Author's Note: Here's chapter two! I know it's been a while but me and maimid117 have been busy with work and school. We're sorry for the delay. We hope you enjoy the new chapter! Tell us what you think in the reviews.

Chapter 2

The next day Zuko walked into his luxurious and modern office building, being a CEO in training definitely had its perks. The first floor lobby was spacious and filled with expensive loveseats and chairs with two big flat screen tvs on each wall with the company's name and logo on it.

"Good morning Mr. Zuko, here's your coffee" one of his secretaries said as he walked over to her desk

"Good morning Ayume what's on the schedule for today" he said.

"You have to sign off on the shipments that's supposed to come this week and make sure that the new design is up and running and ready to present to the board of directors by next week and oh one more thing" She said as she was tapping her chin, "oh yeah you have that really important business commercial you're suppose to film today as well at four …...sorry you know pregnancy brain and all." She said happily rubbing her enmournously swollen stomach.

"It's quite alright." Zuko said with a light chuckle. "When are you gonna take your leave of absence?" he asked

"I already did two months ago, remember?" she said

"Oh yeah thats right I think you just transferred me over your pregnancy brain just that fast." He said "Well thanks for the update. I'm gonna get going and start working on this mountain of work." He said as he took the coffee from her.

Zuko walked into his office and immediately got to work on signing the packages so that the shipments could be delivered. Why was there so much paperwork for one case of products?

Businesses definitely had their good and bad sides too and Ember Kenna Co was no different from all the others.

Ember Kenna Co has been the nation's top selling company for the last 6 years. Business has been booming ever since the sale of the company's famous grenades and bombs. Zuko never felt more proud in the three years he had been working there. He finally felt like he was proving himself to his father. Sales were skyrocketing and products were being shipped left and right. Even after the scandal of secret merchandise being kept for war came out nobody seemed to hold it against the company. Zuko thought it in fact made people buy even more products it was as though they felt like they was getting their money's worth and that they bombs and grenades would actually be impactful.

After Zuko finished signing the last of the shipments, he went turned on phone and hit the voicemail button most were from business and other competitors wanting to go into business but one voicemail in particular caught his attention. It was her, the one from the bar the other day. Now that he thought about it had been about three weeks since he last saw her he almost forgot about her. He pressed the play button in anticipation.

"Hey….I was calling to say that I had a good time the other day at the club. I was hoping that we could do it again. I would love to know more How about you save my number so you can reach me? I'm really hoping we can see each other again!"

Zuko spun around in his chair he couldn't have been more happier. This was going to be a great day! Of course they were gonna see each other again. He felt like this girl was was different. Ever since the night in the bar he found himself infatuated with her.

Zuko buzzed his secretary.

"Yes Mr. Zuko?" she answered back.

"Clear the rest of my schedule for today. I have something important to do." He demanded.

"No problem sir, but are you sure you have that really important business commercial you're suppose to shoot with Fire Corp today?" She said.

"Yes I am well aware of that please tell them to reschedule it for tomorrow instead."

"Ok, sir no problem." she said

"Thank you." he said as he hung up

He hurried out of his office and bidded everyone a good day. He still had a little time to drive home and wash up before he met her. He had plans for today and he didn't doubt that today would be a good one indeed.

Zuko had gotten reservation at one of the coffee shops down the street from the office and was sitting down in one of the booths. He didn't know why but he felt really nervous. They weren't even dating they were just acquaintances meeting up for a good ol chit chat but even though he knew that he still couldn't shake the goosebumps he felt.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he saw her walk inside of the coffee shop.

"Hey long time no see."

Just looking at her made his blood run to all the wrong places.

~/~

It took him two weeks to answer her message. Which meant she had two weeks to think intensely about her first impression. She would be relatable and witty and smile the whole time. She would wear a pair of blue jeans with a button up shirt, with a hint of cleavage showing. She be seductive but not too seductive. She would seem like the girl next door and leave him to come back for more.

"Hi….. You look gorgeous." He hugged Katara. "I'm glad you came."

He was right where she wanted him. He hugged her for 45 seconds, enough to tell that he liked what he saw and was attracted to her.

He led her to a cute little booth and sat next to him, so their thighs touched. She made sure they would be as close as possible. A little bit of tension never hurt anyone… except him of course.

"Well I can't pass up a good meal." She smiled, making sure to show her teeth.

"How was your day?" He asked, sneaking a glance at her chest.

"Fine. So why did you bring me here? I figured you'd want to go out to a club."

"Trust me I'm not like that all the time. I like to take breaks from work." He chuckled, obviously uncomfortable by how close she was to him.

This was her chance.

"What is that you do for work?" She asked curiously while looking at the menu.

"You mean you don't know?" He gasped and it looked like he stopped breathing for a second. "My dad's Ozai Agni. He's literally the Donald Trump of business."

Of course Zuko couldn't know about his father's other business. But she knew full and well who Ozai Agni was and what other horrible business dealings he made.

Katara tried to look as genuinely shocked as possible, even to the point of hanging her mouth open.

He laughed, "I just crunch numbers and file paperwork mostly. I'm not like CFO or anything like that but it does keep me busy. I'm just a normal guy, I promise."

"Well that must be exciting work. I can't see why you would ever want to escape." She spoke sarcastically.

He changed the subject quickly, "Ha you're funny. What is that you do for a living?" She could tell there was more to his job than he let on.

This was it. Tell the sob story that would make him emotionally invested in her.

"I'm kind of in between jobs right now. I came here with no real money or family. M-my parents are dead and my brother, well he's sick. I tried my best to deal with his alcoholism but it was so hard. I had to come here for a fresh start." She cued a single tear to stream down her face. She sniffled and wiped the tear away. "I'm sorry for being so emotional. It's just only been three months since everything happened. I've been trying to waitress here and there and pay rent, ya know?"

That's it. He'd feel sorry for her and have to let her in easier.

"I'm sorry about that. If there's anyway I could help at all, you let me know." He wrapped his arm around her. He was warm and she could tell even under his suit he was ripped. She instinctively rested her head on his shoulder.

She spoke softly now, almost a low whisper, "Oh no, no. We just met I couldn't ask you to do something like that for me. I'm fine. I have enough saved to make it until I find a job."

He lifts her head up so they could lock eyes. "Well, I could take you into getting a job with my dad's company. He's out an assistant and he's in need of another one. I want to help you even if I don't know you very well."

She said in doubt, "I'm not really qualified to be anyone's assistant."

"Trust me you're young and pretty and-"

"And you're dad is sexist and disgusting?"

She couldn't help but let that one slip.

"No, well yes. Listen, I'm willing to help you out. All you'd do was bring him coffees and answer the phone. Nothing major and he pays well."

"I'll...consider it."

"If it makes you feel any better my assistant is going on maternity leave pretty soon. I'm gonna need someone to replace her if you're interested it's not permanent but at least it'll hold you over until we find something better …..more suitable for you."

That was easier than she could have ever thought.

Zuni continued, "Listen, I know you're not from around here but if you do research on my father, just be mindful I'm not like him. That's why I want you to be my own personal assistant. I don't want him taking advantage of you, not on my watch."

You're trash by association, Katara thought.

"I don't think you're a bad guy. I wouldn't be sitting here with you right now if I thought you were." She blushed slightly.

"I just don't want you to think I picked you up at some club to use you. I want to get to know you. I want to help you too." He rested his hands on her knee and rubbed lightly.

He clearly wanted to do more than help me, Katara thought.

"Of course. I want to get to know you too Zuko. So do you have any siblings?" She said changing the subject rather quickly.

"A sister." His body language tensed up and he crosses his arms over his chest as if he's trying to protect himself.

Got it, sister is a sensitive spot? Maybe the black sheep of the family? Noted.

"On how so are you two close?" She asked

"She's… Azula. Nothing else to say. How about you? Siblings? You said you have a brother?"

"One brother back at home." She said rolling her eyes.

He leaned in closer to her, "He must have trouble with you. I could only imagine being your older brother."

"Ha what is that supposed to mean? And he's the one that brings trouble."

"I'm not trying to come onto you but have you seen yourself? The boys were probably running behind you in high school."

"You obviously haven't seen me in middle school. I looked like a Muppet. That awkward stage for me lasted into high school. Trust me when I say no boys ran behind me, unless they were making fun of me."

"I'm sure you weren't ugly in middle school. Even if there was a small possibility you were, everyone was ugly in middle school so it doesn't count." He reaches over and places his hand over hers. "Plus look at you now." He quickly pulls his hand away when he realizes what he's done. "I'm um sorry."

"It's no problem. Listen, we should get out of here. It's a beautiful day today. We could take a walk and… keep talking."

They spend the rest of the day walking and talking, holding hands and then awkwardly looking the other way until the very last minute.

Zuko walked Katara home in perfect gentlemanly fashion.

"I had a great time with you today Zuko. I'm glad I called."

"I'm glad you called too." He smiled. "Listen if you come to my job tomorrow I can definitely get you a job and maybe, well we can see each other outside of work again."

"I appreciate it but why would you do that for me?"

"From what I've seen today you're a genuine and nice girl. I think you deserve a job at least and I'm willing to help."

"Thank you so much Zuko."

"Anytime. I'll see you around then." He turned around and started walking

To her surprise he didn't even try to kiss her.

~/~

She came home and immediately got to work.

She began looking up who he was affiliated with and who were his enemies but to her surprise she couldn't find one person that had so called "beef" with Zuko. Him being an nice guy really wasn't all a front after all. She couldn't help but crack a small grin if they met on different circumstances she could have considered him being a friend but too bad she had to kill him.

His dad however, had a less than spotless track record. He had a million court cases against him, including charges of sexual harassment and corporate embezzlement. His father genuinely wasn't a good guy and he seemed like a less than outstanding business man.

Scum. Katana thought as she scrolled through yet another court case he got found not guilty for.

Katara's phone started to buzz and when she reached for it she seen that it was X.

"Hey X." She answered quickly.

"Katara, how's your objective going?"

She responded, "It's coming along im starting to get him right where I want him."

"Glad to hear that katara but I'm gonna need you to postpone that objective for a while I have an quick mission for you to do right now"

"Go it for it."

"So as you may or may not have been aware of there have been rencent whereabouts of the earth kingdom popping up more than once lately. In recent reports, there have been lots of dilee agents showing up and kidnapping children, in particular young girls. They have been shown on cameras sneaking into people's homes and taking the children out. The weird thing about the situation is that the way the kidnapping occurs. It's as if the kidnapper is sort of looking specific people. We need to find them and bring them home before it's too late. The kidnapper has a pattern of striking at night, which is why I'm going to need you to go undercover and see if we could track him down before he pinpoints his next victim. It seems the kidnapper has found his next target which is an girl name Angi. She's been spotted within the earth kingdom territory. She's a spoiled brat if you ask me but nevertheless she's still a child. Plus this can give us insight on the recent kidnappings of the other children."

"Roger that X . When will I be leaving? Katara asked

X responded, "In about twenty minutes i sent a car to come and pick you up."

"Copy that! Painted Lady out." she said as she hung up the phone.

She couldn't help but think what kind of person would want to hurt innocent children.

As she thought back to her childhood, if she hadn't gone through so much pain, she would've have wanted to be a teacher she loved children. Maybe she would find someone to settle down with and have a few of her own but she was a murder now. Who could ever love a person like her?

Katara started to get dress in her spy attire, which usually consisted of an all black jumpsuit with black boots (easy enough to conceal but hard enough to see). She slipped on her combat boots and was ready for war. All she needed was her black mask and she was ready to twenty minutes the car pulled up in her driveway.

Time to get to work.

As she made her way through the back door and out of the car she got a text from Zuko.

Target: Hey, I enjoyed spending time with you today. I'll see you tomorrow at 11am for an interview. I promise you you'll be fine Be safe.

She shut her phone off and began getting into her alter ego. The Painted Lady was who she was. Katara was who she wished she could be.

Author's Note: Yes we are alive! Yes I know it's been forever since we last updated but I have been so busy with school and I know my co-writer has been just as busy. We plan to update at least two more times before the end of the year. Thank you all for being patient. It's going to get good and I have some surprises coming in the next couple of chapters.