Hidden Agenda - Chapter Four
The Transformation.
As if to make matters worse, Nathan dragged her to see none other than his fiancée Lana. She greeted her in a cloud of wispy floral perfume.
"So this must be Nathan's little sidekick! He's told me all about how you need a makeover," she clucked her tongue, "And let me tell you, honey, it's not a moment too soon."
Murder flashed in her eyes as she shot a look towards Nathan. His blue eyes twinkled as he squinted a subtle warning. Not ten minutes later, she was reminding herself it was all for the job as Lana gave her outfit after outfit to try. Nathan had abandoned ship to chat with the security guard out front, close buddies from school; Lana had clarified in a long -winded story with bubbly enthusiasm.
Alex made the small mistake of glancing at the price tag on a tight-knit cream top. Good heavens, that would cover at least six months' rent, she thought in shock. How women could throw away ludicrous sums of money on such frivolous items baffled her to no end. Still grumbling about her current predicament, she didn't hear Lana come in behind her while she was stripped down to her skivvies.
"Just as I thought, you're gonna need sexier underwear. So I grabbed you some, guessing at the sizes. You've got a good body under all those shapely clothes. Shame you cover it up, darling."
Embarrassed, she caught the black lingerie being tossed. Lana didn't miss a beat and just kept prattling on about who knows what, chatting amicably about a whole range of topics.
"I picked this up, Nathan told me you had a business date or something tonight. Wouldn't give me any details, ya know. That would be unethical, but a girl can sure try," she gave her a wink.
Alex shifted uncomfortably as she took the dress that was offered. Ah, the infamous little black dress every woman was supposed to own.
"I've got the shoes and all sorts of accessories set to be delivered to the address, along with the clothes. Don't worry sweetie, the tab will be sent to the Bureau as directed," she chuckled at what must have been a look of panic on Alex's face.
As she got dressed back into her clothes, Lana extended a small business card.
"Go to the address I wrote on the back. Ask for Gabriel. I pulled a couple of strings and he can fit you in today. So scurry on over there, doll!" She said with a smile.
She was friendly, almost to a fault. So hard to hate her, when she was next to perfection. Wouldn't expect anything less from Nathan's fiancée. Definitely put a depressing spin on things, eliminating the storyline of him leaving his cold-hearted ice queen for a happily-ever-after with the plain Jane girl next door.
"Thank you, Lana. You weren't at all what I expected."
Alex wasn't sure why she had blurted that out, but it didn't seem to offend Lana in the slightest.
"Is anyone these days?" She replied with a smile.
"Touche."
Alex impulsively gave her a hug, and smiled. Thanking her again, she rushed to make her appointment. The security guard, Bill, stopped her to relay the message that Nathan had gone back to the office to finish up last-minute details. Good. He'd been bugging her all day, she could use the room to breathe.
*************************************************
About two hours later, after being poked, prodded, plucked, and God himself knows what else, she pulled up at the office. She's forgotten her PDA on her desk this morning. It was surprising she'd made it this long without it. Alex changed at the salon into the dress, paired with the killer stilettos, and stared at the woman in the mirror. The new cut and dramatic dark color made her look unbelievably dangerous. Almost oozing the same sexual energy that Natalia had in that photo. Job well done, turning someone so ordinary into... this. Even Gabriel had hinted that he'd totally go for it, if he was into females.
All this attention just wasn't her cup of tea as she made her way through faceless people. She could feel the eyes on her no matter how low she ducked her head to seem invisible. Unfortunately, she couldn't avoid everyone, giving her ID to the security.
"Alex?"
Bernie, who'd worked there for ages looked at her incredulously. She flicked her sunglasses down and gave him a disapproving glare.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You just look different, not bad." He amended, blushing beet red. Alex squeezed his shoulder reassuringly and walked to the elevators.
It was almost embarrassing to her as she sneaked her way through cubicles and hallways, making her way to the security of her own office. When she made it free and clear, she shut the door and let out a long breath.
"Hiding?"
The voice behind her caused her to squeal, and reach for the gun in her handbag. Just as quickly she was disarmed and pinned to door. She was struggling to attack every inch of her assailant.
"Will you stop, dammit!"
Nathan's voice registered through the haze.
"What the hell were you thinking?" She shouted, chest heaving.
They were still body to body, as Nathan shouted back.
"You were going to shoot at me you paranoid-"
He cut off abruptly and something indiscernible flashed in his eyes.
They were so close, and still he said nothing. Her heart was pounding, but now for a different reason entirely. Their breath mingled together in the silence. She couldn't decipher or read anything going on behind those clear baby blues.
"Umm, what's going on?" She asked tightly, trying to sound normal.
His eyes narrowed as he ran his gaze over her showcased body, slowly releasing her and taking a step back.
"You look different. I don't like it." He said with a hint of disdain.
Any hope she'd just had in their area just took a careening dive towards earth. For a second, she thought they had a moment. Just for that second, she made the mistake of thinking he could ever want someone like her. Reality was like a big sucker punch in the face, telling you to quit dreaming. You'll never be the one.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled fighting back the sting of tears.
"Alex-" he said exasperatedly.
"I'll meet you over there, okay?" She said lightly.
She reached over and grabbed her PDA from the desk.
"Alex."
"It's fine," she mumbled, struggling to keep it together as she walked out of the door and into the elevator.
The elevator doors slid closed and she felt small sobs wrack her body, overwhelming her control.
"So this must be Nathan's little sidekick! He's told me all about how you need a makeover," she clucked her tongue, "And let me tell you, honey, it's not a moment too soon."
Murder flashed in her eyes as she shot a look towards Nathan. His blue eyes twinkled as he squinted a subtle warning. Not ten minutes later, she was reminding herself it was all for the job as Lana gave her outfit after outfit to try. Nathan had abandoned ship to chat with the security guard out front, close buddies from school; Lana had clarified in a long -winded story with bubbly enthusiasm.
Alex made the small mistake of glancing at the price tag on a tight-knit cream top. Good heavens, that would cover at least six months' rent, she thought in shock. How women could throw away ludicrous sums of money on such frivolous items baffled her to no end. Still grumbling about her current predicament, she didn't hear Lana come in behind her while she was stripped down to her skivvies.
"Just as I thought, you're gonna need sexier underwear. So I grabbed you some, guessing at the sizes. You've got a good body under all those shapely clothes. Shame you cover it up, darling."
Embarrassed, she caught the black lingerie being tossed. Lana didn't miss a beat and just kept prattling on about who knows what, chatting amicably about a whole range of topics.
"I picked this up, Nathan told me you had a business date or something tonight. Wouldn't give me any details, ya know. That would be unethical, but a girl can sure try," she gave her a wink.
Alex shifted uncomfortably as she took the dress that was offered. Ah, the infamous little black dress every woman was supposed to own.
"I've got the shoes and all sorts of accessories set to be delivered to the address, along with the clothes. Don't worry sweetie, the tab will be sent to the Bureau as directed," she chuckled at what must have been a look of panic on Alex's face.
As she got dressed back into her clothes, Lana extended a small business card.
"Go to the address I wrote on the back. Ask for Gabriel. I pulled a couple of strings and he can fit you in today. So scurry on over there, doll!" She said with a smile.
She was friendly, almost to a fault. So hard to hate her, when she was next to perfection. Wouldn't expect anything less from Nathan's fiancée. Definitely put a depressing spin on things, eliminating the storyline of him leaving his cold-hearted ice queen for a happily-ever-after with the plain Jane girl next door.
"Thank you, Lana. You weren't at all what I expected."
Alex wasn't sure why she had blurted that out, but it didn't seem to offend Lana in the slightest.
"Is anyone these days?" She replied with a smile.
"Touche."
Alex impulsively gave her a hug, and smiled. Thanking her again, she rushed to make her appointment. The security guard, Bill, stopped her to relay the message that Nathan had gone back to the office to finish up last-minute details. Good. He'd been bugging her all day, she could use the room to breathe.
*************************************************
About two hours later, after being poked, prodded, plucked, and God himself knows what else, she pulled up at the office. She's forgotten her PDA on her desk this morning. It was surprising she'd made it this long without it. Alex changed at the salon into the dress, paired with the killer stilettos, and stared at the woman in the mirror. The new cut and dramatic dark color made her look unbelievably dangerous. Almost oozing the same sexual energy that Natalia had in that photo. Job well done, turning someone so ordinary into... this. Even Gabriel had hinted that he'd totally go for it, if he was into females.
All this attention just wasn't her cup of tea as she made her way through faceless people. She could feel the eyes on her no matter how low she ducked her head to seem invisible. Unfortunately, she couldn't avoid everyone, giving her ID to the security.
"Alex?"
Bernie, who'd worked there for ages looked at her incredulously. She flicked her sunglasses down and gave him a disapproving glare.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You just look different, not bad." He amended, blushing beet red. Alex squeezed his shoulder reassuringly and walked to the elevators.
It was almost embarrassing to her as she sneaked her way through cubicles and hallways, making her way to the security of her own office. When she made it free and clear, she shut the door and let out a long breath.
"Hiding?"
The voice behind her caused her to squeal, and reach for the gun in her handbag. Just as quickly she was disarmed and pinned to door. She was struggling to attack every inch of her assailant.
"Will you stop, dammit!"
Nathan's voice registered through the haze.
"What the hell were you thinking?" She shouted, chest heaving.
They were still body to body, as Nathan shouted back.
"You were going to shoot at me you paranoid-"
He cut off abruptly and something indiscernible flashed in his eyes.
They were so close, and still he said nothing. Her heart was pounding, but now for a different reason entirely. Their breath mingled together in the silence. She couldn't decipher or read anything going on behind those clear baby blues.
"Umm, what's going on?" She asked tightly, trying to sound normal.
His eyes narrowed as he ran his gaze over her showcased body, slowly releasing her and taking a step back.
"You look different. I don't like it." He said with a hint of disdain.
Any hope she'd just had in their area just took a careening dive towards earth. For a second, she thought they had a moment. Just for that second, she made the mistake of thinking he could ever want someone like her. Reality was like a big sucker punch in the face, telling you to quit dreaming. You'll never be the one.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled fighting back the sting of tears.
"Alex-" he said exasperatedly.
"I'll meet you over there, okay?" She said lightly.
She reached over and grabbed her PDA from the desk.
"Alex."
"It's fine," she mumbled, struggling to keep it together as she walked out of the door and into the elevator.
The elevator doors slid closed and she felt small sobs wrack her body, overwhelming her control.
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