When James Met Emma ~ Part 1

Summary: Two years before James receives his Double-0 license, he encounters a mysterious woman sitting alone at a bar. (Takes place two years before Casino Royale).

25th July 2004 - Two years before Casino Royale

James Bond walked into the Green Bar situated in Hotel Café Royal. He had lost count of the number of times he had come here. Not to mention the amount of women he had managed to pick up in the process.

What had drawn him to the hotel the first time was the vast range of bars and restaurants they offered. He had only been in each of the other bars and restaurants a handful of times, preferring the Green Bar. It was more to his taste; quiet, private, and relaxing with soft jazz music playing in the background.

As he walked through the doors to the bar he noticed it was still as busy, with women in their designer dresses and heels, mingling with well-dressed men. His eyes continued to scan the room before resting on an older woman sitting on one of the leather stools at the circular bar in the center of the room. From his first guess, he would say she was in her late fifties, if not a bit older. The way she kept looking around the room told him she was looking or waiting for someone judging by her almost empty glass of wine.

As he approached her, he took in her red silk blouse, the three top buttons undone showing some cleavage, her white hair glowed in the dim light, showing a few streaks of the blondish-brown that remained. Her crystal blue eyes found his before she quickly looked down at her glass.

She may be older, but he couldn't deny that she still had a beauty about her that put all of the women in the room to shame. Taking a seat on the bar stool next to her, he turned his attention to the woman next to him.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

The woman looked to her left only to see the same man she saw mere seconds ago. Judging by his appearance, he couldn't be any older than thirty.

"That's very chivalrous of you, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline."

"That's a pity. I'm just wondering why an attractive woman like yourself is sitting in a place like this alone?"

The woman raised an eyebrow, "Attractive? I would see about getting your eyes tested. Now if you excuse me, I need to be off."

"At least, let me buy you one drink."

She looked back at the man knowing he was not one who was going to relent any time soon. "All right, one drink."

He gave her a smile, "Same again?"

She looked down at her nearly empty glass of red wine, deciding not to over do it. Since he was adamant on buying her a drink, she decided on something a bit more extravagant.

"No, I'll think I'll have a single malt whiskey, Macallan 18-year-old sherry oak if they have it." She told him sweetly knowing full well they did.

"What can I get you, sir?"

"A glass of Macallan 18-year-old sherry oak and a vodka martini, shaken not stirred, with a twist of lemon peel."

James watched the woman from the corner of his eye. He had never met someone quite like her, he had been with countless women in the past, but now he was closer to the woman next to him, there was something different about her. She had a mysterious persona about her, which made him all that more intrigued.

He came out of his thoughts when the server placed the drinks in front of him. Handing over two twenty-pound notes he told the server to keep the change.

She watched the exchange with interest. It seemed he had taste as well as being stubborn.

He handed over the single malt whiskey to her, which she took with small thanks, his blue eyes holding amusement.

"Why don't we get a table?"

He watched as she rolled her eyes, "You never give up do you?"

"No." He could feel his lip twitch trying hard not to smile.

She got off the stool, picking up her bag and coat as her new mystery friend led them to a booth close to the bar, taking a seat across from each other.

"I don't believe you've told me your name?" The woman raised the glass to her lips and took a sip of her drink.

"The names Bond, James Bond."

She tried not to smile at the absurdity of it all, "Well, Bond, James Bond. Thank you for the drink."

"James will do. I don't believe you told me yours?"

"Emma."

"It's nice to meet you, Emma. So, tell me a bit about yourself?"

"There is nothing really to tell," she evaded not willing to reveal details of her personal life.

"Now, why don't I believe that?" He muttered, before taking a drink of his Martini.

"You can believe what you like Mr Bond…"

"James."

"Bond. I don't know you well enough to be on a first-name basis."

He placed his glass on the table knowing he would have to tread carefully; she really wasn't like other women.

"Fair enough, you still haven't told me why you are here alone?"

She gave a sigh and leaned back in her seat looking over at him. "If you must know, I was supposed to be meeting someone, but as you have no doubt already guessed they didn't show."

"Their loss evidently."

"What makes you so sure?" She narrowed her eyes, continuing to study the man in front of her.

"Only an idiot would decide not to show up to meet someone as divine as you."

She gave a scoff at the remark; "I would hardly call myself divine. An old dwarf more likely. Which is why I'm curious as to why you decided to come and talk to me when they are so many other women here who are more your type."

"I don't have a type, and to dispute your claim, you don't look like an old dwarf to me."

She narrowed her eyes, knowing all too well what game he was playing.

"Since you were meeting someone, I'm going to assume you are not married?"

"You would be right in your assumption. I'm divorced. Nothing short of relief, and before you ask no, I don't have any children." She had no idea why she had told him that; considering she had just met this man.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"As I say, it was a relief more than anything." She decided to change the conversation not wanting to bring up past ghosts, especially with a man she had just met.

"And yourself?"

"Not much to tell. Both parents dead; an orphan at eleven, joined the Navy when I was old enough."

"So, you are in the military?"

"Of sorts. I've been offered a new position," he smiled charmingly.

"I see."

She made a mental note to check him on their system tomorrow.

"I don't believe you told me what you do?" James inquired determined to at least get to know something about her before the night was over.

"Retired. I used to work in business. Nothing remotely exciting." She finished the rest of her drink, placing the empty glass back on the table.

"Well, as enlightening as this conversation was, It's time for me to go." She grabbed her bag and coat and slid herself from the booth with James following suit.

"Here, let me," James told her softly as he reached out for her coat and took it from her grasp.

Trying not to shake her head, she placed her bag on the table and slid her arms through the sleeves, allowing him to pull the coat up over shoulders giving them a gentle squeeze in affection. The simple gesture caused her to tense before she finally stepped away and turned around to look at him, seeing the amusement dancing in his eyes.

"How are you getting home?"

She looked away and picked up her bag before answering him. "A friend is picking me up."

"Well, if it's all right with you, I think I will wait until this friend arrives."

"There is no need…"

"I insist."

She gave a sigh, "Very well."

She was about to leave when she saw her ex-husband sitting at a table with the very woman whom he had an affair that ended in their divorce. It seemed luck wasn't on her side tonight.

"Are you all right?" James asked seeing her gaze into the distance.

He followed the direction of her eyes to see a man about the same age as Emma and a woman a good thirty years younger.

"Just my ex-husband and the woman that caused our divorce."

"I see."

James saw the man in question stand up and start to walk towards them.

"Why don't we make this interesting?" He looked back at her in amusement.

"What?" She asked confused.

"Do you trust me?"

She didn't know what made her agree, she had just met the man, but she couldn't deny there was something about him that had pulled her in.

She could smell his cologne as he moved closer to her. "All right, but whatever you are going to do, you had best…"

The rest of her words were cut off as she felt his hands on the side of her face. The touch caused her heart to beat faster. She watched as he leaned down, the feel of his rough lips claimed hers causing her eyes to widen in slight surprise at the unexpected move. She allowed her body to relax as she succumbed to his soft kiss. It was not demanding but more inquisitive. As soon as it had started it was over.

She gazed up at James, seeing the desire in his eyes. "What was that?"

"That I believe is what people call a kiss."

"I know that. Why did you do it?" She needed to gain control of the situation and fast.

"To show your ex-husband that you are doing fine without him. But more importantly, I've wanted to do that since I first set eyes on you tonight."

"We don't know each other…"

"Yet, you put your trust in me," he gave her a smile as he caressed her face.

"Well, if it isn't M?" The unexpected, yet familiar male voice caused her to turn quickly to see him staring at her with a smug smile.

"David. Still like them young I see," she stated, narrowing her eyes.

"I could say the same about you," he looked over to James in disdain.

"Yes, well after being married to you for twenty years, I decided to get myself a real man. And I have to admit, I do prefer being in a relationship with someone who has more stamina in that department. Now if you excuse me we really must be getting off; I have a surprise for James that I'm sure he will find pleasurable." She gave David a smirk and grabbed James' hand entwining their fingers as they started to leave the bar.

James looked over his shoulder to see David still standing in the same spot, staring after them with a thunderous look on his face. The image caused James to smirk before he turned away.

Once outside, M let go of his hand and created some distance between them before she did something more that would make her question her sanity.

"Where is this friend picking you up?"

"There is no friend," she admitted looking up at him.

She had agents on standby should she need them, but she decided she would rather get a taxi to try and clear her head.

"Do you live close?"

"Of sorts. Thirty minutes walk."

"I'll drive you. It will save you money on a taxi, and I would rather know you got home safe."

"You've been drinking… and why on earth did you come to a bar with your car?"

"There's more to a bar than drink," he gave her a wink.

"I thought as much."

"Plus, I barely even touched my drink." James saw her looking at him unconvinced.

"Look, would it make you feel better if I walked in a straight line while touching my nose."

She gave him a smile at the image, "Fine, I'll accept your offer."

"My car is just up the road."

Emma walked next to him, putting one hand in her pocket feeling the small tracker she kept there, should she need it. She came out of her thoughts when she heard the car door unlock, her eyes holding disbelief at seeing the car.

"You have got to be kidding."

"What's wrong with it?" He took in his silver, Aston Martin.

"You'll be lucky if I get in that, never mind getting out of it again."

He smirked and held opened the passenger door for her. "The sooner you get in, the sooner you are home."

Emma narrowed her eyes and got in the car, which she had to admit was uncomfortable to say the least.

James closed the car door and made his way to the driver's side, got in and started the car. "Where am I going?"

"Queen Street, Mayfair. I trust you know where that is?" She couldn't help but jibe.

"What business job did you do exactly?"

"A well-paid one." She looked out the window to hide her smile as he started to drive. He really was a nosy bugger.

"How did you come into possession of this car, Mr Bond?"

"It's James. And to answer your question I inherited it from my late uncle."

"Well, he had good taste, even if it is somewhat uncomfortable," she deadpanned.

"There is nothing wrong with her."

Her?" M raised an eyebrow, turning her attention from the scenery back to him.

"Well, you can't expect me to call a car like this a he can you?"

"No, I suppose not," she murmured amused.

The rest of the drive was made in silence, which was broken now and again with M directing Bond on which way to go. They finally arrived at her house, and James killed the engine of the car and looked up at her apartment block while M undid her seatbelt.

"So which one is yours?"

"Sorry, Mr Bond. I'm afraid I can't disclose that information."

He turned to look at her seeing the seriousness in her eyes.

"Afraid, in case I'll break in?" He gave her a charming smile.

"Something like that," she whispered holding his gaze.

"So, I guess a coffee is out of the question?"

"I prefer tea," Emma remarked as she moved to get out the car.

James smirked and followed suit, closing the door behind him. He watched as Emma made her way round to his side and stopped in front of him.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Emma."

"Likewise, Mr Bond." She could feel the tension shimmering in the air around them as she saw the same desire in his eyes that she saw earlier at the bar.

"I thought we agreed on James."

"And I told you I don't call people I don't know by their first names."

"I think it's time we changed that. Don't you?" He hinted suggestively.

She didn't know what was going through her mind; she should just walk away and never look back, but their brief kiss earlier made her realise it had been far too long since she had been intimate with someone. There was no doubt about it there was something intriguing about James Bond, he was a womaniser, and had probably slept with everyone and anyone he could get his hands on. It wasn't every day she had offers like this on her doorstep. Literally.

"I suppose. We wouldn't want that tea to get cold would we?" She gave him one last look and walked towards the entrance of her apartment block.

"No, we wouldn't." James gave a smirk and followed after her, through the lobby to the elevator.

Entering the lift, Bond watched as she pushed the button for the top floor.

"The penthouse?"

"I'm a woman of taste, Mr Bond."

"You definitely are that." His eyes roamed her body taking in her curves.

The doors opened to the penthouse causing Bond to survey the room. She wasn't kidding about taste. As he walked out of the elevator, he watched Emma remove her coat and place it on the back of the cream L-shaped sofa that had a dozen silver and grey cushions decorating it.

"How do you take it?"

"Excuse me?"

"Your tea, Mr. Bond."

"I have a better idea," He stated as he slowly walked towards her.

"And what would that be?" She searched his eyes trying to figure out his next move.

He stopped in front of her and pulled her into his arms.

Leaning down, she felt a shiver go through her petite frame, as he whispered in her ear.

"We skip the tea."

She felt her eyes close as he started to press soft kisses along her jaw, continuing down her neck.

"James…"

His hands found themselves under her red silk blouse as he softly started to caress the warm skin of her back as he continued to trail kisses up her neck to her jaw, before finally capturing her lips in a long warm kiss that left her short of breath.

"Are you sure about this?" Feeling her heart beat erratically in her chest waiting for his answer.

"I'm game if you are?" He whispered, hoping she was.

She pulled him in for another kiss, answering his question.

"Bedroom?" He asked his voice husky.

"Straight ahead to your left."

Picking her up into his arms, she wrapped her legs around his waist, as he guided them towards the bedroom. For once in her life she didn't think about the consequences, after all, she wouldn't be seeing him again after tonight.