Chapter 3

• I think Lateesha might have forgotten something but it's not her. It's Sarah this time.
• Sarah eyes widens and her mouth opens and I wonder what she's looking at until I remember my new appearance.
• "How do I look?" I ask as she comes into my house.
• "Amazing," She says beaming. "I told you, you were going to rock a haircut and those eyes…" She says holding up my chin and surveying my face side to side.
• "Isn't my hair too short though?" I ask fingering the tips of my newly dyed, newly shorter hair.
• "Not at all, it suits you.''
• "And my eyes?"
• ''You look fantastic! That colour is absolutely the new you!"
• I purse my lips at her comment and she asks, "What's wrong?"
• ''Nothing, just…"
• "What?"
• "Simon Scott is clever, else he wouldn't have eluded us till now. I am a star agent, I do the work and on time, but this is going to be a whole different lane for me, especially as I need to play a role contrary to my nature. I don't doubt I could do it, but Scott, as our research shows has had lots of time with lots of these women and I just…I just worry that based on his interactions with them, he might figure out that am not the real thing, that I am just pretending and then our cover along with all our work so far will be blown of the roof." Cassandra took a breath at the end of her litany
• Sarah with a thoughtful expression on her face, said, "First of all, our work on this man so far hasn't gotten anywhere near the roof."
• "It's a figure of speech."
• "Hold on smart ass." She stamped.
• "Cassandra, you're a Star Agent! It's a title you gained from your determination and remarkable success. You might be a little worried here and now, but I do know without any doubt that when faced with the mission, you would not disappoint."
• Sarah placed both her palms on the shoulders of her quiet listener. "You're beautiful within and on the outside and you've got brains to match too," I chuckle at her words, but stops to listen as she continues, "You're a storm, and I swear that billionaire, Simon Scott is not going to stand a chance against you, my wonderful friend."
• "We don't even know if he's going to notice me at all," I say laughing.
• "Why ever not? You're absolutely looking like his type now and it suits you perfectly." Sarah goes into the kitchen and helps herself to a cup of coffee. I am reminded that I am yet to have my breakfast. But I wave it aside for the moment when I ask Sarah, "Did you bring those files and paperwork I asked for?"
• "Yeah, they're in there." She nods at the bag she left on the aisle, "I also sent the PDF to your email."
• "Thanks." I open the bag, take out the various files and begin to review them, one after the other.
• "You know, this should be enjoyable."
• "What? The coffee?" I ask distractingly.
• "No. Your task. I mean, you get to be a billionaire's consort. Can you just imagine the glamour and all the luxury?" Sarah sighs dreamily.
• "And all the risk. This is a dangerous man we're talking about." I tell her, flipping at the papers.
• "Yes. But I've known you to thrive on a little danger." She winked at me and I laugh. I remembered the time we went on a field trip not so long ago. While Sarah opted out of sky and deep sea diving, mountain climbing, and every other risk inclined adventurous experience, I had not only engaged in but enjoyed every one of them. I didn't allow an all expense spared trip sponsored by the agency, to not be enjoyed to the fullest.
• "You're going to succeed at this." She encouraged me again, putting her arm around me. Sarah, was a co-worker, friend and family all in one.
• "You know Billie would say the very opposite." I say.
• "That pig." Sarah wrinkled her nose, "he's always trying to push everyone aside, like he's the boss, when really, he can't even keep his own underwear clean!" She scoffed and I laughed.
• "How do you know he wears dirty underwear?" I snort.
• "Oh, I know their type darling!" She says handing me my traveling arrangements. I was going by train. I notice Sarah is looking at me strangely.
• "What is it?'' I ask.
• "I'm just thinking."
• "About?"
• "About how this could really pull you up or pull you down." She says and I quickly want to say something when she adds; "Before, you get onto the defensive, let me say this, you're human, and like you said, anything could happen, you could get busted, injured, fired.. I don't know, but I want to say that even if anything were to go wrong, I'd still be here. So don't push too hard, alright?"
• "Alright."
• "Knowing you, I'd say you'll probably do a lot of pushing." Sarah says, sipping coffee steadily before her eyes widened at me in an expression I knew could only be dubious.
• "What now?"
• "What if.." She pauses, drops her saucer dramatically with a clang-it's my favourite-and walks to stand before me. Grasping my shoulders, she loudly declares, "What if the two of you were to fall in love?!"
• I roll my eyes at her hysteria. "What? Why would I fall in love with a criminal? Get real."
• "Agents in love with suspects, suspects in love with agents, It happens all the time in these undercover missions."
• "It won't happen. Not in this particular undercover mission," I state firmly.
• "Still, anything could happen, people fall in love in mysterious ways remember?" I don't answer, but look steadily at her.
• "I mean, you guys are going to be spending a lot of time together and I hear he's charming and…"
• "Sarah," I cut her short, "Nothing is going to happen okay? I'm going there with the mission in mind and that's it. Besides, he's not my type.'' I say standing up and a mild dizziness hits me. I need to take breakfast. I hadn't eaten the previous evening when I worked all through.
• "Okay," She resigned, raising her hands in surrender. I pick the file again. It contained vital information for the mission.
• It has been two long weeks of preparation. Now my travel arrangements have all been made. I was set to go. The agency was mighty glad I wasn't one with multiple social connections, as it was easy to make my now former life, a ghost. And having not that much of an immediate family helped as it limits instances of running into anyone I knew.
• Sarah's phone beeps and she looks at it before telling me she has to get going.
• "I'll see you sooner than soonest Agent Meyers."She says slyly.
• I smirk. "I'll definitely see you soon, stranger." I say seriously and she laughs.
• I walk her to her car and watch her drive off.
• Back inside, I grab the file from the table to study it again. My stomach growls an interruption and finally, after the activities of the morning, I make my breakfast.