AS 2.06 Paper Caper by Star24
Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters are property and copyright Twentieth Century Fox and James Cameron and Charles Eglee. This original story is copyright 2003 Star24.
AN: Sorry for the delay on this. Real life intervened this past week but things are getting back to normal now so you will be seeing the rest of this on a regular basis again.
----------------------------------------------
Chapter Eleven
Exclusive Restaurant, Seattle
The dark town car pulled up to the canopy of a high rise building not far from Fogle Towers, and the uniformed chauffeur came around to open the back door. A pair of long slim legs, encased in silky nylons and a pair of high strappy black sandals, came into view and the porter for the building repressed a whistle.
A beautiful woman wearing a simple black dress that clung to every curve, followed the legs. The dress was strapless and reached only to mid thigh. Jewels glittered around the woman's neck and on her bare arms. She tossed her mane of dark hair and, without a glance at the chauffeur or the porter, strode through the door that the latter held open for her, as if she owned the restaurant she was entering.
As she came into view the maitre de snapped to attention and gave her a practiced smile. "May I be of assistance to mademoiselle?" he asked smoothly.
"I'm meeting Carlos. My name is Max," she answered.
"Ah yes. Carlos awaits you. But if I may be excused for saying so, he did not tell me that one of such great beauty would be joining him."
Max gave the man a glittering smile and followed him to a table in a secluded corner. A lone man sat there sipping a drink. An ice bucket holding a bottle of champagne was placed next to the table. The man arose as the maitre de and Max approached.
"You are Max?" he asked with an appreciative glance that swept from her head to toes. He had a slight accent.
Max raised her eyebrows. "You were expecting someone else?" she replied haughtily, playing her role of bored socialite perfectly.
"I wasn't expecting such rare beauty." Carlos said taking her hand in his and kissing it in the European fashion. The maitre de was holding out Max's chair and she slid into it and allowed him to slide it close to the table. Carlos nodded in dismissal to the man and then slid into his own seat.
"Champagne?" He asked. "I ordered Cristal."
"That will do I suppose," Max said in a bored voice.
Carlos snapped his fingers and a waiter hurried forward to uncork the champagne. He handed a glass to Carlos for his approval and then poured a glass for Max. Max took it from him and casually sipped from it before placing it down on the table.
"I've taken the liberty of ordering the house to prepare a special dinner for us. I hope that will be acceptable?" Carlos said smoothly.
Max sent him a smoldering look. "I normally prefer to order my own meal, but since you've already ordered we can let it stand." She shrugged.
"You surprise me, Max. I expected you to bite his head off for that one." Logan's voice sounded in her ear and she suppressed a smile.
"Janine's message asking me to meet you for dinner didn't tell me how exquisite you are." Carlos said to Max.
"Talk about over the top." Logan said sardonically in her ear.
"That surprises you?" Max said. "Do you really expect one woman to sing the praises of another?"
Carlos smiled in acknowledgement of her point and once more raised his glass to her. "So why were you interested in meeting with me? Janine was somewhat curt in her note." His smile was intimate, but Max noted the sharp look in his eyes.
"It's a rather delicate matter."
"You can be assured of my discretion. Especially for one so beautiful as you." Carlos placed his hand over the one she had resting on the tabletop.
"My husband has had some…reverses. He's actually cut my clothing and jewelry allowance." Max pouted sexily. "Janine said that you might be able to…assist me. I know simply everyone in Seattle society and can easily introduce you to whomever you'd like to meet." She paused and then continued, "In return for certain considerations, of course."
Carlos's smile was that of a wolf sighting an easy prey. "But of course. A woman such as you deserves only the best in clothing and jewelry. I can promise you that you will be more than happy with what I can provide for you."
There was a momentary silence as a waiter placed a crystal bowl filled with caviar on the table in front of them.
Max raised her glass to Carlos and sent him a sexy smile. She allowed her eyes to sweep over his well-groomed figure making sure he was aware of her look. "Rumor has it that you're skilled at making a woman happy in many ways."
"Laying it on a bit thick aren't you?" Logan said.
Carlos smiled suggestively at Max. "Rumor is no substitute for first hand knowledge."
"And how might I get that?"
"Perhaps you would like to join me for drinks after dinner at my apartment. I have an extensive art collection I think you'd enjoy viewing."
"I think I might like that." Max purred. She reached for a cracker and spread caviar on it.
"And I thought that old line about come see my etchings went out before the Pulse." Logan commented. A swift look of annoyance crossed Max's face.
"Is something wrong, Cherie?" Carlos asked.
"The caviar. It doesn't seem quite fresh." Max covered.
Carlos frowned. He called over a waiter who removed the dish with profuse apologies. The rest of the dinner passed uneventfully. Max continued to flirt with Carlos, who grew bolder in his looks and touches as the evening progressed. When dinner was finished, Max excused herself to go to the powder room. Once she was safely inside of it, she checked to be sure she was alone and then threw the lock on the door.
"Logan, if you don't shut up you're going to blow this entire dealio." She said, irritation clear in her voice.
"What have I done?" Logan's voice said in a tone of innocence.
"Only commented on everything he's said to me all evening. I knew letting you wire me was a bad idea." Max retorted.
"Fine. I'll stop. But you might want to keep your mind on the job at hand and off of his 'wonderful hands'." Logan snapped back.
Max sighed. "Logan it's a job. You don't need to get all jealous on me."
"Just make sure those hands of his don't find anything they shouldn't." Logan answered. "Like your wire."
"Is that all you're worried about him finding?" Max parried, smiling at his clear jealousy of the other man.
"What else would I be worried about?" Logan said sharply.
"You don't have anything to worry about." Max assured him in a sultry voice. "I better get back before he wonders what's taking me so long."
"Don't drink anything he might have ordered while you were gone. And make sure I hear the address of where you're going from here. Just in case." Logan ordered.
"I've been taking care of myself around guys like him for a long time, Logan." Max responded.
"Just make sure I know the address. I can't exactly have your back if I don't know where you are."
"Yes master." Max replied sarcastically. "Not like I never had any undercover ops training, you know."
With that she opened the door to the ladies room and returned to the table. In her absence Carlos had ordered after dinner drinks.
"I ordered you a sherry." He smiled at her. She gave silent thanks that Logan refrained from commenting.
"Why thank you. How considerate." Max purred and picked up her glass. She raised it to her lips, but as she did the waiter handed Carlos a slip to sign. He turned to leave the table and his elbow hit the glass causing it to slip from Max's hand and fall to the floor.
"Clumsy fool." Carlos glared at the waiter, his anger seeming out of proportion to the incident. "Bring the lady another."
Max put a hand on his arm. "Don't worry about it. I'm ready to go anyway. I'm simply dying to see your art collection."
Mollified, Carlos let it drop. "I have a special sherry at my apartment. Perhaps you will try some of that?"
"I'd adore that. Shall we go now?"
Carlos rose and held her chair for her. He took her arm possessively as he led her from the restaurant.
End of Chapter Eleven
