Agent 003

Unexpected Visits

I stepped into the coffee shop, placed my order, and headed to a small table near the window. Taking a seat, I pulled out my phone, holding it to my ear pretending to talk on it.

"Task 2 is accomplished. What's next?" I said casually.

"Task 3," Mark's voice came from behind me. He was sitting at the next table, back to me, phone to his ear as well.

"The CCTV will be down for a couple of hours," he said quietly.

"But they're still here," I replied, glancing at the two men stationed just outside the shop, pretending not to watch me.

The serpents. They sent them to keep an eye on me. It's been this way ever since I learned about their real identity. It's clear that they still don't fully trust me.

The waiter arrived, setting my coffee down in front of me. I noticed how the two men outside exchanged a look, satisfied, like I was just going about my day and not doing anything wrong.

"Three, two, one," Mark counted.

And right on cue, the men got into their car and drove off.

Mark stood up, moving to sit in front of me.

"Task 3: join the mafia. But not just join-you need to get a position in the top five," he said, his voice low and firm. "Once you're in, get the Blades into a closed spot, and we'll take care of the rest."

I nodded, though I knew that this was no longer my mission. He didn't know about Michael's new plan. I hadn't told him. Unlike everything else I shared with him, this one was a secret just between Michael and I.

The original mission was to eliminate the Blades, but things had shifted. Now, the plan was to deliver them to CIA custody and crown myself queen of the mafia. It would all belong to the CIA soon enough.

"Top five?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "That's the siblings' rank." I asked now confused

"Exactly," he confirmed.

I leaned in. "I'd have to kill one of them to take a spot in the top five."

"Then do what you have to do." He said his eyes piercing into mine.

"Kill Ayleen, her memory could come back at any moment. As long as she's alive, she's a threat to the mission. Eliminate that threat."

"Got it, but how did she escape?" I asked

"We had a traitor within the agency who helped her," he explained.

"And the traitor? Dead?"

He nodded. "Yeah, but I suspect there might be more spies in the agency. Although official reports say there was only one."

"Speaking of which, how are you still alive?" He asked leaning in closer.

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" I asked,"I sent you a message a few days ago. Did you not get it?"

"No, they took our phones for a scan after Ayleen's escape," he said.

I hummed in response. "Well, thanks to the electric shocks you gave her, she's lost part of her memory."

"Lost all of it?" He asked, his eyebrows pulling together in question.

"Not everything-just enough. She doesn't remember anything related to the CIA capturing her," I clarified.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Talk about luck."

I smirked. "By the way, a major robbery is being planned at the national bank. I figured it out last night while doing some late 'work' at the company." I emphasized "work" sarcastically.

Mark smirked. "Ah, Agent 003 always had a knack for bank robberies."

I shifted in my seat. "You're not seriously telling me..."

"They have eyes on you everywhere. They know the CIA is after them, so they don't trust you right now. Everyone's suspicious." He leaned forward. "Here's the plan: when you get home, slip out undetected. Let them think you're still there, and swoop in to stop the robbery. And their men will report to them that you didn't leave your house, it'll clear any doubt they have about you."

"So I'll have to wear a mask during the mission to cover my face," I said, piecing it together. "Got it. I'll take care of it."

Mark stood, sliding on his sunglasses. "Good." Then, without another word, he turned and walked out of the café.

I chose not to tell the agency about the shelters. They weren't doing anything wrong-in fact, they were helping. Why ruin something good, especially when it has nothing to do with my mission? I'll complete it without hurting those kids.

***

After my meeting with Mark, I headed back to the company and dove straight into work. It was another big project, this time handed to me by Kaiden without me even asking.

Of course, he was rude about it. We had a small argument-like we always do, which he, as usual, started. I couldn't figure him out. One day he's nice, and the next, he's just... Kaiden.

Anastasia texted me, letting me know she had classes all day and couldn't come by. I told her I was swamped with work too, so it seemed like we wouldn't be seeing each other today.

I buried myself in work, and before I knew it, the night had crept in. Hours flew by.

A notification broke my focus. I picked up my phone to see a message from Anastasia.

"Have a good night baby, sleep well❤️"

A smile tugged at my lips and I quickly replied,
"You too."

Glancing at the time, I realized it was already 1 a.m. I hadn't noticed how late it had gotten-everyone else had probably left by now.

I turned back to the file I was working on when a wave of dizziness hit me. I rested my head on the desk, closing my eyes, hoping it would pass.

A few minutes later, the dizziness faded, but just as I was about to sit up, I heard slow footsteps outside the door. The handle turned quietly, and someone entered, moving as if they didn't want to be noticed.

I stayed still, pretending to be asleep to see what are they trying to do-whoever it is. The person picked up the file I had been working on.

"So you did it again," came a familiar voice.

It was Kaiden. He was probably referring to the fact that I'd solved yet another one of his 'impossible' projects. But why would he come all the way here so late at night?

He placed the file down, and then, I felt him pick up a strand of my hair, twirling it around his finger.

I immediately opened my eyes. "What are you doing?" I asked, sitting up and locking eyes with him.

"What, did I wake the princess?" he said, sarcastically.

"Don't call me that," I shot back, glaring at him.

"Don't tell me what to do, Knight," he retorted, his voice laced with anger.

"Talk to me properly, and I'll do what I want," I said, matching his tone. "Now get out of my office."

He grinned, walking closer to me. "Why don't you..." He said leaning over, placing his hands on either side of the desk, caging me in.

"Spend the night with me."