You may not know it by this story…at least so far…but Sharon Raydor is my favorite. I just wanted to put that out there.

Brenda Leigh struggled within her own mind during the entire plane ride from London to Los Angeles. This job had put her in danger every day but that didn't disturb her. What caused her stomach to twist into double knots was the thought of being so close to reconnecting with her yet being so far away. With skepticism she agreed to join Griff on his trip to LA because she knew it would put her deeper into his folds and she was getting closer and closer each day to what she needed.

Griff could tell something was bothering Valencia on the long flight. And Brenda had to come up with a story quickly so he didn't get curious. So she told him that she hadn't been back to Los Angeles since she had almost been murdered by one of her supposed loyal diamond sellers. The story almost backfired when Griff became visibly upset and immediately wanted to know who this person was and that he would take care of the situation. But Valencia assured him that she took care of the situation herself and guy would no longer be a problem for anyone. Satisfied with her response he let the matter go.

But going back to LA still made her uneasy. For more reasons than she could admit.

They flew in during the morning of New Year's Eve for the party Griff was throwing for his investors that night. Of course the details were already taken care of by the time they had arrived. G. R. Hawthorne's deep pockets were bottomless.

It was still mid morning when they arrived and headed to Griff's mountainside house in the Santa Monica Mountains. Of course he would live here. So close. He showed her to her professionally decorated yellow themed bedroom. It was gorgeous but not as gorgeous as the view overlooking the city. Her eyes immediately fixed on the area just at the base of the mountain. For 10 hours she told herself she wouldn't make herself visible during this trip. But now that she was here…

"Griff, I think I'd like to clear my head and get some air if it's okay with you." She wasn't asking permission necessarily but she couldn't be too forceful either. He had to know he was in control. Brenda learned in the last few weeks that Griff, while sweet and caring to her, was becoming more and more territorial.

He agreed right away but insisted that his driver take her.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was all too familiar to Brenda Leigh. It had been a regular meeting place when she needed to discuss something with Captain Raydor that didn't need to be overheard at headquarters.

She didn't want to go there but she needed to. It had been too long. She wasn't even sure anything would come of it but she had to try. Even if for just a glimpse.

Sitting at the small table by the window, Brenda Leigh watched the traffic pass by outside as she waited for her dark chocolate café latte to be ready. Even though it was a bright, sunny but cool day in LA she kept her darkened Gucci sunglasses on for other reasons.

She sat there a good half hour before picking up the newspaper that was lying on the table in front of her. Fully immersed in a financial portfolio article, she didn't immediately see the tall, lean brunette walk into the establishment. But as the woman began talking to the barista, Brenda recognized that deep, rich voice instantly. Gasping behind the paper, her eyes were glued to the woman ordering at the counter. And she knew exactly what she was ordering – large, Earl Grey tea with milk and 2 sugars. Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, she wanted desperately to get up and greet the woman. But it took all she had to stay in her seat. It didn't take much to recognize that Sharon had lost weight since she had last seen her. Was the job causing her stress? A dread came over Brenda's body. Her leaving had put Sharon in the position she was in. It was her fault.

Sharon Raydor hadn't been in the CBTL in her neighborhood in over 8 months. But today she was drawn there and she had 5 more days until her RTO was over so there wasn't much else to do. She stopped going there a few months after Brenda left. Finding she was only going in hopes of seeing her, Sharon stopped torturing herself.

Sharon smiled softly at the young man who handed her the cup of tea. She still didn't know why she was there today. Taking a quick look around at the tables like she had always done, she didn't see who she was looking for. And just the realization that she was allowing herself to slide back into those old habits made her feel sick.

The captain shook her head and rolled her eyes. She was doing it again. Getting wrapped up in her missing friend. Turning on her heels to leave, she hurried past the tables lined against the window. Stopping mid stride, she was hit with the delicate yet unique scent she hadn't smelled in almost a year—Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist. She knew it instantly. Brenda Leigh Johnson wore it every day.

Brenda Leigh buried her head further in the newspaper. She couldn't risk being seen. She knew G. R. Hawthorne's driver was also keeping tabs on her per his boss's orders. He would surely report back any meetings or interactions Brenda had with anyone…especially if he found out it was an LAPD Captain.

But her heart ached to reach out-just to touch her arm, shoulder, something.

Sharon didn't see the blonde who invaded so many of her thoughts. The blonde who was causing Sharon to put her career at risk because her head wasn't always in the game. How dare her emotions take control without her consent! She stormed out of the coffee shop without looking back.

Brenda Leigh watched as Sharon Raydor took fast, purposeful, long strides down the sidewalk. Her heart broke as her friend rounded the corner and was out of sight. Bringing her almost empty coffee cup to her mouth, she tried her best to hide her quivering chin and lip.

G. R. Hawthorne knew how to throw a lavish New Year's Eve party. The modern glass house that he owned clung to the side of the Santa Monica Mountains like a snail clinging to a window. With spectacular views, it provided the perfect atmosphere for a party and for watching the midnight fireworks over the city.

Valencia Steele emerged from her bedroom at 9pm wearing a form-fitting apple red dress that danced at her knees and pushed her breasts to the limit. Her dark hair bounced free with loose curls. Of course she wore a breathtaking yet simple diamond necklace and earrings. Every eye in the room was on her as she entered the party. Taking a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter, she sipped it to calm her nerves.

Griff introduced all of his diamonds contact to Val Steele. The players weren't hard to identify from her previous intelligence. But it wasn't them she was after. He was her target. And it was good that he was starting to allow Valencia further and further into his world. It didn't bother him to openly discuss his business while she was in the room. But she still didn't have what she needed. She had to get him on the illegal diamond smuggling and murder.

She was, undoubtedly, prepared for the duration.

The party was soon in full force. It didn't take long before Brenda tired of the festivity. But it wasn't midnight yet and she knew it wouldn't be kosher to retire before then at least. She forced herself to dance twice with Griff. He was a good dancer. During the second she could tell he was just about to his alcohol limit as he held her close against his hard body. Thankfully, his friends or colleagues or whatever they were drug him off for more shots of something strong. She was finally left to herself.

Brenda stared out over the darkened city. Her mind drifted immediately. She couldn't help but wonder what Sharon was doing. Was she at a party? Was she on a date? Was she working?

Suddenly, Griff grabbed her upper arm spinning her around to face him. Startled, she almost choked on her own breath.

"Happy New Year, my darling." He leaned his head down and captured her mouth in a hot wet kiss. It was their first and Brenda was quite confused by the gesture. He had been taking his time making any kind of move towards a relationship but tonight he was different. Bolder. Demanding.

She pulled away as he deepened the kiss. Wiping the back of her hand across her red smeared lips, she saw a coldness in his eyes that she hadn't seen before.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked, softening immediately. She really did think he cared for Valencia. He didn't have many people he could or would share his life with.

"No. No. Just startled is all." Giving him a kind smile and a quick peck on the lips to reassure him, she excused herself and went to her room.

By 3am the house had emptied but Brenda was still awake. She heard Griff moving about the house. Stepping out of her room in a long black robe, she wanted to find Griff and apologize for leaving the party the way she did. If he got angry with her now all this would be for nothing.

The door to his office was open. She saw his darkened shadow pacing along the large windows. He didn't see her approach the room. But just as she was about to enter she heard him speaking. She then saw the small earpiece blinking over his left ear. Stepping quickly back around the door before he could see her, she waited…and listened to the phone call he was taking.

They'll be brought in to Long Beach, Pier J. There will be 2. Take care of it then bring me the eggs.

She knew eggs was his code word for diamonds. His words still heavy from the affects of the alcohol.

11pm.

He stepped through the door just as she was turning to leave. Her eyes widened and heart raced when he caught her.

"Valencia?" He asked cautiously and curiously.

"Oh, Griff, I was just…just coming to apologize but didn't want to disturb your phone call." She turned to go but he grabbed her arm again. This time he squeezed harder than he should have but she didn't flinch. She watched as his eyes gazed over her body. He was drunk.

"Don't go." He ordered as he released her arm.

She watched him wobble on unsteady legs but her mind was processing the phone call she had overheard. This would be a break if she could get it. But she had to make contact with her liaison by the next night.

Brenda guided him to his room. As she sat him on the end of his bed, he gently reached up and traced the outline of her cleavage that was exposed just above the open collar of her robe. She pulled a quick breath into her lungs…not because she was turned on but because she wasn't sure how to get out of the situation. When G. R. Hawthorne wanted something he didn't stop until he got it. But he was her mark. She couldn't get that deep. It wasn't necessarily against the CIA rules but it was against the Brenda Leigh Johnson rules.

Pushing him back further on the bed, she stepped away. He laughed at her coyness.

"Lie down. I'll get a warm cloth for your face." She told him and he immediately did as he was told.

Brenda knew if she waited long enough he would be passed out before she returned and she was right. Within a few minutes, Griff was sprawled across his bed, snoring deeply.

Tiptoeing back to her own bedroom, she contemplated her next move. She had less than 24 hours to make contact with Stuart and she wasn't sure how to do that. Her connection to the CIA had ended months ago for an unknown reason but she wasn't giving up her mission. They picked her specifically for this job and she wasn't going to abort.

There was only one person in the world she could trust to help her.