“Well, well, well,” he said, walking into a nice surprise. The beautiful Agent X was wearing a blonde wig, which washed out her already pale complexion, and an all-black catsuit. She was tied to his brown leather office chair, and grimaced like a kid who had just had their mouth washed out with soap.
“Sebastian,” she said in a clipped tone.
He’d been driving from the CC Daily headquarters to Heathrow Heights when Janelle called to say she’d caught a young woman making coffee with HIS espresso machine! It had to be Agent X. Who else would be wily and talented enough to sneak into his office? But HOW had Janelle managed to overpower a Malum mercenary? Sebastian was glad Agent X was tied up in his office, but something didn’t add up.
Janelle, standing behind Sebastian’s elbow, whimpered on cue. “Sir, I was just getting back from lunch with Chief Dart, when we realized we had an intruder.”
“I’m not an intruder,” the agent spit out. “I’m your new security detail.”
“I see,” Sebastian said, assessing the situation. Damian Dart must have been on his A game today, if he was able to apprehend Agent X. “Where is he now?”
“Dispatcher called, sir. He had to go investigate a crime scene.”
Sebastian was reluctantly impressed with Janelle’s loyalty. He’d originally hired her because of her gorgeous hair and frankly dismal fashion sense. No woman who wore corduroy vests would dare to defy his orders. Even though her shrill voice gave him a headache, this was one of those rare occasions that merited a raise. “Janelle, get out. Go write yourself a thousand-dollar bonus.”
“Thank you, sir!” Janelle bowed several times, revealing her tasteless side part, and scurried out of the room.
Agent X said in a frustrated tone of voice, “Let me go. We can have a proper conversation.”
“I don’t think I will,” Sebastian said. “Why are you still in town? You finally get freedom from an empire, and instead of skipping town, you apply for my security detail and go through my personal possessions. It’s not a good look, Agent X. How did you access my private jet? And WHY did you let Damien Dart belt you up?”
“Why should I give you the time of day?”
“You’re in my office and under my jurisdiction,” Sebastian said primly. “If I wanted, I could hook you up to my Memory Maker, and you could see how powerful I really am. You don’t want to make an enemy out of me, and if you don’t answer my questions, I’ll be forced to take action.”
This was the fun part of being a man with wealth and connections. If he could get Agent X on his side, she would be a powerful ally and fabulous arm candy. Sebastian liked to give the tabloids something to talk about. As he spoke, he paced smoothly around his office, gazing out at Corver City. A steady drizzle had just begun, and down below, dark-coated citizens hefted their umbrellas over their heads, shuffling like beetles across the gray streets. Sebastian remembered what it was like to be one of them. He would work ten hours a day at the factory, doing manual labor, exploited when he was no older than ten…
“...action,” Agent X was saying, closer than before, and Sebastian whipped around. It was too late. Agent X had him at knifepoint, the tip of her silver dagger finding the long thin line of Sebasitan’s throat. On the floor, the belts lay in a heap. The rhinestone-encrusted belt, a birthday present from January Fields, was cut raggedly through by a sharp edge. How disappointing.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” said Agent X sweetly. “I’ll answer your questions, but not before you answer mine. You refuse, you die.”
“You wouldn’t–”
The knife bit into Sebastian’s throat, and a bead of blood trickled down his collarbone. He couldn’t help but remember the Recovery Room scientist. It didn’t matter that Agent X had broken him out of prison, or been assigned to take him to the executive council of Triumphia. She had no love for him. Sebastian was a pest she wanted to squash under her foot. If only she knew his troubled past, then maybe she would show a little respect.
“Fine,” he said, and closed his eyes.