The Storm

Chapter 3: Put on a show

Author's notes:

I'm so excited to kick into the action next chapter onwards.

Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen

Put on a show, meeting till 2, party till 8. I can do this, conceal don't feel Elsa thought to herself as the car drove on. Make one wrong move and everyone will know she warned herself. Her blue eyes were locked onto her gloves, daring for any frost to appear. She kept in that position for the remainder of the ride. Anxiety was growing within her dangerously high. The opening of the door startled her but she was quickly calm when she saw a familiar lady standing outside.

"Ms. Anderson! How are you?" Gerda exclaimed as she helped Elsa out of the sedan.

"You know to just call me Elsa, and I'm fine," Elsa replied with a small smile. Gerda was one of the two people that had supported her through her parents' death.

"No I'm afraid I can't, you are of importance from today onwards!" Gerda said stubbornly. Once the sedan was off, Gerda led the timid Elsa into the building. The building was rather small in comparison to the other buildings that populated Arendal. Nevertheless it was very spacious inside and had a spectacular view of the harbor. Elsa gazed at the majestic twinkling body of water just outside the windows with amazement. There really was a lot she missed out on.

"Ah Ms. Anderson!" a loud voice broke Elsa from her trance. Turning her head, she was met with a stout man dressed rather heavily.

"Good Morning Kai," Elsa greeted warmly. Kai was the husband of Gerda and naturally the second person that had supported her.

"If it is alright with you, there is something I wish to speak with you about," Kai said lowly, motioning for a nearby room. Gerda took it as her cue to leave, assuring Elsa with a pat of the back before departing.

"What is it?" Elsa asked as Kai closed the door behind them. The only light illuminating the room was from the floor to ceiling windows.

"It hasn't been easy Elsa," Kai said glumly. He was playing with his sleeves nervously.

"What?" Elsa questioned, rather confused.

"The board is quite uncertain about your role," Kai said slowly, "although you have my full support!" he added quickly. "It's just most of them don't know you really well and…"

"I understand Kai, and I will never doubt you don't you worry," Elsa said reassuringly. Slowly but surely she was slipping into the facade that she had spent all year working on. It was Kai's suggestion that they work on Elsa's persona so as to fit and please her co-workers. She had a lot to thank the man. Although he was close to her father and sat on the Board of Directors, he was never obliged to help her. The fact that he and even his wife, had reached out to help her meant a lot to Elsa.

Kai took in a deep breath, smoothing his hair as he did so. "It just means that you have to make a rather big first impression to get on their side," Kai said after a moments thought, "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Elsa replied simply, she could not say no anyways. Kai nodded and lead her out of the room towards the conference room where people were already waiting. Conceal, don't feel. Don't let it show.

Anna's heart was racing, her cheeks were sore from smiling so much. Her eyes were locked with Hans' as the pair engaged in an animated conversation. Never had Anna been so comfortable and happy, it felt surreal. No happy would be an understatement, joy was more appropriate. And to have someone that actually noticed and understood her was icing on the cake. Mmm cake Anna thought dreamily.

"You have that look again," Hans stated with a chuckle.

"Look? What look? Pshh you're dreaming," Anna quickly denied the statement. Her cheeks and neck were reddening slightly.

"Yea, that 'look' that literally says food," Hans teased, his smile breaking into a grin.

"It does not!" Anna exclaimed as she covered her cheeks with her hands.

"Does too," Hans said smugly. The car stopped before Anna could voice a comeback. "Don't worry there's more than plenty amount of food in there," Hans said jokingly, referring to their destination. That earned him a light punch on the shoulder. Hans could only laugh in response. Once he had regained his composure, he exited the vehicle and offered his arm. Smiling warmly, Anna took it as she mouthed a silent thank you. The pair walked arm in arm into the building where the reception was well under way. Hans received another punch when he sang a song with the words 'food'.

They separated unwillingly at the security check but Hans assured Anna that he would find her as soon as possible. Anna nodded as she headed to the respective female security check area. Presenting her identification material, she was escorted through the metal detectors where they fortunately did not go off. With that done she joined a queue waiting to be frisked search. This is going to take forever Anna thought to herself. Her stomach grumbled in agreement. She wished Hans was here so she could just punch him again.

Duke let out a frustrated groan. Their pursuit was of no use. The sedan was very well designed for none of their mobile audio equipment could pick up anything from the car. Not to mention they were expecting the limo to pick up the 'Queen'. The limousine which his men had spent the whole of last week bugging with every available surveillance equipment they have.

This was basically what they been through the last three years. The team beforehand expressed the same complaints but he dismissed them when he first took up the assignment. He wished he had not, for all three years had passed and they had not managed to progress very far. Attempts to bug the 'Queen's' apartment was immediately disregarded as she never left the complex let alone the apartment. Surveillance equipment snuck in via means of the only two known visitors only confused them further. The equipment somehow died due to severe drop in temperatures time and time again.

"Mobile, this is Frontier, come in Mobile," Duke's radio stole him from his thoughts.

"Frontier this is Mobile, how's the weather," Duke replied this time with the confirmation protocol. With the operation on a fine line, there was no room for errors. Especially those with security, their jobs if not their lives were at risk.

"Everest,"

"Very well, how's the apartment coming along?" Duke asked when one of his team members confirmed the response.

"Going good so far although I must say it is very cold in here. Nothing of importance found at all, we have taken to bugging it up"

"Alright, you have the rest of the afternoon. Contact again in thirteen hundred hours, Mobile over and out," Duke said as he tossed the radio to the side. "Well at least something is being done for once," Duke muttered to himself. His men grunted in agreement.

He inspected his attire for the party. Duke felt naked without the surveillance equipment and most importantly his FN-Browning HP-35 pistol. All of which had to be put aside due to the rigorous security of the UN and the risk of detection even with their best attempts. Picking up the pistol gently, he muttered his good byes before placing it back into the weapons locker. The weapons officer simply rolled his eyes at the sight. Ever since the first day Duke had been on the job, the weapons officer had disliked him. It was not till a year later did he find out that it was because of his choice of weapon. The CIA had long since abandoned the FN-Browning as a standard issue but Duke was fond of the pistol and kept it anyways. The words nine times nineteen millimeter always rolled of his tongue so sweetly.

Straightening his jacket and glasses, he nodded his farewells before stepping out of the van. As per protocol, the van was parked within line of sight of the building but further up the road. A car was parked nearby with two of his men to take him to the ceremony. Impression was everything and nothing was held back as evident with the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S before him. Personally he preferred an American vehicle for the job but they needed to blend in and the fact he was under the alias of some stuck up German made it necessary. So Mercedes it was and in silver too. He took a second to inspect the vehicle before entering the back. Nope should have gone for the Range Rover Evoque, Brit be damned Duke thought to himself with distaste. Much easier to say the name not to mention, what's up with Mercedes anyway Duke added to the thought as they took off.

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