Chapter Ten: Master Plan

The day after the party Irina sat with Sydney in her office, coaching her on her next mission. The only problem was, her daughter didn't seem to be paying attention.

"Sydney," she snapped.

Sydney jerked to attention as if she had forgotten where she was. "What? Oh, I'm sorry, Mother."

Irina cocked her head to one side, wondering what the best approach to take with her would be. "Would you like to tell me what's going on?"

"Oh, it's nothing, I just--" Sydney bit her lower lip as if wondering precisely how much she should share with her mother. "How much do you know about Brooke Banning?"

Irina smirked. "Everything, of course, darling." Who did Sydney think she was talking to? "What do you want to know?"

Sydney shrugged. "Just the basics, I guess."

Irina frowned in concern. Sydney really did seem quite disturbed. Not at all like herself. "Well, Brooke's a very capable agent. But a little more willful than I'd like."

"Great," Sydney muttered. "Exactly Michael's type."

"Excuse me?" Was it possible? Was Sydney actually worried that the valiant Prince Vaughn's eye was starting to wander?

"Nothing," Sydney said, shaking her head. "Tell me more. How old is she? How long has she been with your organization?"

Irina frowned, wondering exactly what had happened to inspire this line of questioning. Well, she'd find out when the time was right. "Brooke is twenty-two," Irina revealed. "And she's been with us for five years."

"Since she was seventeen?" Sydney asked unbelievingly.

"Yes," Irina confirmed. She could scarcely believe how shaken up her daughter was. It wasn't like her. "We found her in Phoenix, literally wandering the streets. Quite pathetic, really. She was a high school dropout, a runaway, a junkie. She'd been on her own for a year or more, slumming around with whoever could get her the next fix. I believe she said she was from Portland, actually, but her latest boyfriend had just left her in Phoenix like some common piece of trash." Irina laughed mirthlessly. "She was lucky we found her."

The hatred in Sydney's gaze took Irina by surprise. "So that's what you do," she spat. "You take people who are at their lowest, their weakest, and you make them your slaves."

Irina rose, circling the desk to pat her daughter's shoulder. "Except for you, darling. You joined me willingly."

Sydney glared up at her. "Fuck you."

Irina raised her eyebrows, but frankly, the words didn't shock her. "Don't judge me too harshly, Sydney," she said, returning to the other side of the desk to take her seat. "After all, didn't you do the same thing to Mr. Vaughn?"

Sydney's mouth dropped open, and her eyes filled with tears, but to her credit, she stayed silent.

"This insolent attitude of yours does not become you, and it's not like you," Irina said, eyeing her daughter critically. "Now why don't you tell me what your problem is?"

Sydney took a moment to collect herself before speaking. "It's nothing."

Irina frowned. "Why all the questions about Brooke, then? Did you meet her at the party?"

"Michael did," Sydney said archly.

Irina couldn't help but smile. She never would have pegged her daughter as the jealous kind. "Sydney, Brooke attended the party with Sark, you know that, don't you? They're something of an item."

"I'm sure they are. I'm not thinking rationally," Sydney sighed, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her temples. "I behaved so ridiculously at the party last night," she confessed. "I saw Brooke and Michael talking, and I marched up and attached myself to him like I was marking my territory, or something. I barely left his side all night. He practically had to pry me off of him when he wanted to use the restroom."

"Well, that's pathetic," Irina said, though secretly she thought it was kind of sweet.

"I know," Sydney admitted. "And Michael was really great about it, too. He didn't call me on acting crazy or jealous, he just, you know, followed my lead."

"Well, he's a good man, Sydney." Probably too good, Irina thought, to be mixed up with the likes of them. "Though hardly the only man on the planet."

"Mother--"

"I won't start," Irina said, holding her hands up in mock surrender. She felt a sudden tenderness towards her daughter, something quite unfamiliar to her. "You're not used to having Michael pay attention to other women, are you?"

"I'm not," Sydney said. "I've been spoiled. I've hardly ever even seen him in another woman's presence, so I've gotten to pretend I'm the only woman in the world when I'm with him."

Irina smiled. "Well, you very well may be the only woman for him, but that doesn't mean you can get lazy," she advised. "He's a very attractive man, Sydney, and quite charming and attentive. He needs to feel that you appreciate him."

"I know," Sydney said, rising from her chair suddenly. "Are we done here? I'd like to go find him."

"We can talk later," Irina said, waving her away. "Go to your lover."

Sydney beamed, and for one startling moment, Irina thought her daughter might actually hug her. But the moment passed, and Sydney started out the door. But not before she tossed a "Thanks, Mom," over her shoulder.

Irina settled back in her chair with a contented sigh. Well. She probably hadn't needed to build up Sydney's feelings for Michael like that, but she figured it had been worth it. Any damage that had been done could be repaired later. Right now, more than anything, she needed Sydney to trust her.

Then she could talk to her about where, precisely, Brooke Banning fit into her master plan.