"I don't have time to sire a
child, and the IMF is going to go back into Callahan hands anyway."
"Sir, there's plenty of women
in the IMF who'd be happy to have your child," one of the agents argued.
"I don't care. It's just a
waste of time, an unnecessary attachment. I don't need to give some deranged,
hormonal woman the opportunity to kill me."
"But just in case we don't
succeed, sir, it would be wise to have a back-up plan."
"True, but we are going to
succeed."
"You don't have to marry.
Simply sire a child."
"The woman will still form an
attachment to me and to the child."
"But if she has an attachment,
sir, it would prevent her from trying to kill you."
"No it wouldn't. I want you
to get my sister's child. He is the last Callahan male, whether he wants to be
or not."
"Still sir... we must be
careful. In case we should fail."
"Failure is not an option.
Even if you do raise a good point."
The man simply nodded.
"What are you waiting for?
GO!"
He got to his feet and left the office
hurriedly.
"Now...you."
The man got to his feet and a few
minutes later, a talented attractive brunette entered the room. "Sir? I
was told to come up here..."
"What is your name,
Agent?"
"
Corryn.
The brunette blinked. E-excuse me, sir?
My companionorgirlfriend if you
prefer.
She glanced at the man. According to all the rumors, he didnt much
want a relationship with anyone Im flattered, sir, but may I ask why?
Well thank you There was a moments pause, as if she was
thinking. Youve decided you need a
successor.
The successor is going to be a
Callahan. Not one of my own.
You hope, she said. If things go according to plan. Its in case they dont.
Ill go in and grab the brat
myself. The successor will be a
Callahan.
Im not going to refuse you, if
thats what youre tiptoeing around.
And that was true, Corryn thought to herself. He was nothing if not attractive.
I wasnt worried about you
refusing me. He replied flatly.
Well youre a confident man.
Well I couldnt have stayed in
the position I am if I wasnt. He looked her up and down. The agent who had selected her would be
rewarded, this woman was very attractive and seemed smart enough to be a
suitable mother.
Ill do what you want, on only
one little condition
He raised an eyebrow. Which is?
I want you to at least pretend
you care about me. Just the first time
we attempt. After that I dont care.
Well you dont seem like a woman
who would sleep with a man if he didnt care about you. And if thats it, fine.
Then we have an arrangement.
If thats what youd like to call
it. He moved to stand right in front of her.
Well thats what it is, isnt
it? She asked quietly.
Maybe. Who knows with these kinds of things, right?
Im not exactly the companys Casanova or anything.
She stopped suddenly and looked up
at him. Youre She trailed off, almost afraid hed react
violently if she finished. She suddenly
found herself with a hand on his shoulder.
Youre attractive enough to be, she covered.
Its just unusual for a man your
age to be a She trailed off again, still not saying the word for fear of how
hed respond.
Forming that kind of attachment
with a woman was never my top priority.
No Id imagine not, she
agreed. The hand found its way from his
shoulder to rest in his hair.
Not that I mean this is just
another assignment or anything.
But it was, she thought to
herself. But it would not do to say
so. She hesitated for what seemed a long
moment, then gently kissed his cheek.
She kissed back softly, hoping he
wouldnt be alarmed at her forwardness.
After a minute,
Thatd be nice, she said
quietly, encouraged that he hadnt let go of her yet.
What do you want?
Anythings fine.
Well Im not much in the mood for
food at the moment, but we can get something if youre hungry.
Im not all that hungry either,
she admitted. She had almost said she
knew what he was in the mood *for,* but imagined that would make him
uncomfortable.
Well Im sure we could find
something else to do. He paused. We
dont have to do this tonight, there really isnt much of a time limit as long
as I have a son before I die.
So I guess it depends on how soon
you plan on dying.
I dont really plan on dying,
Iumm He flustered, not really sure how to respond.
I know. And I well this is going to sound Ive
never slept with a virgin, she blurted out.
Well theres a first time for
everything, isnt there? He moved away
and sat down on the couch.
She winced and went to sit next to
him. I didnt mean that how it sounded
I just I almost dont want to do it tonight because I dont want you to
regret anything. Though I suppose Im
just an assignment right? Sire a son and
what more has to happen?
Im not one for regrets, and I
dont consider people to be assignments, for your information.
I know I just relationships are
complicated and whether you want one or not, if you have a child, youll have
some sort of relationship with me. Even
if its only physical.
Complications are the things that
youll kill me for. He muttered darkly.
You think Im going to kill
you? She blinked.
Well wont you?
No I youre going to father my
kid, Im not going to kill you. Not to
mention that minor detail that youre my boss.
Well that wont matter much once
you have the kid.
Look clearly you had some home
life abnormalities?... but Im not going to kill you. I swear.
If you want you can even have me searched before I walk into a room with
you.
I dont want to have you
searchedand until now I never really thought of my childhood home as
abnormal.
Well we grew up
differently. It was me and my siblings
and my parents, and we all lived together and no one hated anyone, dated the
enemy, or killed each other.
Yeah well my family was pretty
much the opposite. Exactly the opposite,
actually.
Well maybe maybe this is an
opportunity for you. To have a little
semblance of a personal life.
Dylan looked at her. I guess so.
She paused a moment, realizing how
close they were sitting. Perhaps
something semi-familiar would soothe whatever was going on in his head. She kissed him softly again.
Dylans thoughts about his family
flew out of his head when she kissed him.
He didnt know what was going on, what she was doing to him that made
him forget everything else. He pulled
her into his lap and kissed her back a bit more eagerly.
Corryn was a bit surprised, but
grateful. Shed never been much for
taking the initiative as far as this sort of thing was concerned though she
supposed he was an exception.
Dylan stopped and looked at
her. Imnot quite sure what we should
do next.
I guess we just let things go
where they do
Welldo wejust wanna hop right
to it or like have some actual conversation and dinner first?
I think conversation and dinner
might be wise.
Any restaurant you particularly
care for?
No you decide.
Alright, go change and be back in
like ten minutes.
As Im a girl and all, can you
spare half an hour?
Dylan paused, remembering how long
it had taken his sisters in the bathroom getting ready for school. Righta half hour.
Thank you. She kissed his cheek, then got up off his
lap. Ill be back.
Dont take too long. Dylan got
up and opened the door for her.
She returned after a while in a
short (though decent) red dress and matching shoes, her rather long wavy hair
left down. Ready?
You look nice. He said, offering
her his arm.
Thank you. She smiled at him a bit.
Dylan had changed his shirt and
put on his jacket as well. How do you
feel about Italian?
I think that sounds like a good
idea, she replied. And you look nice
yourself.
Well I try. He said, leading her
through the lobby of the building and out to the waiting limo.
Were being stared at, she told
him, and it was true. A group of female
agents in the lobby had been watching them since theyd first appeared.
Well if they say anything, I do
have the power toget rid of them.
Youre a powerful man.
Thats me. He opened the door of
the limo for her and helped her inside before getting in himself.
She stayed close by his side.
Dylan put an arm around her. Sotell me about yourself.
Whats there to know? Youve read my file
Files dont always provide every
bit of information and theyre rather impersonal.
Well Im 28, I went to college
and majored in Theater in the States I got involved with the IMF when I went
to
What happened in
Well, I was in this little
village by
Well it seems fate was on my side
in
Corryn blushed. Thank you.
Dylan pulled her closer.
As if entranced, she leaned in to
kiss him again.
Dylan ended the kiss quickly. We wouldnt want to get too carried away.
Right. She forced herself to sit straight
again. Sorry.
Dont be. Im just not interested in giving the agents
in the front seat a show.
She laughed softly. No, that wouldnt be good at all.
Besides, I dont want to share
you with anyone else.
Charming and possessive all in
one smooth motion.
Two of my best qualities. He
replied, kissing her softly.
I do believe you may just be
right. She smiled.
The limo came to a stop in front
of a small Italian restaurant and the two of them got out.
After dinner, they found
themselves in Dylans quarters. Dinner
was really nice. Thank you, Corryn told
him. They were seated on the sofa.
Youre welcome. He replied,
handing her a glass of red wine.
You live all high-class Ill
admit, its a little intimidating.
Why?
Im just not used to it.
Well you should get used to
it. You get to live all high-class too,
now.
I guess I do. She sipped at the wine.
Would you like a tour? He asked,
getting up and setting his glass down.
I think thatd be nice.
Dylan showed her around the small
apartment type space and finally led her to the bedroom. And this concludes the tour.
Corryn was suddenly aware of why
shed been invited here in the first place.
Its a lovely place.
Are you uncomfortable or
something, because youre kind of giving me a look.
No just aware of why youre
being so nice.
Im being nice because I actually
like you. Not because I want to sleep
with you.
She smiled, encouraged by that
and then she stepped toward him and kissed him softly.
Dylan put his hands on her waist
and pulled her towards him.
She realized after a moment that
her hands were in his hair and also that she didnt remember putting them
there.
He backed up and sat on the bed,
pulling her down with him.
She seemed to answer it for him by
sliding his jacket off him. Her shoes
were still in the other room but then she paused. We dont have to if youre not
comfortable
If I wasnt comfortable, I
wouldnt have brought you here. He told
her.
She stopped, remembering. You just
How to put it and not offend him?
Arent quite sure what you should be doing next?
Yeahits not like Ive got
backlogs to know this from. He said, taking off his shirt.
She simply gazed at him. I think well figure it out.