"What now?" she snapped, her eyes skimming over the stack of papers and documents piled high on her desk. "There are so many to go through, yet not a single one from Mr. Jaxon."
Fiona crossed her arms with an irritated huff, slumping back into her chair. Her posture was anything but proper, and she only half-heartedly pretended to read when the door creaked open.
"Fiona," Christoff said, stepping into the room.
She didn’t bother to look up. "What? Is there anything else I need to do besides this?"
The room fell into an awkward silence, the only sound the faint rustling of paper.
"Just kidding," Fiona finally said, forcing a laugh that sounded as fake as it felt.
Christoff's lips twitched into a smile. "Commander Monbilt says you should stay here until you finish that. And by the way, there's a room upstairs you can use."
Fiona glanced up, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "A room, huh? Maybe I’ll just lock myself in there and hide from all this paperwork."
Christoff chuckled softly, the sound warming the room. "If only it were that easy."
Christoff closed the door behind him. The sound of the latch clicking into place seemed to seal Fiona's fate.
Christoff strode down the dimly lit hallway, his thoughts a tumultuous mix of duty and doubt. When he reached Commander Monbilt's office, he took a deep breath before stepping inside.
"Did you tell her?" Commander Monbilt's voice was calm yet probing.
She leaned casually against her desk, a cup of steaming coffee cradled in her hand. Her eyes, however, were anything but casual, pinning Christoff with their intensity.
Christoff nodded, the weight of the conversation settling heavily on his shoulders. "Yes, I did."
Monbilt took again a slow sip of her coffee, her gaze never wavering from his face.
"Does it really need to be done? She's just new," he ventured, a flicker of uncertainty in his voice.
"Do you trust me, Christoff?" Monbilt's question was sharp, direct, and it sliced through the air between them.
"I have great trust in you, Commander Monbilt," he responded without hesitation.
A small smile played at the corners of her lips. "Good to know. Befriend Fiona and get close to her, but don't let yourself fall for her."
"Why?" Christoff's brow furrowed, confusion mingling with the unease that had been growing within him.
"She entered our territory. I won't let everything be ruined because of her," Monbilt explained, her voice as cold and unwavering as steel.
Christoff nodded in agreement, his trust in Commander Monbilt unshaken. He would follow her orders, he knows that Commander Monbilt won't do anything without any reasons.
"I know you won't make any rash decisions, Commander Monbilt. I will do my best."
Axel bowed deeply, his voice steady with a mix of respect and determination, before turning to leave the commander’s office.
Today was the day Axel would begin his training and skill development at the prestigious Institute for Undercover Agents. It was a dream he had harbored for years, and now it was finally within his grasp.
As he walked briskly down the sleek, dimly lit corridors of the institute, his mind was a flurry of thoughts. As a seasoned operative, Axel knew the value of constantly honing his skills. Today was just another step in his journey to becoming one of the best undercover agents in the agency.
His path was clear until, abruptly, he collided with someone rounding the corner. Papers flew into the air like startled birds, and both Axel and the other person stumbled.
"Watch where you're going!" a voice snapped, irritated yet soft.
Axel quickly bent down to help gather the scattered documents, his eyes widening in surprise when he recognized the woman in front of him.
"Fiona? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in your office handling documents?"
Fiona was been appointed for her meticulous work behind the desk, not in the field.
"Oh, Axel, I didn't realize you were keeping tabs on my schedule," she replied sarcastically, shoving the last of her papers into a folder.
Axel raised an eyebrow, surprised by her tone. "I just thought you preferred the office work. That's all. Commander Monbilt won't like this, documents should be only your responsibility and nothing else."
"Well, maybe I got tired of pushing papers and decided to do something more... exciting," Fiona retorted, standing up and brushing off her skirt. "Is that a problem?"
"Maybe, I don't know. Just unexpected, that's all."
"Look, Axel, everyone thinks I'm just good for office work. But I want to prove that I can do more. That I can be out here, making a difference."
"Fair enough. Just know that this training isn't easy. It takes more than just wanting to be out here."
"I know," Fiona said, her tone more serious now. "That's why I'm here. To prove myself."
As they continued walking towards the training grounds, Axel observed Fiona closely, taking note of every detail and any suspicious move. However, Fiona seemed determined to win everyone's favor and interest, a strategy that Axel suspected was part of a deeper, more personal mission. Fiona wanted to make it easy for her to exact her revenge, and Axel couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her sudden appearance in the field than met the eye.