebastian and yours?" he asked, flashing her a beautiful smile.
"Elizabeth," she replied, smiling more openly.
Red was on the other side of the room and decided to get closer so he could see what was happening. When he got closer, he saw them talking excitedly, Schmitz never missing an opportunity to put a hand on Lizzie's arm. He felt insanely jealous, cursing the hour that he had thought up the idea to bring Lizzie along for this job. As the pair chatted excitedly as if they were old friends, Red grew increasingly angry. He knew that for her it was just a job, but he only wanted Elizabeth for himself and could not bear to see another stroke her body and receive her smiles...no matter how false they were.
Acting on impulse, Red approached the two and put his arm around Lizzie's waist, holding her possessively.
"Apparently you two already know each other…" Red said with a fake smile.
"Hello, Raymond, what a pleasure to see you," Schmitz said, obviously annoyed. "Actually, Elizabeth and I only just met. We were having a very nice conversation until you appeared."
"Unfortunately, I have to steal my fiancée now. There's a person who wants to meet her," Red said softly, smiling at a furious-looking Lizzie.
"Oh… well… Okay. It was a pleasure to meet you, Elizabeth," Schmitz said before he quickly proceeded to walk away.
Lizzie turned rapidly to Red and started laying into him. "Red? Damn you, what do you think you're doing? You've ruined everything. Why did you have to go and say I'm your fiancée? Now I won't be able to go any were near him again..."
As Lizzie berated him, Red tried to look like he was ashamed of his attitude, for losing control. He knew he'd blown her cover, but the FBI would just have to find another way to approach the target. He had not been able to stomach Lizzie acting so intimate with that man...to watch as he he stroked her arms and her back...
"Calm down, Lizzie. I did it to protect you," Red spoke softly as he tried to hug her.
"To protect me? I wasn't in danger; I was only establishing a first contact with our target!" she answered indignantly.
"Schmitz is a dangerous man, and while you were together I realized I couldn't risk it," Red soothed, trying to calm her and prayed she didn't realize what was really happening. He decided to let her talk until she was calmer.
"Do you know what makes me angrier? Coming here, doing my job, and then having you blow it with a childish attitude. I'm not a girl that you need to protect at all times, Red," she said, still angry with him. "What am I going to say to Cooper now? We came here for nothing..." she carried on, placing her hands on hips while glaring at Red.
Red tried to hold back laughter at the sight of her standing like that, with flushed cheeks and her blue eyes blazing with indignation. She had no idea how sexy she looked. As Lizzie kept talking, Red decided to grab her and surprise her with a searing kiss. Taken aback, she stood there without moving while Red kept the pressure on her lips. Lizzie opened her lips involuntarily and his tongue invaded her mouth, exploring every corner. She yielded to him, showing no resistance and losing herself in the kiss. Red broke the kiss abruptly and pulled back to look at her.
"You kissed me!" Lizzie cried, putting her fingers to her lips.
"I'm sorry, Lizzie, but it was the only way I could think of to shut you up," Red explained without showing any regret. On the contrary, his gaze displayed a certain satisfaction.
Lizzie turned around and walked quickly toward the exit. Red ran after her, surprised by this abrupt attitude.
"Wait, Lizzie, the night's not over... We can still enjoy the rest of the party and I'm starving," he said as he reached her side.
"It's over for me. My night was a failure and I'm going home," she said without looking at him.
"Then I'll call Dambe," Red said with resignation, knowing how stubborn she was.
They returned to her home in silence, and when the car stopped Lizzie exited without looking at or waiting for Red. He followed her to the door anyway.
"Lizzie...look at me," he pleaded gently. "I do not want to spoil our work, but believe me, I will always do whatever is necessary to protect you and I felt I needed to get you away from Schmitz. I'll think of something for you to tell Cooper tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Red. I'm tired and I'll talk to you tomorrow," Lizzie said, finally turning to him.
"Goodnight, Lizzie, sleep tight," Red whispered, depositing a soft kiss on her forehead.
Returning to the car, he addressed Dembe. "Let's go to the house my friend."
"Judging by Elizabeth's wrathful looks I assume things did not go well tonight?" Dembe asked,looking at Red in the rearview mirror.
"Yes and no. I did what I thought was right, but Lizzie did not agree with me. Tomorrow will be a long day," he answered with a sigh.
Lizzie went inside the house and kicked her shoes away. Entering the kitchen, she poured a glass of wine and then headed to her bedroom to take her dress off. Red always had the ability to surprise her with his attitudes. He had asked her to go to the party to approach Schmitz and after that, when things were going well, he acted the way he did. If it were any another man , she would have sworn that he did it out of jealousy, but Red was so cynical, so cool and business-like that it was hard to picture him being jealous. Liz put on her pajamas, turned on the TV, and drank a sip of wine. As she put the glass to her lips, she remembered the kiss that Red gave her. She was pleasantly surprised at how soft his mouth was, and how good of a kisser he was. She had never looked at him from that angle, as an attractive and sexually active man. She ended up laughing at herself. She had always seen him as a coworker, but surely, from that night on, she would look at Raymond Reddington very differently.