Billie Bossa Nova

1.

The Crime Redirection Organization, known by a select number of persons as CRO, is one of the most discreet government organizations in the world. Having originated in London, the organization grew into an empire, standing as an ally of the CIA in all things regarding the maintaince of peace and balance in the world.

Unlike the CIA, though, CRO kept its circle small. Not many government officials knew about it, and not many CIA agents either. CRO was calculatedly select, with a 99% success rate on all its missions. Most agents partaining the empire were sons and daughters of former agents who have committed their lifetime and loyalty to CRO. They know no other life. They want no other life.

Billie O'Connell had been in the organization since the day she was born. She learnt to pull a trigger before she learnt to pull her thumb out of her mouth. She learnt to kick before she learnt to step into walking. She was taught how to think like an agent, live like an agent, walk, talk, act and dress like one. And though it may seem unlikely, there was only one way in which to do all of those things and that was with precision.

As an agent, one is taught self-defence and offence skills that get drilled into your head. No matter what you do, you can't help but incorporate them into your daily life. For example, hyperawareness of one's environment was one of the many things taught at CRO. Staying in code yellow, a state known as remaining vigilant of everything that was happening around you. Not a pen was dropped without an agent knowing what the cause of it hitting the floor was. And that was how Billie lived for as long as she could remember.

As for how she preferred to dress when in the establishment, she ensured that it would be something that would make all eyes turn to her. Today, as she walked into CRO offices, she was dressed in the finest tailor made suit that hung on her body just about enough not to appear to sag. It was the color of rose gold, her blue orbs masked by designer sunglasses and her black hair pulled up into a neat bun.

And as she well expected, almost all heads in the CRO lobby swept to her. Some in praise, some in envy, and others purely of curiosity as to what was being looked at. And when they turned they knew. It was like routine.

Because Billie O'Connell, since she was 8 years old, held the position for the best Junior agent at CRO every year in a row. And then, three months after her 18th birthday, she took the number one position from Agent Kumar not long after her victory on a tough mission in South Africa that had her arm on a cast for weeks.

Her strides were carried by her pride and her shoulders lifted by her confidence as she neared the reception. The young man behind it, gave her a passing grin, one that resembled all of his respect for her. She soaked it in, granting the grin back. Then, he handed her the day's agenda, though not before passing on a message.

"Mrs. Reed would like to see you and Agent F. O'Connell in her office immediately."

She nodded, knowing it would either be to draft them on a new mission, or let her know when her raise was due. Since being promoted from junior to senior agent of the year, she expected some sort of promotion.

"Thanks, AJ," she replied, noting how he grinned upon hearing his name pass her lips. He must have thought that she knew his name, but she had just read his name tag. Though he was so happy with himself, she found it would be irrelevant to share that with him. Instead, she calmly strided to the elevator and clicked on the 23rd floor. While the elevator lifted, she turned to the reflection of herself on the stainless glass surface being her and reapplied lip gloss. She pressed her shimmering rose lips together to thoroughly get the gloss in and then brushed her suit to make sure it was completely spotless.