Modus Operandi

Chapter Three: A New Job

A New Job

"Mr. Hunter will be out to greet you shortly, a lady at another oak desk quips cheerily, not raising her head once. "You can take a seat anywhere."

I scan the room. More reddish-burgundy walls. Dark hardwood floor. A giant H, brushed silver to match the ones in the lobby, hung the wall to my right, above a row of fat chocolate brown leather sofas. Various photos of Demitri and what seemed to be famous politicians and celebrities cover the wall to my left. Potted plants stood in every corner of the room.

Regardless of the comfy-cozy feel of the room, I opt to stand. I don't want to be in a sitting position when he comes out of the office. I feel as though that would give him the power. I check the time. The 7 turns to an 8, and the 59 to an... 'o' clock... or double zero, or whatever. I sigh and stroll to the wall where the photos hang. Several of the faces are recognizable to me- politicians like senators and governors and the like. Down on the end of the row, out of the view of the common passerby is a picture of a grinning Demitri, posed with ...I lean in, squinting at the photo, just to be sure...with...

My mouth drops. "Is that..."

"The President." A deep, heavily accented British voice interrupts me and I jump a little, heart racing. Demitri Hunter is looking at me, amused, mocking the way I was looking at the photo- Leaning forward, with my arms clasped behind my back. He grins and straightens. "Yes, I suppose it is. Surprised?"

I regain my composure, but I am still unable to speak. He's a lot taller than I pictured him. He absolutely towers over my 5' 3" stature. Not that that makes a difference. He was every bit as intimidating. I open and close my mouth. No words come out, so I just shrug and arch an eyebrow.

He cocks his head to one side and I can see his eyes. They're a beautiful steely grey, and they're piercing mine. Where did he get those eyes? They're unsettling. I am very unsettled right at this moment in time. He bends again, so our faces are level, his eyes still searching my face- still burning through. He sticks out a brown hand. "Your name is Athena, right, Darling?"

What is he looking for in my face? Why is he examining it? I have decided it's the accent thats making me nervous. I love it. I have a few relatives in England, and calling them on occasion makes my day. I could listen to them for hours. I shake it off. Funny, this is the second time I have had to shake someone off this morning, and it isn't even 9:00 yet. I smile. "Yes, sir. And you must be Demitri Hunter?"

He narrows his eyes at me. Not threatening, still examining. He then steps back, hands behind his back and looks at the wall of photos. Yeah, I suppose so. That's me on the wall, innit?" He rolls out, facing me and jerking a thumb at the wall.

I smile slowly. "Looks like it." I'm doing pretty good so far, considering my racing heart.

One corner of his mouth turns up a little and returns to normal. A smirk. Oops. He starts to walk toward his office. "Join me in here, girlfriend." Geh- ul- friend. I like the way that he said it. He stands at the dark wooden door and gestures into his office.

I look over at the receptionist for positive reassurance that he was not going to attack me in his office. She looks disinterested with my life and more focused on the computer screen.

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He takes a seat behind a wide cherry oak desk, and gestures that I sit in one of the overstuffed arm chairs in front of the desk. I do. He speaks. "Girlfriend..." Yes. "Ted likes you, and now I see why." He folds his hands, and I mirror the action, but I don't think he notices. "You're quick. You have wit. You'll need that around here."