Chapter II: Old habits…
Ron was surprised to see Bonnie. He knew that she work for Nakasumi but didn't know that she worked closer to home, so to speak. Ron knew that when graduated, Bonnie would leave Middleton and go as far away as possible from that town. Ron thought that she would at least work abroad.
Ron was intrigued by her reaction. So far, she did not react in her usual haughty way, like demanding what a loser was doing in LA, or where was little goodie little two shoes.
Bonnie just stood there, slightly agape and, for an instant, looked like she was glad to see him. But you know what they say about old habits…
"What the hell are you doing here?" Bonnie asked tartly, much to Ron's amusement.
"Same old Bon-bon," Ron smiled as he shook his head. "For a moment there, I thought you were going to see if I'm real or not." The thought actually crossed Bonnie's mind. She was about to touch him, to see if he was real when her mind began working again. Of course he was real! Though his hair was longer and his smile effortlessly molded into place, she knew she was not dreaming.
Bonnie cringed as she heard her voice filled with disbelief and acid. She didn't mean it. Her she was, given a second chance to talk to Ron and she blew it by saying what first came to mind. She glanced at his ring finger and in a small consolation saw that it was bare. Not even a tan line.
As Bonnie's brain began working she began to notice that he was alone. No one was with him. No date. No companion. No girlfriend? Bonnie secretly hoped and judging by his tired eyes, she could sense a story behind the guarded windows to his soul.
Curiosity ate her. What was going on?
"You're Mr. Nakasumi's guest?" Bonnie asked, trying to make sense to it all.
"That's right, ma'am," the guard said, showing her the manifest. "Mr. Ronald Stoppable. Mr. Nakasumi said to treat him like his son." More questions formed in her mind. Why was he special?
"Well," Bonnie sighed as she smirked. "Come on then," Bonnie turned around and passed the metal detector, causing it to chime. Ron guesses that it was her jewelry that made the machine chime. Ron sighed and walked through the device and making it sound.
Bonnie looked at him in askance but Ron merely smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head.
"It's okay," the guard said, waving him through. "Mr. Nakasumi said to let him through without being searched." Another mystery. Why was Ron treated like he owned the place? Bonnie asked the question silently as she led him to the elevator.
As soon as the doors closed and the floor was chosen, Bonnie immediately faced Ron, her hands were on her hips. "What did you do to get invited?" she demanded. Mentally, she cursed herself. Years of diplomatic training, anger management and logic were tossed into the wind. There was something about him that brought the worst in her. But something was off.
Ron was still smiling. Usually he would go defensive and demand what right she had… no, that's wrong. That was Kim. But still, Ron was acting differently.
"Actually, I wasn't invited alone," Bonnie knew it! Where was that redheaded bitch? It seemed unnatural to see Ron without Kim. "Is Mr. Nakasumi up?"
"Actually, he was called for an emergency back in Japan that needed his personal supervision. So where is she?" Bonnie asked, crossing her arms around her chest, waiting for an answer.
"She?" Ron was confused at the question. Who was this she? Looking at her prim features, he realized whom she was talking about. He didn't become Detective of being slow. "There is no she. Felix was invited but he has a family reunion that he couldn't get out off." Bonnie sighed loudly in relief, much to Ron's surprise and curiosity.
Ron couldn't make heads or tails at Bonnie's actions. He knew she could be a little stuck up, all right, maybe that was putting it mildly, but her reactions were becoming a mystery to him.
Ron had to mature greatly in college to get to the level of logical comprehension he attained but no amount of logic could explain Bonnie's demeanor. No explanation except one. And Ron found himself blushing at the concept.
"So, where is the princess?" Bonnie's tone soften a bit, but her ire of Kim was still evident. At least she wasn't angry with him, for that, Ron was grateful.
"Don't know. Don't actually care," Ron said as blandly as possible. He was saved from more questions when the elevator doors opened. Ron sighed as he proceeded out, thinking that he was saved. But he thought wrong.
Bonnie, not wanting to miss the big scoop, grabbed Ron by the ear and pulled him towards her office. He was surprised by the sudden move that he was unable to counter. Actually, how do you counter a woman dragging you by the ear? The answer, you don't. Especially if that woman was Bonnie Rockweller.
Everyone was in such a joyous mood that they didn't notice their senior manager dragging some poor bloke to her office. That and the fact that they were intoxicated. The only person who noticed was Tara, who was blinking in confusion at the spectacle. Ron saw her and managed a weak wave. Tara managed to wave back but they were already inside Bonnie's office. Something was up and she knew it.
Bonnie was still dragging Ron by the ear when she locked her office door. But when she turned she accidentally twisted Ron's ear, and that was enough.
"Fuck it!" Ron said as she struggled away from her grasp and nursed his ear. Bonnie, not used to hear him curse was astonished. Something had changed dramatically when this once sweet, although weird, boy turned into a cursing man. And when she saw Ron go for a pack of cigarettes, she was astounded. Ron's only vice was that he eats too many fatty foods, but now… There was something seriously wrong and she would get to the bottom of it.
"SIT!" Bonnie pointed to a chair by the desk and Ron, too astounded by the command, obeyed. Bonnie took a deep breath and let it all out at once to clear her mind. It didn't help. Not with the reminder of her dream about Ron. She had him all for herself. The door was locked and the room was soundproofed. There was no escape for Ron.
Ron looked at the woman nervously. From his vantage point, he was beginning to see what kind of woman Bonnie had turned into. With her black blazer and miniskirt, she fit the "Yuppie" type perfectly. Though, he must admit, she looked hot in her business outfit.
Hot? What was Ron thinking? Here he was, trapped in a closed room with a rather miffed Bonnie and he was thinking she was hot? He must be out of his mind. She was smokin'.
Bonnie caught him giving her the once over. As she did, her pulse raced. Looking at Ron, really looking at him, he had changed. But the way he slouched on the chair, she could tell that he was working out. She wouldn't be surprised to find out that he was carrying a set of six packs. How she loved to test that theory. But not now.
Now, she needed answers. She walked towards him and sat on the desk, her foot was resting on the chair he was sitting right between the legs. Bonnie wasn't being sexy, she was being all business.
But seeing her all business was sexy to Ron. He swallowed his nervousness as he tried to avert his eyes from her stocking clad shapely legs. It took him all the will power he had not to stroke it. Man, he really needed to get laid.
Bonnie was thinking about the same thing about herself. With the tension she was feeling, she was prepared to give Ron a gift he would never forget. But first thing's first.
"What happened?" Bonnie asked, crossing her arms. But Ron, heaven help him, was staring at her legs. It was not a perverted stare but it was like he was debating what to do with her leg. Although flattered that a simple leg could mesmerize him, Bonnie snapped her fingers to get his attention. "RON!"
Ron blinked and looked up. Ron noticed the changes that the cheerleader had since they last met. For one, her hair was longer and tied into a knot. He was curious how it would look like in its natural state and how it would feel in his fingers. And when Ron breathed, she had a scent of lavender that assaulted his senses.
"Ron, answer me or heaven help you you'll sing soprano in the Christmas choir," Bonnie, a little irritated, smirked at him. She knew she had an affect on men but not this severe.
"What's there to tell?" Ron said, finally looking into her eyes. "That you're right? A person like me had no chance on someone high on the food chain even though she's his best friend?" the hurt was gushing from within. Bonnie never felt such self-loathing in her life. Back then she would be glad to hear this from Ron but now… she didn't know.
"Dumped you, did she?" Bonnie smirked. Maybe she had a chance… She blinked in surprise. Where did that come from?
"Actually, not yet," Ron sighed as he looked away. Ron was about to light a stick when Bonnie snatched the offending object away and threw it in the trashcan. "What was that for?"
"When ever you are in my presence you will refrain from smoking," Bonnie sneered.
"And who died and made you boss?" Ron said, his mood gone with the cigarette stick.
"Fuck you, Ron," Bonnie said, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Be careful, Bon-bon. I might take you up on that offer," Bonnie looked at his face to see if he was joking but she didn't find any sign. Was he serious? A shiver trailed her spine. Would he really? She found herself really anticipating a good romp. Looking at her disbelieving face, Ron suddenly laughed and stood. But he had momentarily brushed his groin on her leg and they felt the shock from the contact.
Ron was the first to recover and gave her a sweet smile. "Relax, Bon-bon. I know you wouldn't want to do anything to ruin your reputation. And that includes being seen with a loser like me." Bonnie was hurt by that statement and she knew that she was the cause. She planned to ask for his forgiveness the next time they met and now that they did, she couldn't help but antagonize him. Wouldn't she change?
"Listen, I need to freshen up. Where's the bathroom?" Ron asked, trying to gracefully exit before more words would be traded. Bonnie pointed towards her private washroom. Ron smiled in thanks and went through the door and into the bathroom. When he closed the door, Bonnie gave out a loud sigh and went to her chair and slumped down in shame.
"What am I doing?" Bonnie said softly, berating herself for being a bitch. She had a chance to patch things up with Ron and she blew it. Why had she to be so damn antagonizing to him?
There was one more question that nagged her: Why was she even trying?
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Ron Stoppable removed his jacket and hung it on a rack. He was still feeling the tension of the flight, now it was added with the tension Bonnie created. He still couldn't believe she could still be that bitchy. But there was another thing to consider: Bonnie's strange behavior.
Ron sighed as he removed his shoulder holster and laid it on the sink. Bonnie was acting pretty weird. First she seemed glad to see him, then quite annoyed and then… Ron shook his head as he removed his shirt. He was no longer dense not to notice the signs. A part of Bonnie wanted to jump him right there and then, in the middle of her office. But why would she? Ron couldn't figure that part out yet.
But stranger still was the fact that Ron wouldn't mind if Bonnie jumped his bones. And that disturbed him. Bonnie had become a beautiful woman. She was pretty to begin with but the air of superiority was gone, in exchange was an air of professionalism that defined her.
Ron smiled. Her work changed her for the better. And he was glad that he had recommended her to Mr. Nakasumi. And from his last missive, the game magnate told him that Bonnie was getting along fine with her officemates and was being commended by her supervisors. It was no wonder that she had excelled to the rank of Senior Manager in such a short time.
When he accepted the invitation, he would have never thought that it would end up like this.
Ron was down to his tank top undershirt when he opened the faucet and stuck his head through the flowing water in attempt to cool down.
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Tara was worried when she was Bonnie emerge from her office, looking like she needed a drink. Earlier, she saw, much to her surprise, Bonnie was dragging Ron by the ear. Something was up and she was dying to know.
Tara made her way towards her friend to see if she was all right. But when she saw her, she immediately knew that she wasn't. Bonnie looked like she had given up on life. The only time she saw her like this was the day after the prom when Ron and Kim were officially an item. It took her a while to get her to talk and when she did, she was in a shock of her life.
Bonnie had feelings for Ron. Tara knew that Bonnie was a shy girl and the only way she knew how to overcome her shyness was to be mean to everyone. Unfortunately, her meanness had pushed potential friends. The only friend she had was Tara. The others… Bonnie wasn't sure but they stuck to her because of the food chain.
Ever since they left Middleton, Tara and Bonnie went to make it on their own. Who would have thought that they would end up in a multi-million gaming empire. But Bonnie's success came at a price; she became lonely.
Sure she had dates but it all ended in disaster. Sometimes, it ended before it even started. To Tara, Bonnie was looking for something.
"Hey," Tara said softly as she smiled at her friend. Bonnie returned her smile, albeit weakly.
"I fucked up," Bonnie said, nursing a glass of martini in her hand. "Big time," she added with a false laugh. "Behold, Bonnie Rockweller, the only woman in the world who would destroy the only chance she had for happiness because she couldn't keep her mouth shut." Tara had a pretty good idea what had happened.
"He's still here," Tara said encouragingly. "There's always a chance."
"Not with the broken heart he's been carrying," Bonnie sneered. "I think the princess shattered it. Not leaving anything for the next person to pick up the pieces."
"And you wanted to be that next person," Tara said. It was a statement, not a question. Tara knew her really well that she knew what was on her mind.
"He's no longer the Ron we knew back in high school," Bonnie took a sip before continuing. "He's matured greatly. And by the looks of things it happened in a short time."
"The old goofy Ron is still in there, somewhere," Tara said, watching her friend's glazed eyes. She really thought that it was over. "Anyway, the question is: Are you patient enough to pick up the pieces?"
"I don't know," Bonnie said truthfully. Was she ready for something like this? She really didn't know. Bonnie sighed as she finished her drink. "At least he gave some indication that he'd be willing for a one night stand." Tara's eyes grew at the news but when she saw Bonnie's saddened eyes, she smiled ruefully.
"Why not?" Tara smiled. "If it would make you happy for one night? Better to have that feeling than never to have felt it." Bonnie knew that her friend was right. But Tara didn't know what was stopping her.
"I'm afraid," Bonnie said, barely above a whisper. Tara had seen Bonnie afraid before, but this was different. It was like she was afraid what would happen to her soul.
"Of what?" Tara had to ask.
"That if I have him for one night, I'd want to have him forever," there! That was out she had exposed her one desire to her friend and she no longer cared what everyone had thought. But Tara, being a good friend, surprised her.
"Is that wrong to wish for?" she asked. "Take a risk. What do you have to lose?" Bonnie looked at her with a slight gleam in her eyes. Her idea had merit. And after a moment, she had decided.
Bonnie was going to take a risk. What indeed did she have to lose?
Aside form her heart?
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Unknown to the people in the thirtieth floor, a sedan had parked by the main doors of Nakasumi towers. Out came two individuals, a serious looking man and a hyper young man. The guard watched them as they entered the door. The younger was arguing about the recent NBA Finals to the stone-faced man.
"I told you that the Heat would take the championship," he said as the two walked up to the guard's station. Suddenly, the man pulled out a weapon and fired a shot at the guard. The bullet struck the man squarely at the middle of the forehead. No one had heard the shot since the man used a silencer to muffle it. "Boom!" the younger man said as he jumped up the station and pushed the guard off his seat. He then pulled out a radio and activated it. "We're in."
The young man saw from the guard's security monitors a large delivery van enter the basement parking. The truck was stopped by the guards stationed there but they soon join the fate of their pal lying dead on the young man's feet.
The young man then went to the computer terminal and accessed the security controls. The other man walked slowly towards the elevators and tossed a small flashbang grenade at the corridor. As soon as it detonated, the man turned towards the corridor and shot the guard who was momentarily stunned by the blast.
Down by the basement parking, the delivery truck backed up towards the delivery area. The back door opened and a group of men, led by a short man, exited the truck and proceeded towards the elevators. Half of their numbers proceeded to secure the building, taking point positions at the fourth floor where they had a vantage point.
By this time, the young man who was in the guard's terminal had restricted access throughout the building. Closing the grates and locking the elevators, no one was going in or out the building. He then destroyed the computers, making sure no one would use the terminal.
The elevator doors opened and the short man exited the car with one of the men he had brought along. The man with him was wearing what seemed to be the uniform of the security guards.
"Karl," the short man said as the one called Karl, who shot the guards, tossed him a key card. The man then looked outside and when he saw that it was all clear, locked the front doors using the key card. He then tossed the key card to the man impersonating a security guard and sat on the station.
While the others returned to the elevator, one of their numbers end to find the phone lines.
No one upstairs suspected a thing.
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Ron Stoppable had his shoes off and was grabbing the rug with his feet. It said that it could remove his tension… "Son of a bitch. He was right," he smiled, feeling much better. Shaking his head, he took out his wallet and opened it. And immediately, he knew it was a mistake.
Inside was a picture of him and Kim in their prom dress. It was one of the happiest days of his life and his heart ached as he remembered what had happened six months ago. Ron wasn't usually a patient man but he would wait for an explanation or… something! He caressed the picture with his thumb and flipped to see the next picture. This one was a picture of himself and the whole cheer squad. With Ron in the middle, the girls squeezed in, making sure that they all fitted into the frame. It was like he was the luckiest man alive being with nine girls.
But really looking at the picture, he noticed something he hadn't before. Everyone, and that meant everyone was smiling. He couldn't believe it. Bonnie was smiling. Not the false smile she always wore but a genuine smile. Ron was in between Kim and Bonnie but that didn't damper their spirits. Something made her smile and he was glad about it.
Something else caught his eye. Both Kim and Bonnie had one of their arms around his neck. Why he didn't notice this before he didn't know. But al least, there was one mystery he was closer to solving.
Ron took out Nathan's calling card and decided to give him a ring. He replaced his wallet in his pocket and dialed the number. Nathan immediately picked it up. "Hey Nathan," Ron smiled.
"Hey boss," Nathan said, obviously thrilled to hear from him. "How's it hanging?"
"Okay, I guess," Ron said. "Met up with an old friend. Know Bonnie Rockweller?"
"Know her? She's my regular," Nathan said in surprise. Ron was surprised as well.
"Then you have the hots for Tara?" Ron teased. He could have sworn he felt Nathan blush. "Anyway, Mr. Nakasumi's not here and there are only two… three people I know in this building."
"Ready to leave?" Nathan asked, his tone smiling. "Or are you feeling lucky?" Ron remembered how Bonnie reacted earlier. Maybe he was feeling lucky. But before he could respond, the connection was lost.
Ron blinked in confusion. He pressed the plunger a couple of times but nothing happened. Suddenly, he heard gunshot and shouting. Reacting by his training, Ron immediately wore got his Beretta 92FS and opened the door slightly. What he saw shocked him.
Armed men were clearing the room one by one. Ron saw that he was near an emergency exit but the problem was going to the exit without being seen. Ron took his extra clips from his holster and prepared for the worst.
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Bonnie and Tara were pushed towards the others as the men with machine guns gathered everyone around. She hoped that Ron would escape like he did at Lake Wannaweep. She didn't trust him then but he trusted him now.
She trusted him to save them.
He's got to save them or God help Ron Stoppable, Bonnie Rockweller will kill him herself.
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As the men were about to reach the last office, Bonnie's office, they were distracted when one of the men cleared the next room. The men looked inside for they were in for a treat. Two of the office workers decided to have a Christmas Quickie but was rudely interrupted. The woman screamed as she and the man were dragged out of the office. The men laughed as they reached Bonnie's office. When they opened the door, they found nothing.
Both men turned back to join the rest. If they had checked the room thoroughly they would notice two objects out of place in a woman's office.
An empty shoulder holster and a pair of men's shoes.
(end of 2)
A/n: Okay; second chapter is done. Let's be realistic. In the movie, I didn't see John Mclaine get his extra clips. And every time he kills a guy, he expends an entire clip. Anyway, Thanks to Atomic Fire, Ant Crown, Jago Li Son Shiranui, Michael Cross, Gargoyle Sama, JPMod, Warbird, Phantom Swordsman, FAH3, conan98002, EmbattledSeraph, Bugleaderhope, Zaratan, mkusenagi2, UruBaen, whitem and shadexxx for their reviews. Man, this is the most reviews for one single chapter that I had. Anyway, stay tuned. Most of you can imagine what comes next.