Chapter 8

This place was going to have to give me a loyalty card or something. This time I hadn't bothered to dress up fancy; if this mystery employer wanted me they could take me as I was. The waiter looked like he was going to have a heart attack when he saw my faded blue and green checked shirt rolled up at the sleeves and my favourite jeans. I didn't wait for the assessment.

"I'm meeting someone…don't know their name but mine is Williams." My annoyed, brisk tone made the waiter blink rapidly, before he hurriedly looked down at his list.

"Of…course. Ah, here you are Williams, yes. Your guest is already seated. A different one from your previous nights."

"An astute observation, how about not making any more for the remainder of the night?" My confidence seemed to work and the waiter bowed nervously at me before gesturing for me to follow him.

"Yes, madam. Right this way please."

The nonsense of the last week had given me a fearlessness that I'd never had before, and I kind of liked it. I smiled smugly as I walked past the patrons, this time all of them stared. Whatever; I wanted to see what this mystery interview was all about and bail when they realised I wasn't going to be useful.

We were back at mine and Tobias' booth, a sad smile crept onto my face as I sat down, the waiter hurrying off the minute I took my eyes off him. The woman sat opposite regarded me with kind brown eyes, but there was a hard edge to them, as she looked me up and down. I held her gaze, un-phased after all the staring competition's Tobias had given me recently this was easy. She had dark red hair tied neatly back behind her slim face, her hands rested elegantly in front of her. She looked like she belonged here, she wasn't old but there was years of experience written on her face.

I folded my arms on the table, and waited for her to start. Eventually, she smiled at me, an open honest smile that made me relax instantly.

"Good evening, my name's Diana. I've been very much looking forward to meeting you." I raised my eyebrows a little, her refined English accent fitting the environment perfectly.

"Someone's been talking about me evidently." Diana's smile widened.

"Yes Morgan. I've heard a lot about you."

"Good or bad?"

She chuckled, "Good of course. Otherwise we wouldn't be meeting tonight." I couldn't figure out if she meant there wouldn't have been an interview or if there wouldn't have been a me if it were bad.

"Sorry, but I wasn't told what this job or who you are so I'm a little in the dark with all this."

Diana nodded as if she already knew this and reached into an expensive looking handbag next to her.

"As you can understand Morgan, having met our mutual friend," My stomach kicked at the mention of Tobias. God damn it. "This job is an extremely sensitive one. Therefore before I tell you exactly what it is you would be doing I need you to agree to accept it."

I raised my eyebrows at her, "Hang on, I have to accept before I know what it is I am accepting?"

"Exactly."

I bit my lip nervously; this week had been a rollercoaster and now I was potentially about to leap even deeper down the rabbit hole. Diana seemed amused at my perplexed expression as she produced a sheet of paper from her bag and placed it on the table between us.

"I can give you an idea of what it entails, just so you feel your decision is a bit more informed. But to as to who you'll be working for or what your role will be I cannot divulge that until you have signed this." She placed a fountain pen neatly by the side of the paper and folded her hands back in front of her.

I stared at the glaringly white form in front of me. There was no header or insignia to tell me whom it was from. It just had a non-disclosure clause on it stating I wouldn't tell anyone about this meeting, and a contract of employment below to an unnamed company. My eyes flicked from her to the paper and back.

"Ok, I'm listening." I said breaking my gaze away from the contract and leaning back in the seat. Diana paused for a moment, assessing my mood before continuing.

"This job is an extremely unusual and privileged opportunity. We only take the best and brightest into its training program, and it is fraught with danger. You will experience death, maybe not your own but it is an integral part of what we do. As I am sure you have witnessed." She smiled at me knowingly; I sat still waiting for her to finish.

"The pay is…substantial for those who progress and you can travel the world. The consequences however, are great."

I tilted my head to the side, "Greater than losing your life?" Her face was solemn.

"Yes, you will not be able to tell anyone what you do. Including your family, and you will cease to exist as Morgan Williams. Due to the nature of our work we will use a codename when referring to you to protect you and the people you love. It is hard and lonely sometimes what we do but it is a job like no other."

Her eyes bored into me as I took in what she had said. No friends, no family, no name. I was struggling to see the upside; on the other hand I had reveled at the excitement of the past few days and had seen changes in me that I liked. Plus, it could be the only way to see Tobias again. The thought of him made me frown as a question formed.

"Would I be doing what our mutual friend does? Cause I don't think I am built for that." Diana's smile returned.

"No, this job is less…hands on shall we say."

I breathed a sigh of relief, I don't think in any world I would be a good assassin.

"Ok, so I've got the job if I want it? I thought there were questions at an interview." Diana leant forward then; her expression serious.

"I'll be honest with you Morgan, this is a very unorthodox way for us to recruit. Usually we go through the most prestigious Universities, hand selecting their best students. Never in all the time I have worked for this company has a field agent recommended anyone, especially not this particular one. So you had the job the minute you walked through that door."

I was taken aback. What had Tobias said about me? I didn't know what to do, this felt like a life changing moment and I had always wanted to be a photographer. But I still couldn't shake the feeling that everything I had done had been leading to this moment. It was a lot to take in; the form stared at me relentlessly. I hadn't known my life was boring until this week and when I look back this is when I say I became a different person.

Gingerly I picked up the fountain pen, and for the last time signed my name. Diana watched my every move, and only when the pen left the page did she give me a broad smile and offer her hand.

"Welcome to the ICA's handler program Morgan." Her grasp was firm but warm, and a bubble of excitement burst in my chest. "From now on you work for the agency. We are an international under-ground conglomerate that completes contracts paid for by anyone with the money. We aren't answerable to any political group, government organisations or criminal syndicates. We are neutral, and the best. No mission is impossible and we have shaped the world you live in now more than you realise."

I listened in awe of what Diana was saying. She had become all business, her voice explaining everything carefully and clearly.

"As a handler you will be responsible for providing information and assistance to your assigned agent. This will include gathering intel on your contract beforehand, and even offering guidance in the field." She paused and gave me a smile. "Although I am aware you already have experience of that." I blinked at her, remembering my brief foray into criminality.

"The ICA has had a rough history; it's been betrayed many times. It is because of this that we decided to keep all personnel confidential. The only colleagues whose names you'll know will be myself and a few other senior members. All others will be referred to by their codenames, and you will only ever know the identity of the agent assigned to yourself. This way we can minimize the damage if anything else happens to the agency."

I nodded solemnly, thinking I understood. It was a lot to take in.

"You'll have to relocate to Denmark for your training, and if you progress you'll be allowed to move wherever you like once an agent has been assigned to you. We typically use avian codenames for our handlers, we can assign you one or alternatively if you have a preference we will consider it."

A slow smile spread across my face at this.

"I've got one in mind."

A/U: That's end of Part 1, hope you are enjoying. I am writing Part 2 as we speak and will upload chapters as I finish them. Any comments welcome. :)