I’d been an agent with the Secret Intelligence Service for years, but I only just met you a few months ago when we were partnered for a mission. Ever since, we’d been together for nearly every other.

We weren’t anything exclusive, but the attraction and tension between us was clear.

You were fairly new. With only a few months of training, you were already a very skilled member of the CIA. Even in such a dangerous field, you had a certain elegance and sophistication: confident, with a pronounced graceful agility, even in the most deadly scenarios. I couldn’t help but admire it.

Tonight, we were paired up to attend a banquet hosted by the richest men in London. Guests would crowd from all over the world— businessmen, government officials, even other agents like ourselves, among many others. Our goal was to infiltrate the party and identify the plotting double agent, knowing that, whoever he was, he was dangerous.

It would be difficult, but I knew that together we were more than capable.

I was already running late when I felt my phone vibrating, quickly turning it off when I saw your name flashing on the screen. Knowing my cab was only a few minutes away, I ignored it. I knew you’d be frustrated with me, but I couldn’t help the traffic.

Minutes later, I jumped out of the cab and raced up the marble steps that led into the extravagant venue, where lively and dramatic music poured out. I put on a charming smile as I approached you in the entryway, leaning against a tall marble pillar. You wore a sleek black gown with a particularly low neckline, showing off a string of diamonds around your neck, your bold red lips turned into a small frown.

“You’re late.” You huffed, standing up off of the pillar with your arms crossed over your chest. You were so endearing, but you could easily get just as fiery and feisty.

I chuckled, a smirk growing on my lips. I knew you, of all people, could never stay mad at me for long. Adjusting my cufflinks, I responded calmly, my tone smug and teasing.

“Am I?” I hummed shortly.