This is my first Hustle story, I hope everyone enjoys it! Special shout out to Storybookgirl77 for being a great listener and letting me bounce my idea off of her. I do not own any of the characters from Hustle, but I do own Hailee and her friends/family. Happy Reading!

Unexpected

Part 1:

Hailee Dawson groaned as she stepped into the shower in her hotel room and let the hot water run down her body. It had been a long day and all she wanted was to curl up in bed and sleep. It had been awhile since she'd felt like she could breathe. According to Mickey, the score from this job would be a good one, and her share would be enough for her to be able to pay off the rest of the debt that her ex left her with, and would make sure that Ella, her seven year old daughter, was set for the next school year.. She would actually have some left over to do something for herself for a change. Teaching dance was something she loved, but it would be nice to not have to live quite so hand to mouth.

When she'd agreed to do this job, it was only going to be for a few days, a week at most. While she was not happy about having to travel to London, due to a fear of heights that she'd had since childhood. She was doing it to help a friend, after all. Stacie, one of her best friends, and fellow grifter, had set her up with the job because some friends of hers had needed a safecracker to pull it off. The last thing she wanted was to change her plans, but something, or more accurately, someone, was making things difficult.

"Damn him, why am I letting him complicate things." she thought as she reached for the bottle of shampoo.

After washing her hair and body, she reached up and turned off the water. She wrapped herself in a fluffy towel and began to get ready for bed. She'd just changed into her pjs, and poured herself a drink when there was a knock on the door.

"Who could that be?" she thought as she went to the door.

The person on the other side was the last person she expected. Ashley "Three Socks' Morgan, simply known as Ash, the team's fixer, was standing there looking like he had absolutely no idea why he was outside of her hotel room.

"Ash? Is everything okay?" she asked cautiously.

"Yeah, everything's fine." he nodded his head, looking her over.

Her long dark hair was pulled into a braid that hung over her shoulder. She was wearing a pair of pajama pants and a tank top. It shouldn't have looked tempting to him, but there was something about her that had been getting to him the last few days.

"Really? It's after eleven at night and you decide that you just what? Wanted to pop by? You've been talking to the top of my head all day." Hailee raised an eyebrow.

"Bugger, I've no idea why I'm here," he said finally, turning to walk away.

"Ash, wait, I know I'm probably going to regret this, but at least come in for a drink." Hailee said, moving aside to let him in the room.

Portland, OR - 5 days earlier:

"Stacie, I don't see why I have to come to dinner with you. You said that Albert is an old friend of yours." Hailee said, pouring herself a glass of wine.

Stacie Monroe looked around her friend's tidy kitchen and rolled her eyes.

"He is, but I mentioned that you were looking for a way to score some cash and he offered to help. I said you would come with us to dinner tonight since Ella is staying at your mum's," she replied.

"Stace! Tell me you didn't try and pimp me out." Hailee glared.

"I didn't! He asked if I knew someone who could crack a safe and I mentioned that you happened to be the best one I know. I also mentioned what your tosser of an ex did, and he suggested you come to dinner so he could make you an offer. Besides, you're both much too sweet to be soiled that way." Stacie smirked.

"Okay, fine. Let me change first." Hailee shook her head.

"Come on, Hails! Albi already got us a table." Stacie said as she waited in front of the restaurant.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. I haven't worn heels like this in a while, geeze." Hailee sighed, opening the door for them.

"Albi! You look as handsome as ever!" Stacie said, greeting an older gentleman once they were led to their table.

"Stacie, my dear! You look wonderful and you feel even better." he said, giving her a hug.

"Hailee, this is Albert Stroller, Albi, this is one of my best mates, Hailee Dawson." Stacie introduced the two.

"Dawson? Any relation to Grant Dawson?" Albert asked.

"Yes, he was my dad," Hailee replied, remembering the father who had passed away when she was fifteen from a heart attack.

"I knew him when he worked at the Aladdin in Vegas. He was one hell of a poker player, I was sorry to hear about his passing." Albert nodded.

"Thank you, that's high praise coming from you. My father used to tell stories about the great Albert Stroller." Hailee smiled.

"Well my dear, let's see if we can help each other? Stacie mentioned your ex husband, skipped town and left you with all of his debts." Albert said, pulling out a chair for her.

"Yes, he, um, he owes a loan shark a lot of money. Originally it was 50 k, now it's more like 15, I was able to convince him to let me pay in installments. I guess he felt bad because I got caught up in Nate's mess." Hailee replied softly.

"I can help you cover the rest of the debt, if you would like? All I ask is that you help my team and I out with a job." Albert explained.

"Ah, yes. I'm sure Stacie mentioned that I do the occasional grift when someone needs me to open a safe or any other form of security. Who's the mark?" Hailee wondered.

"A man named Geoffery Dumond, he works in Real Estate but has a habit of insider trading and other various transgressions." Albert answered.

"I also read that he's been investigated several times for fraud. He loves to rob people blind while claiming to invest their hard earned savings in the Real Estate market." Hailee nodded.

"He's holding a very expensive and lucrative poker game at his home in a few days. Our fixer found out that he plans to use several of his client's money to place his bets during the game. We want you to get into his safe while we take care of the poker game and make him an offer that he cannot refuse." Albert explained.

"I'm sure your fixer knows how to take care of the safe, why would you need me?" Hailee wondered.

"Mr. Dumond has a pension for brunettes, and we are hoping that he will find you attractive enough to let his guard down." Stacie answered for Albert.

"Ah, okay, well would your fixer be able to get me to the safe without getting me killed?" Hailee asked.

"Hails, the fixer is Ash Morgan. He can get you to the safe." Stacie said.

"Ash Morgan, as in the fixer for Mickey Bricks? '' Hailee asked her friend.

"Yes, I told them that you are the best when it comes to safes and Mickey wants your help, but you would have to go to London." Stacie nodded.

"Hold on. The job is in London, that means I would need to pay for airfare and a hotel room." Hailee frowned.

"Let me worry about your expenses my dear. Stacie said you are one of the best grifters she's ever worked with, so we're willing to bring you in and give you a share of the profits." Albert piped up.

"Even so, I can't be away from my daughter for that long, I can't possibly take her with me, she has school." Hailee reasoned.

"Hails, you know that your family can help take care of Ella, I can stay with her too and make sure she gets back and forth to school." Stacie argued.

Hailee paused, she knew that she needed the money, but she was trying to walk away from grifting all together. She had no idea what she was going to do with the rest of her life, but she knew she wanted to find out. The money also meant that she could track down her so-called husband, and give her daughter a good life.

"Okay, when do I leave?" Hailee asked finally.

"We leave the day after tomorrow. I'll book your ticket so that you can fly back with me and we can get you ready for it to go down on Saturday." Albert said.

"Please Hails, you'd be doing me a big favor. I'd owe you." Stacie added pleadingly.

"Well, I never could say no to a friend. Fine. I'll do it." Hailee nodded.

"Splendid. You ladies order whatever you want. I need to go make a call." Albert said as the waiter came to take their orders.

Albert walked outside and took out his phone. He waited a few moments for the person to answer.

"Michael, she's in, we will be there the day after tomorrow. Mr. Dumond won't know what hit him." he said with a chuckle.

Eddie's Bar: London

"Okay, thanks for letting me know Albert. We'll see you both then." Mickey hung up his phone.

"Mickey, are we sure that bringing in a stranger is the right call here?" Emma Kennedy asked as she sipped her drink.

"I'm with Emma on this one, it seems risky to bring in someone else." Ash agreed.

"Well she's a friend of Stacie's, and we need someone to crack that safe. Unless you know how to be in two places at once, Ash. According to Stace, she's one of the best, so I'm willing to give her a shot." Mickey replied.

"That's if she agrees to do it." Emma said.

"She did, Albert said that she's flying here with him the day after tomorrow." Mickey grinned.

"I was able to look her up, she's a pretty fine looking bird." Sean Kennedy piped up.

"She's only going to be here for a few days Sean, besides, she's a little out of your league don't you think?" Emma glanced between her little brother and the picture.

"She used to be a dancer too. Not surprising with a face like that." Sean grinned.

"I'm sure she wasn't that sort of dancer, she looks too classy for that." Emma argued.

"Of course she's attractive, she's friends with Stacie, after all. And Emma's right, she was a trained dancer before she got injured" Mickey glanced at the picture.

"Did Stace ever tell you how she met this bird?" Ash asked.

"She just said that they met while working a job. Apparently, they bonded over their man troubles. Stace mentioned that Hailee has been trying to track down her ex so that she could get him to sign the divorce papers." Mickey answered.

"Pity, the bloke must be a real arse. " Ash glanced at the picture.

The woman in the picture was definitely a looker. She had pale green eyes and long, dark hair that fell down her back in curls. Even though she was smiling, Ash could see that it didn't meet her eyes. She was holding a small girl on her lap and he could see that they definitely looked like mother and daughter.

"What do you know about the safe, Ash?" Mickey inquired.

"It's a Briger 357. It has a thin pane of glass directly behind the door, if you try and open it and don't know what you're doing, the safe locks down. It can either have a keypad, but the mark prefers an old school combination lock." Ash explained.

"So it would have to be done by touch." Mickey shook his head.

"Spot on, if this Hailee is as good as she claims to be, she will be able to do it without any issues, but she's going to have to be able to do it on a timer, I don't know how much time I'll be able to buy her with the cameras all over the house," Ash took a swig of his whiskey.

"Okay, what do we know about Dumond?" Mickey asked.

"He has a pension for brunettes and expensive wine. He likes to spend his money on high priced bottles whenever he has the chance. He considers himself a bit of a connoisseur." Emma said.

"Anything else?" Mickey asked.

"He also likes to take what doesn't belong to him as far as his women go, then if the woman doesn't return his affections or whatever, he retaliates. He even went so far as to get one deported." Sean added.

"So he's a real charmer, this Hailee has her work cut out for her when it comes to this one." Emma rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure she can handle herself, but just in case, we'll have eyes on her whenever she's alone with the mark." Mickey stated.

Ash nodded, knowing that Mickey would expect him to keep an eye on this girl. As the fixer, he was known for making sure the con went off without any problems, and that included making sure that everyone had what they needed to do their jobs.

"Are you sure about this?" Ash asked once he and Mickey were alone.

"Stace says she's the best. I trust her opinion, but make sure that this girl can work fast." Mickey replied.

"I can test her speed, but why me?" Ash asked even though he thought he knew the answer.

"Because she's quite attractive. Sean will be distracted by that." Mickey answered.

"And I wouldn't? Really Mick, it's not like I'm a robot." Ash lit a cigarette.

"Ash, you know what I meant. Gone are the days when we get flustered by a pair of long eyelashes. Just don't enjoy testing her too much." the other man laughed.

"Aw Mick, that's half the fun." Ash finished his whiskey with a grin.

"Are you sure you both will be able to manage things here while I'm gone?" Hailee asked her sister, Jessie, and her friend, Carly, as she packed.

"For the millionth time, yes! We can handle the studio and your classes while you're gone. Just go and do what you need to do." Carly said.

"Jess, are you sure that you and Josh don't mind taking care of Ella? I know you both have your hands full with Johnny." Hailee wondered as she mentioned her sister's fiance and young son.

"Yes! We love having Ella stay with us, besides mom and Aunt Irene are willing to help too. You're not alone Hail," her sister nodded.

"See, I told you they would get it. You worry too much Hails." Stacie teased.

"I know, it's just I haven't worked with a team in a while, what if I can't do it?" Hailee sighed.

"Oh, please, we both know that you are one of the best grifters I've ever seen. You can do this job with your eyes closed. Take a couple short dresses with you, like that black one you have that you never wear." Stacie insisted.

"The black one that is really short, with the lace?" Carly asked as she held it up.

"That's the one! And the leather and lace one. Both look amazing on you, Hails. Oh and the red one with the V neck." Stacie replied, holding up a red dress with a ruffled skirt.

"Stacie! Those dresses are really sexy, I don't think I could pull them off anymore." Hailee sighed.

"Hails, you look stunning. You might spend all day in yoga pants, but you are still a hot mama. If I had your legs I would be a super happy woman." Carly giggled.

"Mommy!" Ella exclaimed, running into the room.

"Hey Peaches, are you ready for bed?" Hailee asked as her daughter hopped up on the bed.

"Yep, do you have to go to London?" the little girl asked.

"Yes, baby. Momma is going to help some friends of Aunt Stacie's and then I'll be back before you know it." Hailee replied.

"You promise?" the little girl asked, her eyes wide.

"Yes, I pinkie promise." Hailee answered as she held out her pinkie.

The little girl took it and smiled.

"Momma will have to bring presents back, won't she, Peanut?" Jessie giggled, pulling the little girl into her lap.

"Yes, I will, now it's time for all good little girls to go to bed. Mommy has an early flight in the morning. Come on Peaches." Hailee grinned as she took her little girl by the hand.

The following morning, Hailee kissed her daughter and sister goodbye before meeting Albert at the airport for the almost twelve hour flight to London.

"You look a little nervous, my dear." Albert noticed as they took their seats in first class.

"I've never been a big fan of flying, or anything that involves heights." Hailee explained, closing her eyes.

"Ahh, well just sit back and relax, the flight will be over before you know it. I'll have a glass of champagne and a mimosa, please." Albert smiled at the flight attendant who was taking drink orders.

"Thank you. I might need a couple more of these before we land." Hailee smiled, sipping her drink.

"As I recall, your father was not a fan of heights either, was he?" Albert asked as the plane took off.

"No he was not. My mom says that my sister, Kasey and I come by it honestly. She, my sister, Jess, and our brother, Tyler, all love to fly." Hailee answered, rolling her eyes.

The rest of the flight was filled with Albert telling Hailee several stories about his various misadventures and some about the poker games he'd played with her father. It was fun to hear about the man that her father had been in his younger days. Before she knew it, the plane was landing and the two of them were picking up her luggage.

"Albi! Welcome back" a young,blonde woman came up to them and hugged Albert.

"Emma, my dear, this is Hailee Dawson." Albert smiled, releasing her from the hug.

"Emma Kennedy, nice to meet you." Emma smiled.

"Same, Albi's told me a lot about you and the others." Hailee smiled back.

"Speaking of the others, they're waiting for us at Eddie's. Mickey wants to go over the plan once we get there. Ash and Sean have been trying to figure out which type of dancer you were, Hailee." Emma rolled her eyes as they walked into the cool evening air.

"Let me guess, they heard I was a dancer and one or more of them thought I was a stripper, well imagine their surprise when they find out that it was Latin and Contemporary dance." Hailee grinned.

"Yeah, my brother has a one track mind. I can't wait to collect the money that he owes me. I knew it wasn't that kind of dancing." Emma laughed.

"Sean just hasn't learned that women fall into more than two categories, he will learn that as he gets older." Albert chuckled.

"The look on his face is going to be worth taking that fifty quid." Emma nodded.

"Happy to help. It's not the first time a man has thought that, so it's fun to mess with them." Hailee laughed.

"I would very much love to see that. Here we are." Emma stopped in front of a bar.

"Are you ready, my dear?" Albi asked when he noticed that Hailee was hesitating.

Haylee shook her head and smiled as Albert offered her his arm.

"I'm as ready as I'm gonna be," she replied as she let him lead her inside.