"You said your name was Michael?" the man outside the gates frowned deeply, flipping through his clipboard. "I'm afraid you're not on the list. Are you a friend of the groom or the bride?"
Alex watched as Michael slid something out of his pocket and showed it to the guard. She caught the words "security detail" before the man nodded hurriedly, murmuring apologies under his breath. "Yes, of course. The ambassador mentioned that he hired a personal security team for this event." He paused, glancing at Alex, "So, is it just you, then?"
"This is Alex," Michael's arm tightened around her shoulders. "Don't worry, she's a highly trained member of my team."
The guard looked highly skeptical, "But she's…just a girl."
Alex leaned forward, and smiled sweetly. "A girl who can kick your ass," she corrected, enjoying watching the guard flinch.
Michael pulled her backwards and shot her a warning glance, though there was a touch of amusement in his eyes. "Sorry about that," he apologized insincerely to the guard. "We don't let her out much. She can get a bit…enthusiastic about her job. You understand."
The guard straightened up suddenly, a look of dawning comprehension washing over his features. "Oh! This is the girl?"
Michael looked confused, "Excuse me?"
"Oh, it's okay!" the guard said with a grin, his demeanor changing completely. "The ambassador told me everything...He mentioned that you would be bringing along an escort."
Alex's eyes widened, and Michael stiffened. "The ambassador told you that?" he questioned, his voice betraying none of the incredulity mirrored in his eyes.
"Of course," the man winked, now leering at Alex. "I must say, she's one of the best looking ones I've seen…" He smirked at Michael, "I'm guessing you've tapped that?"
"Nothing but our best for the ambassador," Michael replied, neatly deflecting the question.
"Indeed," he grinned again, letting his gaze rake obviously over Alex's body. At that moment, several other guests arrived behind them, chattering happily. The guard cleared his throat, consulting his clipboard once more. "All set, sir. Enjoy the wedding."
"Thank you," Michael said briskly, ushering Alex through the gate.
The minute they were out of earshot, she turned to him angrily. "What the hell was that about?" she hissed, jerking out of his grip in fury. "Do you know how humiliating that was? How could you let him think that—that I was some kind of prostitute!"
"Lower your voice," Michael cautioned, looking around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "Look, I'm sorry but that's apparently the story that Percy told the ambassador so that you could get close enough to complete your mission. It's your cover story now. You're going to have to deal, got it?"
Alex stared up at him in disbelief, her face still flushed with embarrassment. "I can't believe that you're going along with this," she said in a harsh whisper, crossing her arms in front of her. "What happened to your whole 'I'll always protect you' spiel? Just more of your bullshit?"
Michael's eyes flashed in warning, "This is your mission, Alex. Do you want to graduate to field agent or not?"
Alex gritted her teeth, "Of course I do."
"Then quit making a scene, and let's get inside," Michael said tensely. "We don't want to attract any attention, remember?"
Alex took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Nikita's voice rang in her mind, 'We all wear masks. Everyone, everyday. Sometimes we wear them so much we forget who we really are…'
"Fine, let's get this over with," she said abruptly, raising her eyebrows at Michael expectantly. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he merely slid an arm around her waist and led her into the mansion. Alex plastered a smile to her face as they nodded and smiled at all the guests gathered over the threshold.
Once they had fully entered the main hall, Alex found herself scanning the room for familiar faces. She immediately sought out Thom standing behind a table, serving drinks. Almost as if he could feel her gaze on him, he looked up and saw Alex. He gave her an almost imperceptible nod, before turning his attention back to pouring out champagne.
"Remember, you don't know him," Michael said under his breath, steering her further into the house and away from Thom. "Keep your eyes peeled for the ambassador," he added, pulling Alex in another direction when they both caught sight of Amanda. She was standing with a small group of people, including the bride.
"She looks so happy," Alex said without thinking.
Michael gave her a weird look, "Who? Amanda?"
"No. I meant the bride."
"She's getting married, why wouldn't she be happy?"
"That's not what I meant…never mind, it's not important." Michael nodded distantly, clearly not paying attention to what Alex was saying. She brushed off her annoyance, and glanced at the bride again. Division was going to kill this girl's father on the happiest day of her life…god, they really were a bunch of sick, twisted, unfeeling—
"Eyes right," Michael whispered suddenly, stepping closer to Alex on the pretense of brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Alex ignored this gesture and glanced casually over to her right. Ah, the ambassador. He was laughing as he walked over to Thom, his hand held out for a glass of the champagne.
"Wouldn't it just be easier to slip something into his drink?" she asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.
"That's a last resort," Michael answered, casually taking Alex's hand within his own. "Come on, let's introduce ourselves."
Alex bit her lip as he dragged her over to the ambassador. He had just raised the glass to his lips when he turned and saw them. He looked slightly confused for a moment before Michael held out his hand. "It's an honor to meet you, ambassador. I'm Michael..." he lowered his voice, "Part of the security detail that you hired?"
"Oh yes," the ambassador's expression cleared in understanding. He glanced over at Alex, his mouth curling up appreciatively. "So that means that this is..."
"Your escort, yes," Michael replied smoothly, tightening his own hand around Alex's and weaving their fingers together. "I thought it would be easiest if we pretended she was here as my date, so as to not raise any suspicion from your family or any of your other guests."
"Of course," the ambassador nodded eagerly. "Shall we set up a time and place to, ah, make the exchange?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"The money?"
"Right," Michael said briskly, "Name your conditions."
The ambassador appeared to think for a moment, and he glanced at his watch. "Shall we say in an hour? There is a master bedroom upstairs; just walk through this room and take the stairs at the end of the hall. The bedroom will be the first door on the right."
"That sounds fine, doesn't it Alex?"
...all wear masks...everyone, everyday...
Alex smiled seductively, and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I'm looking forward to meeting you, ambassador."
He grinned back at her, his eyes lighting up in excitement. "An hour it is, then. In the meantime, feel free to mingle," he waved an arm around the room, "Dance, drink, eat. You're my guests, after all," he gave them a subtle wink before downing the alcohol in his hand and disappearing into the crowd.
Alex watched him go, and swallowed.
One hour.
One hour till she made her first kill.
One hour until she became a field agent.
She glanced behind her to see Thom watching her carefully, his expression blank. At that moment, Amanda walked over. She didn't look over at Alex or Michael at all. "One drink, please," she said to Thom, smiling at him politely.
"One for me as well," Michael said, shifting forward slightly so that he was next to Amanda. "You didn't tell me that Alex had to pretend to be an escort," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with anger. "Did you forget, or did you know that I wouldn't go along with the plan if that was the case?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Amanda replied, her voice deceptively neutral. "Thank you," she added to Thom as he handed her a drink. "It was nice meeting you," she said to Michael, smiling at him innocently. "Hope you enjoy the rest of the party."
"You too," he said coldly, watching her go. "Come on," he said to Alex, holding out his hand. "We'll have to make it look believable that you're my date."
Alex stared down at his hand in confusion, "By doing what?"
Michael raised his eyebrow at her, "Dancing."