Page 10 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
“Hi, I’m Isabelle Brahn, your new agent.”
“Michelle,” he screeches, making me jump in fright. “I thought I ordered a blonde?”
My bewildered eyes bounce between Alex and a middle-aged lady who has just joined our group. Apprehensively, I pull my hand away since my gesture of a handshake wasn’t acknowledged. Michelle is also pretty, mid-forties, and has sandy blonde hair cut to sit just above her shoulders. She’s wearing a pleated black pencil skirt and a pastel pink blouse.
“Does she look brunette to you?”
When Alex’s blue eyes snap to mine, I square my shoulders, remembering what my Uncle Tobias would always quote, “Don’t let them scare you. Never show your fear.”
“Umm, yes, she does appear to be a brunette.”
“In the past two months, have you ever seen him with a brunette?” Alex seeks Michelle’s gaze, which has darted down to the floor.
“What does my hair color have to do with my placement?”
Alex’s slitted gaze rockets to mine. “Isaac Holt fucks blondes, and you’re a brunette.”
“Excuse me,” I hiss, my tone harsh.
Although I have unequivocal knowledge what he’s saying is untrue, irritation outweighs my desire to dispute his allegation.
“I wasn’t brought here to sleep with Isaac Holt. I was brought here to help with your investigation.”
“You were brought here as eye candy,” Alex interjects rudely.
The room no longer bustles with activity. Instead, they keenly watch the altercation between Alex and me. I’m so astonished at his disrespect, I can’t form any words to express my outrage. I didn’t train at the academy for months to become a piece of eye candy. I trained to become an agent, a good agent, just like my Uncle Tobias.
“We could bleach her hair,” suggests Brandon.
“Not happening,” I disrupt sternly.
When I cross my arms in front of my chest, Brandon and Alex’s eyes dart down to my breasts. A snarl forms on my top lip. Alex’s scowl remains stagnant as he once again appraises my body. This time, when his eyes lift, I don’t miss the flicker of lust he fails to conceal with his gaze.
“Once you’re in a dress and a pair of stilettos, Isaac won’t care you’re a brunette,” he utters, snarling.
“Once you have a personality transplant and a plastic groin inserted, nobody will care you’re a Ken doll.”
When chuckles erupt around the room, it dawns on me that I said my last statement louder than I’d initially planned.
Alex’s lowered gaze darts around the space, forcing the diminutive office to once again bustle with activity. Once everyone’s focus is no longer on us, Alex walks over to me. He’s a few inches taller than my five-foot-seven-inch height and looks down on me since my boots have no heels.
“I know who your uncle was. I know his reputation, but you need to learn your place. You were only brought here as a distraction for Isaac. He never lets anyone in, and you’re supposed to be our way in.”
I swallow harshly but maintain a strong stance, not once backing down or showing my fear. I plan to make my Uncle Tobias proud, but I can’t do that and lose my morals at the same time.
“I’m an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I’m not a prostitute.”
CHAPTER6
One month later…
“Stupid, arrogant, pompous prick. He probably already has a plastic groin, and that’s why he’s always so cranky. You can’t have sex if you don’t have a dick.”
The gentleman at the front of the line pivots around to eye me curiously.I really need to learn to mumble more quietly.I smile at him before returning my eyes to scrutinize the menu boards above his head. I’m once again doing the team’s early morning coffee run. It’s been the primary focus of my position the past month—that and filing.
The instant I refused to put on a skimpy dress and sashay myself in front of Isaac, Alex put me on desk duty. I spend my days twiddling my thumbs, filing useless reports, and doing coffee runs. Who would have thought months of grueling training would land me a job as a glorified coffee girl?
I place my order with the coffee barista before collecting the mountain load of sugar packets the agents requested.
