"Mind some company?" A voice asked from behind her.
"Thank you." He smiled and did so.
"And what is your name sir?" She asked, looking over the man. He was
indeed very attractive. Obviously American by his accent.
"
"
"Yes, I am."
"It is nice to meet you." She smiles. "Is this your first time
in
"No, I've been here before. It's always beautiful."
"Oui. Toujours belle." She smiles a little. "Are you here on
business?"
"Yes. I work with a computer company. They haven't told me how long I
should plan to be here, but it's going to be a while."
"Ah. Computers. I find them to be very much difficult." She laughed.
"Sometimes they are," he agreed, smiling. "I guess I'm used to
them."
"We might run into each other yet." He smiled. "A bientot."
"
~*~
"We found her, Boss,"
"So they know we may be in
"According to her assignment, she's looking for me. But they have no
information on me."
"Which one is it? Which agent?"
"
"The one Callahan's been fucking right?"
"Yes."
"Hmm...interesting."
"I've introduced myself. Not as
"What's your name to her?”
"
"Interesting. You can go for now, keep me posted, send
"Tell me what you know about Calliope Johnson. Please." He added.
"She operates pretty much the same way I did."
"Meaning?"
"She gets around. She likes men. I don't think she's ever attached herself
to one."
"She's here." He said. "In
"Huh."
"Looking for
"They don't know enough, they won't find him."
"How serious are she and Callahan?"
"I don't really know. I know they screw. More serious than I've been with
anyone save you."
"Interesting." He said.
"What's going on?"
"Trying to figure out how to use this to my advantage."
"Don't hurt her? She's the closest I've ever had to an actual
friend."
"I won't."
"Thank you."
"But I can't just let her go free..."
"Ideas?"
"Not really. I was just trying to think of a way to make her want to be
here, but I don't see that happening."
"I want to use her to hurt
She nodded. "
"So he won’t feel a thing if we take
"I wouldn't say that. I'd say he cares as much for her as he ever has
anyone. He'd feel the loss of the agent and that would leave his unit down to
three. And I do think he'd miss her. He'd
keep going, is all."
"
"Okay."
"How did
"Pardon?"
"
"Oh. That's how I worked when I was off-duty. Mooch off the nearest rich
guy, put out and keep him happy until it was time to go. He was posing as the
nearest rich guy."
"Could he get
"Maybe..."
"You seem hesitant."
"I don't know. I don't know what exactly she looks for. And I know she'd
find out eventually."
"But maybe she could join us."
"She might. She joined the IMF to keep out of jail."
"I think Callahan underestimates her."
"He does."
"I wouldn't."
"Don't sell to me, sell to her."
"Could we make her fall for
"You could certainly try."
"Then that's what I'll try."
Cassidy got up to kiss his cheek but tripped and landed in his lap. "Well,
for an accident that turned out well for me."
"I think you did it on purpose."
"Could be."
"I think so."
She smiled. "Complaining?"
"Not at all." He kissed her softly.
She kissed back.
~*~*~
Someone picked up her purse and handed it to her as she stood.
"Don't forget this."
"Nice to see you." He smiled.
"What brings you over here?" She asks.
"Just enjoying some time off."
"Tres bien." She smiled. "Care to take me to
dinner?"
"I was just about to ask you if I could."
"Mais oui." She laughed. "The question is, do you
remember my name?"
"Of course,
"I'm impressed." She laughed. "Most don't.
Come. We will eat."
He offered his arm.
She took it with a smile. "So how was your day?"
"Good. Productive. Yours?"
"Bien. I worked. Just got off. It was enjoyable."
"Good. Your day should be enjoyable."
"It many times is not."
"That's a shame."
"Well tonight is one of the few nights I *can* eat."
"I can't imagine doing that."
"You cannot imagine eating?"
"Not eating."
"Well it's integral to my job in a way."
"What do you do?"
"I am a model." She laughed. "I was at a shoot just
now..."
"You look like one, but I didn't want to assume."
"Should I choose where we eat?"
"You should."
She decided to lead him down the street a ways to a small place near the
Louvre. "Do you like art?"
"Quite a bit, actually. It's part of why I love
"Moi aussi." She smiled at him. "Tell me about
you."
"About me. Well, I'm from
Which made him rich. Very nice..."And where is your favorite place
to visit?"
"Well, I've always been partial to
"Ever been to
"Once or twice, but never for an extended trip where I get to
explore."
"It's beautiful."
"I'll have to try to get there."
"I think it is one of my favorite places. Ma mere was Russian."
"It must feel a little bit like home, then."
"In a way, yes."
"I was born in
"Why were they in
"My father was on business, he brought my mother with him."
"Have you been there since?"
"Yes. It's lovely."
"I agree. Do you speak Spanish?"
"Yes. Fairly well, I'd like to think."
"I speak a little bit. I've done some shoots there...very
nice. The beaches in
"They are," he agreed.
"The worst beaches are the ones in
"I have to say I've never understood that."
"It ruins your tan line. But it is fine because I just got offered a
job down in
"Sounds like fun."
"I leave tomorrow..."
"That's... not so much fun for me."
"And why not?"
"Because I was hoping to spend a little bit more time with you, if you
didn't object."
"I do not. But maybe you can convince them to let you come down for
two days."
"I bet I could."
She smiled.
He smiled.
She scribbled down her room number at the hotel.
"I'll be by," he promised.
"Good."
~*~
"So she's going to
"
"I think one of you is leading the other around by the nose, but I haven't
decided who's leading who yet."
"What?"
"Them. I think either he's doing exactly what you hoped or she's
playing him like a fiddle."
"Do you think she knows?"
"No."
"Then I think it's him doing exactly what I hoped."
"Well then congrats."
"Soon you may have a friend here,
She nodded. "That'll be nice, if it works."
"It will work. Right