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“Wait.” I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. Since I was leaving anyway, I had nothing to lose in being honest. “I don’t fit in here, Magnet. It was clear I wouldn’t have on the Swiss task force, and I don’t on yours, either.” I shook my head and laughed, but not because I found anything amusing about the conversation I was in the midst of. “Believe me, I’ve tried the best I know how, which is precisely the opposite as I should have done.”
“May I speak now?”
Since he couldn’t very well fire me after I’d already made my intention to leave known, I didn’t bother trying to be civil. His reaction to Verity’s suggestion didn’t just hurt; the disrespect he’d shown me infuriated me. “If you must.”
“Schön.”
I folded my arms. “What?”
“Look at me.”
“You’re no longer my commander. Please get on with whatever you have to say. I need to pack my things.” I stood and took two steps toward the door.
“Stop!Do not take another step. This conversation is not over.”
I don’t know who I was more disgusted with. Myself for reacting to his order or him for issuing it in the first place. “I’ve resigned. I no longer answer to you.”
“I haven’t accepted your resignation.” He shook his head. “In part, since you went around me to submit it.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m leaving.” I said with my back to him.
“Schön, please sit down.” Magnet stalked over and put his hand above my head on the door. Rarely was he this near, so close I could feel heat rolling from his broad expanse of shoulders and muscles and breathe in his scent—a heady mix of vanilla, sandalwood, and cedarwood brought alive by vetiver.
My eyes rolled back in my head as desire flooded my body. Rather than take the seat he demanded, I turned my body to face him, wishing that, instead of trying to leave the room, I could rest both hands on pecs so powerful they strained against his pullover. He towered over me, forcing me to bend my neck in order to look into his amber eyes. I willed him to kiss me. Instead, he eased away and pointed to a chair.
“I am incredulous that you, or any agent, would consider resigning an enviable position with seemingly so little cause. It is the epitome of childish unprofessionalism,” he said as I sat in a different chair than the one he’d pointed to.
“Are you finished?” I asked.
“Quite the contrary. I’ve just begun.”
I thought about getting up and stalking out like I’d intended to a moment ago, but given Magnet stood between me and the only exit, I bided my time. The man typically paced as he spoke. It was only a matter of minutes before I’d have a clear path.
“When Nemesis came to me and requested to assign you to my task force, it was with the understanding that it would be my job to mentor you as I would any other green agent.”
I tightened my folded arms. “I’ve been an agent for three years.”
“Not at this level, as you are abundantly aware. You heard Nem when she left the room. She told me to fix this. Do not throw this chance away because you misread my reaction or anyone else’s. You’re better than that, Schön.”
“Clearly, I’m not.”
“You’re saying you’d give up a shot to bring down a human trafficking ring the coalition has been investigating for months? To be on the inside of finding the last puzzle piece we need in order to bring an end to their reign of terror? Because you raised your hand in today’s briefing and asked the question most of us were thinking, you put yourself front and center with Nemesis. When it came time to assign the op, you were at the forefront of her mind and, thus, are being given the opportunity of a lifetime. Should this op be successful, you will have proven yourself to be an agent worthy of the job you were appointed to do.”
While Magnet’spep talkwas insulting, I had to concede he was right about this being the chance of a lifetime, one in which I could prove I was more than a honey trap. More than someone whose sole weapon against the criminals we sought was sexpionage.
“Why did you insinuate yourself into the assignment?” I asked.
“I’ve already explained why.”
“Here’s what I don’t understand. Why did you insist on replacing Michelangelo if working with me is so distasteful to you?”
“Working with you isn’t distasteful.”
“Then, why did you appear angry when Verity suggested I help with your disguise?”
“You misread my reaction.”
“I would prefer the original plan. Neither Francesca Vella nor her daughter have seen Michelangelo or me. It will be easier.”