Disclaimer: I own nothing but two dogs and sometimes, when he feels like it, a cat.
Author's Note: I tried to keep most of the chapters shorter (it is a 33 page story!), but some run long that are more "action filled." I hope you enjoy! Please read and review!
Lady Jaye was in a foul mood. Green eyes flashing and muttering curses in several different languages, she made her way back to her quarters she shared with Scarlett and Cover Girl. She could not believe the nerve that Flint had shown in their latest meeting! Her mission was to go under cover as a member of a royal harem for a sheik who had asked for protection for his family and his oil fields from Cobra. Mr. "Think He Knows Everything" had protested, saying that he thought another agent should get the job, not her! When Duke had questioned him, he merely said he thought that a harem was not the right place for her to be. Jaye had turned glaring eyes on Flint, asking in a clipped voice, what exactly he meant by that? He had just shrugged and adopted some macho attitude about female agents and in this case, wouldn't a male agent be more appropriate?
She couldn't believe that he had embarrassed her in front of the team like that! First, he had insulted her skill, then when he had blustered on, she realized it all stemmed down to jealousy. She had started fuming, though, when he had implied that she could not cut it to be part of a harem. "Look at her," he had told Duke. "She is so unlike the type of women you see in those places, how is she going to blend in?"
He must've realized what he was saying, or the look he got from Duke silenced him, or maybe it was the silent gasp that went through the room. Whatever it had been, it spurred Lady Jaye to stand up, look at Duke and all assembled, (with the exception of Flint), and announce she would be ready to meet with the sheik when he arrived in an hour. With as much dignity and grace she could muster, she walked out of the room and closed the door firmly behind her.
She wasn't sure what she was more embarrassed about - the sympathetic looks she had gotten from the others attending the meeting or the fact that Flint had basically said she was unskilled and unattractive. He had better not come to her apartment to say goodbye, or she might be facing a court martial for killing the guy! She almost wanted him to come see her just so she could slam the door in his face! She felt she had shown great restraint by not slamming the door in the conference room.
Instead, she slammed into her apartment and started going through her closet, muttering under her breath. It was a shame Scarlett and Cover Girl were both out on assignments. She could've used a sounding board as well as someone she could vent to about the stupidity of men! She moved aside her BDUs and reached into the back of her closet where she stored her civilian clothes. Finally, she found a few items she was looking for and pulled them out, along with a suitcase. She had seen photos of the sheik and he was a young, attractive man who was raised in Middle-Eastern tradition. As such, knowing the customs of the land, she found the more conservative outfits that would cover both exposed arms and legs. She also packed a few practical clothes as well for when she was in the privacy of her own room. While her cover would be that of a European woman joining the harem, she dressed in the burqaa of an Islamic woman to travel. Although there was always an ongoing debate about how women were treated in the Islamic world, Jaye found it easy to adapt to and respect the traditions of others. It was a little romantic that the women would not display themselves for anyone but their husbands, she thought.
Looking into the mirror and gazing into her own green eyes, the only thing visible in the black outfit, she wondered about Flint's statement about not being attractive enough to join the harem. Did he really think that way about her? When they first started becoming more serious about their relationship, he had always been tender and attentive. Nowadays, it seemed that they fit in any sexual activity when they could, and often, he would roll over and go to sleep afterwards, while she would lie there awake. She sighed. Maybe whatever they had was gone, or maybe he was just taking advantage of her. Whatever it was, she was glad for the break. Maybe with her gone, he might appreciate her a little more. Then again, she shrugged at her image, maybe not. Whatever was going on, there would be a change when she returned. She would see to that. If Mr. Jealousy couldn't get himself under control and show a little more respect and act like he loved her, the way he said he did, then he might be kissing concrete for awhile!