Thank you all so much for following and I appreciate you checking in with reviews! Just getting started here so thanks for sticking with me!
And Lawd help me and Google Translation! It's not all correct, but you get the point!
-M
Ch.2.
She stood tall.
Her Manolo shoes, the black leather dress that pronounced her every curve…
She stood tall, confident.
Or so she appeared.
Gareth slid his arm around her, his hands tracing the soft leather down the curve of her spine.
"Tu es magnifique," (You look beautiful) he whispered against the lobe of her ear.
She nodded giving a shy smile.
"I really mean it Samantha. You look beautiful." Gareth said in his thick English accent.
She turned to him, brushing the shoulder of his suit.
"I wore it for you," she said raising her brow.
He grinned, satisfied she had.
Gareth's attraction to Samantha came easily.
The CIA had chosen Olivia for more than one reason. His type.
Beautiful, tall, curvaceous… sexy, smart, mysterious.
His type.
Olivia knew how to flirt, how to capture a man's attention and finding the handsome Gareth Bishop as her target, she found it an easier job than she expected.
Olivia even found herself reminding herself that he was the bad guy. He was the reason why she was there.
He was a criminal, not a handsome, suave, Englishman.
"Something for you," Gareth said reaching to the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
She waited as the black box appeared before her.
He opened the box presenting the gift to her.
"Black diamonds." He said confidently.
Olivia looked down at the more than generous black diamond studs, set in gold.
"They are for you Samantha."
"They're beautiful… you shouldn't have."
"Of course I should have."
She took the earrings in her hand.
"If you'll just give me a moment, I'd like to wear them tonight."
"Of course. I'll be waiting for you."
Olivia disappeared back in to the bathroom.
She took the earrings from the box, placing a diamond in each ear.
She took a deep breath looking back at herself.
Looking at how she had changed, physically, mentally in the last 6 months.
She felt she had gained Gareth's trust; he seemed to have fallen for her.
But he had yet to tell her anything in depth of his business.
Her mission.
She needed to find out where the vast amounts of money he was laundering was coming from.
"Samantha! We mustn't be late."
"Coming!" She answered.
Another deep breath before rejoining him.
"Where are we going this evening?" She asked taking his awaiting hand.
"My club."
Olivia stopped to look at Gareth.
"Your club? How could I not know you own a club here in Paris?" She asked nonchalantly.
"Samantha darling, I own a lot of things. And this club is why I have been spending my time here recently. Sometimes you must be present to run a tight ship."
Olivia held her tongue.
Instead she smiled.
It was hard to compare the city lights at night in Paris. It was arguably one of the most beautiful cities Olivia had even seen.
They drove along the River Seine passing the riverboats and street traffic, while twinkling lights faded in to each other. They took a right turn, making their way down a quiet alley.
One block, two… Olivia counted.
Their car pulled up outside a non descript building. One that looked like the next one and the next…
The driver opened the door for Olivia, offering his hand.
"Merci," she said politely.
A large man standing outside opened the door to the building quickly, speaking reverently to Gareth Bishop.
Inside, Gareth watched as Olivia looked around.
"You're thinking this isn't a club?" He asked seemingly amused.
"My thoughts exactly."
"This is my private entrance."
"Of course." She said with a polite smile.
"Mr. Bishop."
They both quickly turned to see another large man in a suit call Gareth's name.
"Sir, your table is ready."
Gareth nodded in approval.
"Shall we?" Gareth asked placing his palm at the small of Olivia's back to guide her.
They went through a door, down a long hallway… the last door opened to the back of the club, a jazz club.
A woman in a scantly clad outfit was singing on stage.
Dark, sexy.
Their table, a rounded booth in the back corner.
Olivia slid in to the booth and Gareth sat tightly beside her, pulling her in to his arms for possession.
Champaign was immediately poured.
"Madeline." Gareth said acknowledging the woman who had poured their Champaign. "Obtenez la dame ce qu'elle aimerait." (Get the lady whatever she would like.)
Madeline nodded looking to Olivia.
"Champagne est très bien, je vous remercie." (Champaign is fine, thank you.)
Madeline again nodded before walking away.
Olivia looked around at all of the women and their clothing or lack their of. She then noticed the type of "gentleman" that sat at the tables, that mingled throughout the club.
Olivia shifted in her seat next to Gareth.
"Tu vas bien?" (Are you alright?) Gareth asked leaning in to her.
"Oui, je vais bien." (Yes, I'm fine.)
Gareth pushed her long dark hair to the side and began kissing her neck.
"Gareth?" She said questioning his public display of affection.
"Samantha, this is my club, I can do as I wish here."
Gareth continued to kiss her neck, his hands roaming her bare legs, under the hem of her dress.
She shuffled again.
Shit.
Olivia… shit. Go with it.
Gareth pulled away.
"I didn't think you were bothered by public display. The other night on my balcony you had no trouble…"
"That was your home."
"And this is my club."
Shit.
He ran his hands further up her dress, further between her thighs.
She closed her eyes.
He was a man that did what he wanted.
"Monsieur, mes excuses pour interrompre, mais vous sont nécessaires dans une question aussi importante."
(Sir, my apologies for interrupting, but you are needed in an important matter.)
Gareth stopped, his hands still between her thighs. He looked to Olivia.
"You go ahead." She nudged. "The ladies room?" She asked in to Gareth's ear.
Gareth nodded.
"Charles?
"Oui monsieur." (Yes sir?)
"S'il vous plaît montrer Madame Gray où elle peut se rafraîchir." (Please show Ms. Gray where she can freshen up.)
Gareth looked back to Olivia. "I'll be back soon."
They both parted ways, Gareth making his way behind the door they entered the club through, she following the man as instructed.
"Merci." Olivia said leaving him behind as she entered the ladies room.
She stopped at the mirror, pretending that she cared if her lipstick was smudged and if it needed to be re-applied. She was really gathering her thoughts, trying to process all that she had taken in, in the last hour.
"Donc, vous êtes Samantha Gray?" (So you're Samantha Gray?)
Olivia looked up in the mirror to see a brunette about her height standing behind her.
"Et vous êtes?" (And you are?) Olivia questioned.
"Celeste, Bishop's former." She said in English through her heavy French accent.
"Former lover?"
"Oui."
Olivia continued to look back at Celeste in the mirror.
"You are no exception you know? He likes his woman all the same. Look at us, our similarities. Look at all the women here." Celeste said glaring at Olivia. "You are just another dark haired beauty… but you are American. That is at least a new preference."
"Did you want something Celeste?" Olivia asked almost coldly and hoping to bait Celeste in to telling her more.
"He buys you expensive things, he's polite, gentle, the sex is amazing… Then like the rest of us…"
"The rest?" Olivia said turning to Celeste.
Celeste opened her jacket to show the bump of her belly.
Olivia couldn't help but feel sick.
"This baby, the others… It's his game."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Celeste gave an amused laugh.
"Maybe hormones have made me softer. But just consider it a warning."
"He doesn't want the baby?" Olivia goaded.
"Oh come on Samantha, you are smarter than that. You can't really be that dense?"
Olivia raised her brow.
"Of course he wants the baby, as soon as I give birth I will never see this baby again." Celeste looked down at her belly. "I am nothing but a breeder and you will be to."
Olivia took a deep breath and took a step back as another woman made her way in to the bathroom.
"Bon à vous rencontrer Samantha." (Good to meet you Samantha.)
"Celeste." Olivia said, as she nodded and walked out of the bathroom.
"There you are my beautiful Samantha." Gareth said reaching for her.
"Sorry, I was fixing my make-up." She said making an excuse.
"You have no need to fix your make-up, you are so naturally beautiful." He complimented.
"Charmeur." (Charmer) She teased.
He smiled knowing.
Olivia spent the rest of the evening sipping on her Champaign and observing.
"Puis-je vous aider plus Champaign?" (May I get you more Champaign?) Madeline offered.
"Non merci." (No merci)
"You are welcome to more Champaign Samantha." Gareth coaxed.
"You know I don't drink much." She reminded.
She made sure she didn't drink too much. She made sure she didn't loose her cognizance in the arms of Gareth Bishop.
He leaned over and kissed her lips.
"How bout we get out of here? Dinner?"
Olivia shook her head agreeing. She so badly wanted to get out of there.
"Sounds good."
By the time they had left the restaurant his hands were all over her.
His intentions clear.
"I can't get enough of you," he said in the back of his car, lips kissing her, his hands cupping her breasts through the leather.
Gareth definitely had a healthy sexual appetite, but he had never forced himself on Olivia.
He actually was the utmost gentleman.
When he met her, he was patient, waited for her.
They had made it inside his penthouse, his lips melded to hers.
His intentions again clear.
He pulled the zipper to her dress down, pulling her dress from her body.
"Ahh" he said with a grin and looking at Olivia's sheer and black, lace clad body.
"I see you received the gift I left for you the other night."
"You like what you see?" she teased.
"Incroyable." (Amazing)
Olivia let a slow, sexy grin appear on her face.
Gareth began to kiss her again, this time guiding her against his bedroom wall.
Of course her mind wandered, of course she thought about her conversations with Celeste.
But she knew her job.
She knew what she had agreed to do.
She gave up her life for this mission.
It also meant she would give up her body if she needed to.
And she had. Tonight would be no exception.
Knowing what she knew now, knowing Gareth was making his money by selling babies on the black market was the answer she had been looking for. Now all she needed was to relay this information to her contact and pray to God with every ounce of her being that her contraception would not fail her.
He never bothered that evening with the comfort of his bed. Instead he fucked her against the wall until they both came.
He held her there for a moment until both of their bodies settled.
"Shower with me?"
"I can't. I can't stay tonight."
"But I will make love to you properly. I promise."
Olivia pretended to be charmed.
"I know you have an important meeting in the morning, as I have my own business to attend to." She said seductively kissing across his collar bone. "You and I both need to get some sleep."
Olivia pulled away, gathering her clothes.
She stepped back in to the soft leather.
"Sleep here."
Olivia walked to Gareth placing her finger over his lips.
She looked in to his piercing green eyes, swearing she almost saw a man that truly wanted the woman before him to stay.
"Faites de beaux rêves," (Sweet dreams) she said before walking away.
"My driver will take you." He called out.
She only shook her head no.
She had made it clear she preferred taking a taxi many times before.
He always conceded.
Back at her apartment, she showered quickly.
Wrapped in a plush white robe, she sat on the edge of her bed holding the phone to her ear.
"Yes?" the familiar voice answered.
"Selling babies on the black market. He lures women, gets them pregnant, takes their babies, sells them."
She heard a deep breath on the other end of the line.
"Are you ok?" The voice asked seriously.
"Yes." She replied curtly.
"I'll be in touch first thing in the morning."
"Fine."
The phone went dead.
She dropped the phone beside her on the bed.
Quiet world.
Her elbows rested on her knees, her face fell in to her hands.
She had managed to live another day as Samantha Gray.