Chapter 3A
ROXY
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
This moment was the peak of a month's worth of planning and effort.
She gazed at the gun on her bed, thinking, "Do I really need this?" Roxy opted for caution and packed her gun in her bag, alongside her work phone.
Canadian intelligence offered very little, but it was enough for her to understand 'Prodigy' thoroughly.
As Malcolm Colbert predicted, this woman was a blind spot, and Roxy was determined to shine a light on 'Prodigy.
' She accepted she would proceed without a plan and improvise.
Strangely enough, that suited her just fine.
After all, Roxy Powell had never, ever failed to complete a mission.
Something wasn't right and she could already feel it. There was something strange about Roxy's behaviour tonight. She wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the place more than she ever had before.
She was wearing her favourite burgundy suit and a white shirt showing just enough cleavage. Her make-up highlighted the most beautiful features of her face: her eyes and her lips. She was hoping that Ellen Caldwell—um, 'Prodigy'—would notice it.
What was wrong with her?
Even though her regular assignments were much more dangerous, she had never been so jumpy before. Under normal circumstances, Roxy would see this as a serious red flag, forcing her to implement a contingency plan or even abort the approach.
Roxy stubbornly refused to even consider this option: meeting 'Prodigy' tonight was the only plan, and it was non-negotiable.
As soon as Roxy found out 'Prodigy' was expected at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Happy hour event, she pulled every string she had to get an invitation. Even though there was no guarantee she would be there, she had to attend.
According to her latest intel, 'Prodigy' arrived yesterday afternoon on the Caldwell family's private jet. Her disorientation and jet lag might make her slightly more open to interaction.
On paper, Roxanne Powell was an industrial security consultant working for Macquarie Security Services, a firm offering services to protect companies against vulnerabilities in their corporate infrastructure, particularly in the context of mergers and acquisitions. It was almost too perfect. Too neat.
'Prodigy' didn't have to like Roxy—she just had to see the value in keeping her close.
She had to build a business relationship.
Nothing more, nothing less. AtMedias needed her and MSS.
And most importantly: not too fast, not too familiar.
Until… well, sometimes the line got fuzzy, and you didn't notice until it was already behind you.
Roxy was about to leave when her personal phone buzzed on the counter. It was Charles. She hesitated to answer for a moment, but in the end, guilt took over her.
"Hey Charles," she answered.
"Hey sweetheart, all good? Made it to your thing yet?"
"Not yet. I'm leaving in a minute." She grabbed the secure phone, the work one _the one she didn't want to hear _and slipped it into the inner pocket of her bag, making sure it was well tucked away. "Are you doing okay?"
"Still stuck at the office for an hour or two. It's been some day. I was going to grab Thai on my way back if you want some."
"Sounds good, Charles. But don't wait for me. I might be late."
"Are there any big clients?"
"Something like that. Could be a big win for my firm."
It was not a lie, but it was still feeling wrong in Roxy's mouth. She stopped keeping count of her lies to him a long time ago.
"Alright, darling. Be safe. Ring me if you want me to come and get you."
"I will."
"Love you."
Roxy stopped, just for a moment, as if something was stuck. It wasn't because of doubt, guilt, or anyone else. It was just friction, maybe?
She loved Charles—it was the best relationship she'd ever had, but there was always that little voice inside Roxy telling her that it might not be enough. However, she seemed stuck in a role she'd outgrown, unable to let go.
And again, she realized she was spiralling. Always at the wrong time.
"Love you too," she finally said.
He hung up. Roxy gazed at the phone a bit longer, then locked it and put it down.
She grabbed her keys, made sure her MI6 phone was safe in her jacket, and went out into the Sydney night. It was just another work night, but it felt so different.