Hey everyone, sorry again about the delay. I'm not really that happy with this chapter but let me know what you think. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and please keep doing so!

Alex struggled up the narrow staircase in her stilettos, Duran Duran's 'Planet Earth' pounding from the club downstairs. Stoke had asked to see her almost immediately when she arrived for her first shift and Alex's heart was pounding with fear, eerily complimenting the deafening bass shaking the walls of the club. She knocked loudly on the first door she came to and husky voice told her to come in.

The room was a stark contrast to the grimy staircase she had just climbed. The décor was a mix of modern minimalist desks and sculptures, and velveteen cushions on fabric sofas. It was nothing like anything Alex had ever seen before, but neither was the man sat behind the centrepiece black desk. His file said that he was 41, but he didn't look a day over 30; his hair was meticulously styled with a slight spike to it; his jaw line was chiselled and his cheekbones prominent; he had a perfect smile and the most haunted eyes Alex had ever seen.

Alex took a deep breath, trying to calm her now racing heart and walked confidently to his desk. To her shame, she found herself avoiding his gaze: what the hell was happening to her?

"You wanted to see me, Mr Stoke?" Alex said, finally managing to meet his gaze.

"Please, call me Alastair, Miss…?"

"Oh, call me Alex."

"Alex. I must say I was rather annoyed with Smith for offering you a job without consulting me. However, I must say I will trust his judgement in future."

Alex blushed and internally chastised herself for doing so. "I'm so grateful, Mr… Alastair. I really need the money."

Alastair smiled a smile which most people, other than Alex, would have found quite menacing. "Smith said he mentioned some extra responsibilities…?" Alex nodded eagerly. "I usually wait a while before asking any of my employees to do this but I'm desperate, you see. One of my employees revealed herself to be untrustworthy and we had to let her go."

Alex felt a pang in her chest, bringing her to her senses: this man was a criminal. He lied with ease and felt no remorse in raping and beating a young woman within an inch of her life. Alex felt sick.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I need to get some gear delivered here," Stoke handed her a piece of paper bearing an address, "by tonight. Can you do it?"

"Yeah, sure, no problem."

"You don't feel comfortable doing this, do you?"

'Shit', Alex thought. She had spoken so quickly and agreed too readily and he had seen right through her. Damnit, he was good. "I don't take drugs and I don't think I ever will. But if you want me to do it, I will."

"Very eager to please aren't you?" There was a silence while Stoke scrutinised her and Alex feared that he had sussed her out. "I like that." Alex exhaled with relief; she was still in. "Find Smith after your shift finishes and he'll give you the stuff. Have you got transport?"

"Oh, shit. My car's in the garage, I completely forgot." Alex impressed even herself with how quick she had come up with that lie.

"No worries," Stoke said, giving the same creepy grin. "I'll drive tonight. At least then you'll know where it is. This guys a regular."

Stoke came to find Alex just after 8pm and told her he was ready to go. They stepped outside into the cold night and Stoke left her to fetch his car, not before wrapping his coat around her. Her day had been relatively pleasant, enjoying banter with some of the punters and getting to know some of the other girls. Alex had tried to gain some knowledge of Stoke from them but they were obviously suspicious of the new girl. She was in this undercover operation for the long haul it seemed.

Alex heard the engine before she saw the car. In a fashion Gene Hunt himself would have been proud of, a metallic green classic Porsche 911 careered around the corner of the club, stopping just in front of where Alex was standing. She rolled her eyes in mock apathy and giggled before entering the car.

"What do think then, Alex?"

"Very nice. Must have set you back a bit?"

"Well, whoever said crime doesn't pay doesn't have a bloody clue what he's on about." Alex laughed so she didn't have to reply. "Well done, by the way. Smith said that you've been working really hard in the bar today."

"Thanks. I take it Smith is your second hand man?"

Alastair laughed whole heartedly. "He likes to think he is. Actually, your job is more important than his. Never let him know that though."

"Of course not," Alex giggled.

Alastair pulled up in front of what looked like a derelict house after about fifteen minutes of driving. "I'll drop you off home if you like?"

Alarm bells immediately began ringing in Alex's head. "I actually don't live that far from here. Thanks for the offer though." Alex smiled sweetly, praying that he would take no for an answer.

"If you're sure. See you tomorrow Alex."

She stepped out of the car and watched him drive off. She looked at the package in her hands and then up to the house. She tucked the package into her jacket and walked in the direction of her flat. The decision she had just made could make or break her cover at 'Reflux' with Stoke.