Truly & Only

She smiled at him and lead him away from the crowd. “I know but I still thought maybe you wouldn’t.” She said, reaching for his hand. “Follow me, I’ll show you around.” She smiled. “My boss is over here, and there’s been a bit of gossip going around. Turns out we’re connected to the mafia,” She snorted. “My boss owes the leader some paintings or something, a coworker saw a few guys around here recently.”

He arrived on the tarmac and got out, pulling his suitcase out of the trunk and sending it into the plane. He waited outside, hoping that she would get there soon.

When the car stopped she climbed out with her small carry on full of clothes then jogged over to him, "I'm here. .. I made it.. less than," she looked at her wrist, "Thirty five minutes, " she said to him as she let out a deep breath.

He looked at her with concerned eyes, this wasn't something he wanted for her - shit the last thing he wanted was her connected to the hell hole of a job he had. "Whoa.. thats intense," he said to her.

She laughed a little. "Doesn't surprise me, he's always been a little shady," She admitted, leading him over to the other side of the gallery. "I just wonder how much trouble he's in, and if it'll affect my job," She sighed. "How are you by the way, I saw you had to meet with a few people before, everything okay?" She asked, taking his hand and squeezing it gently.

---

He nodded and turned, leading her into the plane. "Not to worry, now we can taxi out. This meeting will be held upon arrival, so I expect we'll need to sleep on the plane. I will also need to inform you, debrief you if you will, so we should get to it."

She nodded as she followed him onto the plane, "Of course, just assume everything you even think about this meeting is important," she said to him, "I need to know exactly what I'm dealing with and what kind of notes I need to take," being detailed was part of her job - she didn't get high rank in her class for no reason.

He smiled, "Im sure your job is fine," he said to her, "and I'm fine - yeah everything is fine - just business," he said with a small smile, "They look intimidating and well... " he laughed a little, "I was going to say they were but... they are," he admitted.

"You seem like you can handle yourself fine," She smiled, looking over her shoulder and then turning back to him. "That right over there is Jamie, the one who set me up with George," She laughed a little. "George is the one in the blue jacket. He's still kind of upset with me, especially since he saw me leaving with another man," She snorted a little.

---

He nodded. "Of course, I'll explain everything. Lunch and dinner can be served as we work, so we'll best get to it." He said as he sa down. "First things, what was cancelled on my schedule today, and can phone conferences suffice? Also, I can get started by telling you who will be present and what to look out for. I want notes on what is said, as well as behavior of those speaking. I need you to be impeccably observant, no mistakes."

She nodded a little, "Your meeting with Fredrick Harland and his wife was canceled. I called them on my way here told them we could reschedule once we return." she said to him ,"and thats it,"

He nodded a little and smiled, "Oops," he said to her, "He should stop wearing clothes similar to mine,"

She smiled a little. "Yeah well, I'm not too upset about the mix up." She admitted. "Do you want to look at the art? If not, we could disappear, go somewhere? I don't think I'll be missed."

---

He nodded. "Good, then lets begin. I want you to pull up the list of shareholders and circle the following names." He said, naming several names off of the list. "These are the people who I need you to be most focused on. These are members of my family, though distant, and I'll explain in a moment why."

She nodded a little as she circled the names on her lips then looked at him, "Alright, I'll watch them then," she said to him, "Is there anything specific I'm listening for?" she asked as she looked at the list.

He smiled, "We could go get ice cream?" he said to her lightly, "I dont mind art exhibits but it's not exactly what I'd call fun," he said to her teasinyl.

She laughed, shaking her head. "Fair enough. Come with me to my office, let me get my bag and we can get out of here. There's an exit in the back, so I don't have to pass by my boss again." She explained, walking through the people.

---

He nodded. "They want the company, very dramatic, I know. I understand they are attempting to stir waters at an upcoming shareholders meeting, and I need proof they will before I can act. Now, I can't be everywhere at once, but you can. And I need you to overhear anything you possibly can and report it to me. Office politics are messy, but unfortunately necessary sometimes."

She nodded a little, "Of course," she said to him lightly as she took down a few notes, "I'll do my absolute best," she said to him seriously she sat back in her seat a little then wet her lips as she began to scribble down notes reminders for herself, and just obvious statements but things she might forget.

He smiled a little as he looked at her, "Sounds like a plan, there is this great icecream shop down the street,"

She smiled a little, heading back by her office and grabbing her bag, pulling her keys out to lock the door behind her. She reached again for his hand, walking out of the back of the building. "You know, I don't know what it is, but I like you. You're nice to be around." She said, smiling as they walked.

---

He nodded a little. "The shareholders meeting is to rediscuss who owns what and who might want to sell what and sell to who. We consider freeing up shares for others, and you can see how delicate this is, with shares being moved around ownership of the company can change hands in a matter of moments."

She nodded as she listened to him then crossed her legs, "Makes sense," she said to him, "So you want me to spy for you?" she asked with a small smile as she looked up from her journal.

He smiled a little as he followed her, "I feel the same, maybe we were meant to meet," he said as he held her hand n his own.

He smiled a little. "If you are up for the job." He nodded, chuckling a little. "Consider it a new part of your job description," He added. "Also, did you find a dress for the gala?"

---

"Yeah, maybe." She smiled a little as they walked, looking around. "Crazy though, how stuff works out, I guess." She murmured. "Interesting to see how the stuff with the mafia works out," She added. "Kinda scary really, but I guess its what it is."

"I did, last night I went and picked it up after I got off work," she said to him then pulled out her phone, "I hope this is okay," she said showing him a picture of it, "The lady seemed adamant that this was perfect,"

He nodded a little, making note to ask about what the fck they were after when he got back ,"I'm sure it'll be fine, just keep your nose out of it... thats some nasty stuff... dont want to get caught up in it," he told her lightly.

She sighed. "If any paintings or money has to come through, I have to be involved," She said. "I'm assistant curator, I have to sign off or catalog anything that comes or goes..." She murmured. "I just hope it's just gossip really."

---

He nodded. "As long as it's formal, what it looks like doesn't matter, provided it's not crazy." He smiled a little. "Do you have any questions about the meeting?"

She shook her head,"Nope, I should be good to go," she said to him smiling a little as she set her notebook down then slouched a little as she yawned. She hadn't even gotten to have coffee yet, her body was slowly crashing from the adrenaline that had been pumping through her.

He sighed, "Well just do that and move on, don't settle on it too long - try not to be too involved,"

He nodded a little. "You're new but you seem to be adjusting well, I didn't expect you to," He admitted. "Most don't."

---

She nodded a little. "I won't." She murmured. "Come on, we can go get some ice cream. Anywhere you want to go or do?"

She shrugged, "I worked as barista while I was in college - you have to learn quickly, fast paced no second glancing - do it right the first time," she said to him smiling, "I like to think that prepared me,"

He smiled a little as he looked at her, "The place down the street is nice, their ice cream is very smooth - then we can just walk around,"

She smiled a little. "Great, I could use something sweet," She said as they walked. His phone rang and she smiled a little, letting go of his hand for a second so he could answer it.

---

"And being a barista prepared you for this job? What made you take it? No doubt you've heard the horror stories." He asked curiously.

She shrugged, "I'm going to be honest, Im fresh out of college with sixty thousand dollars in debt, my car is broke down and I have about two grand to get me into next month and my rent is due on the 1st... its 1200," she sighed a little, "It's not an option, it's the only choice I've got - it has to work," she told him lightly. "I'm highly motivated as you can tell, I've got everything to lose,"

He nodded a little and smiled then looked at his phone sighing a little, he brought it to his ear, "yeah?" he said into the phone the wet his lips he closed his eyes as his blood pressure began to rise - damn them for calling him then yelling the second he answered. "is that all you fucking called for? To yell at me over some stupid bullshit you should have fixed yourself weeks ago?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, "I'm not your fucking mother fix it yourself,"