Chapter Twenty Two
He glared at her once quickly before lowering his gaze and grabbing her by the elbow, forcing her to slow down until they were further behind Vaughn and Sydney, trailing by at least ten meters with a dozen people between them. She, of course, just let him lead, smirking at him as she realized she was, once again, winning. Around them, cars honked loudly and people rushed past, many of them dressed in more expensive clothing, as they were now entering the absolute most expensive area of the city.
Looking at her sideways, as though trying to work out how to play his hand, he spoke low and carefully, "I respect Agent Vaughn," he saw her face crease into a look of triumph and continued, smug grin fighting to take over his features, "More than quite a few other men." She scowled and he quickly added, "And you have to remember I do work with Arvin Sloane.
She narrowed her eyes and wrenched her arm from his grasp, "Jack, you can tell me, I won't tell him."
He cocked his head, not looking at her, looking directly ahead, "You expect me to trust you so simply? With out bothering to review the fact that I was under that exact false pretence for twenty years?" She shrugged but let him say more before trying to make him speak what he truly thought, "It seems intelligent for me to go against absolutely anything you imply."
"Everything?" she asked and, with no care as to what he decided, she grabbed his hand, turning it carefully in her own and letting her fingers travel over the slowly ageing skin. "Why would I not simply imply that I hated Agent Vaughn then." He raised an eyebrow, "Ahh...you're not the stupid."
He shook his head, acutely aware of her light, feathery finger tips on his hand as they walked. "No, not anymore." He paused, "Why would you care if I did or did not like Agent Vaughn?"
She grinned, looking down in case that only angered him, her brow creased as she looked up, doing everything in her power to maintain her new look or seriousness. "I figure that he's now got to be considered the lead runner for our," she emphasized the word, "son in law." She looked at him carefully, seeing the small amount of shock before anger clouded over, obviously fake tinged with true humour, something she missed dearly when it came to Jack. "I mean, it would be a huge problem if you decided you didn't like the father of your grand children," he glared at her.
She smiled back. "You are making a lot of assumptions there Irina." She raised an eyebrow and waited.
He didn't respond so she continued quickly, "I can see it happening, can't you?"
Yet another question that he didn't really want to answer. Then a solution hit him, why not answer honestly, he'd tried it with her before on the mission and it hadn't been so bad, why not try it again, it might actually work again, "I suppose, it could be a possibility." The look on her face earned a chuckle though he regretted it soon after, seeing her smile regained.
"I think grandchildren would be nice," she responded, smiling, ready for yet another match of playful banter. She looked at him momentarily before smiling and letting her head rest on his shoulder, he glared at her and she whispered, seductively, "For the show, remember, we're happily married."
He waited a moment, trying to get his voice level and void of emotion, "Irina, I have no time for grandchildren."
She interrupted, "Hmmm," her voice would have been classified by anyone else as dreamy, Jack saw it as suspicious, "But if you did, you'd want some wouldn't you."
He rolled his eyes, but continued to answer without holding back, "I suppose, but things aren't different so it doesn't matter." He pulled away as Sydney and Vaughn stopped in front of the next shop and turned to face them. Jack glared at his wife for a second before turning to Sydney and smiling.
An hour and a half later, Sydney was completely relaxed against Vaughn's side, an arm wrapped around his waist with his draped over her shoulders, as they made their way into the lobby of the Rialto Towers. The building itself was made purely of reflective glass, making it appear blue thanks to the crystal clear sky. Inside, tourist groups milled around, people bought over priced novelty items in the little shop and people waited in line to go up to the viewing deck.
Sydney and Vaughn followed Jack and his wife in, watching with amusement and lazy curiosity as the two continued to throw side way glances, glares, scowls and stares at each other. Had it been anyone else, it would truly have been completely comical, but being them there was a somberness about the entire happening. Jack spoke to the VIP attendant, whispering something in his ear and then motioning to the others to follow him as he followed the young man, dressed in his red uniform towards the lift, he whispered to the attendant standing there and soon after they were standing on the top level, royal red carpeting and oak tables, four of them occupied, all by close couples, sipping wine and picking at each other's meals.
A waiter met them, she was around thirty and seemed wiser than she should have been. She looked them over once, an eyebrow arching before she led them to a secluded table over near the floor to roof windows that looked out over the Yarra and across to the complex they were staying in. Again Irina acted the rich, gracious mother and waited for Jack to help her with her seat. Vaughn took the idea and helped Sydney to hers while Jack paused before hand, only hesitating enough to let Irina throw him a glare that said, 'do it or blow the mission', which wasn't all together true, but worked and he was soon seating her beside the chair he would soon sit down on.
The waitress helped them organize themselves, taking away the vase of flowers that cluttered the table and removing the place setting where no one had chosen to sit. She smiled serenely and handed each a red bound menu with more than ten pages, disappearing with a promise of return in five minutes to take orders.
Each person was settling into the position of happily married character and chattered deliriously about the many bags that they'd left with the attendant down stairs. The day head, in Vaughn, Sydney and Irina's opinion been wonderful, the black dress the best for Irina and a stunning gold one Sydney had found at the last shop topping off her day. Vaughn just decided he liked the lions which caused giggle from Sydney and Jack just sat there, uncharacteristic smug grin settled on his face as he watched them with something more like amusement and anticipation than anything else.
Irina was quick to realize this but chose to ignore it, knowing he would either explain eventually or that it would come to light by itself, either way, she was a patient woman and she could wait. The waitress came back as promised and took their orders, each grabbing the most elegant and large meal they could handle as none had eaten for hours and hours. Even Jack picked things he wasn't expected to, surprising Irina and arousing more and more suspicion, causing her patient to wane quickly.
The view was grand and they spent several minutes discussing and pointing out the tiny bundles of lights in the distance, the planes in the sky and the magnificent light and water shows going on in front of the Crown Promenade, explosions of flame, ten meter high spouts of water and flashing purple, blue and green against he water which lay beside it. They smiled and played the happily while each mind was, in all honesty weighed down with issues they had yet to bring up.
Vaughn was obviously nervous about the night ahead, not sure what was going to happen and not sure what he was prepared to do. Especially with the parents a wall apart and a door away. He wasn't sure where they now stood, what with protocol and the fact that every day Sydney put her life on the line and most importantly he wasn't sure if he could live without what he now had, should it come to that.
Sydney was worried not only in the same ways as Vaughn but about her parents, the spark was burning holes everywhere they went, for that matter, it could no longer be considered a spark, but perhaps, a very large bon fire. It wasn't that she was worried about their control; she figured that such well trained spies could handle it, but she was worried about the tension, some time soon, the air around them was going to become unbreathable and she wondered what would happen then. She smirked every now and then at the possibilities of such a happening.
Irina was slightly worried at how daft her daughter might be, now that love was a defiant between them, should they be so dumb as to assume invincibility, there was a good chance they would either do something stupid, get themselves killed or fired, or all three, in one day. Not to mention the smug grin Jack had was tearing at her faster and harsher than she had expected.
Jack wasn't too worried about any of the others, he was terrified hat he had just made a mistake, what he'd planned had been on impulse and while his instincts were usually good, around Irina everything was distorted including his own mind. He waited, the seconds slower than they ever had been for the happening to occur, holding the smug grin with confidence that it was necessary and letting his eyes wander over the three, Irina next to him and Sydney and Vaughn across, as they discussed the weather, the lights, the area, which, in his opinion was quite charming.
The waitress, he saw first, was quick on her feet despite wearing three inch heels and had the wine in her hand. This was a risk, but wasn't everything? And she was playing hard ball, playing with him, so why not just reverse it and try it on her. He knew from past experience that the best way to defeat an enemy was to use what they believed to be the most effective and that, in Irina's case was playfulness and games. This was his first and if it failed last time to rock her boat instead of his and the fact that the coincidence had been there was enough to spur him on.
The waitress approached unnoticed, cradling the bottle of wine and followed by one of the younger waiters who carried the ice box within which the wine would stay. She waited for quiet and Irina noticed the smug grin on Jack's face waver, it was perfect, flawless, perhaps, she decided because it was fake. She looked at the waitress who held out the bottle and, Australian accent in tact told them, "1958 Barbresco Serafino, as the gentleman requested."
Sydney and Vaughn eyed Jack suspiciously while Irina's mouth dropped; much to Jack's happiness, she gaped. And he couldn't resist leaning over, close to her ear, until he was sure she would feel his breath against her ear and whispered, hoping to hell that no one else heard, "You remember the wedding, I remember the honeymoon." It was cruel to do and dangerous for jack to risk, not to mention misleading he realized a few minutes later as it seemed to impose that he enjoyed the honeymoon, which, he now regretted implying as there was no way it could be denied.
Still, it was definitely a point to him, Irina was, utterly and completely speechless for at least twenty seconds, which, while not much for others, was more than she'd ever been with such a slight of hand. Jack grinned, Sydney and Vaughn just looking from one to the other, knowing that, for the first time Jack had just initiated another round of argument via speech and once again the two people that were to be the audience were enthralled and waiting to hear Irina's answer, hoping it would give some clue as to what it was Jack had first whispered in her ear.
Be duh! Two days in a row and I'm supposed to by studying! Oh well, who cares, bugger school, I'll just charge you a dollar each to read and I'm set for life ;) I think. Anyways, hope you enjoy this, it was sort of worked out as I wrote, so if it isn't up to standard well, bad luck . Please read and review and I am telling you, you would all love all my other stories, go and read and review those, they are all S/V, J/I and much like this one. Please go and read them. And review everything you read by anyone it's what keeps a writer going!
He glared at her once quickly before lowering his gaze and grabbing her by the elbow, forcing her to slow down until they were further behind Vaughn and Sydney, trailing by at least ten meters with a dozen people between them. She, of course, just let him lead, smirking at him as she realized she was, once again, winning. Around them, cars honked loudly and people rushed past, many of them dressed in more expensive clothing, as they were now entering the absolute most expensive area of the city.
Looking at her sideways, as though trying to work out how to play his hand, he spoke low and carefully, "I respect Agent Vaughn," he saw her face crease into a look of triumph and continued, smug grin fighting to take over his features, "More than quite a few other men." She scowled and he quickly added, "And you have to remember I do work with Arvin Sloane.
She narrowed her eyes and wrenched her arm from his grasp, "Jack, you can tell me, I won't tell him."
He cocked his head, not looking at her, looking directly ahead, "You expect me to trust you so simply? With out bothering to review the fact that I was under that exact false pretence for twenty years?" She shrugged but let him say more before trying to make him speak what he truly thought, "It seems intelligent for me to go against absolutely anything you imply."
"Everything?" she asked and, with no care as to what he decided, she grabbed his hand, turning it carefully in her own and letting her fingers travel over the slowly ageing skin. "Why would I not simply imply that I hated Agent Vaughn then." He raised an eyebrow, "Ahh...you're not the stupid."
He shook his head, acutely aware of her light, feathery finger tips on his hand as they walked. "No, not anymore." He paused, "Why would you care if I did or did not like Agent Vaughn?"
She grinned, looking down in case that only angered him, her brow creased as she looked up, doing everything in her power to maintain her new look or seriousness. "I figure that he's now got to be considered the lead runner for our," she emphasized the word, "son in law." She looked at him carefully, seeing the small amount of shock before anger clouded over, obviously fake tinged with true humour, something she missed dearly when it came to Jack. "I mean, it would be a huge problem if you decided you didn't like the father of your grand children," he glared at her.
She smiled back. "You are making a lot of assumptions there Irina." She raised an eyebrow and waited.
He didn't respond so she continued quickly, "I can see it happening, can't you?"
Yet another question that he didn't really want to answer. Then a solution hit him, why not answer honestly, he'd tried it with her before on the mission and it hadn't been so bad, why not try it again, it might actually work again, "I suppose, it could be a possibility." The look on her face earned a chuckle though he regretted it soon after, seeing her smile regained.
"I think grandchildren would be nice," she responded, smiling, ready for yet another match of playful banter. She looked at him momentarily before smiling and letting her head rest on his shoulder, he glared at her and she whispered, seductively, "For the show, remember, we're happily married."
He waited a moment, trying to get his voice level and void of emotion, "Irina, I have no time for grandchildren."
She interrupted, "Hmmm," her voice would have been classified by anyone else as dreamy, Jack saw it as suspicious, "But if you did, you'd want some wouldn't you."
He rolled his eyes, but continued to answer without holding back, "I suppose, but things aren't different so it doesn't matter." He pulled away as Sydney and Vaughn stopped in front of the next shop and turned to face them. Jack glared at his wife for a second before turning to Sydney and smiling.
An hour and a half later, Sydney was completely relaxed against Vaughn's side, an arm wrapped around his waist with his draped over her shoulders, as they made their way into the lobby of the Rialto Towers. The building itself was made purely of reflective glass, making it appear blue thanks to the crystal clear sky. Inside, tourist groups milled around, people bought over priced novelty items in the little shop and people waited in line to go up to the viewing deck.
Sydney and Vaughn followed Jack and his wife in, watching with amusement and lazy curiosity as the two continued to throw side way glances, glares, scowls and stares at each other. Had it been anyone else, it would truly have been completely comical, but being them there was a somberness about the entire happening. Jack spoke to the VIP attendant, whispering something in his ear and then motioning to the others to follow him as he followed the young man, dressed in his red uniform towards the lift, he whispered to the attendant standing there and soon after they were standing on the top level, royal red carpeting and oak tables, four of them occupied, all by close couples, sipping wine and picking at each other's meals.
A waiter met them, she was around thirty and seemed wiser than she should have been. She looked them over once, an eyebrow arching before she led them to a secluded table over near the floor to roof windows that looked out over the Yarra and across to the complex they were staying in. Again Irina acted the rich, gracious mother and waited for Jack to help her with her seat. Vaughn took the idea and helped Sydney to hers while Jack paused before hand, only hesitating enough to let Irina throw him a glare that said, 'do it or blow the mission', which wasn't all together true, but worked and he was soon seating her beside the chair he would soon sit down on.
The waitress helped them organize themselves, taking away the vase of flowers that cluttered the table and removing the place setting where no one had chosen to sit. She smiled serenely and handed each a red bound menu with more than ten pages, disappearing with a promise of return in five minutes to take orders.
Each person was settling into the position of happily married character and chattered deliriously about the many bags that they'd left with the attendant down stairs. The day head, in Vaughn, Sydney and Irina's opinion been wonderful, the black dress the best for Irina and a stunning gold one Sydney had found at the last shop topping off her day. Vaughn just decided he liked the lions which caused giggle from Sydney and Jack just sat there, uncharacteristic smug grin settled on his face as he watched them with something more like amusement and anticipation than anything else.
Irina was quick to realize this but chose to ignore it, knowing he would either explain eventually or that it would come to light by itself, either way, she was a patient woman and she could wait. The waitress came back as promised and took their orders, each grabbing the most elegant and large meal they could handle as none had eaten for hours and hours. Even Jack picked things he wasn't expected to, surprising Irina and arousing more and more suspicion, causing her patient to wane quickly.
The view was grand and they spent several minutes discussing and pointing out the tiny bundles of lights in the distance, the planes in the sky and the magnificent light and water shows going on in front of the Crown Promenade, explosions of flame, ten meter high spouts of water and flashing purple, blue and green against he water which lay beside it. They smiled and played the happily while each mind was, in all honesty weighed down with issues they had yet to bring up.
Vaughn was obviously nervous about the night ahead, not sure what was going to happen and not sure what he was prepared to do. Especially with the parents a wall apart and a door away. He wasn't sure where they now stood, what with protocol and the fact that every day Sydney put her life on the line and most importantly he wasn't sure if he could live without what he now had, should it come to that.
Sydney was worried not only in the same ways as Vaughn but about her parents, the spark was burning holes everywhere they went, for that matter, it could no longer be considered a spark, but perhaps, a very large bon fire. It wasn't that she was worried about their control; she figured that such well trained spies could handle it, but she was worried about the tension, some time soon, the air around them was going to become unbreathable and she wondered what would happen then. She smirked every now and then at the possibilities of such a happening.
Irina was slightly worried at how daft her daughter might be, now that love was a defiant between them, should they be so dumb as to assume invincibility, there was a good chance they would either do something stupid, get themselves killed or fired, or all three, in one day. Not to mention the smug grin Jack had was tearing at her faster and harsher than she had expected.
Jack wasn't too worried about any of the others, he was terrified hat he had just made a mistake, what he'd planned had been on impulse and while his instincts were usually good, around Irina everything was distorted including his own mind. He waited, the seconds slower than they ever had been for the happening to occur, holding the smug grin with confidence that it was necessary and letting his eyes wander over the three, Irina next to him and Sydney and Vaughn across, as they discussed the weather, the lights, the area, which, in his opinion was quite charming.
The waitress, he saw first, was quick on her feet despite wearing three inch heels and had the wine in her hand. This was a risk, but wasn't everything? And she was playing hard ball, playing with him, so why not just reverse it and try it on her. He knew from past experience that the best way to defeat an enemy was to use what they believed to be the most effective and that, in Irina's case was playfulness and games. This was his first and if it failed last time to rock her boat instead of his and the fact that the coincidence had been there was enough to spur him on.
The waitress approached unnoticed, cradling the bottle of wine and followed by one of the younger waiters who carried the ice box within which the wine would stay. She waited for quiet and Irina noticed the smug grin on Jack's face waver, it was perfect, flawless, perhaps, she decided because it was fake. She looked at the waitress who held out the bottle and, Australian accent in tact told them, "1958 Barbresco Serafino, as the gentleman requested."
Sydney and Vaughn eyed Jack suspiciously while Irina's mouth dropped; much to Jack's happiness, she gaped. And he couldn't resist leaning over, close to her ear, until he was sure she would feel his breath against her ear and whispered, hoping to hell that no one else heard, "You remember the wedding, I remember the honeymoon." It was cruel to do and dangerous for jack to risk, not to mention misleading he realized a few minutes later as it seemed to impose that he enjoyed the honeymoon, which, he now regretted implying as there was no way it could be denied.
Still, it was definitely a point to him, Irina was, utterly and completely speechless for at least twenty seconds, which, while not much for others, was more than she'd ever been with such a slight of hand. Jack grinned, Sydney and Vaughn just looking from one to the other, knowing that, for the first time Jack had just initiated another round of argument via speech and once again the two people that were to be the audience were enthralled and waiting to hear Irina's answer, hoping it would give some clue as to what it was Jack had first whispered in her ear.
Be duh! Two days in a row and I'm supposed to by studying! Oh well, who cares, bugger school, I'll just charge you a dollar each to read and I'm set for life ;) I think. Anyways, hope you enjoy this, it was sort of worked out as I wrote, so if it isn't up to standard well, bad luck . Please read and review and I am telling you, you would all love all my other stories, go and read and review those, they are all S/V, J/I and much like this one. Please go and read them. And review everything you read by anyone it's what keeps a writer going!