Recovery

"I wanted to talk to the two of you alone before you and Mr. Gant leave for L.A.," Madeline said. "As we've already said, this is a very sensitive mission and you'll be dealing with a group of people that will detect any anomaly in your actions or in your converstations, so it is imperative that you become Mr. and Mrs. Worth the minute you step off the plane."

Nikita shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She'd played this game once before with Michael, the happily married suburban couple who were desperately in love with each other. After the mission was over, she realized the closeness has put a stain on the relationship between her and Michael. The intimacy of being husband and wife affected Michael more than she realized because it forced him to bring his feelings to the surface, a place where Michael and his feelings would sooner part.

"The group of people that you will be socializing with are young and wealthy, full of eccentricities and erotic tastes," Madeline said. "The corporate executives you'll be associating with are into partner swapping. They live extravagently and have no qualms about extramarital affairs and in some cases, willingly flaunt their diversions among the group." Madeline paused. "It's apparent that Preston Gant already finds you attractive, Nikita."

Nikita felt her face grow hot again, her pulse quicken. She didn't dare look over at Michael. Michael, as usual, didn't flinch as Madeline went on.

"Do not discourage the attraction, Nikita," Madeline said. "Because you'll be new to the circle, you shouldn't openly pursue him, but in no way should you refuse his advances, or the advances of any other members of the group. That goes for you as well, Michael."

"As the newest member of the management team you'll want to follow the lead of the other executives, Michael," Madeline continued. "There will be long lunches over cocktails, afternoon tennis games and early morning gym workouts. There will be various after hours gatherings that you'll both be expected to attend and while you should act the part of a married couple you should make it clear that you are open to the overatures of others."

Again, Nikita did not detect the slightest movement from Michael. At least Madeline wasn't giving them the "newly married couples in love are intimate at least twice a week" speech. She wasn't sure if she could sit through it with Michael in the same room.

Looking directly at Michael, Madeline finished by saying, "And there should be no overt displays of jealousy should a liason be consummated. That's all."

Nikita relaxed into the plush first class seat as the airplane reached its crusing altitude of 38,000 feet. She turned her head to gaze out the window as she listened to Michael and Gant speak indistinctly in the background.

Her thoughts kept drifting back to the last time she and Michael were together, to the house in the suburbs. She had been tentative at first about approaching Michael for "intimate realtions." She knew he was obediently, at her signal, maintaining an unseen but palpable distance. He was, as always, the perfect gentleman, carrying out his duties according to the mission profile and not straying over the line into that place he kept separate from the face he wore in Section.

But she had seen the wall crumble around him the night they had made love. It was as if they had never been apart since their first time. His touch felt so natural on her skin. His lips felt so at home on hers. His body met hers with such perfect harmony.

And then the cold light of day dawned and she again saw fear and doubt in Michael's eyes the next morning. She remembered him saying once that they should take what they could get. But she knew that she could not shut her feelings off and on at will as he seemed to be able to do.

This time would be different, she thought. She knew that Gant was attracted to her, and in some small way, she was attracted to the attention. She vowed that she would not weaken and give in to her feelings for Michael by initialing any contact between them. She would not be the one to open the door this time. If Michael wanted her, he would have to kick that door down with all his strength, as he had done so many times before at the door of her apartment.

Michael's first day as the millenium task force leader was uneventful. Gant transitioned Michael into the team effortlessly. As Michael met the key management group he assessed each one while recalling the detailed profiles he had memorized on each.

Paul Hudson was vice president of administrative operations. His tan good looks and sun washed blond hair fit with his profile as the rich kid son of a movie producer, raised on the beaches of southern California.

Steven Creighton, as VP of marketing, handled the advertising for World Links as deftly as he handled the curves in his 1998 Lamborghini, with style and passion. His golfing partner, Rick Darrow, was systems vice president. Rick was one of the pioneers in the development of the internet and had used his skills and resources to help build World Links into one of the most technically sophisticated communications companies in the world.

Dale Mason was in charge of financial operations. He made his fortune in futures trading at the age of 26 and now two years later, handled more than 50 percent of the world's resources in telecommunications technology.

Each had been hand picked with care by Gant, not only for their technical expertise, but for their drive and ambition, a drive that could move the company to the picnnacle of success that Gant sought.

Michael talked the talk and walked the walk with ease. He easily impressed his colleagues with his knowledge of the telecommunications industry while out-bench pressing each one in turn during their gym workout at lunch.

Nikita was settling into the 7,000 square foot beach-front house she would share with Michael on this mission. It was more wealth and grandeur than she had ever experienced. However, Madeline had prepared her well. She knew she could play the part of a spoiled rich wife to perfection. She felt secure in the knowledge that she could match their looks and wealth with her own brand of sass and charm.

Her day was spent trying on the many evening dresses that filled her four closets. Tonight, Gant was throwing a party to welcome "the Worth's" to sunny L.A. She was not surprised when she received the bouquet of two dozen red roses from Gant that morning. He had made it very clear to her that he was prepared to play his part by fully welcoming them into the group.