A big chapter! Thank you for all the kind reviews!
This was it. This was the day she had been working towards for six months. For six months she had endured crappy dates, crappy sex, and crappy salads but it was all totally worth it because today was the day! Today she was infiltrating The Heart!
As soon as her shift was over at the library Belle rushed up to her apartment to freshen up and stock up. She changed into a bright red sundress, the sweetheart neckline gave just enough glimpse of cleavage to distract Gaston while still being modest. The dress was loose enough that the two stiletto knives into her garters, she wasn't stupid enough to go in completely unarmed, didn't show through fabric. A brush through her hair and a dash of mascara and she was ready to go.
Downstairs waiting outside the library with a take out bag from Granny's was Gary. He had agreed to pick her up during his lunch and they would then go eat at his office so she could meet his friends. When he saw her Belle knew she had made the right choice of attire. His eyes strayed over her figure, lingering on her chest and legs. "Looking good Babe. That color looks good on you." She thanked him with a smile and kiss on the cheek. When she let him lead her over to his car she had to be mindful not to bounce for joy. They were finally on their way! This was finally happening!
It was a quick five minute drive to The Heart, located in a building near the edge of town, Gaston talking the whole way about the work he was doing. "Just wait until you see it Belle. It's like nothing you could ever imagine." He kept assuring her of this even up to helping her out of the car. The building that housed The Heart was a sprawling three story with several smaller buildings surrounding the perimeter. It was rather impressive really, not as impressive as some of the CIA's locations, but still pretty impressive.
Gaston led her by the arm through a heavy door into what appeared to be a security scanning room. Lounging around the room were three men, well two men and what appeared to be a teenage boy. The oldest of the tree was a portly man, scruffy looking and fiddling with a battered old stocking cap, only occasionally glancing at the security screens. The youngest one didn't appear more than sixteen, really just a boy, pacing around tapping a billy club against his palm every once in a while. The third person was actually someone she recognized, Keith Nottingham. He had been arrested a few years back for communist ties but apparently he had gotten free. As intimidating as the prospect of the three of them were it wasn't them that worried her, it was the metal detector in the middle of the room.
Belle eyed the detector warily, now acutely aware of the stilettos strapped to her thighs. There was no way she would be be able to explain why she had them if she was searched. What the hell had she been thinking? Of course there would have been security. If a court house had a metal detector of course The Heart would have one. She was so screwed. She pressed closer to Gaston, maybe his small sphere of influence could protect her. Gaston patted her arm before passing through detector without a problem, waiting for her on the other side. Belle bit her lip nervously as she stepped through the frame, wincing as the alarms shrieked upon picking up the metal strapped to her legs. All eyes snapped towards her and she tried to look as surprised as the rest of them. "What's going on Gaston?"
Gaston glared at the offending machine and then at the man with the red hat. "What the hell Smee? Is the damn thing broken again?""No, we just got it fixed last weekend. She must be hiding something on her. She needs to be frisked."
The boy with the club eyed her suspiciously, stalking towards her tapping the club against his hand. Nottingham smiled as he looked her over, practically salivating at the thought of searching her. "Gaston..."
Gaston wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her close, glaring at the boy and Nottingham. "Leave her alone guys."
"You know the rules Gaston. We've got to see what she's hiding."
"Can it Felix. She's not hiding anything."
"We've still got to search her."
"You're not touching her Keith. She's with me so she's fine. Let us go."
"Fine, but if Cora asks this is all coming down on you."
"Yeah, yeah whatever."
Smee pressed a button to open the door and Gaston herded her past he three who still watched them interestedly. Belle huddled closer to Gaston, for once happy to be squashed up against his chest. Once they were past the tree creeps she was able to relax some. "Gaston I didn't like them."
"Don't worry Babe they're harmless. Annoying but harmless."
"Still, I'll feel better once we're in your office."
"Uh yeah. About that, we're actually doing some remodeling so I don't really have an office right now."
"No office? Then where are we going?"
Gaston opened another door, this one leading to a bustling room filled with tiny cubicles. Several eyes locked on them and whispered filled the air about the new girl with Gaston. "They gave me a cubicle for now, but don't worry Babe. It gives you a chance to meet everyone!"
"Great..." Just great. She knew Gaston had been bluffing about powerful and having a big office but for some reason she had never put into consideration where he actually worked up until now. Well she guessed she finally found the answer.
She followed after Gaston as he made his way through the rows and rows of cramped cubicles, trying to ignore the whispers and eyes following her. Gaston's cubicle was in the center of the room flocked on by a pretty dark skinned girl on one side and a dorky looking guy who seemed like he probably saw Star Wars one too many times. Gaston stole a spare chair from one of the other mini-offices so they were cramped together in the tiny space. Once uncomfortably seated he proceeded to open up the take out bag and she tried not to be disappointed when he brought out her lunch...a salad. "Just the way you like it right?" Plain, tasteless, and oooh it had started to wilt! Yup it was just the way she liked it. "Yup it's perfect!"
A snort of laughter drew her attention upward. Leaning against the divider the dark skinned girl was laughing. "Oh Gaston you are thick. You don't really think she likes that crap do you?" Gaston glared between her and the other girl. "What are you talking about Tamara? Belle always gets this. It's her favorite!" The girl, Tamara, must have caught her rolled eyes because she started laughing harder. "Gaston you are an idiot. She didn't even order that did she? Come on Hun, let's get you some real food." Belle glanced at Gaston who was glaring at Tamara, to the salad, to the girl smiling at her before getting up. "I'll be right back Baby." Belle could feel Gaston's shocked gaze on her as Tamara hooked arms with her and drug her away.
"So how did you and meathead end up together. You don't really seem like you guys travel in the same circles."
"We met at a bar actually. Some friends drug me out for their birthday and I met Gaston there. We've been together ever since."
"Hmm well I guess the heart wants what the heart wants. I suppose Gaston told you what we're doing here?"
"No actually. He doesn't really talk about work, I just kind of guessed that he worked for the government and couldn't tell me anything. I guess I was right huh?"
"Well..sort of."
"What do you mean sort of?"
In answer Tamara pushed open a set of double doors revealing a cafeteria type room. Scattered over all the walls were pictures of Lenin, Stalin, and every other communist leader along with the Soviet insignia and flag. Belle stared open mouthed as she took in the room. She didn't know what she had been expecting, but it certainly hadn't been this. "Well we do work for a government. Just not the American government."
"I see..."
Tamara smirked and walked over to where they were serving food. After a stunned moment where she just stood there in shock Belle quickly hurried after her. She couldn't wait to tell Director Nolan about this. This alone was enough to get the place shut down, but more importantly than getting it shut down was getting the information it could provide.
Following after Tamara, Belle caught snatches of conversations but most people were simply watching her again. Tamara handed her a tray filled with some kind of turkey and potato like food. "It's not great but it's better than a crappy salad for sure." Belle nodded and let Tamara lead her over to a table. There was already some people sitting here who Tamara introduced as Jaquline, better known as Jack, James, who looked surprisingly like Director Nolan, and a smug looking guy named Hordor. "This is Belle, she's Gaston's girl." Everyone said their hellos briefly before going back to their previous conversations.
Belle ate silently, trying to soak up anything that might be important. Most of the conversations were trivial things like sports or what was on TV, but occasionally someone would mention a project or upcoming trial that caught her interest. She wanted to question what they meant but knew it would be too suspicious at this point. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't notice when the whole room went quiet. "Who the hell are you?"
Belle's blood ran cold at the icy voice coming from behind her. Turning slowly she was met with a woman in all black dress topped off with blood red lipstick. She knew exactly who this was. Regina Mills, Cora's daughter and right hand woman. All reports of the woman painted her to be just as evil as her mother, but with less patience. In other words Belle was in no way prepared for this.
"I asked who you were. I don't like having to repeat myself, so don't make me do it again."
"I'm Belle French."
"That means nothing to me."
"I'm Gaston's girlfriend."
"I didn't ask who you're sleeping with. I want to know what you're doing here."
Belle tripped over words, trying to remember her excuse but it was hard with Regina glaring daggers at her. "Well?"
"I...uhm. I mean that..."
"Regina give the poor girl a break."
Both Regina and Belle turned to the voice. Standing there was possibly the only person besides Cora herself who could have made this situation worse. Killian Jones. Just great. This was going absolutely spectacularly.
"Jones what are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you so leave the poor girl alone and come with me."
Regina glared at her once more before following Jones to a secluded corner of the room. Well that was a relief. And very suspicious...
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