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Disclaimer- I do not own Da Vinci Code or any of the characters.
I can't do this…! Sophie screamed mentally, scolding herself for even agreeing to this.
Pacing back and forth across her simple and tidy French apartment, Sophie was panicking her wits out and ready to explode with anxiety.
Two days ago in her Captain's office Sophie had been informed of the very sensitive leak in DCPJ headquarters, still confused as to how they needed her services but like any good agent of the law agreed to help.
Big Mistake.
They didn't need her to decipher any codes or messages like a normal cryptologist, Sophie was charged with "tricking the leak" as they put it. Or put in normal terms, "Seducing Bodine for information, and secretly searching his apartment."
"I'm a cryptologist, not a spy!" Sophie had retorted.
But apparently she wasn't selected for her clandestine skills, more so Florent's obvious attraction to her. And the fact that the whole office knew she definitely did not like him back, so she could be trusted not to turn on them.
So Sophie completed the odious task yesterday and arranged a date in his apartment tonight.
"So Florent," she tried her best to sound alluring, "I was just stopping buy to tell you how much I enjoyed our lunch the other day." She sat on the edge of his office desk, classic move to show off her legs.
And trust me, he certainly took notice, "Yeah me too," he picked up his jacket, "In fact, you want to do it again?"
"Now," Sophie jumped off the desk, racking her mind for a decent answer, "Now… is not good, how about some time later, where it's a bit more private…" she trailed off, leaving him to ponder that thought.
"Later?" Bodine flashed a smile, "Yeah, later would be good."
"Great, how about your place tomorrow night?" Sophie suggested.
He nodded, "All right," he said lowly, as if hinting, "I'll see you then." And he exited the large office to lunch.
Tonight's the night, and to say the least Sophie was on the edge. Glancing at the clock Sophie went over the time line for the night, 8:00: picked up by Fache and Collet to go to Bodine's apartment, 8:15: briefed by overly demanding bosses, 8:30- 10:00: Seduce subject for info and search apartment, 10:05: give info to bosses in front of apartment, if not already dead.
Glancing at the clock Sophie found it was four past eight, Late? She pondered, Quite unlike her stern Captain…
Doing a quick examination of her attire, Sophie found it to be quite fitting for her goal of seduction. It reminded Sophie of a combination of "S'" she had read in an issue of French Vogue, "Simple, Satin and Seductive." With a blushing red color, cutoff around mid thigh and loose drooping neckline, Sophie was irresistible.
Giving her reflection a smug smile in the mirror she thought, Wonder what Robert would say if he saw me now…?
Little did Sophie know her questioning was about to be answered, with the ring of the doorbell.
Earlier that day…
"Oh Robert," Vittoria moaned, "I wish you would come shopping with us…"
The fragrance roses growing next to their Paris hotel, drifted through Langdon's nose. And the sun shone bright in his eyes, as cars could be heard busying their day about as usual. It truly was a beautiful day to spend with his fiancé, but he must hear something before his marriage. There for, he must lie.
"I'm sorry Vit," he used her pet name for persuasion, "Isn't it unlucky for the groom to see the bride's gown before the wedding, anyway?"
"I know," she said sincerely, "But your opinion means so much to me."
A smooth voice from behind Vittoria interrupted their conversation, "And what is it you will do, instead of shopping?"
Langdon had not noticed the elderly women there before, "Well Mrs. Abelló, I was planning on visiting with a old colleague." His dislike for the women increased further by the second for some reason.
"Can we come?" Vittoria asked hopefully.
"No." Robert said a little too hastily, "I just know how much you wanted to dress shop, and we have no other time before the wedding, all right?" he looked her in the eye and was sad to see true disappointment in them, all she really wanted was to spend time with him. And that's what made this all the more harder.
This is surely the sin of all sins. Robert thought, I'm ditching wedding shopping to go meet another women, doesn't matter how much I worship the scared feminine now, I'm definitely going to hell…
Langdon pulled her into a reassuring hug, and she quickly wrapped her arms around his waist. He spotted Mena squinting in suspicion out of the corner of his eye, before she turned her back to the couple and flipped her cell phone open.
After pressing a memorized pattern of buttons a ringing could be heard through the device, "Yes?" a voice answered.
"I have an assignment for Angelo," she said in hushed tones, so the others were deaf to her call.
"A hit or a tail?""A tail… for now."
Sophie grabbed her bright red handbag and rushed to the door, expecting the Captain. Imagine her surprise as she opened the door to find the face of Robert Langdon starring back at her.
Immediately shrieking in bewilderment and almost shutting the door on him, if not for his foot blocking the way.
"Please Sophie," he urged, putting his hands up in surrender, "I just want to talk."
Sophie only opened the door halfway, being cautious not to let him in like she had with her heart, " I received your message," she said indifferently, "And I think you said all you had to say there." She said coldly.
"I didn't get to say all I wanted to then," he begged, "And there's something else I need to ask you."
She seemed to consider this for a moment and opened the door in defeat, with a sigh, "Come in, the hallways cold."
"Thanks." He gave her that adorable trademark smile.
Sophie spared a look towards the clock, 8:06 already, where could they be?
She took a position by the window and stared at the quiet street below, where only a few cars lined the sides of the street, and cats could be heard digging in the trashcans.
"Sophie," he began, standing across from her by the large window, "Before I make one of the biggest decisions of my life," he paused, "You need to answer a question for me…"
She raised a skeptical eyebrow at him, "Robert, you're getting married," she waited, letting the enormity of her statement sink into him, "It's on the television constantly, and all over newspapers worldwide."
Langdon just gazed into her eyes, pleading with her not to make him think on this anymore, but she continued knowing he had to hear the truth.
"It is to be the wedding of the year," she stressed, "And not only is it the biggest event for the Vatican in years, but its actually giving people hope."
Click, a large flash erupted from the street below, but did not draw either's attention.
"Violence between the scientific community and the Church has slowed down," she had read this in the paper, she in fact had read all the articles around the marriage in the paper, "People, whatever they believe are coming together in celebration for your wedding, they are starting to think in the mind set that if you two can come together, why can't the world?"
Sophie gazed at the floor, but Langdon grabbed her shoulders turning her head up to look him in the eye, "I don't care." He stated firmly.
"But I do," Sophie fired back, "So what ever you were going to ask me…don't." she turned her back to him.
Suddenly a knock from the door turned both their heads, "Ahem," a curious looking Captain Fache coughed, "Am I interrupting anything?"
"No," Sophie said slowly, "Mr. Langdon was just leaving." She looked him strait in the eye.
"Sophie…"
"If you please," she said unemotionally, "We're in a bit of a hurry."
Langdon glanced questioningly between Fache and Sophie, and then noticing Sophie's attire it came to him, "Right." He said tensely and stalked out of the apartment, sparing one chilling glance back at Sophie.
Tears began to form in Sophie's eyes, and her vision blurred with how she had treated Robert, but it had to be done.
Within seconds of seeing her distress, Fache was in front of her with a worried look in his eye and a comforting hand on her arm, "Are you ok?" he questioned.
Sophie looked into his chocolate orbs thankfully and whispered, "Yes," taking another second to adjust herself, she strode towards the door, "We have a mission to do." She said over her shoulder.
The boss is going to love this… Angelo thought with a chuckle, adjusting his camera for another shot. Snap!
The scene shown through the apartment window was deliciously melodramatic, considering the fact that this man was weeks away from being married. The papers would pay big for these kinds of pictures.
But only if the boss says it's ok, Cause truthfully Angelo like most was afraid of all the power she held at her whim. Almost everyone thought she couldn't take over the business after her husband's death, but if you ask anyone now you'll find things have never been running smoother. Not only ruthless and direct in her ways but ever true in her philosophy, The business comes first.
Angelo tore his camera away from the shot as they moved away from the window, and began digging in his coat pocket; Boss' got to hear about this now…
The walk with Fache from Sophie's apartment to the car below felt like an eternity in silence. Especially when Sophie could sense his growing curiosity to why Robert had met with her, and to Sophie's surprise even a little worry. When they finally reached the ground floor, Sophie had to resist the urge to gawk and scold the two men at the same time.
Because sitting next to the curb was the DCPJ's insanely expensive, utterly extravagant, jet-black Astin Martin Rapide. It was every male agents dream to be given that car for an assignment, but hardly ever happened, considering it was one of the most expensive government cars in France. Obviously Fache and Collet had used their positions in the department to procure such a lavish form of transportation. But with it's large leather interior and majestic view from afar, Sophie was certainly not complaining.
Boys and their cars, Sophie sighed shaking her head with a playful smile.
Fache politely opened the back door of the regal car, and Sophie took a seat. The Captain did the same moments later, also taking a seat in the back instead of the front where Collet was happily gripping the steering wheel.
" The Astin Matin?" Sophie asked with a smirk.
"It was the only one available." Collet replied with an innocent smile as he started the powerful V12 engine.
Right. Sophie thought sarcastically.
"Sorry we were late," Collet continued, "Bezu insisted on picking this up from headquarters." He said casually glancing back as they came to a stop sign and tossing her a bundle wrapped in a white handkerchief.
She slowly unwrapped it to find a small pistol, just big enough to fit in her purse, "A gun?" she questioned surprised, "Will I really need this?" she turned to Fache.
"Hopefully not," Fache stated, "But we still consider Bodine a criminal, maybe even a murderer, so as your trying to …" Bezu struggled awkwardly to find the word.
"Seduce him?" Sophie finished with an amused glint in her eye.
"Yes," he mumbled, "Remember that he is dangerous and if he tries to …hurt you at all, just shoot the gun, call or wave to us."
"Wave?" Sophie questioned, weren't they meeting with her after?
"Yes," Fache responded firmly, "We will be parked outside, in case you need assistance, or you cannot complete the mission."
"Don't worry," she said, holding her head high, "I will." She was ready to prove her worth to this agency, and more so to her bull headed Captain.
"Good." Collet chimed in, sensing an argument about to arise from the two stubborn personalities, "Were here Sophie…" Collet said rather solemnly.
Sophie nodded quickly and opened the door, when Bezu caught her wrist in his hand, "Good Luck." He whispered.
Sophie smiled a thanks and stepped out of the vehicle, surprised at the sudden coldness she felt on her wrist.
Odd…she wondered, but immediately went back to business, focusing on the task in front of her, Florent Bodine…
Hopefully this is long enough…
The next chapter will really get your head working to figure out what comes next!
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