The Finale, Enjoy. Thanks Andi for editing.
*****
Leslie Matthews waited as her team entered. She knew this was not going to be easy. She did not like Christiana Marcolini. She met Marcolini years ago when she had just entered the agency. She was on the same team, but because of Marcolini, she was placed at a desk. Marcolini made her look like an incompetent imbecile. If she had not been in the midst of an affair with their boss, she would have been transferred out. She never forgot, and now it was time for payback.
"Good morning, my office, now." Leslie barked.
Christy knew that this was bad. She knew Leslie hated her. She had to make sure she stayed above reproach. The team entered and Leslie had a glowing report for each of them. Christy didn't trust her. She watched her team and noticed that Leslie made sure she befriended each member. Commending Hector on the fact he and his wife were expecting their first child. She told Wan how honored she was to work with such a world-renowned agent. She told Janet that she was a role model for women everywhere. She smiled at Christy, and commended her on her accomplishments and improvements since she joined this outstanding team.
Christy smiled at her new boss. She was not intimidated of fooled by Leslie. Leslie was an opportunist, and Christy would be wary. The day started and Leslie issued assignments. Christy was assigned to desk duty as the others along with Leslie were in the field. A few hours later the team returned, and Christy could tell that things did not go well. Leslie demanded everyone's presence in her office. She ripped into the team. Christy had heard enough when Janet touched her hand.
"Don't, she wants a reason to fire you. I saw that today when we were working the case. She complained that you were the reason we were so unskilled." Janet whispered.
Christy bit her tongue. Soon, the day ended and the team prepared to go home. "Marcolini, my office." Agent Matthews called. Christy took some calming breaths and entered.
"Marcolini, since you didn't do anything today, I want these reports typed up and on my desk by morning. Oh, and if you mess up, you will receive a demerit in your folder." Leslie smiled and faced her employee. "If you don't like it, then you can quit."
Christy smiled, "No, problem Agent Matthews, it will be on your desk when you get here."
Matthews left. Keith was actually headed to their office when Leslie met him. Keith was polite, but she made sure he knew she was available. Quickly dismissing her, he was concerned because Di came to him upset with how the new supervising agent treated Christy. He believed that their new boss had something against Christy. Keith chatted with Leslie as another colleague came and captured her attention. He then went to his old office to find Christy buried in paper work. Keith frowned. Writing the daily reports was not the job of a field agent. The supervising agent was supposed to write those reports.
"Christy, stop. This is not your job." He sat before her. "Tell me what happened."
Christy knew loyalty was important. You didn't tell other agencies about problems in your team. So she remained quiet. Keith understood. Leslie was her supervisor and she could not speak ill of her. Keith sighed and said, "OK, well then, I'm sitting here until you are done. Besides, we have a date."
Christy smiled, "Thank you."
She worked and after a few hours, she placed the completed reports on Matthews's desk. She and Keith left, and Keith knew. Tomorrow, he was having words with his colleague. She was not really prepared for the post she held. Everyone knew she used special services to gain her position. She was not going to target Christy, and before he allowed it to continue, he'd ask to be reassigned to that team.
He and Christy would have to be discreet. He was not giving her up but he would not allow someone to mistreat her. Keith knew that the head guys would not like this. As he drove them home, he told Christy of his plans.
She listened. Then she talked. "Do you plan on rescuing me every time I face a challenge. Do you plan to fix every problem I face?"
Keith was silent, but Christy continued. "Knowing you care is enough to help me fight through anything that is thrown at me. I didn't get here by being rescued. She didn't stop me five years ago, and she won't stop me today."
Keith nodded, and the he smiled, "I know you are tough, Ms. Marcolini. I'll back up, but if it gets to be too much, come to me."
Christy smiled, "Hey, I'll take you up on that."
Keith drove them to his house. On the way, they stopped and picked up a meal. When they arrived at his house, they stretched out on his sofa, and enjoyed their meals.
Several weeks passed and Christy was absolutely miserable. The upside was that she and Keith dated openly and no one had a problem with it. Well almost no one, Leslie referred to her as the agency fun girl.
Each day, Christy reported to work and Leslie threw jabs at her. Many days, she just reported in and said nothing. The team didn't like this. At first, the new leader seemed to really care about them, but as time passed, they realized she was nice to them and hateful to their colleague. Di and Hector had talked to Agent Versic, and he told them he was watching the situation.
Finally on the day, Janet and the two guys talked. They would talk with Agent Matthews and state how they felt about how she treated their coworker.
The three asked to meet with her over lunch one day when they were on the field. She had once again assigned Christy to office work. Her supervisor came down on her and asked why Marcolini was not going in the field. Leslie was pissed. When she returned to the office she needed to meet with Agent Marcolini.
The day ended and she called Christy to her office.
"Look, it has come to my attention that you don't like the way I run this agency. You have even complained to your boyfriend and he had the gall to report me. Let me say this Agent Marcolini. If you don't like the way I do my job, you can quit. I most definitely won't give you a recommendation for a transfer. Besides, we all know you seduced Keith and that he's only dealing with you to save face. I mean, really, who are you? Nobody." She sighed, "Since you want to be in the field, I'll make sure you go out from now on. Now, agent, get the hell out of my office."
Christy was furious. She left as Keith walked up. One look in her face and he knew. "What did she say to you?"
Christy didn't answer, she walked pass him. He followed as he said good night to some of the other guys. Landon and Oryan were on duty and noticed her countenance. Even those two guys were aware of the treatment she received from her new supervisor. Leslie Matthews was a bitter spiteful woman. She had no business in the position that she held. Many believed something nefarious occurred.
Oryan stopped her, and Keith watched. He didn't like another man touching his girlfriend, but she was really upset. She spoke to the soldiers, and they smiled and hugged her. Keith walked up, and Landon pulled him aside. "She needs to leave that office. The woman is gunning for her."
Keith nodded. He was requesting a meeting with Leslie. She may have been assigned as lead Agent in the FCU, but she would not mistreat his Christy.
Keith drove Christy to her apartment. She didn't want to go home with him tonight. "I'm meeting with her tomorrow. She shouldn't treat you like this." He stated. She invited him in and he sat at her small dining table. Christy was moving around when Keith took her hand. "Come here." He held her close.
"Keith, she called me the office fun girl. She said you don't really want me."
Keith held her close. He did not like Leslie Matthews, but now he truly loathed the woman. "Christy, I love you. Listen, I wouldn't be with you if I didn't. Do you remember when you met my parents a few weeks ago, what did my Dad tell you?"
Christy smiled, "He said he has never seen you so happy and he knew why when he met me."
"My dad never lies Christy. My mother never lies either. They both know what you mean to me and they not only accepted you, they approved. As a matter of fact, Dad said if I lose you, then he knows he raised me wrong. Don't listen to her. She's just a hateful woman that wants to hurt you." Keith held her close.
"Keith, I want to forget; love me tonight," Christy whispered.
Keith loved this woman. He wanted a lifetime with her. He knew he wanted to do this right, so he'd call her father, then he'd ask her to become his wife.
"What?" Christy asked,
Keith smiled, "Christiana Marcolini, do you know how much I love you?"
"It's too soon." She whispered.
"No, it's not." Keith lifted her and carried her into her bedroom where he spent the next few hours worshiping her body. He loved her so thoroughly, so completely that she knew he truly cared.
Satiated and spent, Christy smiled. She detested Leslie, but if dealing with her meant she had him, then she would take her jabs in stride.
Soon, Christy dozed. Keith wrapped his arms around her and she slept.
*****
Gunther was driving when he called to check on his daughter. He knew it was late, but he had a feeling something was wrong.
At two in the morning, Gunther drove into his daughter's apartment complex. Parking his truck, he walked to her door. She was home because when he spoke to her an hour earlier she was sleepy. She was upset and not talking. Normally, she took things in stride, but earlier she did not sound like herself.
