Revamped!
[Okay, so, I'm updating because why the hell not and I need space in the document manager since I'm close to exceeding its limit.
I'm glad we all agree that Totally Spies is the shit. That show continues to make me laugh to this day. I have another mission arc in this story that I got from the show. Feel free to guess which episode if you'd like to].
[2020: I think the doc manager now has no limit? I'm at almost 80 docs and I can still upload stuff. And Totally Spies still means a lot to me].
Chapter 5: The Kleptomaniac Part Two
The Spanish Embassy - Barcelona, Spain - 20:00 PM
"Names?" A man in a crisp suit says at the entrance, looking at the two guests standing before him.
"We're here on behalf of Mr. Stark," Xavier says on behalf of him and Merida, who has her arm linked with his. "It's unfortunate him and Mrs. Stark couldn't be present tonight but the business world is sure a busy one."
"If only being in two places at once was possible," Merida adds cheekily. "That would make our lives easier now, wouldn't it?"
The man at the entrance opens an arm to the ballroom, allowing them in. Xavier bows his head and Merida curtsies a little for respect. They take a few steps inside, observing the ballroom from the top of the grand staircase to get an idea of the scene and maybe catch Ivory. Below the two of them are several people ranging from guests in ball gowns, waiters in matching suits, and musicians of the orchestra in matching navy dresses or suits. From the surface of it all, this gala seemed normal but they disagreed since they knew that Ivory is or will be present. Daniel did catch a sighting of her in town so the chances of her being here are high. There is also the chance that Ivory is in a disguise.
"Do you see her?" Merida whispers to Xavier, keeping her eyes on the people below.
"Not from here," Xavier replies. "Let's head down."
Keeping her arm linked with his, Xavier begins leading Merida down the staircase where eyes start turning to them. Xavier in a black suit with a matching tie with no wrinkle in sight. Merida wears a one-shoulder silver dress with a glitter skirt that she hates. Her wild curls have been tamed and straightened into light waves. The only reason Merida's grip on Xavier's arm tightens drastically is because she doesn't want to draw attention to herself by tripping down the stairs in her heels. Once they reach the bottom of the grand staircase, they walk side-by-side, continuing to look around for Ivory Gates without making the constant head turning to draw suspicion.
"The ambassador is at the bar," Merida whispers to Xavier. His eyes brush by for a second, spotting the sparkling brooch on the stocky man, pinned next to several other militant medals.
"Ivory might not be here," Xavier replies. "At least, not yet."
"Until then, I'm getting off your arm." Merida takes her arm back gently not to draw attention. "I don't need Britney popping in and amputating me."
Xavier watches Merida walk to the other end of the ballroom. Strategic wise, it's to cover more ground and build a perimeter around the ballroom all while having more eyes on the room's many corners. He watches her go and, although his eyes are on her and the search for someone else, his mind is on a different girl. It's always on a different girl. Xavier looks down for a moment before focusing back on the mission. He looks over his shoulder, at the orchestra, and sees the musicians tuning their instruments. He makes eye contact with one of the third violins. Behind the instrument and tight low bun in her hair is Angela. Angela shakes her head subtly at him as she tests the strings on her violin, tuning her instrument.
No sighting.
-o-
Merida brushes her way around the ballroom, scoping for Ivory with her head held up in a snobby way and eyes looking all around her. With skin as pale as ivory itself, Ivory should stand out but for some reason, she's nowhere to be found. Men would come by and ask for a dance or if they could buy her a drink and, although Merida was undercover and supposed to be playing a character, she still said no. She didn't want to be distracted, especially by a man who only wanted to put his hands on an area she wouldn't hesitate to kick on his body.
"Some things never change," Daniel, dressed as a waiter with a tray propped up in one hand, whispers to her as he passes by. He hands her a tall glass of a sparkling beverage. Merida eyes it for a bit. "Relax, it's soda. You need to blend in but not get intoxicated."
"I studied espionage, Daniel," Merida says, taking a sip from the glass. "I know more about blending in than you do."
"Then dance with someone. As you spin, you'll get a 360 of the room from every corner of it."
Merida blinks. "Next time we do an undercover, I'll have the tray and you can wear my ball gown."
Daniel snickers a little. "Deal."
Daniel thinks back to when they were preparing for the mission and discussing what roles they should play. Merida refused to wear a ball gown with heels and having to do heavy makeup to look pretty. She wanted to be a security guard or even a waiter. Out of the group, someone needed to be able to glide on the dance floor with one of the boys and Angela wasn't an option due to her possible familiarity with Ivory. By default, Merida picked the first ball gown she saw not caring about the other choices. Angela was the one to do her hair and makeup for the night.
"Have you seen James?" Daniel asks her as Merida puts her glass back on his tray.
"Nope."
He walks away. James had one job: show up after Xavier and Merida.
Merida rolls her eyes and shakes her head as she walks off. Including Ivory, James wasn't present yet and they had no clue why. It's not like they could contact him without having someone else in the room raising questions about their backgrounds as guests. The needed to remain as unknown here as possible. Daniel heads the other way, serving guests along the way with proper drinks suited for the night.
-o-
The first song of the night begins with a series of strings warming up the orchestra and the other instruments slowly joining in at the control of the conductor. Gentlemen begin escorting their dates to the center of the room, putting one hand around the waist and the other linked with their woman's hand; the women putting a hand on the man's shoulder. The two of them swaying to the music in perfect harmony. Merida and Xavier stand by the bar, looking at each other. Daniel begins mixing drinks behind the counter. The three of them all watching the rotation of dancers circle (especially the ambassador), making sure Ivory didn't sneak under their noses.
"His brooch is still there," Daniel whispers, keeping his head down and focused on the drinks, making it look like a conversation between them isn't happening. "I also checked with Angela and Ivory isn't playing an instrument."
"What about James?" Merida asks him, looking forwards and not back.
Daniel doesn't say anything. Merida glances at Xavier who is also silent. After another moment of watching the dancers go around, they finally see the agent they were looking for this whole night just as the first song ends. As it turns out, he got here a few minutes ago and was dancing with a lady he never got the name of.
"Would you like to share the next dance?" James asks Merida, holding out a hand.
"Yeah, right," Merida replies with a small scoff. "Where have you been this whole time?"
"Relax," James tells them, "I always know when the hot girls show up."
James turns towards the entrance at the top of the staircase. The rest of their eyes follow. It isn't odd that they all looked at once since everyone in the ballroom begins to stare. They see a woman walk in, fashionably (or purposely) late, with no man on her arm. An attendant takes off her fur coat, revealing a tall frame wrapped in a tight deep green dress with a plunging neckline to match her bright jade eyes and contrast greatly against her pale skin and black hair that falls below her shoulder. She brushes back her hair with her dainty white gloves as she blows a kiss to the attendant. Her face is tight as she scopes around the ballroom and her eyes fall on the ambassador and his shimmering brooch. As the musicians shuffle through their sheet music to prepare for the next song, she begins to make her way down the grand staircase.
"Told you so," James says. Nobody could roll their eyes at him. "Now announcing the arrival of everyone's favourite kleptomaniac, Ivory Gates."
"Your intelligence is unorthodox," Daniel mutters to him, "admirable at times, but weird."
James grins. "I think that's the first time you're ever complimenting me."
"Don't get used to it."
[I know I have received some questions about the other members of the team and they will be addressed in the next chapter].
