salvation ; 𝐛. 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬 , 𝟐

005. a new friend

"YOU KNOW, I'M fine, really," I insisted as I was followed by the CIA agent who was assigned to me, whatever that meant. "I appreciate everything you guys have done for me, seriously. But I just want to lay down and take a nap, okay? I've been up for, like, forever and now I'm in desperate need of sleep, so will you just let me do my thing?" I turned around and crossed my arms, scrutinizing the agent. "Or are you gonna watch me change, too?"

After getting into another CIA-approved vehicle(this one much smaller and sleeker), I'd been driven to a hotel that—I'm going to be honest—I'd originally thought was a resort, or something. I mean, the entire front of the building was covered in elegant stone that gave it an old-fashioned, European-style architecture vibe. If I was at all interested in history, I'm sure I would have gotten down on my knees and prayed for more beautiful things like this to grace my eyes.

But let's be real, I couldn't tell the difference between the Age of Enlightenment and the invention of the light bulb. Aren't they the same thing?

I'd expected him to be uncomfortable by my suggestion, but the man in shades standing in front of me merely clasped his hands in front of him. "Miss Reid, I am under strict instruction to make sure you get to your hotel, and remain there for the next week."

"Oh," I nodded, rolling my eyes, "so it's not a stalker thing, it's more of a quarantine thing. Great." I glanced back at the beautiful building behind me and grimaced. "I can't believe you're making me pay for this. Isn't that kind of...rude?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "You are a very important person to the Agency at this time. Agent Ross specifically asked that you stay in this hotel, so as to be in reach if you are needed." He said it all with his smooth, commanding tone that sounded close to a practiced performance.

I swallowed roughly and closed my eyes, images of money burning flashing brightly in my mind. Oh, fucking hell. "You know that makes me sound like I'm a pawn in a game you're playing, right?"

For a second, I thought I'd won when he didn't say anything. He reached up to pull his shades off of his face and peered down at me with his towering frame and piercing eyes. "Miss Reid. If you would please..." Holding up a hand and gesturing towards the front door of the hotel, he waited for me to give in and enter the expensive place that I would, apparently, be calling home for the next week.

Grumbling, I did as he asked and went through every step of getting a room, wincing as I swiped my card. I'm gonna be in debt for years, I groaned inwardly. Forget student loans, I'm gonna be paying off this hotel in tiny increments each month.

After the process was complete and I was handed the key to my room(an actual key, mind you), I headed towards the elevator, pausing for a moment to eye the agent that stood behind me. His hair was probably dark brown at some point in his life, but as he'd aged, gray started to speckle throughout his sparsely covered scalp. He was still a relatively handsome man, but he didn't seem to notice or care.

He met my eyes, catching me. "Yes?"

I shrugged. "You have a name or something?"

The agent chuckled. "Agent Wretton," he answered, though his name rolled off his tongue roughly, like he didn't have enough practice telling it.

"Huh," I smirked as the elevator doors opened. "So do people call you 'Red?'"

He looked insulted. "No, my name is Wret—"

"Relax, I'm only joking." I swallowed a grin. "Red."

My bags and minimal belongings were retrieved from the quaint motel I was staying in, just as Ross had promised. In the middle of all this expensive decor, I was thankful to have my ratty clothes to make it look a little more like home.