The Spy

Chapter 18

The engines of the private plane roared as it lifted off the runway. John sat across from Max Brown,the diamond large in his hand.

"John, I would like you to meet my daughter, Sofia," Max said, gesturing towards the cabin door.

John turned his head to see Sofia enter the plane. He couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity when he saw her. She was strikingly beautiful, with long, brown and piercing blue eyes. She reminded him of Reyes, except for the fact that she was dressed in expensive clothing and adorned with sparkling jewelry.

But what really caught John's attention was the shock on Isabella's face when she saw him.

"And John, this is Isabella she is a close friend of our family," Sofia said, introducing them.

John tried to keep his cool as he stood up to greet her. "Nice to meet you, Isabella," he said, holding out his hand.

Isabella hesitated for a moment before finally taking his hand. "Likewise," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Max broke the awkward silence. "Shall we get down to business?" he said, opening a briefcase and revealing a set of documents. "Here are the transfer documents for the diamond. Once we land in Spain, you will deliver the diamond to me, and I will wire the funds to your account."

John nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about Isabella and the look of shock on her face. He wondered what she was doing here with Max and Sofia.

His heart raced as he stared at Isabella, unsure of what to make of her sudden appearance. He knew he had to play it cool, so he simply  gestured for her to sit down beside him on the private plane.

"Isabella, what are you doing here?" John asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I'm here for the Mona Lisa," Isabella said bluntly, her dark eyes fixed on him. "And I need you not to blow my cover."

John's mind raced as he tried to make sense of everything. Was Isabella really just an art thief, using him to get to the Mona Lisa? He couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal, but at the same time, he couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards her.

"And what about us?" John asked, his voice low. "What was that all about?"

Isabella's expression softened slightly as she reached out to touch his hand. "That was real, John. I do have feelings for you. But right now, we have to focus on the job."

 As soon as they landed in Spain, John found himself face to face with Isabella again. .

"John," she said, smiling sweetly. "It's good to see you again."

"You too," John said, feeling a bit uneasy.

"I'm not really an artist," Isabella said, looking down at her feet. "I'm a thief."

"A thief?" John repeated, incredulous.

"Yes," Isabella said. "But not just any thief. I steal for a good cause."

"What cause is that?" John asked, feeling more curious than angry.

"I steal from the rich and give to the poor," Isabella said. "Just like Robin Hood."

John couldn't help but smile. "So you're a modern-day Robin Hood."

"Something like that," Isabella said, grinning. "But I couldn't do it alone. That's where Max comes in, Me and his daughter go way back."

John sighed. "I don't know, Isabella. This sounds like a risky operation."

"It is," Isabella said. "But it's for a good cause. And I promise to keep you safe."

John looked at Isabella, his mind racing. He couldn't believe he was considering this, but there was something about her that he couldn't resist. Maybe it was her passion, or her charm, or her beauty. Or maybe it was just the thrill of the adventure.

"Okay," John said, finally. "I'm in."

John leaned against the balcony railing, staring out at the rolling hills and distant mountains. It had been a whirlwind of events since the Mona Lisa mission, and now he found himself in Spain with Isabella, who was undoubtedly  the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

He couldn't help but reflect on everything that had happened. The theft of the Mona Lisa, his encounter with Carlo, meeting Isabella in the bar, their night together, and now finding out that she was working for Max Brown all along.

John knew that he should be angry with her, but he couldn't deny that he was still drawn to her. There was something about Isabella that made him want to trust her, even if he knew that he shouldn't.

As he stood there lost in thought, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Isabella stood beside him, her eyes soft and sympathetic.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle.

John nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He didn't know how to feel about Isabella anymore. He was drawn to her, but he also knew that he couldn't trust her.

Isabella seemed to understand his conflicted feelings, and she leaned in to place a soft kiss on his cheek.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

John turned to look at her, his eyes searching hers for any sign of deception. But all he saw was sincerity and regret.

He didn't know what the future held for him and Isabella, but for now, he knew that he couldn't deny the pull that existed between them.

John and Isabella found themselves alone in a luxurious hotel room in Spain. The room was elegantly decorated with a comfortable king-sized bed, plush carpets, and antique furnishings. The view from the window showed the picturesque Spanish countryside.

John sat on the edge of the bed, deep in thought, while Isabella sat across from him, watching him intently. It was a moment of silence before Isabella spoke.

"I know this is a lot to take in," she said softly. "But I need you to understand that my father and I have been working on this for a long time. We have been trying to retrieve the Mona Lisa for years, and we finally have a chance to do so."

John nodded thoughtfully. "I get it. You want to return it to its rightful place."

"Exactly," Isabella said, a hint of relief in her voice. "But we have to do it discreetly. The authorities would never allow us to take it back, and we could be in trouble if anyone found out."

John leaned in, his hand reaching out to touch her face. Isabella didn't move, allowing his touch. He could feel the tension between them, the unspoken desire.