The Shadows of Diplomacy

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

From behind his desk, Keller went back and forth with the idea of sharing some footage he had obtained with Arya. He lingered in her chat, an encrypted link to the video waiting to be sent. The video was confirmatory of the image he had been painting of Alexei; violent and dangerous. Keller figured sharing it with Arya might prompt her to trust him more, however, his spy instincts were dissuading him from unnecessarily sharing information with her. Except it was not necessarily information, it was a short muted video, recorded from a bad angle, of Alexei beating up someone. In a quick decision, Keller's thumb hit send and the link was forwarded to Arya.

Arya's feet were mere inches away from Alexei's door when Keller's message came in. Jolted by Alexei suddenly opening the door, before she could even ring the bell, Arya smoothly slid her phone into the back pocket of her jeans.

Alexei pulled her into a tight embrace. "I've missed you so much."

"I missed you too," Arya said dryly. She forced a small smile, anxiety beginning to consume her.

Alexei's eyes met hers, he pulled her inside and locked the door behind them. "What's the matter?" He recognised that her eyes lacked their usual warmth.

"Nothing!" Arya chirped. "Just tired. Have you eaten yet? Do you want me to cook you something?"

"Arya," Alexei insisted.

"Alex. I'm fine, promise. What would you like to eat?" She placed the bag - at least seemingly- carelessly on the counter.

He studied her for a moment, his gaze unwavering. She felt as though he could see straight through her, peering into the depths of her soul. But then he smiled, a mixture of reassurance and affection. "You're tired. Let's put on a movie and order in."

Arya's heart twinged at his words. The warmth in his voice, the kindness in his eyes – they threatened to make the task ahead much more difficult. She desperately wanted to believe in him, but how could she with all that she knew, all that she had done, and all that she was about to do? She looked at Alexei longingly, this was the beginning of the end and she knew it. She willed herself to focus on the present moment, to push aside the nagging guilt and fear.

As the evening unfolded, laughter and conversation filling the space between them, Arya fought to silence the turmoil within her. She watched Alexei's expressions, listened to his stories, and held onto the fleeting moments of normalcy, all the while waiting for nightfall, to carry out her mission.

While Alexei slept, Arya moved with purpose through his dimly lit home. Her heart raced as she meticulously placed the small devices Keller had provided. The weight of the task at hand pressed upon her, a mix of anxiety and determination propelling her forward.

She adhered the discreet microphones to strategic spots, her fingers working deftly, driven by a blend of fear and resolve. Each device was a conduit to the truth, a way to pierce the veil that had shrouded Alexei's life from her. As she worked, her mind raced, thoughts swirling like a tempest, doubts, and suspicions mingling with flashes of affection and uncertainty.

The room seemed to hold its breath as Arya observed the final piece in her small hands, the bracelet, which she would have to give directly to Alexei in the morning. With a steadying breath, she stepped back, her eyes scanning for any evidence of the array of devices now strewn across the main area. She flipped the lights on, to make sure they could not be seen at all.

Arya's emotions were a tangle of conflicting feelings. Her relationship with Alexei had been built on trust, on the fragile bonds of intimacy and connection. Yet now, driven by the need for answers, she had become a silent infiltrator in his life.