Revenge Turned Sweet

Chapter 32: Surprise, Miss Ivanov

I wait patiently in the filing line of masked people waiting to enter the more than esteemed building. Careful not to fidget or fawn at the sight of the building to not look too out of place. The plan seems simple enough; Sam waits for Bucky and I's signal on the roof of the building, Bucky follows me in shortly after I enter, and we find whatever we can from there. Small pools of light in the lawn aligning the walkway illuminate the stone pathway and show just how extravagant this meeting is.

As I near the door, I see two large men standing at both sides of it. I glance down and listen closely for their thoughts and having to sift through the many other's flowing into my brain. Finally finding what I assume are theirs, I hear that they're both armed and ready to fight, if necessary. I adjust my hair so it's sitting over my ears, hiding the small earpiece, though already hard to spot, my paranoia seems to be setting in. My heels tap against the concrete with the minuscule steps towards the entryway, the rhythm keeping me calm and distracted.

"Name?" I snap my head up to find I'm right in front of the entryway, one of the two men waiting expectantly for my answer. I grit my teeth together, not having thought this through. He eyes me suspiciously as my eyes follow his hand, reaching down to his belt where, I assume, his weapon is.

"Колдунья сапфира." The words leave my lips before I have time to think about them. His hand slowly withdrawals from under his coat and turns to the other man by the door.
**"Sapphire Sorceress."**

They nod briefly at each other before looking back to me. "Пожалуйста, войдите, волшебница," he responds and gestures for me to enter.
**"Please come in, sorceress,"**

I side eye the two men as I walk through into the elegantly lit foyer. Crowded with people in masks and fancy clothes. To my left is a grand marble staircase, lined with candles and assorted flowers wrapped around the railings. To my right is a grand room housing many tables with numbers assigned to them. I tread slowly towards the staircase, away from the crowds of people trying to make their way into the building. I press my finger to my earpiece. "I'm inside," I whisper while simultaneously checking my surroundings to ensure no one has spared a glance my way.

I adjust the mask on my face and walk confidently into the large room, finding almost every circular table is full. My feet stop abruptly at the glass case sitting in the front of the room. I purse my lips, seeing one of the suits Steve Rogers used to wear.

How did they even get that?

I find myself bewildered at the fact that this event can be considered 'inconspicuous' when it looks as if these people are donating to a charity. Each table has a different vase filled with different colored roses; some red, some blue, some black, and some white. The most common color I can collect from the room is red, the basic theme, the lighting, the cloths covering the tables.

Different thoughts begin to invade my mind so I try to sift through them. Some think they can buy an off-brand arc-reactor, some think they can get their hands on a vial of the super soldier serum, others think they can purchase old chitari weapons that were left behind or stolen to be resold. My eyes perk up when I hear a quiet mention of the new and improved winter soldier program. I scan the room, looking for the man who kidnapped me but finding nothing but men in fully covered face masks.

I flinch when a cold tray hits my arm. I look up to see a man with a black mask draped over his eyes offering me what looks like a flute of champagne. I eye him for a moment, confused as to why he hasn't fully looked at me or said a word. "Спасибо," I mutter, keeping my facade as the fabricated 'sapphire sorceress'. I take one of the crystal glasses and just as soon as it's in my hand, the man fleets off into the room, doing the same to others but holding conversations.
**"Thank you,"**