Ms Shadows

Chapter 11.

VERONICA UP THERE :)

ELINOR

"Sit." Drake ordered, showing me a stool behind me.

He took a seat on the desks chair, which was right next to the stool. "So," he folded his fingers in front of him "you may be wondering what is your purpose in here."

"Among other things lately... Yes".

"Well then I should inform you that Veronica said that you'll start from working for me and then, if you're really good, you'll work for her. Which is logical to me, so I agreed..." He rubbed his hair at the top of his head, as his cellphone vibrated and lighted his face. After a short pause he continued. "... Yeah, well, it seems like you're gonna work for her from the beginning... She liked you..." He cleared his throat and stood up. " I should lead you to her study. And fast. She doesn't like waiting...." I stood up too and followed his lead in the building's corridors, that followed the stairs that we climbed up. The walls were now decorated by paintings, and a delicate upholstery, with purple details.

We stopped outside a white door. Next to the door was standing a soldier. "Hello sir." He spoke to Drake.

"Hi Ben. Could you inform Veronica of our presence?"

"Of course sir. Just a minute." The man answered and after knocking the doors he got inside the room that was earlier behind him, to do as he was asked.

"Drake?" I asked.

"Yes my dear?"

"Why did you lie to me?"

"I don't know what you mean." He said coldly, after looking at me speechless for a few seconds.

"Why did you lie that you'd take care of Rosie?" I asked him again.

He rubbed the back of his neck, breaking eye contact. "What do you think, Elinor? Why would I lie? I'm a thief, a man that freedom was taken from him, a soldier that follows orders. Why would I lie?"

The soldier came out, telling us that we may come in.

"We'll talk about this later." Drake told me and stepped in the office. I followed him, despite of my mind screaming that I should escape.

"Hello my dear." Veronica said. "Please come in."

I walked a bit more, so now I was facing Veronica. The woman wore bright red lipstick, a black revealing dress and had her hair in a detailed bun. "You will work for me from now on, as Drake may have informed you. " she said. "You can leave us now."

"Sure." Said Drake and got out.

"You should know, that not everybody is honoured to serve me from their first day in here. But I, believe I find something different in you. Something we have in common may I say." Veronica started talking.

"Common?" I interrupted her.

"Yes, my dear."

"What could I have in common with you?" I said a bit courageously, aware of the fact that she might not like it.

Veronica started laughing. Her deep, Russian accent intense in her laughs, her smile so bright and delicate. "We are both women! You haven't noticed yet! Look around you, how many women do you see?" She outstretched both of her defined arms to show the space around her "We are two strong women in a man kept world! We have survived Costello's insulting prison, we have managed to have as much power as only a man could have. I'm in place to give orders to men, that's quite unusual these days... And you; you are a spy, a role that a woman never dared to play." Her eyes were bright. She was proud of us, she felt complete with our achievements. "That's what we have in common the two of us. I respect what you've done and I trust you to work for me, personally." She smiled. Her eyes fell on mine which were previously looking down in an awkward way.

I wasn't quite sure if agreed with her words. I mean, sure we had made it till here, and it was way easier for a man to do this, but I would never say it was a man kept world. Her opinion and the fact that she supported it so much, made me wonder; was she sane? What made her such a feminist?
I've met a lot of feminists in my 21year- long life, but none of them had hired me because I was a strong woman. So, the only thing that I was trying to understand from the hints she gave me with her beliefs, was whether this characteristic of hers was good, or something worth to fear.

Veronica's brows furrowed as she watched me spacing out for a while. "So don't let me down." She said coldly and got out, the door hitting the wood harder than it should.

When she left, I just kept standing there, the memories of Rosie, Agatha, Hendrick talking to me so happily, flooding my mind. Would they be safe now that I was away?

I even thought of my mother, who died when I was only ten and my father, who wasn't strong enough to stay away from alcohol after her loss. Who thought that he was right by being so strict with his daughter and by giving the best opportunities only to his son.

The man who abandoned me in the streets of New Orleans a grey, rainy day, after losing his mind, when he thought that I had killed his beloved wife and that I was dangerous for him too.

Thanks to my older brother, who left our house early, to find a job and end up as a chief in the police, I had became what I was. I have been trained to become a spy for Interpol and now I was working both for Costello and my team. I had never forgotten of my beloved brother. After making everything right, I intended on visiting him.

I felt the warm tears coming down my cheeks. All my childhood had been nothing but a nightmare. I sat on a couch and covered my eyes. I had forgotten how good it felt to cry. I didnt knew what was it about me lately, but I was getting softer, more sensitive and I had to stop it, as faster as I could.

For a brief second a familiar man popped out of my memory, who was holding me in his arms, as if I had told him my thoughts. I felt safe and a warm feeling grew in my chest. But suddenly everything vanished, just like a dream does when you wake up.
...

"She what?!" Jack jumped from his seat.

"She's gonna live with us. In my mansion. I need her there. It's also quite dangerous if she isn't with us. They might take her with the other women again. You were the one that wanted her safe, that's what I'm doing. I'm protecting her." Costello answered to him calmly.

Oscar noticed the light of amusement in Demetre's eyes. He knew him well enough, to find the hidden sign of a set plan, even behind the thin, silver layer of typicality, in them. "Don't do this to me." He begged.

Costello's muscles around his mouth tightened, almost revealing a smile. But he hid it in a talented way. "I don't do anything. It's true that it's dangerous for a woman out there.-"

"-Elinor is strong." Jack interrupted him.

"So you think she'll make it..." He rubbed his chin, sceptical, "You know, I could; let her go, "he pointed near to Jack's shoulder, in a theatrical way " but I don't think that this wouldn't end well. You'd be really upset too. And I also think that you don't really mean these words..."

Jack sighed. His old friend knew him too well. "The truth is I don't... But what if she stayed in another house, we could give her some bodyguards... She'd be just fine." He said.

"Well, that's my decision to make, and I say that she'll stay in my home... You will have to know how to act around her... That's your responsibility. You're still a soldier, you still have to obey and discipline." Costello answered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do." He said coldly and walked to his study.

...