Meetings

"Hey Boss, your company's here," James Walker called.

"Send her in."

Grace Kincaide entered the room.

"Have a seat."

Grace sat. "What do you want?"

"I want you to work for me."

"Why?"

"Because I've been watching you."

"Am I supposed to feel better now that I know that?"

"Yes."

"Why have you been watching me? And what exactly does this 'work' consist of?"

"I have been watching you because I knew the reputation of your parents." He answered, ignoring the second question.

"For the IMF. They worked for the IMF."

"I know that. And you'll work for me. See, your parents’ only downfall was that they were on the wrong side."

"I asked another question."

"You'll collect information for me."

"You want a spy?"

"Basically."

"Alright, then."

"I'm not going to lie to you though, I find you attractive."

"Oh really?" Grace smiled.

"Yes. And so I hope you wouldn't find it presumptuous of me to ask you to have dinner with me tonight."

"I'd like that."

"Good."

~*~*~

"Fancy meeting you here," Cass greeted Cal. "Same unit."

"HELL YEAH!" Cal yelled, a smile on her face.

"I expect you to conduct yourself with more restraint from now on." Came a cold voice in the doorway.

"We've also got Krit Lee, who's intel -" Cassidy cut herself off and turned around to face the big cheese himself, Aidan Callahan.

"Have a seat, ladies." Aidan said, obviously unamused. "The others will be here soon."

Cal sat, but not before noticing that she had quite a few inches in height on this bastard. Too bad he was such an ass, he was actually cute.

"I'm fine on my feet thanks, Chief." Cassidy replied. He might be in charge, and she'd take his orders as far as a mission was concerned, but he was going to have to pull that stick out of his ass around her or her stint in the IMF would be short.

"Have a seat Miss Kincaide. Your coquettish little games won't work on me."

"It's no game, sir. I'm fine on my feet."

"Sit Kincaide."

She stayed as she was.

Krit Lee walked nervously in but then smiled, seeing Cassidy. Someone he knew, that was good. He sent her a small wave.

She would have flashed him a smile but was rather busy with her new boss, so she simply nodded briefly.

"These games aren't funny here, now take a seat, Kincaide. This isn't training, you can't do whatever the hell you want and you can't fuck your way through it."

"I'm not playing and I have no desire to fuck you, sir, but I don't see how whether I'm sitting or not has any bearing on anything at all."

"I told you to sit. That's the end."

"Then you're abusing your power. I'm not here to challenge your authority if it makes any sense at all, sir."

Aidan closed his eyes. This was not going to be fun. Maybe Hannah would get here soon. And the other person...

Hannah arrived as if he'd somehow mentally summoned her, followed by her sister, Scarlett Duvall.

"If everyone would have a seat…" He looked pointedly at Cass, "Then we could get started."

Krit, Hannah, and Scarlett sat, while Cassidy chose to lean against a table.

"My name is Aidan Callahan, I'm your unit leader. This is Hannah Duvall, my second in command. Some of you know each other. That's fine. We have to learn to trust each other implicitly. My orders are law. Got that?"

Scarlett nodded earnestly, Hannah simply nodded. Cassidy gave a curt nod.

Cal tossed her head and Krit gave a sharp salute. "Fine. Now we'll introduce ourselves and say what we're here for. Hannah?"

"I'm Hannah Duvall, I'm on the team because Aidan wanted me to be, and I'm here because this is what I do best."

"I'm Christopher Lee but I prefer to be called Krit. My main specialty is intel."

"Scarlett Duvall, I'm best at disguise and strategy."

"Calliope Johnson, go by Cal...um. I'm here for recon work, and to break into places." She shrugged, slouching in her chair.

"Cassidy Kincaide. Or Cass. Call me Cassi I'll break your face. Deception, sabotage, etcetera."

"Alright. We have to trust each other implicitly...no questions asked. So I want us all to feel comfortable together."

"Some of us are going to be more comfortable than others, of course," Hannah said, glancing toward Krit who was gazing at Cassidy.

"So Callahan, how tall are you?" Cal asked.

Aidan's eyes snapped to her, no amusement in them at all. "You need to work on your attitude. I took you because I had to."

Cal was obviously burned by this and said nothing more.

Cassidy raised an eyebrow.

Krit blushed a little.

Cassidy smiled at him, hoping to reassure.

"Now, I'm hoping some problems that have already surfaced will be worked out."

"Such as?" Cass asked.

"Such as your insubordination, or Lee's lovesickness, or Johnson's complete lack of discipline and skill. You're dismissed."

Krit blushed a deep red and Cal sat, unmoving, not even blinking.

"I think he's compensating for something," Cass muttered to Krit and Cal.

"Kincaide, learn to shut up." Aidan stated and then left the room.

"I'm right," she said, looking at the pair.

"Yeah whatever." Cal whispered.

"I know you are." Krit smiled.

Cass smiled back at him a bit. Something about blondes, she mused as she sat next to Cal.

"He's a fucking dick."

"Common among men of power."

"I hate him."

"I don't care enough to hate him."

"Yeah good for you."

"Cal... don't take it personally. He's an ass and if he's gonna treat his people like that, he's gonna get it back."

"What did I do?"

"You were there."

"I know what I'm doing."

"I know you do. And he'll figure it out too."

"Yeah." Cal stood up and left the room, unhappy.

Cass watched, knowing it would be best to leave her alone right now.

"Think she'll be okay?" Krit asked.

"Yeah, just... have to leave her a minute, and I'll talk to her later."

"You busy?"

"What, right now? No."

"Do you want to talk?"

"Sure." Cass flashed him a smile.

"Where're you staying?"

"I don't know yet, this isn't my usual area."

"Yeah. Do you want to go get something to eat?"

"Yeah. Let's do that." She smiled.

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