Lies and Legends

Chapter 10

The elevator dinged, the doors sliding open to reveal a very young, attractive woman sitting at a desk. She smiled at me as we approached.

"We're the 1:00 for the director," Walter informed her.

Her face turned bright red, and she stood abruptly. "What an honor!"

Walter frowned. "Excuse me?" I asked. I was really confused.

"You're sort of a legend around here! Everyone knows about the fifteen year old girl whose-"

"That will be enough, Emilee," said a graying man in a pinstriped grey suit, who I could only assume was the director.

She sat down, returning to her computer work, and he gestured for us to enter his office. I did, and he closed the door behind me, right in Walter's face.

"My name is Harold Reese. I have been the director of the CIA for twenty years. You must be Ali?" he asked.

"Yes sir," I said.

"Have a seat," he said, gesturing to a large, leather chair in front of his desk. I sat, and he sat in front of me, behind his desk.

"So. I have heard many things about you, Ali. All of them phenomenal. My personal friend, your Spanish teacher, Mr. Bello, says you have quite the aptitude for Spanish. Walter tells me that you went against your mother just to be here. Walter also told me that your mother is in the custody of the CIA and that your father is currently a captive of the Black Death. I am so sorry to hear this," he said.

"Thank you sir," I replied.

"You're welcome. Now, down to business. I hear that you came to a conclusion that most seasoned operatives could not," he says, but it is more of a question.

"Yes sir, I did," I said hesitantly.

"We would like to offer you a spot as a junior operative, if you'd like it," said the Director.

"Yes sir, I would," I said calmly. But on the inside I was freaking out.

"Perfect. Your training starts in the weight room tomorrow after your English class. Do not be late."

I stood to leave, and got to the door before he spoke once more. "I almost forgot. Every second Saturday in November we have a CIA ball. I hope that you can make arrangements to come," he said with a smile.

"I will sir, thank you," I said. "Good day, sir," I said, then left.

Walter was waiting just beyond the doors. "What did he say?" he demanded.

"He offered me a position on the junior operations team and invited me to the CIA ball," I informed him with an eye roll.

"That's all?" he asked, pressing the button to the elevator.

"Yes, that's all," I said. We boarded and all was silent. He walked me back to my room. "I have a surprise for you," he said with a smile.

I opened the door, and sitting on the couch was Nana. I ran at her hugging her: it may have only been less than a day since I last saw her, but I missed her a lot.

We broke the hug and she gestured to lots of bags around her. "What is this?" I asked.

"Just some things I thought you might want," she said with a smile. I hugged her again.

"Thank you so much!"

Nana had also brought me my favorite cake, a triple chocolate ice cream cake. We ate cake and enjoyed ourselves. After dinner, she left. I'd had a wonderful time.