"The seating chart has been updated, Ms. Hunt," the man behind the large desk said with a smile as he hung up the phone. "And a new act has been added to the entertainment for the evening."
"Really, Mr. Santiago, that's fantastic, though I am learning to never be surprised when you get things done," the brunette replied. "Let me guess, the Fantastic Hannah Hypno Show has been added to the roster of entertainers?"
"Of course it has, Ms. Hunt," Santiago replied with a smile. "You know I get what I want."
Hannah Hunt, a highly successful hypnotist with an impeccable reputation and a highly entertaining hypnosis show, smiled. Her reputation and history as a well reputed hypnotherapist ensured she was above reproach, which made her an unlikely ally with Damon Santiago, international crime lord who always beat the odds and the rap. It was a challenge she welcomed, as the show circuit and therapy sessions began to bore her. She sought a new challenge, and Santiago provided her with a very interesting one.
"So I am finding out," Hannah replied. "Tell me what I need to know, Mr. Santiago. I needed a new challenge and here we are. This should be fun."
Santiago threw a file on the large oak desk, as a picture and papers slid out from the plain unmarked folder.
"Emily Tobias, 42, Assistant District Attorney state level. Picture, personal information, career info it's all there for you to read." Santiago told his new hypnotherapist/ hypno show employee. "Befriend her, get her under your control- that way nobody suspects you in any way."
"How do you know I will be able to do that?" Hannah asked with a smile.
"I don't, and I don't even care," Santiago replied. "You have 1 million reasons that you will now do what I am telling you to do. I am sure you will be very professional about the assignment I am giving you."
"I understand," Hannah began. "Let's see, she is pretty, 42, single mother, no father listed on her kid's birth certificate, nice neighborhood she lives in. Kid's now 18 and at college. Perfect. Any idea about her dating and personal life?"
"Keep reading, Hannah, everything is there. And no, she hasn't had a boyfriend or girlfriend in awhile as far as my investigation says. And my investigations are ALWAYS correct and thorough," Santiago said. "But I assume you can handle the challenge?"
"Of course I can," Hannah said with a wry smile. "And she will be seated next to me at the Save Children from Slavery dinner and auction?"
"Yes she will," Santiago said. "Now don't disappoint me, Miss Hunt, I have big plans for our future State District Attorney."
"Of course not, Mr. Santiago," Hannah said with a confident, eager smile. "I know exactly what I need to do."
****
"I can't believe I have to spend the night at this event, I never have enough time in the day with my caseload," Emily Tobias thought as she arrived in a whirlwind barely on time for the charity event her boss was sending her to as representative of the state Attorney's office. She looked forward to a nice quiet evening at home to catch up on sleep and relax, but instead she arrived flustered, almost late and mentally exhausted after arriving by taxi.
Once inside, the visibly tired assistant AG was escorted to her table for the dinner and auction before the shows began after. It was a large hall, and tables extended throughout the venue. Emily estimated there were at least 750 people in the building for the event. Her seat was off in the corner, her back to the exterior wall of the building, and it was a small table with five place settings. Emily was the first to arrive, and she took her seat and looked out at the crowd. As the building filled with guests for the charity event to end human trafficking, Emily realized her table was empty still and it appeared the other guests may not show. She sat, put her purse over the chair and her work bag containing her computer, employee badge and files under the table out of the way, and observed the crowd. The line at the cash bar was long, so she decided to just sit and wait for a chance to leave the event as early as she could.
It was at that time that a pretty brunette was shown to the table by the same woman who escorted Emily to her seat. The woman being shown to the table was tall, perfect figure, brunette with pretty hazel eyes, almond in shape and easily the main feature of her pretty face. Emily, in her role as a prosecuting attorney, was used to looking at people and sizing them up. Before she could say a thing, the woman, still standing, held out her hand.
"Hello, I'm Hannah Hunt," the woman said as she accepted the hand of Emily, who stood and reciprocated the gesture, placing her hand into the one being extended toward her. "Doctor Hannah Hunt."
Hannah aggressively took control of the first interaction, authoritatively shaking the hand of the Assistant DA, who did not say a word in response.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Assistant District Attorney Emily Tobias," Hannah offered confidently.
"You... know who I am?" Emily said with a nervous edge, unsure why, or how, anyone would know her.
"I'm not going to tell you anything you don't already know, but I do follow all the important news of the state, and to be fair, you have been doing quite an impressive job according to the newspapers," Hannah said with a smile, still holding on to the hand of the successful attorney as she assessed her condition as tired and uninterested in being there. "I'm curious to know how you can be so successful with such difficult cases."
"Long hours and lots of research," Emily said, hardly realizing her hand was still being shaken ever so slightly.
"Well it has been said hard work and perseverance are the most important things in being successful," Hannah said as she stopped the handshake and gently held the hand of Emily Tobias. "Don't you agree?"
"Yes, I guess you're right," Emily responded without much thought.
"You can see for yourself the results of those traits, can't you, Assistant DA Tobias?" Hannah asked.
"Yes, I can," Emily answered. "Call me Emily, please."
"Thank you, Emily," Hannah said as she continued to control the conversation. "Don't you think there are some unhealthy results of that hard work and success?"
"Yes, I guess so," Emily said wearily and with a sigh.
"There it is, that's exactly what I mean, Emily," the hypnotist continued. "That heavy, tired sigh, certainly you agree that all those hours, all that reading and all that research, the cases, are wearing on you?"
"Yes, they are," Emily said as she looked into the pretty eyes of the woman she just met, not realizing the heavy, tired breath she took, or that her hand was still being held from the introductory handshake.
"There are solutions to every problem, Emily," Hannah said as she let go of the hand of the Assistant DA, which casually dropped to her side. "Wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes," Emily said, confused where this was going.
"So should we sit and start talking about those problems, Emily, or should we wait a few minutes before we start?" Hannah asked.
"We can sit?" Emily answered, questioningly, and with that Hannah pulled out the chair and motioned for Emily to sit, which she did, and then pulled out the chair to her left and sat and looked at the blonde attorney. Hannah began mirroring the pretty DA's breathing and mannerisms.
"It feels good to sit after such a busy, hectic day filled with research and hard work, don't you agree?" Hannah asked.
"Yes..." Emily responded, not noticing her breathing was slowing or that Hannah's was equal in pace.
"You can see the patterns in your life can't you? Work, stress, reading, research, not enough time to relax, a few hours of unfulfilling sleep- and then starting over again the next day, you DO feel that pattern?" Hannah suggestively asked as she smiled gently and looked into the eyes of the pretty older blonde.
"Yes..." the Assistant DA responded.
"And as you sit here you can imagine yourself breaking that pattern, after a long day of work, so much reading and research, even as we just sit here and have a nice, relaxing chat, you can feel that stressful pattern breaking?" Hannah asked.
