The Ambassador's Daughter

Chapter 30

Louise studied her reflection in the mirror. She knew she was being overly critical, but it was important that she look perfect today. It had been a few days since she'd been back to the palace. Steve and Bucky had both been texting her regularly. It still seemed odd to her to be getting texts from Bucky. The man had spent so much time hiding, that using such an easily trackable piece of technology just seemed so odd. And yet, he was very good at it. The reason for that seemed likely that Hydra probably used to text and call to check up on him while he was on assignment. That thought was just depressing, so Louise decided not to think about it.

She looked at herself closer in the mirror. Louise had decided against the blue blouse her mother had suggested and the same white one. She'd chosen a plain white button-up t-shirt blouse and paired it with a black cinched vest that fastened just below her ribs. She had gone over the black pants with a lint roller three or four times, just to be sure she would look her best. She wore a pair of black heels. She curled her hair and pulled it into a half-up-half-down style. For makeup she did a light smoky eye, and a lip gloss that was a shade or two darker than her natural lip colour.

Once finished with her makeup, Louise looked herself over one more time. She knew she looked like a high-end waitress, and that her parents would hardly approve, but she liked the look. It made her feel classy and beautiful, even if she didn't look like an ambassador's daughter. She grabbed her phone and headed to her window. She really didn't want to meet her parents right now. She took her shoes off and tossed them and the phone out the window, then followed them by carefully climbing down the trellis. She picked up her shoes and phone and hurried to the garage in her bare feet.

Once safely inside the garage, Louise put her shoes back on. "Gordon!" She called, hopping around trying to get her left shoe on properly. Gordon appeared outside his office. While she'd been hopping around, one of her earrings fell out, as she was bending over to pick it up she missed the pained look on Gordon's face.

"Yes, Miss?"

"I need to go to the palace." Gordon moved slowly to his car and opened the door. Louise slipped into the back, and Gordon shut the door. Louise slide over to the passenger side as Gordon moved up to the front of the car and got in. He closed the divider and called the Mansion.

"Sir, we are on the way to the palace, again."

"Thank you, Gordon," the ambassador said. The line clicked and Gordon pulled out of the garage. As the car pulled out of the grounds, Brandt stood at his window watching. "Drive safe," he muttered, grinning wickedly, before turning back to his desk.

The car wound its way through the city. Louise stared out the window watching the city and jungle. Suddenly, her phone rang. She looked and was surprised to see Laura Barton lighting up the screen. Louise picked up the call. "Hello, Laura, what's up?"

"Oh, nothing much. The baby is really colicky. But he's doing better today. Thank goodness. He's usually such a good baby, his constant crying was really starting to kill me."

Louise laughed. "I'm sorry, that's not really funny. But I'm glad Nathaniel's doing better."

"Oh, Honey, it's always funny when it's not happening to you." Laura replied, "Speaking of not happening to you... how're things with you?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Louise asked, feeling a blush climbing her cheeks.

"Well, I guess, not much, but I need some real adult conversation."

"Laura, I don't kiss and tell."

"But you have kissed!?" Laura prodded.

"You know we have, I told you about the ball."