Page 33 of Sly Like a Fox
“Anklor typically makes his welcome speech around eight thirty, followed by the silent auction presentation.”Jenna emerges from the bathroom wearing a silk robe, her makeup flawless and her hair swept into an elegant updo that showcases the diamond earrings I bought for tonight.“If we’re lucky, he’ll invite us to the after-party at his penthouse.”
The after-party represents our best opportunity to plant the final surveillance devices and access his private study.It’s also the most dangerous part of the evening, when we’ll be in his personal territory with limited backup options.The thought of Jenna in that environment makes my jaw clench involuntarily.
“Remember, if anything feels wrong—”
“We abort and extract immediately.”She moves to the closet and retrieves her gown with practiced grace.“Fenton, we’ve been over this a hundred times.I know the protocols.”
She removes the dress from its protective covering, handling the expensive fabric with newfound confidence.The transformation from small-time corporate fraud specialist to sophisticated socialite has been remarkable, but the deeper changes affect me most.I haven’t missed how she’s embraced this mission as something meaningful rather than just profitable, and she clearly trusts me completely.
“Would you help me with the zipper?”She removes the robe, leaving her in a silk slip and other lingerie beneath it that I try very hard not to imagine as my pants suddenly feel too tight.
She steps into the gown and holds it in place while I move behind her, reminding my cock to stand down.The dress fits perfectly, highlighting her curves while maintaining the elegant sophistication required for tonight’s performance.When I reach for the zipper, my fingers brush against her bare skin, and I have to force myself to focus on the mechanical task rather than the heat of her body.
My hands shake slightly as I work the zipper upward, and I hope she doesn’t notice.The combination of operational stress and physical desire creates pressure that’s almost unbearable.“There.”My voice comes out husky.“You look incredible.”
She turns to face me, and I forget how to breathe for an instant.The gown transforms her into someone who could grace magazine covers or movie premieres, but the confidence in her expression makes her truly stunning.This woman has become my partner in every sense, and tonight, she’s walking into danger to help me achieve justice for my family.
“We make a good team,” she says, adjusting my bow tie with precision.Her fingers are steady and sure, unlike mine.“In every way that matters.”
The comment carries layers of meaning that we haven’t fully explored.Partners in crime, not yet lovers in reality, and something deeper we haven’t named.Standing here in formal wear, preparing to infiltrate the inner circle of a dangerous criminal, the unspoken words hang between us like a promise.
“Jenna...”
“I know.Tonight first.Everything else after.”She rises on her toes to kiss me softly, so as not to disturb her lipstick.“I want you to know that whatever happens tonight, these have been the best weeks of my life.”
The vulnerability in her admission makes something tighten in my chest.For someone who’s spent years guarding her emotions and trusting no one, the confession represents a leap of faith that humbles me.
“Mine, too.”The words feel inadequate for everything I want to say, but they’re all I can manage without breaking down entirely.
We finish our preparations in comfortable silence, each lost in our own thoughts about what the evening might bring.I secure the backup communication device in my jacket pocket while Jenna tests the range on her jewelry-concealed recording equipment.
The drive to the hotel takes twenty minutes through downtown traffic.Jenna reviews intelligence files on her tablet while I navigate, both of us slipping into the focused mind-set required for this high-stakes operation.Beneath the professional preparation, I’m acutely aware of her presence, trying not to obsess about the subtle scent of her perfume, the way she unconsciously touches her earring when she’s concentrating, and the quiet confidence that’s replaced her earlier desperation.
She’s become someone I can’t imagine living without, and I’m asking her to risk everything for my quest for justice.Guilt stabs me, but I push it back.She’s here because she wants to be.My job is to make sure she’s safe while we get the goods on Anklor.
“Final check,” I say as we enter the hotel’s valet area, more to calm my own nerves than hers.“Phone on vibrate, emergency extraction code isheadache, and if we get separated—”
“Rendezvous at the service elevator on the third floor.”She squeezes my hand, her touch warm and reassuring.“Stop worrying.We’ve got this.”Her confidence should be comforting, but instead, it makes me more aware of how much I stand to lose if anything goes wrong tonight.
The hotel’s grand ballroom has been transformed into an elegant fundraising venue with auction displays, cocktail stations, and a stage decorated with literacy-themed artwork.The guest list represents the city’s most powerful and corrupt elite, gathering where Anklor would feel comfortable conducting business.
We work the room together with practiced ease, Jenna charming potential contacts while I gather intelligence and identify security vulnerabilities.Her performance is flawless.She’s interested but not eager, sophisticated but not pretentious, and just the kind of woman who naturally attracts attention from powerful men.
Watching her in action, I’m struck by how naturally she’s adapted to this world.The fox shifter instincts that served her in small-time cons translate perfectly to high-society manipulation.She reads people effortlessly, adapts her approach to each conversation, and extracts useful information without seeming intrusive.
“Mr.Nielsen, isn’t it?”Judge Patricia Vance approaches with a martini and a rapacious smile.Or maybe I’m just projecting that.I recognize her from surveillance photos, but seeing her in person reveals details that pictures missed, such as the expensive jewelry impossible to buy on a judge’s salary, the calculating intelligence behind her socialite facade, and how she moves through the crowd like a shark sensing blood.
“Judge Vance, it’s wonderful to meet you.Of course I recognize you.”I shake her hand while cataloging every detail for later analysis.“Have you met my fiancée, Jenna Johnson?”
The judge’s smile gets tighter, as though she doesn’t like younger, prettier women in her orbit.“Ms.Johnson, of course.I’ve heard lovely things about your event-planning work.”The judge’s tone carries the subtle condescension that wealthy women often use with those they perceive as socially inferior, so maybe it’s more about Jenna’s supposed status than her attractiveness.
“Thank you, Judge Vance.I’m passionate about supporting literacy programs.”Jenna’s response is perfectly calibrated.
The conversation continues for several minutes, with Judge Vance inadvertently revealing information about upcoming court cases that could benefit Anklor’s interests as Jenna manipulates her.She leans forward with wide, admiring eyes.“I have to ask, how did you ever manage law school?I mean, you must be incredibly brilliant.I always dreamed of being a lawyer, but I’m probably not smart enough.”
Judge Vance’s chest puffs up visibly.“Oh, my dear, it’s really about dedication more than raw intelligence, though I did graduate summa cum laude from Yale.”
“Yale?See, that’s exactly what I mean.You must handle such complex cases.”Jenna shakes her head in apparent awe.“I can barely understand what I read in the newspaper about court proceedings.”
