Phoenix

Chapter 10

The mission
Essence's POV
As we set off among the snow coated evergreens, a thick silence rang through the car, as the black clouds above threatened to shed their crystalline tears. The darkness of the sphinx like night engulfed the car, as the only source of light came from the radio playing some jazzy 80's song. I remember a conversation we had once started but never got the chance to continue. 

_ "Are the ear pieces on yet?" My gaze wanders over a focused red head.

_ "Yeah why?" His respond was short and cold.
I sigh, actually catching Phoenix's attention.

_ "Remember the conversation we started after our meeting? When Grayson walked in?" I was careful to chose my words as I had two other team members listening in from the van a few meters behind us. Phoenix nods, giving me a rather concerned look from the corner of his eye.

_ "When I was 14, I got abducted by a group of masked men, while I was out with some friends." I calmly explain, glancing at him every now and then. "I was stripped out of my clothes and beaten up due to the fact that I wouldn't cooperate. I didn't stop fighting, and that made them mad. I tried to escape while they drove me to their hideout, but I received a hard blow to my head and blacked out. Next thing I know, I was in a cage, along side some other children." My voice unintentionally faltered as I watched Phoenix's grip tighten on the steering wheel, veins popping out of his forearms. "I was apparently going to be sold on the black market as a sex slave. But I managed to get away. I picked the lock of the cage, and fought my way out, knocking anyone in my way out cold. I still remember the shock and denial I felt. The look of fear and distress in those children's eyes will haunt me forever. I was only a kid hoping to escape, so I brought them the keys and fled." My short explanation proceeds.

Phoenix's POV
_ "To this day, I wonder whether or not these innocent girls made it out." Her voice was filled with void. Not an ounce of emotion could be felt, but her words explained it all. So this is what my father kept pushing her to tell me.

_ "So you know where they are supposed to be found?" I ask.

_ "Yes." She simply states, peering out the window at the Ostankino Television Tower. We finally reached our destination.

I bring the car to a halt before the entrance, exit the car, walk to the other side and open the door for 'Mrs. Orlov'. I then toss the car keys to the valet parking guy, wrapping an arm around Essence's waist and taking one of her hands into mine.

Essence's POV
As we walked through the doors Phoenix's grip remained tight around me. In the elevator we rode up in silence, exchanging awkward looks as we stood parallel to one another. A few floors away from where the ball took place, Phoenix approached me and dug his face into my hair. His hot breath grazed the skin of my ear as he whispered the following words:

_ "You look breathtaking by the way. Everything is going to be fine, you've got this." I could feel goosebumps starting to rise throughout my body, as a red rash crept up my neck. Damnit. That's the first nice thing he's said to me today.
I silently take a breath to calm myself down before returning him the favor.

_ "ты тоже не так уж и плохо выглядишь" I wink at him, tugging at his suit as the elevator doors glide open.
(Translation: You don't look too bad yourself)

We walk into the ball room our arms entangled. As soon as we stepped foot in there we had everyone's attention.

All stared with no shame, as some glared at us, women drooled over Phoenix, and men sent winks my way. It was going to be harder to go unnoticed then I thought it would be. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Grayson, pouring champagne into glasses and handing them over to other servers there.