Hired for secrets

Do you want him back?

The Hungarian leaned forward. There was a dangerous smile on his lips. He liked where this was going. Within the space of two heartbeats, he managed to turn a disappointment into an opportunity. He slowly lifted his scotch to toast to this change of direction before taking a satisfied gulp. Sofie suddenly felt dread, she wasn't quite so sure his proposition was mutual.

"I'm meeting Mr. Lee tomorrow. And I need..." the Hungarian lightly tapped the table with his index finger searching for the right word, "... a witness."

"A witness? For what?"

"Signing a contract."

A strange inflection in his voice made the statement sound like a question. The meeting tomorrow wasn't a simple business transaction. There was something more to it. Something sinister. Sofie didn't particularly care about the predicament the Hungarian was in, but witnessing an unsavoury deal between him and Mr. Lee was just the kind of incriminating intel she was after. So this was a mutual opportunity after all.

"I can do that," she grinned.

"Great."

There was sarcasm in his tone. An accusation. Like she was colluding with Lee to rip him off. The deal was rotten and he felt pressured into it. That's why he looked so displeased when he left the VIP area earlier.

"Mr. Lee wants to keep this confidential," he continued, "and... unofficial. So he needs a special kind of witness. Can you be that?"

"I can be whoever you want me to be."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted them. She did not mean to sound so seductive.

"Yes... You obviously are no stranger to lying. You strike me as someone who always gets what she wants."

Sofie closed her eyes for a second to take a deep breath. Maybe she was, maybe she wasn't. And why did she even care what this stranger thought about her? At least he was honest. A character trait she actually appreciated after having spent too much time with Philip and his polite but calculated lies.

Realizing she wasn't going to correct him, he pulled his mouth in a lopsided expression. "Lee wants me to put skin in the game. I need to bring someone... personal to me."

This deal was dangerous! And the stakes must be very high for him to even agree to this. He was forced to put a loved-one in danger. No wonder he wanted a decoy. Wanted to use a stranger to act the part.

"You aren't looking for a witness," Sofie said slowly, "Mr. Lee wants collateral if things go south."

"Yes," he admitted. Was there guilt in his voice? "But I don't intend to break the contract. You'll be safe."

"Of course, I am. Just as safe as your real loved-ones sitting at home." She did not hide the ridicule. "So? Who am I playing? Your sister? Or cousin?"

"No, Lee knows my family. You need to be my..." he looked as if he had just swallowed a fly, "...mistress."

"Oh? Mistress? So you are married, then?"

He did not reply. He did not need to. The way he chewed on his lips told Sofie that there was someone, even though he had no ring on his finger. No wonder he was beating himself up over looking at her that way earlier.

"And do you normally have mistresses?"

"No."

"Really? Someone rich and handsome, working in the film industry? You must get tempted? Is that what Mr. Lee has on you?"

"I don't have mistresses," he said with a conviction that made orthodox priests look like sinners in comparison.

Intriguing.