Tides Of Temptation

whiskey

I could feel the amused glances from my teammates and hear the faint chuckles from the other agents in the room. I didn't care because the only women I can lose to is my Mom

After the longest 20 minutes of my life, I turned and walked towards Mom's cabin,entering the room, I saw her checking a file her expression tensed  but without taking her eyes off the file with a firm voice "Andrew" She began cutting straight to point "we need to talk" She said going back to her professional self.

"What's going on, Mom?" I asked worry clouding  my thoughts."Andrew, there’s something you need to know," she began, her tone serious and measured. "The situation with the criminals has taken a turn."

I paused, my heart quickening. "What happened?"she took a deep breath before explaining. "The criminals we caught were more prepared than we anticipated. They had consumed a slow-acting poison, designed to prevent them from talking if they were captured."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "Poison? Are they...?"."One by one, they started dying," she continued, her voice heavy with the weight of the news. "Despite the best efforts of our medical team, many of them couldn’t be saved. The poison was sophisticated, more advanced than what we’ve dealt with before."

I sat down on a nearby chair, trying to process the information. "What about the others? Did anyone survive?"."There are two who survived," she replied. "They consumed the poison later than the others, which gave the doctors a chance to administer antidotes in time. They aren't stable now, but they'll get better."

I exhaled, a mix of relief and frustration washing over me. "So we can still get information from them?"she sighed. "Yes, but it’s going to take longer than expected. They’re disoriented and physically fragile. The interrogation will be slow and delicate."I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I get it. We need that information, though."." It's been a long day go get some rest now "she said her voice softening with each word

I walked over to where her and leaned down, gently kissing her forehead."Thanks, Mom," I said softly. She smiled warmly at me and reached up to give me a tender kiss on the cheek as she did everyday from my childhood till now."Now, get some rest." She said as I nodded heading outside the door feeling the warmth of her love and support.I felt the need to clear my mind and unwind. The bar downtown would be great.
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After changing into casual clothes, I grabbed a jacket and headed out. The cool evening air hit my face as I drove towards the bar, the familiar sights and sounds of the city helping to distract me from the day's worries. When I arrived at the bar, I found a quiet corner and ordered a drink. The first sip of my whiskey burned pleasantly, and I felt some of the tension  melt away. I took a deep breath, letting the atmosphere of the bar—a mix of laughter, conversation, and soft music—wash over me.

My attention was drawn to the dance floor. Amidst the swaying bodies and pulsating lights, I spotted a familiar figure. My eyes widened in surprise as I realized  who it was. Rosè was flushed from dancing, her face glowing with a mix of exertion and joy. Her movements were fluid and carefree, completely immersed in the rhythm of the music.

I finished my drink and made my way through the crowd towards her. As I got closer, I noticed the telltale signs of her inebriation—her flushed cheeks, slightly unsteady steps, and the wide, unfocused smile on her face.

"Rosè!" I called out, trying to get her attention over the loud music. She turned towards me, her eyes lighting up in recognition, but it was clear she was completely drunk. "Andrew!" she exclaimed, her words slightly slurred as she threw her arms around my in a clumsy hug.

I caught her, steadying her gently. "Hey, muffin. Having a good time?"She giggled, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah! This is so much fun!" Her words tumbled out in a happy, disjointed stream. "I didn't expect to see you here!"."Yeah, same here," I replied, smiling but concerned. "You seem pretty... tipsy." She giggled again, swaying slightly. "Maybe a little," she admitted, holding onto my arm for balance.