Spies

Chapter 16

Alessandro's Point of View

As Callie slept, head tucked between my neck and chest, snuggling into me, I kept thinking about how comforting it was. How enjoyable this moment was. This is not me. I did not even know why I pulled her onto my lap, but the need to hold and touch her became to much at that point. What's wrong with me?

In the past week, we had gotten to know each other, how we think, planning strategies and methods, all amongst personal aspects. One can say the we have surprisingly gotten closer these past few days, a new thing for me.

I continued to watch the movie as she slept. I had purposely chosen the horror movie because in the time that I knew her, I suspected that Callie would not like it. This would give me the opportunity to really get to know my partner, or whatever I keep telling myself.

When the movie ended, I turned off the television and just sat there, with Callie still on my lap. I stared blankly between the screen and her sleeping form. What an I doing? I don't normally do these kinds of mushy gushy stuff. Mushy-gushy? I gotta get out of here.

I looked at my phone, reading the time. 10:33pm. Just then, a text made my phone vibrate. A message from Nyx, the boss' assistant. She and I have a casual relationship, if one must say, friends with benefits. Nothing more, nothing less.

CHICK FROM WORK: Wanna come over?, her message said with a bunch of suggestive emojis.

Why not? I really needed a good lay right about now and she was willing.

ME: Sure, I replied.

I scooped up Callie and gently laid her on the sofa. Covering her with the blanket, she let out a little sigh before returning to a soundless sleep. Watching her for a couple seconds, I placed my phone into my pocket and then left.

*****

The next day, I felt better than ever. Slight guilt lingered, I did not know why but I persisted. I met with Callie at the residence of our victim's family, like we did since we got the case. I had brought us coffee - a double espresso for me and a latte for Callie - as well as a couple of her favourite baked treats.

It was still early, around five in the morning. This was the time we must get here to go through the details of the official's daily schedule. Seemingly, they did not have much going on today, just a couple morning meetings for the official and a few errands for the his wife. The kids had their normal classes and activities, the younger two though. As per usual started this week, nothing was scheduled for the twin today.

I'm getting a weird vibe today.

I go to meet up with Callie, she is usually with the in the dining room going over what she is going to do for the day. When I get there, our breakfast in my hand, she is talking with one of the bodyguards I was assigned with. Brian, Brett or something.

"So, you've been blowing me off. When are you going to let me take you out on a real date?" he asked her, stepping closer to her.

She flirtatiously leaning on the dining table and crossing her arms with a smirk on her face. "Determined are we?"

"When I see something I like," he smirked back. "So, will you go out with me then?"

"Fine," she replied, smiling hard. I nearly dropped the things in my hand.

"Great." he smiled back, stepping even closer. They were now toe-to-toe. "So tomorrow night? 7?"

"Tomorrow night. 7."

By this time, I shut everything out. I walked up to them with mixed emotions within me. This was just like the time with that tech analyst last week at work.

She finally notices me from the corner of her eye. "Hey Alex," she said, getting out of Brian's hold. "Latte, muffins and a chocolate chip cookie from Dustin's?"

"You know it," I replied, trying to sound like the version of me she was used to - the arrogant, playful guy. "Just how you like it."

"Perfect," she replied, with an even bigger smile than she had with the other guy. "I've been craving these for a week now." She took the bag from my hand as well as the tray with the cups and set them on the dining room table.

As soon as she turned around, I could feel the negative energy coming from the other guy in the room. I faced him, still looking at Callie from behind from the corner of my eye.

"How's it going dude?" I asked him, smirking.

He just scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Cals. I'll see you later," he called out to her.

She looked over her shoulder and replied with a little wave, "See you later, Brent."

As soon as he left, I immediately started asking her questions. "What was the deal with him? What's going on here?"

"What do you mean, Alex?" she replied with her drink in one hand and a half-eaten muffin in the other.

"The smiles, the date, the touchy-touchy feely-feely vibe y'all got going on here. What's up with that?"

"Touchy-touchy feely-feely?"

"Yeah. Touchy-touchy feely feely."

She let out a little chuckle. "What's going on with you?"

"With me? You're the one losing sight of the case we're working on here," I said to her. Wow. What was wrong with me right now?

"I'm not losing sight of anything," she replied, visibly getting riled up. "And you should not be listening to other people's private conversations. What if I listened into your 'talks' with your whores? Would you like that?"

"Who mentioned anything about-"

"Listen," she said, turning back around, gathering her papers and her coffee. "When you get back to your old manageable arrogant and playful self, talk to me then." Then she stormed out of the room, leaving me there with my thoughts, my untouched coffee and the bag of goodies.

What the hell just happened, I asked myself.

I leaned on the edge of the table, sipping my lukewarm espresso, just thinking. What was that even about? Maybe I overreacted.

Just then, a little girl walked in. The official's daughter, I realized as she got closer to me eating a bag of chips.

"Hey," she said, getting close to me. I responded with a simple but formal wave. "I heard everything."

"Oh really," I responded, trying to play it off. "That was just adults talking."

"Really? It sounded like you were jealous," she responded, leaning against the table next to me and looking up at me from the corner of her eye.

"I'm not jealous."

"That's the biggest lie of the year," she said with an eye roll and munched the rest of her chips.

"Not to be rude, but don't you have classes to get ready for, little girl."

"Yep. And don't you have a meeting to go to concerning my dad's security."

"Touché. Touché. I guess we're both hiding out then," I responded, finding the top of my cup interesting.

"Listen. If you like her, and she is a pretty nice person," she said, folding her empty bag of chips. "You should go for it. The worst she could say is no."

I decided to entertain the thought, "How would you know that I liked her?"

"People don't get angry with people like that unless they like the other person, or they are family or friends looking out for one another. And you two don't seem to be related and the look you gave her when she was walking away said you didn't want to remain friends."

"How old are you anyway?"

"I'm 14, and the name's Estelle by the way."

"Well, you are very wise, Estelle."

"When you are born into this life like I was, there is little time to be young and carefree."

Just then, given what she just said, I finally got the answer to our case.