Of Him and Her

Chapter 1 – Of a Personal Thing

Three years later…

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty, we've got a briefing to do." Luther's voice sliced through the silence of the room where Declan was somewhere near sleeping, head in his hands on the table.

"I'm up!" He jerked instantly.

"Rough night?"

"Don't ask…" The Irishman rubbed his temples slowly, trying to fix the increasing headache.

"Fine, I won't." The dark-skinned man made it to his place on the opposite side of the table.

"So, where's Ethan?" Declan sat back in the chair.

"He's already been through all the details. We're waiting for one more agent and we can start. She's getting her MIF ID…"

"The new one?"

"Yeah. Well, I wouldn't say that although." Luther picked the file from the other table behind him and passed it to the operative in front of him. "See for yourself."

"Not bad. One year Siberian's…" He announced, turning the pages. "Field job right after the training…three years in CSF. What the hell is that?"

"Chinese Special Force." But that was not Luther's voice. Honey, almost inaudible voice purred at the door.

"Oh, you showed up. Welcome to the MI Force." Luther stood up; Declan only seconds later with his jaw dropped, and starched a hand.

"Thanks. Lei Zhen." She shook Luther's hand and then turned to Declan but her face dropped as soon as she saw her face…for so much as a split second.

"Hi." The Irishman muttered finally and extended a hand as well. "Declan Gormley."

The Asian shook his hand but the whole scene didn't go unnoticed by Luther who was positioned at the head of the table by now:

"Have a sit. Let's start, we don't have all day."

As both of them sat on the opposite sides of a solid table the screens came from the ceiling and the picture of grey-haired man in his late forties came up on the them.

"Meet Joseph Everett Parker, our client. He seems to be a perfect citizen, head of the family. He walks his dog in the morning, reads everyday paper during his caffeine doze…" Luther said monotonally.

"Playing happy family?" Declan cut it, Zhen's eyes shooting up at Luther.

"Exactly." The older man answered. "But nothing's as it seems to be. Parker is drug-diller and his drugs are popular more then in nine countries."

"Isn't he a wanted man then?" Zhen inquired.

"Oh, the government wishes he was." Luther nodded in reply. "But unfortunately he was never nailed."

"So, what's our mission?" The Irishman asked, switching his gaze from the screen to his boss.

"Our mission, if you choose to accept it, is to kill Parker and get all the information from the main computer in his office. Ethan is going to be a hit man, Declan – transportation, Zhen you get the files, I'll take the weapon."

"Time limits?" The woman looked from the file on her lap.

"The mission will take place tomorrow evening at nine. You have to be here at half past seven sharp. Any questions?"

The other two operatives shook their heads 'no'.

"Good, then see you tomorrow. Don't be late." Luther stood up and next moment disappeared through the sliding glass door.

As the silence in the room got more pressing Zhen too stood up to take off when a voice with a thick accent spoke:

"You remember me, don't you?"

She froze and then turned, her face showing no emotions:

"Yes."

"So, I was you mission?" This realization was heavy on his heart that morning three years ago; it seemed that now it came rushing back.

She closed her brown orbs for a split second then, looking straight into his cobalt ones, said:

"It was my job. Nothing personal."

She headed for the exit as soon as the words escaped her mouth.

Just a job…

Was it true?

Nothing personal…

Declan knew one thing for sure, he had to bury all possible emotions and feelings he was experiencing deep down because he wasn't that naïve new guy from three years ago who just got his first mission, he now was a professional.

Nothing personal…

The only thing that bothered him was the question of how much more time will her words sound in his head.

Nothing personal…

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Hey, guys! Sorry, it happened like that with this chapter. I had no time and asked my baby-sis (ok, maybe not so baby, she's 11) to download the chapter and she used the one that wasn't supposed to come out (with the mistakes and all), like the sketch. So, there you go…the real one's up.

And thanks to everyone who reads it and if you do, don't forget to click a small button on the left (down…down…there!) of the screen and write what you think about it to me!

Yours,

Goddess 247

xxx