A/N: Here's chapter four for you. I know this was later than expected, but i got bogged down by school requirements. Thank you to those who reviewed previously, I appreciate it lot.
To Melpomene: Gomen ne. Anyway, here it is. I hope you won't be disappointed
Disclaimer:I don not own GW
Painful Choices
Chapter 4: the show starts
'Hotel Grandeur.' That was the name of the chic place that the couple entered to stay in for the duration of their mission, unless, of course, if duty calls for a different location.
"How appropriate," Sally muttered as they stepped into the opulent hotel lobby, taking in the gleaming, marble floors, elegant fixture and not to mention the gigantic chandelier that illuminates the grand staircase. It was all very beautiful, and undoubtedly very expensive.
"Are there reservations under Mr. and Mrs. Zhang?" Wufei asked when they approached the front desk.
"I'll look it up sir."
"Thank you"
"Nice place," Sally commented, trying to start a conversation.
"Yeah," came Wufei's short reply.
Silence closed in on them. No one appears to have any topic in mind. It seems that all lines of conversation and points of argument had been exhausted that afternoon during the trip. Sally pursed her lips, apparently thinking of something to say, and not finding any, she decided to wander off. She ended up looking at the mini garden to the left, her gaze drifted restlessly as exhaustion slowly crept up on her.
She could feel the heaviness in the air as the full weight of this mission hit her. It wasn't easy, this thing they had to do. Not for her at least. There's just too many things about her. At least she was enjoying the whole thing, for the time being anyway, but she's pretty sure rough times are up ahead. She was too absorbed to notice the figure that walked towards her.
"You seem to be quiet. What happened? Cat got your tongue?" Wufei's mocking voice interrupted her train of thoughts.
"Certainly not. I was only thinking of another way to rile your honorable person."
"Well then think, until your flighty onna brain can make something up. I'm sure it'll be in a couple of days or so, if you get lucky maybe you might just think of something tonight," he smirked at her, "Be sure to notify me then."
"You… you… CREEP!!!"
"Is that the best you can do?"
"Jerk!"
Wufei looked at her face and sighed resignedly, "C'mon, let's go"
"What? We're not finished and you know that buster."
"You're tired. Let's go." He took a hold of her arm and started leading her to the stairs.
"And how in the world did you come to that lousy conclusion?" she raised an eyebrow at him.
"You can't think of proper insults anymore. That's a sign that your brain is getting muddled and therefore you're tired," Wufei stated in a matter-of-fact voice.
"YOU are SUCH a-"
"Don't try to argue with me onna. You know that I'm right so let's go," he started pulling her up the staircase.
"You don't know me."
"Yes I do. I've been working with you long enough and so far I haven't miscalculated," When Wufei saw the looks that some of the people were giving them, he wrapped his arms around her and using a voice loud enough to be heard by the onlookers said, "Come on sweetheart. I know how much you love gardening and I promise I'll give you anything you want but after you take a rest."
Sally's eyes widened with surprise. She wasn't expecting that from him, but she caught on immediately. Straightening up, she smiled at Wufei and hooked her arm around his for show, "ok"
They followed the porter through a maze of corridors until they stopped in front of a varnished oak door. Of course there wasn't anything different about that oak door since almost every room in that place had a varnished oak door, but it was the inside that made all the difference. Wall to wall carpeting covered the floors. A plush living room greeted their eyes, complete with a divan and a love seat, plus a coffee table.
Sally's eyes lit up with appreciation. She approached the door that most probably led to the sleeping quarters and opened it. Taking in the king-sized, four poster bed and the tasteful furnishings, she stretched and sighed, then with absolute bliss, plomped herself down on it, "Heaven…"
Wufei watched with amusement. He seldom sees her that carefree. Come to think of it, he never actually saw her that way before.
"I must say that Lady Une has a very nice taste in lodgings…" Sally murmured.
"Fairly well I guess. It makes up for her conniving intentions…"
"Hmmm…"
"We'll start at 20:00 hrs"
"uhm…"
"Rest now."
"…"
Wufei sighed. I didn't have to tell her that. Wufei watched her for a while. She looked so peaceful. I guess we'll have to talk about sleeping arrangements later on. That was his last thought before he started checking up the equipment that Une had set up for them.
7:55 pm
Sally was tapping her foot rhythmically on the floor, up and ready for the mission, but there was the predicament of the missing partner that has yet to be solved. When she woke up, the equipment that Lady Une supposedly sent before them were already set up, but Wufei, who undoubtedly did the setting up, and her supposed husband was nowhere to be found. She was beginning to mutter impatiently when the door's creaking effectively stopped her just as the clock stroke 8:00 pm.
"The egoistic creep is on time as always," Sally mumbled as Wufei entered.
"I see you're ready."
"Obviously, you're not the only person in the world who can be punctual."
"Maybe, but compared to you, I'm always better at it."
Sally rolled her eyes and let that go since it did have a tinge of truth in it, "Where have you been?"
Wufei shrugged, "Around. Now let's go," He took he hand and led her through the corridors and into the plush dining hall of the hotel. It was not until they were seated and have been served their food that Sally started a conversation.
"Well.."
"What?"
"Well can you brief me about what you've been doing?"
"You finally had the sense to ask."
"Will you just stop it? We're trying to keep an appearance here and your snide remarks are not helping."
"Well if you didn't sleep then you would've known everything I know by now."
"Fine. You're right." Sally spoke in resignation, "But I was tired and you knew that. Maintaining the look of a model is not easy work especially when you're not used to it."
"How would I know, I'm not one."
"Well then maybe you should try it. Wear high heels and mini skirts for a change and let's see how you feel."
"That's the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard from you. Besides, that's your job, not mine"
"Then don't complain about anything."
"Fine"
"Fine"
"So…"
"What?"
Sally sighed in exasperation, "Can't you ever stop being obstinate? You haven't told me anything yet."
"Fine,' Wufei put on a serious look, "I've scouted around trying to look up the list of suspected people Une had given us. I found out that they were the ideal conspirators for disrupting the peace. Ambitious, rich and influential sort of people who want more power than they could probably manage.
"Did you get any idea about what their motives are?"
"No. That's what we're supposed to find out. We're going to the casino after dinner and if we're lucky, they're going to be there."
"And hopefully, we could infiltrate their circle."
"Hopefully."
***
They were standing in front of another set of oak doors. It was time for show.
"Ready?" Wufei asked her.
"Ready."
"Hold on to my arm and let's try to look like we belong here."
They strode in, heads held up high and sociable smiles in their faces, all the while taking in the people, trying to look for the familiar faces of their targets. High pitched laughs of women hanging on to their respective partners echoed inside the place, voices of men voicing their bets and stakes rumbled on. It was the orderly chaos that always seemed to rule most casinos and such places that greeted them. Out of the corner of his eyes, Wufei noticed two men whispering in a corner and glance at them. After sometime, one of the two, a tall, well-dressed and dark-haired man approached them, while he nudged Sally imperceptibly.
Sally felt the slight push at her and looked at Wufei, whose head was turned at his side. Following her partner's gaze, she saw the man. A welcoming smile lighted his handsome face as he approached them. He looked familiar, as she had looked at his picture a dozen of times in various reports in Preventer's headquarters, but his name though, she can't remember.
"Good evening sir," he held up his hand for a handshake, that Wufei graciously accepted, "I believe that you are new in this place. I have been a frequent guest here and I swear that I have never seen you before."
"You are quite accurate, Mister…"
"Ah, my name is Silvanus Roscoe, and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance…"
"Nathaniel Zhang. And you are right Mr. Roscoe, we are new here."
"It is nice to know that I' haven't lost my touch when it comes to those things," then to Sally, he gave an enigmatic smile and kissed her hand, "and you mademoiselle, would be…"
Sally felt the intense gaze of the man's eyes on her "Tamara Zhang, his wife," Sally gave bright smile to the charming man.
"Ah, you rend my heart beautiful lady, and my high hopes of spending time with you."
"Oh you can spend time with me of course, I am not discouraging it. I love making new friends."
Silvanus' eyes sparkled with amusement, "True, but t is not mere friendship that I was after and I'm afraid you husband might kill me with his looks if I don't stop anytime soon."
"I trust my wife Mr. Roscoe," Wufei glanced at Sally.
"That I do not doubt, but I'm pretty sure you're not here to talk. You're here to enjoy, and since I was the first to welcome you, it would just be proper that I challenge you," Silvanus was already leading them to a table.
"Fine with me. One card. Highest card wins. What is the wager?"
"Ten million."
Sally almost gasped. She knows they had the money in Preventer's but ten million is a large sum to lose.
Wufei nodded and took a seat, "Deal."
Silvanus Roscoe nodded to the dealer and the two men were given one card each.
"Tell me Mr. Zhang, what's your job?
"I'm a business man."
"Must be a large business you run."
"Large enough."
"I haven't heard of you before," Silvanus sent Wufei a piercing stare.
Wufei met the stare head on, "Nor have I heard of you. We belong to different circles."
"What's you opinion about the current state of the world?"
"It's peaceful, but peace gets boring at times," Wufei answered nonchalantly.
"Jack of hearts," Silvanus Roscoe flipped his card over.
Wufei raised an eyebrow and turned his card over, revealing the king of hearts, "I believe I win."
"Come with me Mr. Zhang. I have people for you to meet."
Wufei stood up and took Sally's hand before following. A grave look on his face. They've done it.
Silvanus Roscoe. The name stuck to Sally's head. She remembers now. Silvanus Roscoe was a ladies' man, a true charmer, and very rich. He has been involved in political skirmishes now and then but never in anything too big. That just made her wonder what he knows about this whole thing.
A/N: How was that? Hopefully I'd get chapter 5 up soon enough.