There is awesomeness in the air tonight!
1st of all, I was very excited and extremely honored to have On The Line reviewed by Fic Sisters - The International House of Fan Fiction yesterday. Ladies, thank you for the wonderful review and the steady stream of wonderful reading recommendations!
2nd, if you check out the Fic Sisters blog, you will see the banner Twilly designed for On The Line, which I absolutely love! Incidentally, I've started reading several of the other stories rec'd in Friday's post. "Something Beautiful Remains" has completely stolen my heart. AU, fabulous writing, plays my emotions like a puppet master. Check it out!
3rd, Ninkita continues to be the best, most thorough Beta ever. Thanks, hun!
"You hungry?" Masen asked as they drove through downtown.
"Um, yeah. A bit. But mostly thirsty."
"Well I'm starving. When we get to the hotel, I have a few calls to make. Can you order dinner for four up to my suite?"
"For four?"
"Like I said, we have a couple of loose ends to tie up."
"Who will I be this time? The college kid or the executive assistant?"
"You're Mr. Cullen's assistant for now, but at dinner you won't be either one. Just be yourself. You can introduce me to Marie later."
"It sounds so weird when you say it like that," Bella replied.
"I personally find it easier to view each cover as a character separate from myself, with their own history, thoughts, feelings, et cetera. Use whatever strategy works best for you."
"Right," Bella sighed. It seemed like an exaggeration to call her method for slipping in and out of character a 'strategy'. All she really did was react to Masen's cues. When he pushed one way, she followed or countered. She knew it wasn't good to be so dependent on him taking the lead, but her intuition seemed to be a better actress than her consciousness. She wasn't quite ready to create a whole persona out of thin air.
They pulled up to the Edgewater Hotel and Masen transformed back into Edward Cullen instantaneously, climbing out of the car and handing over his key to the valet with an aloof air. Bella kept her focus on him, not her surroundings, although she really wanted to look around the iconic Seattle landmark. As his assistant, she was supposed to anticipate and address his needs, not her own. She handed him his briefcase, directed the bellhop to retrieve her luggage, slipped her purse over her left forearm and entered the hotel first, walking straight up to the front desk. The valet pulled away from the curb as Edward Cullen strode self-assuredly into the building after her. He came up beside her, leaned his forearm on the counter and looked around the foyer, taking it all in with a critical eye.
Bella addressed the clerk. "A reservation for Mr. Edward Cullen?"
"Yes, Miss-"
"Swanson. Abigail Swanson."
"Thank you, Miss Swanson. We received your email last Thursday. We've been expecting you. Mr. Delfore will show you to your suite. Thank you so much for choosing The Edgewater!" The clerk beckoned a sharply dressed bellhop over to take the luggage.
Masen paused and turned back to the desk. "I'm waiting for several packages."
"Oh, yes. We've received three deliveries for you today. Our manager signed for them and had them taken up to your rooms." The woman's eager, helpful demeanor never faltered even when Mr. Cullen's stiff nod was the only thanks she received.
When the elevator opened on the top floor and they stepped out into the hallway, Bella felt Masen nudge her. She looked down at his hand and saw him rub his fingers together, the universal sign for money. Of course it would be beneath the egoed-out business man to tip the bellhop himself. Bella dug out her wallet while the hotel employee opened the door to the suite and deposited her bag and suitcase. With no idea of what the correct protocol for tipping was, she handed him a twenty from her wallet and thanked him with a prim smile.
When the door shut behind them, her shoulders slumped. It had been a long and exhausting day. All she wanted was a long drink of water, a light dinner and a soft bed. Instead, they were going to be entertaining two unnamed visitors - loose ends, as Masen called them. When he disappeared into the bedroom and shut the door, Bella looked around, taking stock of her surroundings. The windows overlooked Elliott Bay, awash with the orange glow of the setting sun. There was a comfortable couch, a round table with four chairs, a very large flat screen television and homey but high quality decorations. It was not as posh as she had expected it to be, but the view was phenomenal.
Bella found the room service menu and sat in a chair near the windows to look it over. She was certain that Masen would eat whatever was placed in front of him, but she had no idea what to order for their guests. She blanched when she opened the menu. There were only two pages. The dishes were described very briefly, but the prices were exorbitant. Breathing a tiny apology to all the hardworking taxpayers out there, Bella selected two appetizers and four entrees at random. She placed a call to the restaurant from the in-room phone and gave them her order. At the last second, she caved and also asked for a bottle of white wine. She rarely drank, but it would look odd to order dinner without drinks, especially since they were entertaining guests.
Masen was still in the bedroom. She could hear his voice, muffled through the closed door. Bella slipped off her shoes, poured herself a glass of water, touched up her makeup, then paced. The minutes crawled slowly by. What was taking Masen so long? When were their guests supposed to arrive? Who were they? He had made her adopt a fake identity for the flight to Seattle. How was it okay for her to 'be herself' when he had gone to such lengths to keep her departure from DC off the books? The questions were piling up in her head and she was anxious to get some answers.
Their food arrived in fancy covered dishes on a cart dressed with white linens. The waitress set everything out on the table, her eyes occasionally peeking up at Bella or around the room. Bella guessed she was probably looking for the other three diners, but the girl's curiosity made her paranoid. When the cart was empty, Bella pulled out another twenty dollar bill from her wallet. The waitress thanked her and disappeared down the hallway with the empty cart.
It was almost 8 o'clock. The food smelled delicious, and she was getting hungrier by the second. There was still no sign of Masen getting off the phone or their guests arriving. Bella sat back down and looked out across the bay, watching the wake peel off from the stern of the Bremerton ferry. The bedroom door opened seconds before there was a knock at the other door. Bella's eyes widened and she looked to Masen, waiting for him to make a move. He glanced down at her stockinged feet and raised an eyebrow.
"My feet were sore. Aren't you going to get that?"
"Why? They aren't here to see me."
Her brow furrowed in confusion. More nervous than she had been since she first learned of their assignment, Bella slipped her heels back on and went to answer the door. When she saw who was waiting on the other side, her mouth fell open in silent shock. She stumbled back a step, holding the door knob tightly to keep herself from falling over.
"Mr. and Mrs. Swan, please come in," Masen stepped around her and motioned them inside.
Bella glanced surreptitiously up and down the deserted hallway, then let the door swing shut behind them. She leaned back against the wall, looking at her parents through watery eyes. Seeing them was so unexpected that she didn't know how to respond. Finally, with a low cry, she stumbled into her mom's embrace. Her dad's arms wrapped around them both, and she felt like she was home for the first time in months.
"I was not expecting this. How did you. . . ? I don't understand," she mumbled against her mom's shoulder.
Her dad stepped back half a foot and spoke up, "I can't say I really understand, myself. I received a call middle of last week saying as we had won a four day, three night trip to the city. I thought it was some raffle your mother had entered us in at first, but then I got a text from you telling me I had to keep it on the down low and I knew right then something was cooking under the surface. Then we got a call from a gentleman earlier this evening inviting us up to dinner. Well, here we are, Bells."
"I never texted you," Bella looked over her mother's shoulder and glared at Agent Masen.
"Would you like me to take it back?" he asked.
"No!"
"Well then. Let's eat. I'm sure everyone has some questions, but I'm about to pass out. I haven't eaten since 6 am Eastern Time." With that, Masen unceremoniously started removing plate covers and poured out the wine. Her parents looked like they did indeed have a lot of questions, but were willing to wait a short time to get their answers.
Renee Swan stepped closer, patted her daughter's shoulder and looked over her outfit."I barely recognized you, sweetie. You look so sophisticated."
Bella blew her nose and dabbed her eyes with a tissue her mom handed her. "I know. It's not really me."
"You look nice," Charlie added as he held out a seat for his wife, then his daughter, before sitting down himself, glaring at Agent Masen. Masen had already started eating and Charlie's disapproval was plain.
"Don't mind him, Dad. He's a slob. You get used to it."
Masen looked up at her, smirked, and sat up straight in his chair. Like a quick-change magician, his transformation was instantaneous. He adopted a reserved and debonair attitude, offering her mother compliments on her scarf and thanking Bella for ordering their meal. Charlie's mustache twitched. Bella shook her head and started eating. By random luck she had sat down in front of the Miso Black Cod. It was so tender and delicious, she had to close her eyes to savor the first bite.
"Oh, Bella. This is so yummy. I wonder if I can recreate this at home."
Bella snorted and her dad choke-coughed. "Mom, just enjoy it. You can't cook mac and cheese without burning it. I don't think pan-seared scallops and roast asparagus are in your network."
"Now, Bella. . ." admonished her father.
"Do you want her cooking scallops at home?"
"Well, no," he said, clearing his throat awkwardly.
"Stop it, you two. It's a good thing my self esteem isn't tied to my culinary achievements. . . or your discerning palates."
Bella giggled and looked over at Masen, who was studying his wine glass. His plate was already half empty. He helped himself to the garlic bread and baked mussels that sat in the center of the table and continued eating with a half smile on his lips while Bella's parents bickered across the table.
When there was a lull in the banter he set his glass down, inched his chair back a few inches and fixed them each with a serious look. When he opened his mouth to speak, Bella cut him off.
"Please. Not yet. Can't I just be a normal girl for a few more minutes?"
He checked his watch and looked up with a serious expression. "No. Not really."
"Shit," she breathed resignedly. "Okay, fine. Mom, Dad, I'm going undercover. This is Agent Masen, my partner. I don't know how long it'll be until I can talk to you again, but it's really important that you don't let on that anything out of the ordinary is going on with me, okay?"
Her mom set her fork back on her plate and looked over at her husband. Bella's dad had his eyes on Masen, scrutinizing him.
"Chief Swan, we wouldn't be having this conversation if it weren't for your experience in law enforcement. I don't have to tell you that this is not a sanctioned meeting. I invited you both here tonight because Ms. Swan could not do so without compromising her cover. Before I say anything else, I need you both to understand that this dinner never happened. You have not seen your daughter since her graduation from training. Chief Swan, as a career police officer, I'm sure you understand the criticality of information security, not only for the success of our upcoming assignment, but for your daughter's immediate and long-term health and safety."
"I understand alright. I'm just trying to figure you out."
"I catch bad guys. Just like you."
"I don't think you're anything like me."
"Probably not."
"Hmm."
"Dad-" Bella cut in, but Masen talked right over her.
"Don't worry, Chief Swan. She'll be safe with me."
"You don't have any kids, do you?" Charlie asked pointedly.
"No, sir."
"I didn't think so. Another father would never tell me not to worry. Parents always worry." He took a swig from his wine glass and grimaced before continuing in a lower tone, "Take care of her out there."
"I will," Masen assured him.
Bella scowled at her dad, then switched her attention back to Masen. "Are you two finished speaking about me like I'm a child?"
"Oh, hush, Bella," Renee cut in. "You know your father. He just wants what's best for you. And, of course, we're scared. How will we know you're okay?" Her mom reached over and covered Bella's hand with her own, her brown eyes soft with concern.
"I-"
"We'll stay in email contact," Masen responded for her. "But there may be delays in responding. No calls, no visits, nothing in any correspondence to indicate that Bella is doing anything more exciting than routine duties at her DC office."
"What's the nature of this assignment?"
"I'm sorry, sir. I can't answer that."
Charlie Swan looked through the open bedroom door. The king-sized bed was very conspicuous.
"The couch pulls out," Masen added as if it would reassure the older man.
"Hmm."
"Anyone up for dessert?" Bella asked, trying to break the tension.
"Not tonight. Twenty minutes, Ms. Swan. I'll give the three of you some privacy." Masen stood, buttoned his jacket and left the suite.
Bella checked her watch. Twenty minutes to say good-bye? It wasn't enough time. But an eternity wouldn't have been long enough. By her dad's red-rimmed eyes and her mom's forced cheerfulness, she could tell they knew. . . she might not be coming back home.
A/N: Do you think Masen's reasons for bringing Bella's parents over were altruistic? Or did he have other motives?