When Liz was escorted into a small office as she arrived for her 'interview' the next afternoon, she was told to have a seat and someone would be with her shortly. Everything seemed to be above board. There were certificates and licenses on the walls. Pictures that appeared to be children with their newly adoptive parents and the standard upstanding citizens. The cover they had was certainly on point. Would she be able to chip away at the exterior and be able to see what was underneath? Hopefully she didn't get herself killed while investigating.
The door opened and a casually dressed man entered. He looked to be in his mid forties, tall, thin and seemingly easy mannered. She went to stand but he waved her off.
"No, no need to get up. I am Miles Rudenko." He extended his hand and shook hers with a warm smile.
She was supposed to be put at ease by his demeanor, which only made her more tense. She knew what these people were underneath the shiny facade. She forced herself to unclench and returned his greeting warmly. "Emily Nolan, it's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."
He sat behind his desk and flipped through a thin file. "No problem. You have just arrived in the city, yes?"
"Yes, my husband will be doing business here for the next six months or so and he wanted me with him, but I can't sit at home and while away the hours when he is working." She tried to give off the air of a rich, bored housewife. Never having been either she would just have to wing it.
He looked surprised. "Oh, so you won't be here permanently?"
"No, I hope that won't be a problem. When I saw an orphanage was looking for someone I had to jump at the chance to help in any way I could."
His gaze had sharpened upon hearing she would not be in town long enough to put down roots. Hopefully that meant they wouldn't be as careful about letting things slip around her, thinking she would be leaving soon.
"That will be fine. Just to be clear this is a volunteer position, not paid." He handed her a sheet of paper across the desk listing the job details.
"Yes, of course. Strictly on volunteer basis." The paper stated that she needed to get the children ready for inspection and possible adoption and the various duties involved. It made her stomach crawl to think she would be making these kids presentable for child slavers.
"Would you be opposed to starting today? Tomorrow will be a busy day and our other stylist has just… quit." He smiled but the warmth she sensed he was trying to convey before was gone.
She knew Red would be irritated if she didn't come straight back, but saying no might be suspicious after just saying she was so excited to be helping at an orphanage. "That would be wonderful. I will have to let my driver know, though,or he will start to worry."
"Of course." He rose and opened the door for her.
Dembe got out to open the car door when he saw Liz descend the steps, but she put her hand up to stop him. "Actually, I am going to be starting today so you will need to come back in… "
She turned back towards Miles who supplied. "In about three hours."
Turning back to Red's imposing bodyguard she said. "I'll call when I'm ready."
Dembe looked up at the steps to Miles, then back at Liz. "Your husband will not be pleased. He expected you home within the hour."
"Well tell him he will have to do without me for a bit longer."
She turned and walked back up the steps and into the building.
When Liz got home later that evening she discovered that having Raymond Reddington agitated with you was not a pleasant experience.
His glass of scotch was halfway to his mouth when he noticed her stride in like she hadn't a care in the world. "Nice of you to join us, Lizzie."
He lowered his glass and took her in with a slow glance from head to toe. What should have been a seductive glance turned into a sinister leer.
His gaze made her spine tingle, not in sexual awareness, but with fear. This was the Concierge of Crime: a very powerful criminal and now she was getting a taste of that power. She couldn't help but imagine all the ways he had probably killed people for the slightest offence.
She swallowed almost audibly, trying not to let her fear show. "Dembe was supposed to let you know that I was starting today."
He turned to look out the window and rubbed his palm over the back of his head to collect himself before turning back to her and speaking in a clipped tone. "You said three hours, it's been six."
"They wanted to make sure I got in a full day of training since tomorrow will be a busy day and they won't have time to be with me as much." She didn't know what to do, how to get him out of this mood or if she should say she was sorry.
Hi voice was deadly, sounding like breaking glass rather than the gravely tone he had used with her on the plane. "Never, ever deviate from a plan once we have agreed upon it. Once you start improvising, there are too many variables and I cannot guarantee your safety."
He had started a predatory walk towards her as he began talking. He came to a stop directly in front of her and was now firmly ensconced in her personal space. She could feel the power radiating off of him, it was intimidating.
"I wasn't sure how to say no without it looking suspicious." Her mouth was suddenly dry and she felt on the verge of tears.
"Dembe gave you an 'out' when he told you I would not be pleased with you staying." The muscles in his cheeks twitched a few times in an effort to control his rage.
She licked her dry lips. There was nothing more she could say. Better to let him get out what he needed to say rather than fuel the fire.
His gaze flicked to her lips and the anger he felt turned instantly to sexual desire. He needed to retreat and calm down before he took her right there. He wouldn't even care if Dembe stayed to watch. Would she deny him or would she cling to him? Before his thoughts could continue, he turned, stalked to his room, and slammed the door behind him.
She stood there for what seemed like an eternity letting her tears silently fall, questioning if she should have blindly followed a man such as Raymond Reddington until she felt a large hand give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "He was concerned for your safety Elizabeth; it took all I had to keep him from tearing that building apart brick by brick searching for you."
She was shaking with nerves."Should I go talk to him? I don't think I can get through the night, let alone another day in that place if he is mad at me."
"If you'd like, but tread carefully, he is very angry." She looked terrified so he reassured her, "He would never hurt you physically, but I know that sometimes words can hurt too."
She nodded and took a deep breath before heading down the hall to his room. She stood outside his door straining to hear anything coming from within, but was met with silence. She hesitantly lifted her hand and knocked on the door.
"Go to bed, Ms. Scott," came the curt reply through the door.
She started to leave, but she turned back to the door. Her stomach was in knots and she would not be able to sleep if they didn't resolve this. She raised her voice slightly to make sure he heard her through the door. "There is no way I will be able to sleep knowing that you're upset with me."
She could hear his sigh through the door before he growled, "Enter."
He was staring out at the city below with his hands in his pockets. He spoke to her without turning around. "They might have done anything with you and there would have been very little I could do about it."
She felt like they were on opposite sides of the planet even though only a few feet separated them. She had no idea how to repair the breach, the only thing she could think to do was apologize.
She came to stand behind him and placed her hand on his back and traced a path up to his shoulder, he flinched but didn't move to escape her touch. "I'm sorry that I worried you, it won't happen again."
He withdrew his hands from his pockets and leaned one against the frame, the other coming up to stroke his face before he spoke. "I have a feeling this is only the beginning, Lizzie."
She bristled with anger. If she was such a bother he could always get some other P.I. to help him. She stepped away from him and she could see that he was watching her through the reflection of the glass. At least she had his attention.
She blew out a breath to calm down, since she had no idea how he would react if she started yelling at him. "There are other P.I.'s out there for you to choose from if I am not performing to your standards."
He glanced at her reflection in the window, again giving her a once over, this time with blatant sexual interest. "None of them are you."
She was now more confused than ever. She wondered for the first time why it was her office he decided to stroll into, was there more to it than just having known her father?
"What is that supposed to mean?"
He walked over to a side table next to the bed and poured himself a drink. He took a sip and then walked back to the window, not once turning his his eyes to her. It was difficult, but she needed to understand who was in charge here. "You should get some rest, I understand you have a busy day tomorrow."
Did he just dismiss her? She closed her eyes and prayed for patience. It was probably better to wait until he was in a more pleasant mood to discuss what he meant. She opened her mouth to say goodnight, then thought better of it. He didn't deserve a good night since he was being such an ass.
She left him standing there and went to her own room. The urge to slam the door so tempting, but with some effort she was able to control herself.