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"Steve! Nice to see you again." I practically bit off the skin on the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not laugh as I dug my nails into the palms of my hands. I know Hotch was a lawyer and they're usually pretty good at lying or whatever, but he was way really good at this... almost a little too good.
"Tom! I hope you and the kids are well." A 'bartender' then walked by us as the two began to converse, slipping me a red phone and fortune cookie sized slip of paper.
Use it wisely. Thirty minutes of talk & text.
-Erin S.
Thirty minutes? Well that's fucking great. I internally sighed, making my way to the buffet area, before I was abruptly stopped. "Hello!" A woman smiled at me, her eyes soft, and her outfit almost an exact replica of mine. She had on a similar dress to mine in purple, her platinum blonde hair tied up in a fancy updo with flowers clipped in it. There was another woman standing next to her, that one a ginger lady with green eyes and a freckle that complimented her porcelain skin quite well. I smiled.
"Hi." My smile was genuine, the tone of my voice soft and caring. I definitely wasn't fitting my character right now, but I didn't plan to be bitchy every second of the day- even if it was intended.
"So, we've never seen you around here..?" My lips were quick to part, setting down my drink as my eyes met the blondes icy blue ones.
"Yes! You're right. My husband and I just moved here from California. We have our own business. It pretty crazy actually, but our friends also got to move with us which is... quite enjoyable." The lady gave me an odd look, the blondes eyes running up and down my body in a judge mental way. This interaction felt like high school all over again, the blonde clearly the leader as the ginger just trailed behind her like a lost puppy.
"I hear California has a lot of posh shops in the more ritzy areas... which was your favorite..? I personally love going to Burberry on Rodeo Drive." My mind went blank. Sure I knew a few shops and streets there, but did I remember them in this exact moment? Nope.
"She usually sends her assistant shopping... she's always very busy. Too busy." Spencer had stepped in, his arm quick to snake around my waist in a protective way. A few seconds later both of the women were hanging from tall-ish male figures, the guys looking a lot like how Hotch had described the unsub would.
"Well, we must be going now... it was- exceptional meeting all of you." I turned, pulling Spencer with me, but I was pulled back by a strong force.
"I never caught your name?" The slightly taller of the two business men had all of his attention directed towards me, the other holding his head low as he talked to his 'wife.' The ginger.
"It's Anastasia Gaines. Remember it." My voice was sleek, never stumbling on my words as myself and my dress vanished away. Spencer and I slowly made our way back to our original group, Penelope and Derek clung to each other while they were trying to secretly interview others. Although Penelope wasn't in the field very often, she was very good at this specific job.
"Find anything?" Rossi had walked over, JJ at his side with a bright red satin dress hanging from her body. There was a long slit that went up her thigh, her blue eyes piercing as the crimson color emphasized them quite well.
"No, but that group over there-" Spencer pointed to the few people we'd just talked to, Penelope coming over and pointing to a whole other group. Then my phone rang.
"Excuse me." I got up, walking myself into the hall sure to make sure that my gun was still on my leg. It was. "Yes?" The other line was silent, the sound of a hand dryer catching my attention. "Are you in the bathroom? Who is-"
"El, it's me. And yes, I'm in the bathroom... but that's not the point. I need you to tell the others that it's only the first day on this case, and not to jump to conclusions and rush. We have another team taking your place for the meantime for a reason, don't forget that. Try to get some rest, we have some morning plans that will be left at your door." I didn't even get to reply, Strauss hanging up before I got the chance. When I turned around the blonde from before just so happened to be in the odd corridor I'd walked myself into, fussing with one of her silver bangles hanging from her wrist.
"Oh, Ana! Nice to see you again. What are you doing all the way out here?" I swallowed, thinking about what to say and strategizing to get myself out of this situation in the best and unnoticed way possible. She probably wasn't even bad... She was like a hundred pounds, it's not like she could grab me herself unless she killed me and drained me of all of my blood. I could easily take her.
"Just had to take a work call. Bye." My tone was cold, her hand an even more unfriendly temperature as she tugged me back by my exposed forearm.
"I don't get why you're so bitchy. That will only last so long in New York... take it from me, I'm from Jersey. People aren't afraid to put you in your place here, so cut the bullshit, princess." I just nodded, yanking my arm back then straightening out my dress. When I got back to the room I noticed the men from before had found our group again, walking over hesitantly with my shoulders straight back and my head held high. You know what they say...
Fake it till you make it.
"Anastasia! There you are! We got an alert that the alarm was triggered at the house... must be the silly little cat again... Goodbye everyone." Spencer held his hand up, pulling his phone from his ear then taking off his blazer and wrapping it around me. Once we were outside and down the street I finally stopped, my eyes searching his for an answer.
"I swear, it's like they know something." I furrowed my brows.
"How? There's no way it them... we just here. The blonde girls creepy though." Spencer's face lit up.
"Her and the taller guy are so called married and seem to be the ones leading the conversations, what if they're some kind of leaders or something?" Just as he said that we heard ambulances, the rushing cars headed for where we'd just been... the banquet.
