Prologue
Prologue
Three years ago, Washington DC.
Black Louboutin heels clicked like a methodical timed bomb and slender hips swayed rhythmically as Catherine Jenkins made her way through the elevator door which had obediently stayed open; as if paying her due respect.
One fact of life was that when you were at the top, things tended to have more obedience to you and Catherine was a testimony to that rule. With several successful missions under her belt, there was no doubt left in anyone’s mind that she was one of the best CIA agents that had walked the halls of the great headquarters building.
But it hadn’t always been that way. She had once been a young inexperienced nineteen year old who had been looked down on. But now, there was no one that could even think of meeting her gaze, much less to look down on her.
In fact, most people avoided having communication with her except for when it involved a mission. Maybe it was her cool meticulous attitude or maybe her firm immovable gaze. Either way, it worked perfectly fine with her. That way, it gave her more time to focus on her work than on trivial gossip.
The elevator stopped midway to the tenth floor and in walked a man in a navy-blue dry-cleaned suit which spanned his broad shoulders perfectly. His dirty blonde hair was packed in a low ponytail, and she didn’t need to glance at his face to know that it had a smirk etched on it.
This was the only man that remained unfazed when she glared coldly at him. Rather he would meet her cool gaze with a cheeky laugh. He was the only one who knew everything about her and could brighten up her day with his smirk. Catherine knew he was looking at her, and smiled lopsidedly as her gaze directed towards the ceiling.
How long would he last this time with her blatantly ignoring him here? His record was a full minute. She tapped her heels, counting the seconds before he would crack.
“Avoiding me still, are you?” he grinned as the elevator door shut. Twenty-five seconds, she thought to herself as she removed her gaze from the ceiling and turned to him.
“Just being professional, Drew.” Catherine replied.
“Professional.” He repeated, “What’s there to be professional about?” he scoffed as he turned to face Catherine. “Cat, the whole office knows we are together. Even Sarah, who was recruited like what, five minutes ago? Well she knows too. Come on babe, we’re getting married in three weeks. I really don’t get the point of this.”
Catherine hung her bag across her forearm before wrapping her arms around herself.
“Still, we needn’t rub our relationship in everyone’s faces.”
Andrew moved closer to her until his face was merely inches away. “We aren’t rubbing it in anyone’s face.” his voice dropped to a whisper, which sent goosebumps up Cat’s arms. “If we are talking about that, then what do you have to say about what you did when I came back from the Cuba mission last month?”
She glanced at his lips unconsciously before staring back at his eyes. Okay, so he had a point there. When he had come into her office on his return, she had practically jumped on him, unable to contain her urge to make out to the maximum. Yes, it was out of her character, but she had missed him so much and there had been complications on the mission.
“That was different. I hadn’t seen you in months and I missed you a lot. But this time, we’ve been in each other’s faces. Can’t expect me to act like a pubescent teenager. For God sake, Drew we had sex less than two hours ago!” She stressed the last sentence through gritted teeth.
“Feels like five minutes ago babe. I just like touching you no matter where we are and who sees. Every red-blooded man alive wants to be in my shoes right this minute and I have you all to myself. Is a little kiss here so bad?’ He began trailing slow kisses, from her neck to the corner of her lips and back.
“Drew stop, we’ll soon get to our floor.” Catherine said in a breathless voice and felt Andrew smile at her words.
“Well now, is that the only reason I should stop? Not that we are at work?” he replied in a smug voice as he resumed his ministrations. She held back a moan as she struggled with herself from reaching up and dragging his lips to meet hers. He clearly knew he was taunting her, and she knew he wanted her to give in. but she couldn’t give in, right? He sucked on her temple, which he knew would drive her crazy and all resistance flew out the window as he pulled him away from her neck and pulled his lips to hers.
A satisfied sigh fell from her lips at the contact, and she felt a smirk come on his lips shortly before he pulled her against him and deepened the kiss. One of his hands held her face while the other was on her back side. Her hand was tracing the contours of his chest while the other had loosened his hair and was entwined in it. Their tongues fought for dominance as teeth nipped at lips, filling the elevator with soft moans.
He broke off the kiss first and Catherine opened her eyes to see his hair now disheveled and two of his buttons opened while she looked still as immaculate as she had looked before except for her now bruised lips. She had never been able to master the art of making out without messing up her partner’s appearance. He smiled at her as he let her go and bent to pick up the band he had used to pack his hair.
“Wild as ever, Cat. At least you didn’t tear off my buttons this time. You know, I know that this is the main reason you act professional to me at work. You can’t control yourself around me”
Catherine pulled out a hair comb from her bag and gave it to him before she replied
“What? Just because I leave you a little ruffled doesn’t mean….”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, denial’s flowing like river Nile. It’s ok. I understand. I’m just too irresistible that you lose all your cool.” He said with a satisfied grin as he repacked his hair and handed the comb back to Catherine who returned it to its place in her bag.
“Oh, really Drew, you know you’re far worse than I am.”
“That, I admit. As far as I’m anywhere except the office; that is. You were awesome this morning. Didn’t know our relationship still had such…eh…spice.”
Catherine looked up at him. “If it didn’t, I wouldn’t be marrying you, Andrew Collins.”
Andrew feigned a hurt look. “Ah! And here I was thinking it was because of my exciting charm and charisma.”
“You wish!” Catherine rolled her eyes and then let out a sigh. “I can’t wait to get this blasted Afghanistan mission out of the way so we can both quit this rugged lifestyle, get married officially and start our happy family.”
Andrew chuckled. “Keep your shirt on, babe. You’ll be stuck with me for life before you know it. Besides, we’re on the mission together. Just look at it as a pre-honeymoon.” He pulled her towards himself. “I love you so much, Cat.”
“Love you too.” Catherine replied in a small voice. “But I never envisioned my honeymoon in Afghanistan of all places.”
Her relationship with Andrew Collins dated way back to before they were born. Mary Jenkins and Victoria Collins lived right across the street from each other and had gotten into the habit of baking pies and bringing them over to each other’s houses. Over the years, this blossomed into an enviable friendship, and it was only expected that the friendship would develop into sisterhood. Their prayers seemed to be answered when Victoria happened to have a son, and Mary had a daughter three years later.
At first, their mothers had been distraught that Catherine and Andrew hadn’t taken an instant liking to each other. But as the time went by, they saw it as a funny prelude to a more interesting future and always forced the kids to spend as much time as possible with each other, no matter how much they fought and claimed to hate each other. They officially began dating in high school after a long ‘I hate you but I also secretly like you’ stage.
Andrew was the perfect man, if any existed. At least he was perfect for her. The complete package of broad-shoulders, 6 feet 3inches, dirty blonde hair and the brightest blue eyes, he graduated from Harvard with a first-class degree in Law and later went on to do a master’s in criminology. He was a gentleman to the letter and Catherine was not oblivious to the death glares the female colleagues at work gave her sometimes.
The elevator door opened.
“Agent Jenkins, Agent Collins.” Someone nodded curtly to both as they stepped out of the elevator. They nodded back.
“If you’ll just follow me, Jessica is waiting.” The person continued.
Catherine and Andrew walked behind their escort, looking every inch of the next power couple of the century. They followed the escort into the IT unit where Jessica Horne was waiting.
“Took you two long enough,” she said grimly. Jessica was a petite red-haired woman in her mid-thirties who, to most people’s surprise, was the technological mind behind all the CIAs most respectable gadgets.
“What have you got for us, Jess?” Andrew asked.
“The best. As always.” Jessica walked towards a reinforced metal door and entered the security code. The door gave way, letting out a foggy gush of air.
“These are gadgets that are still in the developmental phase, but they are the best out there. Now here is a real beauty. This is a bomb hair clip and it’s for Catherine. See that little red button there? One tap on that baby and the whole 10 meter radius is blown to smithereens.” Jessica moved on to a set of cufflinks, delicately placed in a jewelry box. “Andy, this is yours.”
Andrew looked at it. “Looks like real diamonds. Damn Jessica, never knew I meant that much to you. Even Catherine has never gotten me anything this priceless.” He said with an iota of sarcasm.
“Get over yourself, pretty boy” Catherine retorted irritably but ruined it with the smile that came on her face
“Try pulling the cufflinks apart, Andy.” Jessica prompted.
Andrew pulled them apart and found out that they were escape ropes.
“Neat.” Andrew said with admiration.
Jessica adjusted her glasses. “I swear on you two alone, the CIA spends a fortune. Agent Z said no harm was to befall her best agents.’ Jessica rolled her eyes.
Catherine put the hairclip on her hair and then brushed a wispy strand of dark hair away from her face. “How about the regular stuff? I appreciate the effort you and Z have gone through to give us these…eh, toys. But I won’t feel safe without a gun or knife.”
Jessica cast Andrew a look and Andrew replied with a shrug.
“There’s no way Z would send us on a mission without our babies, Cat.” Andrew said, referring to their guns.
“I don’t know how you put up with this one.” Jessica commented, darting a look to Catherine and then back to Andrew. Andrew responded with a lopsided smile at Catherine.
“Just stating the obvious guys.” Catherine chipped in as Jessica opened a heavy metal box and handed them some guns and new passports.
“Jeremy Toosie?” Andrew exclaimed looking at his new passport. “What sort of weak-ass name is that?”
“Martha Toosie? And come on! Z could have given me a better-looking photo!”
“Jeremy and Martha Toosie are just a regular couple from Alabama, travelling to Afghanistan because Jeremy is a journalist.” Jessica replied.
“Z came up with this name, didn’t she? What an ass.” Andrew said.
Jessica lifted her hands in surrender. “Don’t look at me, I’m only a messenger.”
Catherine smiled warmly at Jessica. “Don’t mind Andrew, Jess. Thanks a lot.” She shut the metal box which held her, and Andrew’s gadgets shut.
“So next time I see you guys it’ll be under happier circumstances hopefully.” Jessica said with a grin. “Wedding’s barely a month away.”
Andrew let out a sigh. “And it will be Mr and Mrs Collins. Not Toosie.”
“What is this mission about though? I was only given a short briefing” Jessica suddenly asked. “It seemed to mean a lot to Z”
“Top secret as usual, Jess.” Andrew replied with a wink.
“If we told you, we would have to kill you.” Catherine said as lightly as she could.
Jessica let out a wince. “Something tells me to take that literally.”
Catherine winked at Jessica before leaving the gadget room with Andrew closely behind her.
“You look awesome in that skirt, babe.” Andrew said suddenly.
“Are you checking out my ass, Mr TOOSIE?” Catherine added the name for effect.
He snorted before walking to his office.
Jessica Horne watched the ‘power couple’ leave. She was thinking of how perfect Catherine and Andrew’s future would be. At very young ages, they had both reached the peak of their careers. In the next few years, they would probably even take over from Z.
That was what everyone expected. And it may have happened that way.
But fate had something else in mind.
That was the last time Jessica Horne ever saw Andrew and Catherine together.
