FRANK
I walked behind Alex as we made our way back to Greer's office. All I could think about was that firm, round, curvy ass swaying in front of me. I was pretty sure what would have happened had we not been rescued from the jammed elevator. All my principles had been tossed away like yesterday's trash. This was the second time in less than two weeks that I had my hands on my partner's perfect, soft flesh. The first time being cleaning her up after that drunken night at Chubby's Bar. Then today, the unexpected malfunction in the elevator led to kissing her sweet lips and feeling her magnificent breasts. The next time, if there was a next time, I could only imagine...
"Nice of you to join us," Greer said, as we tapped on his office door. "I just heard of the mishap in the elevator."
We entered the captain's office to resume our previous conversation, acting as if nothing happened.
"And Frankโ"
"What?" I asked.
"You might consider cleaning the lip gloss off your neck and collar."
Alexia's face turned crimson, as I attempted to wipe my neck with a handkerchief. The room was filled with not so polite chuckles.
"We bumped into each other in the dark after the lights went out in the elevator," I tried to explain in vain to even greater laughter.
"Enough of this!" Greer exclaimed, and then looked directly at Alex. "We have some real, pressing issues to discuss here! Bottom line is that we can't progress any further until I get a confirmation if the two of you are with us on this."
Alex stared at me, waiting for my reply. "Well... I guess I'm in," I hesitatingly declared.
All attention was on Alex now, but she avoided any eye contact and kept her head down. She was about to make the biggest decision of her life. I put my hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "You don't have to do this."
She stood there in silence, knowing the gravity of the situation.
"Are you in or out!?" The captain grew impatient.
"I'm in," she uttered, in a hush, mousey voice.
"Speak up, woman!"
"I'm in!" Alex repeated, a bit louder.
"Good! From this point on, whatever information shared is only privy to the people in this room. We are each others life lines. Have I made myself clear?" Greer addressed everyone, as they nodded in agreement. "Here are the folders for each one of you. Look them over carefully. Memorize what you can, because those documents will not be leaving this office. This is all the information we have to date, including Victor's information, Janine's undercover operation, and whatever intel we received from Big Bob. These files are classified at the highest level."
He let out a long sigh and then added, "We will be formulating this plan on a daily basis here in my office as more information is available. This operation is set to start Friday, in five days. Details, details, details! They are critical, people. Your life depends on them."
Janine walked over and sat down next to Alex, placing her hand over hers. Alexia was trembling at the touch.
"We need to talk," Janine said to Alex in a low voice. "Just you and me. Here's my address. Meet me there this evening around seven. Come alone. We have a lot of ground to cover. Pack a bag, you'll be staying with me for a while.
-oOo-
ALEX
I stepped off the elevator on the eighth floor carrying my travel bag as Janine directed. The room direction sign posted on the wall showed 817 thru 835 to the right. I fumbled through my purse, looking for the card Janine had given me. "Just as I thought: 835." I knew that in most hotels, the end rooms were penthouse suites.
The hall was dimly lighted, as a majority of hotels typically were, but I could tell by the upkeep and decorating this was an upper-class establishment. Stopping in front of the door, I hesitated and looked at my Movado watch. It showed I was ten minutes early.
I took a deep breath and tapped lightly with the door knocker. After a few moments, the door opened and Janine greeted me with a smile. She was dressed in a hotel terry cloth robe. "You're a bit early. I was just getting things set up. Come in."
"Sorry, I'm always early it seems. Just one of my many flaws," I said, walking in and looking around.
It was obvious that this was an upscale penthouse suite by the furniture and impeccable decor. This was not typical hotel motif. The draperies were swaged linen. It had a large screen TV, and a fully complimented bar. There was a curved staircase leading up to a second level.
"Make yourself a drink and get comfortable. I will be back in a jiffy," Janine said, heading up the stairway.
I went behind the bar, looked through the selection in the cooler, and thought to myself how all the hotel bars had the same small liquor bottles.
"If you need more ice, I can get some in the machine," said a deep, male voice. I turned around quickly, startled to see a pleasant looking man grinning at me from an overstuffed swivel chair in the corner. He was African American, very muscular, and easy on the eyes.
"Hi, I'm Tom. I work with Janineโdidn't mean to startle you."
"She didn't say anything about you being here... I'm Alex," I replied.
"I guess I'm her best kept secret then," he chuckled. "Let me make you a drink. You're going to need it. What do you like?"
"Jack. Straight up. Make it a double," I answered.
"No rocks?"
"Nope." I watched him carefully. "So what's going on here?"
"Janine will explain it all when she comes down. Have your drink and we can talk."
I sat down on a bar seat, sipping my drink, and asked, "What's your association with Janine?"
"Well... my job is to pose as her pimp and body guard," Tom replied.
"What do you mean by pimp?"