-1Chapter 7
A few hours later Sark was waiting for Sydney to emerge from the bedroom where she had locked herself in. not allowing him to see her until she was ready. "Syd will you hurry up! We're going to be late."
"Don't get your panties all twisted, I'm coming."
With that reply she opened the doors to reveal herself to him. She had chosen a full length blood red ball gown which showed just the right amount of cleavage, with thin spaghetti straps which clung perfectly to her curves. Her hair was tied up leaving a few loose strands to curl delicately around her face. Sark thought his eyes would fall out at the sight of her, she looked beautiful. " You look… lovely." Sark managed to choke out.
"Thanks, I thought you might approve." Sydney blushed. She would never admit it but it was all for him, she had come to a decision while they were out that she would stop denying her feeling to herself and just see where they took her. She was very pleased with the affect she was having on him, his wide eyes not having left her since she'd stepped into the room. Sydney walked up close to him and leaned in close "You don't look half bad yourself." She hooked her arm through his, delighting in the shocked look on his face, knowing her actions were confusing him. "Shall we?"
"S…sure." Sark stuttered leading her out the door to meet Vaughn and Weiss.
The pair were met by a wolf whistle from the latter. "Looking good Syd." Vaughn looked mad. Staring at the place where the pairs arms joined.
"Thank you" She smiled giving them a twirl before linking her arm back through Sark's. "Now we have a party to attend."
"Right." Vaughn responded tightly. "Here are your earpieces" He handed the devices to them to insert. "And here is the camera. It is encased in the stone of this necklace and also contains a microphone in case you need to speak to us." In his hand he held a golden chained necklace with a deep red ruby which matched her dress. Vaughn made as if to place it on Sydney but she took it from him before he could touch her and passed it to Sark. He gently placed the necklace around her neck, taking a moment to take in the sent of her. Sark new he was falling hard for Sydney, but couldn't find it in himself to try and stop. Her actions tonight were confusing him, he was just hoping that her intentions would become clearer, he wasn't sure how much more temptation he could take without doing something stupid, and Sydney was the embodiment of temptation. He moved back away from the others to compose himself. Vaughn looked ready to punch Sark, he couldn't understand the easy relationship between the pair and was convinced Sark was up to something. He vowed to keep a closer eye on the pair, he wouldn't let Sydney be hurt by this piece of scum.
Weiss feeling the tension from Vaughn tried to diffuse the situation. "Have you guys worked out a cover story?"
Sark answered, rejoining the group. "Yes, I'll be attending as myself as it is likely there will be others there who I have either worked with or can identify me. Sydney will be going in as my new wife Evelyn." He grinned at her, silently thrilled with the death glare he was receiving from her ex.
"I will also be Sark's alibi as it were for his absence from the world for the past year, in case there are people who know him and question it. So if anyone asks we left to get married and have been enjoying the marital life in some far off place, until now when Christian's offer drew him out." Sydney added.
"That's good, I hadn't even thought of anyone querying Sark's absence." Weiss commented. "Well the car is downstairs waiting, you two best get going. Good luck."
--
Once in the car Sydney and Sark began going through any last minute details that might be needed.
"Is there anything else I need to know?" Sydney asked.
"No. Tonight is all about Christian getting all the potential investors in the same place to see how they interact. If there is any animosity between several people, they will be disregarded. He won't have any in-fighting on one of his missions. He's just as paranoid about being betrayed as he is about governments. Most of the guest won't be investors, but just wealthy people invited to a function. Think of it as a show, and we are the entertainment " Sark laughed. "So tonight we dance, we converse, get along with everyone, and generally have a good time. We give no reason for Logan to distrust us."
Sydney nodded her consent. "I can do that, piece of cake. Plus its been a while since I've been dancing. It should be fun, I just hope I still remember how."
Sark laughed as a blush creeped across her face. "Don't worry princess, I won't let you fall."
She looked over at him, covering the necklace and whispering so as not to be overheard by the agents. "I know you won't Julian."
His eyes flew to meet hers, desperately trying to decipher any meaning behind that statement, but hers were facing dead straight ahead. Sark mentally sighed to himself, if it was the last thing he did he was going discover what was going on in that pretty little head of hers.
Her voice broke through his thoughts. "We're here."
--
Unknowingly the pair entered a large ballroom under the watchful gaze of Irina. She new she shouldn't be there. It was an unnecessary risk for all of them. But a mothers instinct kept taking over, after loosing her daughter once she would not let it happen again, she would keep her safe at any cost. Irina new logically that Sydney would be safe with Sark, he was the only other person beside Jack she would trust with her daughter, but she couldn't help needing to keep a close eye on her. What she saw before her eyes now however was an unexpected development.
Irina had seen Sark play his various roles on missions countless times, and could see through his every act. Tonight however, there was no act. The tender way he guided Sydney through the room, the way he gazed adoringly at her. His feelings were plainly written on his face and in his actions. 'I'm going to have a stern conversation with that boy when I get my hands on him.' She thought.
Those thoughts changed however when she paid attention to her daughters responses to Sark. Though her feelings were not as plainly obvious, she could see that Sydney's mirrored Sark's and was shocked to the core. Under no circumstances had she ever imagined the two of them together that way, but now as she took in the scene below her it seemed natural, fated and knew instantly that nothing she did or said would change what was going to happen. Irina could only hope they both new what they were doing.
--
After doing a once round of the room, Sydney and Sark felt that between the two of them they had been able to identify most of the potential investors. Now it was up to Vaughn and Weiss to get the required information, leaving them to enjoy the rest of their evening.
Sydney felt like she was glowing, although it was all an act, she couldn't help but bask in the attention Sark was lavishing on her, playing the part of the doting husband to perfection. Every little touch, the sideways glances and smiles set her heart on fire. When she made the decision to follow her feelings she never expected it to lead to this. She was falling in love with Sark. There she admitted it. And it was like nothing she'd ever felt before. Sydney wanted to grab him, kiss him with all the passion she felt in her body, his possible response the only thing stopping her. How was she to know that Sark was having similar thoughts about her. Excusing the two of them, Sark pulled Sydney away from the latest group of people they had been talking to and leaned over to place a gentle kiss on her cheek. "I'll get us some drinks, don't go anywhere." He said leaving her suddenly breathless as he melted in the crowd. As she struggled to compose herself a tall, muscular man, with piercing green eyes approached her.
"Such a beautiful young lady should not be without company to keep her entertained." The man stated in a velvety Italian accent.
Sydney let out a laugh, which was cut short when she felt strong arms wrap around her waist, she looked to see Sark standing next to her glaring at the other man. He silently handed her a champagne flute, not taking his eyes off the Italian. "She's not alone." Sark virtually growled. Sydney was about to scold him for being rude when the stranger let out a loud laugh.
"Ahh Sark, still holding a grudge after our last meeting."
"You two know each other?" Sydney inquired.
"Evelyn this is Kahn Lawson an old… associate." Sark replied using her alias for this mission, the tone of his voice making his distaste for the man perfectly clear.
Kahn proceeded to take Sydney's hand in his and brush his lips over her knuckles causing Sark's glare to intensify. "It's a pleasure to meet you Evelyn."
"Likewise." she responded coolly withdrawing her hand and leaning into Sark. If Sark disliked this man there was obviously a good reason for it.
Kahn smirked at the pair and turned his attention to Sark once more. "Of course Logan would come to you with his little scheme." his voice now dripping with disdain. "Although I can't think why when there are far better men he could be dealing with."
Sydney could feel Sark's body tense beside her cut in before he could do something to jeopardise the mission. "You seem to think yourself one of them, yet I have seen no evidence of this, in fact quite the opposite. Now if you'll excuse me my husband owes me a dance." Leaving a stunned Kahn behind, Sydney grabbed a smirking Sark's hand and dragged him to the dance floor. Wrapping Sark's arms around her, the pair began to dance and soon got lost in each others embrace. Everything fell away, their responsibilities, the mission, all the other guests until all that was left was each other. Sark effortlessly twirled Sydney around the dance floor, they were the picture of grace. All to soon the music came to an end and they moved away from the dance floor.
Gathering her thoughts once more, Sydney asked the question that had been on her mind during the encounter with the Kahn. "Sark how do you too know each other?"
"He's my Anna Espinosa." Sydney gave him a look which showed she completely understood. "His presence has made our job a lot harder. Kahn will deliberately try and sabotage me."
Taking his hand in hers Sydney smiled up at him. "We can take him." Sark returned her smile. "Come on lets get back to the hotel, I've had enough for one night."
"That makes two of us."
With their arms around each other Sydney and Sark made their way to the exit, under the careful scrutiny of several pairs of eyes.
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I know its been a long while since I've written anything but life just got far to hectic. So here is a long one to try and make up for it. Next chapter back at the hotel, lots of Sarkney. Hope people are still interested. Please review and make my day x