Every Agent knows the last thing you do is fall in love with the mission, but what if the mission is determined to sabotage your every move and will do so by any means necessary? Astrid Bloom isn't elated when she learns that she will have a bodyguard watching her night and day but when she discovers that the Agent assigned to her is none other than Scarlet Rose, she is hit with a range of feelings. The biggest one? Revenge.
Chapter 1 The Agent
"Father, I really don't need anyone watching over me!" she let out an exasperated puff of air, the rules had been getting more and more ridiculous as of late but this really was the final straw.
"Astrid darling, please be understanding" her father gave his usual gentle look but his voice was firm, his decision unwavering, "with all that's going on at the moment, I really can't afford for anything to happen to you"
"But-"
"Humour this old man won't you?" he said with a hearty chuckle, ever since he hit 43 and one or two grey hairs appeared he's been referring to himself as such.
"Maybe you will get along with them and have a friend outside of those fantasy books you always read" Astrid shot him an incredulous look, "I have friends!" She shouted, "yes honey, and they're all fictional"
"Arthur!"
"Astrid!"
They both stared eye to eye in a standoff, Astrid was fuming and the glint of mischief in her father's eyes only added fuel to the fire, "you're an impossible man" she grunted out. Chuckling he tucked a ringlet that had fallen out of place behind her ear, "with an impossible daughter who takes after him"
"Arthur" a gruff voice came from the doorway, she knew what that call meant, her father would be away on duty again.
"How long?"
"I'm not sure dear" he paused briefly, she could see that he didn't want to go but he had made an oath to his country, the same oath she would one day have to make. He smiled a big toothy grin that brought wrinkles to his eyes, "Tell you what, I'll make sure to work extra hard and finish in half the time and when I get back, all the time I saved will be spent on us. How does that sound?" Astrid mirrored his toothy grin, "you sir, have a deal" they shook on it and Arthur pulled her in for a bear hug, she took a deep inhale of his scent, once again imprinting it on her mind as she had done countless times when he was called away. "I love you" they both breathed out at the same time, he let out a small chuckle at their synchronicity before pulling away and heading to the door.
"Oh Astrid, your bodyguard will be here within the hour, play nice will you, I went to great lengths to get someone your age and so skilled at what they do" Astrid smiled, "of course father" this worried him more than if she would have protested the idea again.
He stood lingering at the door for a while before the man dressed in all black cleared his throat, Astrid knew her father's temperament well enough to know this action annoyed him to no end, but he kept a professional air and with a final smile closed the door behind him.
Astrid lay on her bed playing through all the possibilities of what the person she'd be stuck with for who knows how long would be like. "It would be so much better if they were fictional" she whispered.
A knock at the door startled Astrid, "come in" she called out. The door opened and a large man came in, "Hi Miss Bloom, I'm Chester" he reached out the shake her hand but seeing her hesitation he pulled back and continued on, "this here" gesturing behind him "is Scarlet Rose, she will be the agent assigned to you until further notice"
Scarlet gave a disinterested nod, Chester cleared his throat and continued on, "I'll take my leave and let you two get acquainted, Scarlet I'll call you later"
Another disinterested nod
Scarlet scanned the room, her eyes trailing everywhere never quite meeting Astrid's. She resembled a well trained robot stood in the corner awaiting orders.
Astrid studied her for some time, something about her seemed familiar but she couldn't pinpoint what until she saw Scarlet's slight sneer at her collection of books. The memories all came flooding back, it was her. The first person to break Astrid's heart was here, stood in her room.
Chapter 1 The Agent
31/12/2024