Dangerously Infatuated.
Summary: Rose is an assassin, part of a large cooperation dedicated to eliminating bad people. Her newest target is a dangerous yet gorgeous Russian weapons dealer. Rose knows she can't mix her feelings with her work; it leads to nothing but disaster. Rated M.
Chapter 1
Rose steadied herself against the ledge of the window, it was always dangerous to perch this high up on a building, but her other option was, ironically, out the window. She had planned to disguise as room service but the waiter who was supposed to be off sick tonight showed up unexpectantly, making the chance for her entrance borderline suspicious. So, she went for the safer option. Well, not safe in that sense. She was taking careful deep breaths to calm her anxiety of the situation.
Her feet were steady, they always were. Her footing has never failed her so far. She prayed it wouldn't now.
Now would be an appropriate time to start believing in God, she thought to herself.
Tonight's target was a high-level governor, Victor Dashkov, who did a long list of wrongs and stabbed a lot of people in the back. Which was definitely how Rose thought he should meet his untimely end.
It was hard to feel bad for someone who had done so much wrong in their life. Victor Dashkov was a steal from the poor and give to the rich kind of person, and his last business endeavour before his dive into politics left almost a thousand people homeless or living below the poverty line.
And he was here, living it up in a fancy hotel and cheating on his wife.
Rose's backup plan was the escort he was seeing right now but she thought she might throw up if she had to touch that man. It's better to let the professional do her work. All she had to was wait until they were finished, and she left and Rose would sneak in and do what she needed to do.
If they would finish any time soon, Jesus Christ, she was certain he was a two-minute man. Apparently not.
She could hear the echoes of the exaggerated moans from the hooker, her needy, almost whiny noises making Rose cringe in disgust.
You do not need to feed his ego that much, girl.
She felt sorry for the girl.
Her anticipation sparked up again when she could hear Dashkov climaxing, she had to be ready to leap in as soon as he got out of bed. She studied him for weeks, he never let them stay the night, practically kicked the girls out as soon as the fun was over, and from the reactions from the girls, I don't think they were that upset about the fact.
Rose listened to the idle conversation they were both making, their pillow talk kept very short as she could hear the rummaging around, presumably the two getting some clothes back on.
She waited for the moment she could hear two doors shut, one would be the working girl leaving, and the other would be Dashkov going in the bathroom.
Click, bathroom door shut.
Footsteps and the undeniable sound of heels made their way to the front door and…
Click.
Rose moved herself across the ledge and pulled the window down that had been left unlocked from early that day. She slid through the large window and rolled to land gracefully at the side of the room. This place was fancy, far from the cheap motels that Rose was more accustomed too, she wondered what it would be like to jump on the extravagant cream and gold bed and have expensive champagne and luxury room service.
She shook the thoughts out of her head and moving quickly, she shut the window and hid under the king size bed.
The shower cut off by the time she was situated under the bed. All she had to do now was to be patient and not make a noise. When he was asleep, she would do the deed.
The hour it took him to go to sleep went by at a snail's pace. It seemed like he wanted to work some before heading to sleep. His mumbles to himself were indiscernible to Rose's ears but it seemed whatever was on his laptop seemed pretty important to him.
When she finally felt the weight on the bed, she almost let out a sigh of relief. Finally, he was in bed. Her space was getting stuffy and her legs were beginning to cramp, she had to slowly move them to get some feeling back in them. The light went off and Dashkov settled himself to sleep.
She still waited.
Waited until his breathing was heavy and his light snores filled the room.
Rose rolled out from under the bed, her knife at the ready. She needed to be quick and to not wake him up. If he screamed, that would cause a myriad of problems.
Dashkov was sleeping soundly on his side, his back facing her. Perfect, she thought. He's making this all too easy, it's like he wants to die.
With her leather gloved hand, she covered his mouth to suppress any screams if and when he woke up and made the first stab into his back. She could feel the flesh under her blade, soft and giving to the sharp, cold metal, and aimed for the heart, twisting when she felt the target of her hit.
She could feel the groan from Dashkov against her hand, his body probably filling with pain. She held her hand tighter against his nose and mouth, restricting his breathing while the tang of blood filled her own senses. She stabbed him deep, it wouldn't take him long to bleed out. Not after she takes the knife out anyway.
This kind of waiting was completely different from earlier. It was exciting for Rose to feel the life drain out of her victim, his helpless movements against her and his breathing stuttering. It thrilled her.
It never thrilled her as much as her first kill.
When she was positive, he was dead, she rolled his body forward, letting his blood pool out of him and stain the sheets under him.
She felt a twang of guilt for the housekeeper who would have to clean this room.
She wasn't concerned about time, no one would be finding her apart from housekeeping in the next morning or any visitors he might have. So, she used that time to go through his laptop, still opened and unlocked from his before bed work. She took her USB out of her zipped-up breast pocket and plugged it into the laptop, wincing at the loud connection sound it had made.
Transferring over files she deemed relevant was hard, how was she supposed to know which ones were dirty or not?
She put as much as she could onto the files, impatiently shaking her leg as the files took minutes to transfer. She had to make her leave hasty, especially since she was leaving at the window again.
When it was all done, she ejected the USB and put it back into her pocket, triple checking she zipped it up, she did not want that to fall into the wrong hands.
Her knife went back into her jacket as well, the handy fitted garment that was designed with many pockets and a sheath for her trusty blade inside.
And she made her exit.
"Good work last night, Hathaway," Stan Alto, a fellow colleague, congratulated as soon as she got through the glass doors of the building floor. She was tired and coffee deprived and was in no mood to say anything but a mumbled 'thanks' in return.
To anybody, this building would look like a normal office building, with levels of high-tech computers and office blocks. With glass windows and filled with regular people in office wear and taking phone calls, that was the front. The front was a wealthy high-tech company that was only for the richest of the rich, and for the most part it was a high-tech kind of company, Vladimir's was the name. It developed technology and software. It just didn't use them for tech, it was used to aid the physical side of the company.
They called them Guardians, the ones who could fight and kill, and they were essentially assassins, but no one really used the word assassin anymore. The Guardians were actually a small percentage of the company, the larger half came from the tech and the business looking men who organised and assigned the work.
The basement levels of the building were where most of the exciting stuff happened, the training, the trails of the new tech, explosives. It's where she spent ages seventeen to twenty training her ass off to prove that she was good enough to be let in the field.
Now she was here, twenty-two and excelling at a rate no one her age previously had. It felt good to set the standards.
Rose made her way to her office, a place for most of her belongings, under secret compartments held weapons no man could believe were there and her filing cabinet mostly included assignment appropriate clothing packed up to save the most space. She could not casually have this stuff at home. And Vladimir's had measures in place if the place ever got raided, so it was the safest.
She sat at her desk and immediately slammed her head onto the desk, groaning at the flickers of pain that went through her. Why were mornings so hard?
"Knock, knock," sung a voice from the open door, Rose looked up and saw her friend Lissa, holding too cups of coffee in her hand.
"Gimme, gimme, gimme," Rose begged, making grabby hands at the coffee. Lissa laughed lightly and placed the coffee on her desk which Rose immediately snatched up.
Vasilisa Dragomir, or more well known as Lissa, was Rose's best and probably only friend in the company. Lissa was tall, blonde, and gorgeous and Rose had envied her the first day she met her in training, only then to find out that they were one of three girls in a class of twenty, she became fast allies with the girl. Hey, girls have got to stick together.
Lissa wasn't a Guardian; she was a researcher. She did the main research and scouting on a target before it got turned into an assignment. It basically what became the jobs that I did. Her job was to outweigh the pros and cons from each assignment and to make one of the final decisions on whether a target was worth it or not. It was probably one of the most ruthless jobs, to decided who was to live and die.
Unbelievably, she appeared to be one of the kindest souls that Rose had met, she full heartedly believed that she only chooses to worst people to be killed. Morals on that is still to be judged. But that wasn't something you casually bring up to your friend. Besides, Rose had her own issues and she killed people for a living, so she couldn't say much.
"How did last night go?" Lissa asked, making herself comfortable in the chair on the other side of Rose's desk.
"You know how it went," she shrugged.
"It's called making small talk, Rose, look it up," joked Lissa, taking a sip of her coffee.
"It went fine, boring if anything. I just waited until he was asleep and did the job," she huffed a laugh, "You probably don't want the gory details of it."
"No, not really," she scrunched her nose in premature disgust, "He was an awful person though, I doubt anyone is mourning his loss."
"Probably already fighting over his life insurance money already," Rose agreed. "Wish I could be there to see his wife see how much he was spending on hookers though."
"Oh my god, me too," she laughed in response. "Her reaction would be priceless."
"We are starved for entertainment."
"Just a little bit." She smiled at her friend, "Abe wants to congratulate you in person, by the way, he'll probably make his way over here soon."
"Yeah, I expected so, probably can't wait to give me another assignment already."
"You are his golden girl," she smirked at Rose. "You're practically number one around here, he'd want his best Guardian on all high levelled jobs."
"Do you know something I don't?" Rose waggled her eyebrows, "Like what my next assignment is going to be?"
"No." she stated loudly, "No getting information out of me, you promised."
"But, but…" Rose pouted, pulling her best innocent face.
"No exceptions," Lissa pointed a finger in her face. "No. Exceptions.", the young woman took her job seriously.
"Fine," she grumbled.
"I should head back before someone notices I'm gone," she stood up, taking Rose's finished coffee mug from her desk with her. "I'll catch you later, Rose."
"Miss you already," Rose blew a kiss at the woman and watched her face beam at her.
Abe came in shortly after Lissa's departure, he gave a short knock before entering. That was about as much warning as she was going to get from him. Abe was her superior, and a hell of a good one at that, he ran Vladimir's like nobody else.
"Hathaway." He nodded, "Good work last night, quick and efficient, just as I like to see it,"
"I have another assignment, don't I?"
At least Abe had the nerve to look slightly apologetic.
"A weapons dealer, in some heavy shit that we need to find out."
"Plus, an elimination." She guessed he confirmed with a nod. "As usual."
"As usual," he echoed and handed her a file, a very thick file. "Here's everything we know so far, the target and some associations we know of. I want you to integrate yourself in his life and find out more about his operation. It's very important."
"Time?"
"Ideally a couple of weeks, so you should integrate yourself quickly as you can. There's a shipment in exactly a month's time and we need the buyer."
"Ok." She looked through the file for my next target. The researchers, presumably Lissa, Rose thought, was thorough in her work. It noted a bar he was always seen at, his close companions, and even an ex-girlfriend, and lots of candid photos of him and his team.
Alright, she thought, I can work with this. Her timeline was tighter than she would have liked but it's still not the worst situation she has been in.
Watch out, Dimitri Belikov, because I don't miss my targets, she thought as she continued her way through the hefty file.
-x-
She walked into the bar, the atmosphere buzzing, people were talking, playing pool, and drinking loads. Rose's outfit was perfect for the scenario, it fit in but was flashy enough for her to stand out. Stand out to a particular weapons dealer.
Her black suede mini skirt and burgundy draped neck cami top paired with her black ankle boots was sexy and showed off all her best assets. She headed for the bar and situated herself on a barstool.
"What can I get you sweetheart?" the bartender approached her almost immediately, his eyes flickered between her chest and her eyes for just a moment and it reminded Rose of all the reasons she hated dressing like this, as much as she wanted the attention from one particular man, it provided attention from all men.
"Rum and coke, please," she responded politely, offering a small smile. He nodded and turned to make her drink.
Rose turned in her seat and leaned back onto the bar to look casually around, to make her look like she was searching for someone to keep her bed warm and not for her assignment.
She glanced around and her eyes were drawn to Belikov, sitting at a table with some other men, conversing. He looked exactly like his picture.
Classic tall dark and handsome. Dimitri Belikov was a sight for sore eyes. His chin length hair gave him a rugged look, and Rose wanted nothing but to run her hands through it already. God clearly had his favourites. He was a beautiful man, but he had a side of darkness to him, something to let the alarm bells programmed in Rose's mind to go off and warn her about this man. This man might look like a model, but he reeked of dangerous, and not the 'bad boy' type, it was the 'he'd have no hesitation to kill you type".
He was dressed casually, in dark jeans and a dark long sleeve Henley t-shirt. Which accentuated all the muscles in his body.
He looked up at her, as if he knew she was looking at him. Instinct that came with a job like his.
Belikov. Weapons dealer. Find out his operation and eliminate. Rose repeated in her head over and over again, as she shyly caught his eye and watched his eyes rake down her body in lust.
Men were all too easy.
"Here you go," the bartender returned, and Rose swivelled around to give thanks and pay for her drink. Her limit was three and depending on how long she would have to stay here, she was going to pace herself.
She sipped on her drink and continued her eyes around the bar, catching the eyes of several men and moving off of them all too quickly before they suddenly decided to talk to her. She noted Ivan, Dimitri's second hand, in a game of pool with some people, all probably associated or part of Dimitri's operation themselves.
"Is this seat taken?" a man approached me, gesturing to the empty seat next to me. He was cute, Rose thought, noting his shaggy blonde hair and soft blue eyes. On a normal night out, Rose wouldn't mind a little company from someone like him.
"I'm afraid it is, I'm waiting on someone" she said in a soft voice to soften the rejection, "Sorry,"
"Worth asking," he dismissed himself and proceeded to order another drink with the bartender before walking back to his table, sending Rose a few last longing looks on the way. Rose followed him with her eyes and then looked at Dimitri's table, finding him watching her.
She gave watch she thought to be her best sultry smile and watched his eyebrows go up in silent conversation with her. The guy next to him drew him back into conversation and his attention moved off of her once more.
Between then and finishing her drink, two more guys offered their company to her. And she politely declined them both. One took it nicely and the other muttered certain words at her, some included 'stuck up bitch' and 'uptight', which started to make her blood boil. But she calmed herself down by downing the last of her first drink.
After ordering her second drink, she felt a presence next to her, she made a guess to who it could be.
"I have to ask," his voice of molasses caressed her ear, his Russian accent prominent, "How many more guys are you going to reject tonight? I think you've already left a trail of broken hearts on your first night here."
She turned to face him and, holy shit, he was even more breath taking up close. His expression was pretty closed off, but his eyes showed his curiosity.
"I guess I have a type," Rose bit her lip, she saw his eyes look down at her lips for a moment and she released her lip.
"Oh yeah?" he quirked his eyebrow, "Pray tell, what's your type?"
"It's probably cliché if I said a bad boy type, huh?" she joked, the side of her lip going up in a smirk. "I like someone who will give me a thrill."
"And none of those guys could?"
"Unfortunately, my eyes landed on someone before all of them. And he's set the bar for the night," she innocently took a sip of her drink looking right at him and he gave a sexy smile in return.
"What's your name?" he asked, his voice low in seduction.
"Rosalind," the lie rolled off her tongue, "But my friend's call me Rose," she held out her hand for him to shake. He placed his hand on hers and softly rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand, a smooth caress.
"Beautiful name, fit for such a beautiful woman," he complimented and offered his name in return, "Dimitri."
His hand was still in hers as she felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment, and she shook her head to let some of her hair fall down to cover her face. Dimitri pulled his hand out of hers and pushed her hair from her face again.
"I wonder how far down that blush goes," he leaned in and spoke to her, and if Rose could blush anymore, she would.
"You could always find out," she challenged and watched his eyes look up and down her body again. She brought up her hand to his waist and slowly moved her thumb while keeping her eyes on him. He looked like he was deciding what to do.
"I was just about to go out for a cigarette, you should join me." He offered, more told than asked her, but Rose was all too happy to agree.
"I don't smoke, but I'll happily keep you company." She smirked at him, stepping off the bar stool. Dimitri placed his hand at the small of her back and led her out the door. They walked around the corner to the alleyway next to the bar before lightly pushing her back, so her back flush against the wall.
He caged her in with her arms.
"Do you know," he let his lips trace her jaw, "just how enticing you are?"
"I have a feeling your about to show me," she breathed, her hands balanced steady on his chest.
He chuckled at her confidence and pressed his lips to hers. His lips were much softer than Rose expected, and the kiss started sweet but was quickly turning dirty and heated. He was firm and took the lead in the kiss and Rose complied. His tongue pressed against her lips and she opened her mouth to him, and she made a noise in the back of her throat at the sensation.
God, it's been way too long since I've been kissed, thought Rose, as she brought her hands up behind his neck and into his hair, tugging slightly and smiling in the kiss when he groaned and thrust his hips to hers. He was definitely packing from the feel of his trousers. He broke the kiss and started attacking her neck with little nips and kisses.
He brought one hand down and scrunched one side of Rose's skirt up so he could bring her thigh up to his hips without the skirt getting in the way. The started making little thrusts that was made Rose make some obscene noises into her mouth and started meeting his movements.
"We shouldn't here… someone could see us," Rose panted, not making any move to stop what they were doing. She was soaked through her panties and knew she would feel embarrassed about that later on. But right now, she could care less. "We should go somewhere else, preferably with a bed."
"Yes," Dimitri agreed, letting go of her leg but continuing his kisses down her shoulder. "There's a motel not too far from here."
Rose knew it would be way too easy for her to get invited back to his, but that was okay. All she needed to do was make a very memorable night for this man. Enough for him to leave him wanting more.
"You drive?" she asked breathlessly, and he gave a teeth-baring smile to his lover for the night.
"Let's go," he grabbed her hand and took her to his car.
As soon as the motel was paid for, they both couldn't keep their hands off each other, pushing each other against walls, making out and groping, making for some interesting views for the one or two people who caught them and very loudly told them to 'get a room', which made Rose shamelessly giggle. And repeated Dimitri's gesture from earlier by grabbing his hand and guiding them to their room.
Rose woke with up to an empty bed, unsurprisingly. No number left, no note, no nothing. Guys like Dimitri made it very clear if they wanted a girl for more than one night. But that was okay for Rose because this was all part of her plan.
She made her way to the bathroom and took a shower and relishing in the delightful soreness she felt in between her legs. She rarely did something like this for her job, it wasn't something she always enjoyed doing, despite being taught to weaponize every part of herself in her training.
But she was committed to becoming the perfect woman for Dimitri.
Every man had a fantasy woman.
Whether that be a girly girl, a tough girl, a cool girl, or the free spirited, carefree girl. Rose knew how to transform herself into becoming an entirely different person for someone. Men actually think they exist and will do anything to have them. Until it bore them, at least.
From what Rose had researched, Dimitri wants a mysterious, sexy girl, but only for him. He likes a girl who's pretty but doesn't fully know how pretty she is, a girl who will spend all night pleasing him and getting fucked in every position with no complaints. This was the kind of girl she would start with.
Through her on field research, she'll find out the type of girl that Dimitri wants to have as a partner, as a trustworthy companion, and become her.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves.
If you liked this first chapter, please let me know. I'm not sure if I will be continuing it, I've only written a couple of chapters so far.
Also, that last bit was totally inspired by the cool girl quote from Gone Girl, if you haven't heard that speech, it's iconic as hell.