Chapter Two: Fight or Flight

The woman purposefully walks up to James and with a very serious expression on her face.

"007 do I pay you to lie about in Italy?"

James smirks at the woman. "No, ma'am."

James winks at her and her stern imperialistic demeanour shifts ever so slightly into a smile.

One of the men with her wanders around the grounds and stops to talk to Mathis. The other is with the banker and waiting for her majesties pleasure.

"Ms. Lynd, I presume."

"Yes, and you must be M."

The woman looks me up and down as if trying to find a weakness. M's piercing gaze feels like physical pokes against my body probing for the soft spots. It reminds me of when I applied for this job and had older men trying to see if they could make me cry or find a way to bed my bed through my insecurities.

Although I doubt she wants to bed me and I am far from soft, pliable but not weak. M seem like she is trying to decide if I am good enough for her precious agent...as if he is her son. Could they be related?

"Yes...I am M and here I am, dragged away from my desk once again by a wayward agent that needs looking after. Thank you for your obvious help in that matter. Now if you will excuse us I need some time alone with Bond."

It was phrased as a polite request but it was naught but an order to be taken immediately. I was going to offer her tea but thought the better of it. M is a woman of little patience for niceties when she is dealing with business it seems.

I walk away past the banker and the MI6 assistant M brought over to the door to the house where Mathis and a guard stood talking. The guard made off around the corner.

"Making friends Mathis."

"Yes well he may come in handy...he has a mutual friend in Mr. White."

I feel some of the colour leave my face. "Really."

"Do not worry he is not here to deal with us my dear. So you met M, what do you think?"

"I don't quite know what to think of her. Have you met her before?"

"No...not in person. She is an attractive woman."

"She only seems cold to me...I don't like her."

We gaze down towards the lake and watch as James offers M his arm to walk along the lake. M looks up at him in some surprise at the action. Not related it would appear...not related at all.

James smiles down at M as they walk along the shore together.

"You know Vesper...I have never seen Bond smile that much before. Not even with you, although he has been in a fair amount of pain and injury to recover from. I am sure in top form he would smile constantly in your presence."

"I am not that insecure Mathis and I agree he would smile more for me because I give him all he needs."

Mathis smirks and nods at me. "What about M, you don't think she gives him anything he needs?"

"Do you know anything about her Mathis?"

"Me...non...I doubt many do but her employees. Other than the obvious what do you dislike about the woman?"

"What obvious?"

"The way Bond takes to her."

"Perhaps she is the mother figure he craves, nothing more."

"Ha...I never took you for naive my dear. M does have excellent timing...we almost had the password...if only she were 20 minutes later."

"What are we going to do now?"

"Wait and watch my dear. Make sure you intrude on them some...stake your physical claim to James."

"I am not afraid of a domineering mother figure...I have dealt with them before."

"I can imagine you may have...but this is not his mother...this is M."

"You make it sound like she is the bloody wizard of OZ."

"Look they are waving us over. I must say I am excited to finally meet her. I will help distract her as much as I am able. We must not waver...we will see this through."

"I know...I will stay and fight for James."

"You are falling for him?"

"Don't look so surprised...he is not without his charms."

The other agent and banker moved towards the outdoor furniture set up by the french doors. James pulls out a chair for M and looks down at her while asking her if she would like some tea.

Then he looks up at her. "Ah, Vesper. Could you ask for someone to bring us all some tea so that we can get down to the business of the day."

My smile turned into a scowl before I managed to correct it and damn it all if she didn't look at me in that very moment. I swear her dark blue eyes twinkled in delight...the bloody witch.

I go and find one of the hired help and give them the numbers for tea.

Once I return to the patio the banker is going over everything with M.

"I would like the account password changed can we do that with this device?"

"Yes madam we can once the original is entered."

I join them and offer my assistance. "I will enter the account number for you."

"No need Ms. Lynd. I know it. Please take a seat, and you Mr. Mathis."

M indicates a seat across from her and Mathis and I sit as Bond and her assistant, who no one has had the decency to introduce her or Mathis yet, stand far enough behind her to respectively not see her actions. How did she get the account number? The bloody head of the treasury must have, oh damn it! There goes my importance to this mission.

"And now the password. M turns to James, "007 the password?"

"Vesper."

"Of course it is." I hear M mutter under her breath. Her assistant gives James a look and Mathis covers his laugh with a cough.

M enters a new code...damn her and christ...it was just my name all along. I look at Mathis who does not meet my eyes but stares continuously at M.

The tea comes and the banker excuses himself to get back to his office. Bond begins pouring as M stands to walk to the edge of the patio thanking the banker.

Bond pours for M first as she reclaims her seat and Tanner as James calls him takes the banker's vacated seat on her left.

James sits between me and M...that seems somewhat appropriate. I envision a tug of war with him between us.

"M are you staying for a while?"

"Trying to get rid of me so soon Bond?"

"Would I do that?" James says with a flirtatious gleam in his eyes as he looks at her. He is trying to get a response out of her with his flirtations. The only indication that he may be succeeding is that small crooked smile and the arching of her eyebrows that M directs at him.

Tanner is apparently use to this behaviour and merely smirks as he drinks his tea.

Mathis is watching intently and adds to the conversation. "It would be our honour M if you would considers staying here with us. It is a beautiful relaxing place and for a medical retreat has surprisingly good food."

"Thank you Mr. Mathis. I think we will. Tanner, have Mitchell get the bags and find a room to set up a link with command."

Tanner leaves and I grab James' hand on the table and interlink our fingers. He looks down at them and tries to disengage our hands. I hold tight to prove a point but the nurse arrives with his medications.

Mathis stands, "M I would be delighted to give you the tour. Bond usually goes down in the afternoon due to his medications."

M looks at him in pity for the injuries he suffered at the hands of Le Chiffre.

"Don't worry about James M...I will look after him while you take the tour." I tell her.

"I guess my surprise visit has thrown you off centre?"

M looks from me to James as her brows arch. This woman can sense there is something wrong. Not just our relationship...although, I can tell the old witch is not happy about that either.

I need to speak with Mathis.

I guide James back to his room and help him back into bed. He can manage on his own but I want to help him. This time we have spent together has been good and getting better.

James' eyes light up when he sees me and that makes me feel like I am special again. I may just be falling for him because of the fact he is falling for me.

I kiss him and caress his face but I can feel his hesitation in his kiss. I pull back getting angry at this entire situation. M's arrival is destroying everything.

"What is wrong?" I ask him. His kiss is half hearted at best.

"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me James. It's her isn't it?"

"What M?"

"Yes M...your boss…the woman that in just over an hour has changed you from my relaxed recovering lover to a...a...I don't know."

"You're jealous."

"I am not jealous of that old woman!"

"Old...that is petty of you Vesper. M is not old...she is...she is distinguished."

"Men of that age are distinguished James not women."

"So much for the modern feminist woman, eh?"

"James...I'm sorry...please...kiss me...you know how much I love your kisses."

I stroke his arm and he leans back and closes his eyes sighing.

"I'm sorry but I am very tired all of a sudden."

I hide my disappointment as much as possible. "I will be here when you wake up my love."

James' opened his eyes and smiled. "You have never used the L word before. M really got to you didn't she?"

I hit his upper arm softly. "You had better be thinking about me on you nap not the wicked witch of the west."

James frown, "why do you assume she is a witch?"

"All bosses are miserable...why would the woman who reigns over the secret service of Great Britain with an iron fist be any different?"

"M's different...that is all."

Not wanting to continue the conversation, I kiss his forehead and just nod at him.

I leave the room and go to find Mathis. He and I need to make a plan to get out of the wicked witch's trap.