Chương 15: It’s Just Too Easy

"Agent Sterling, just open the door," Regina called, banging loudly on the office door.

"This is a matter of national security."

"Can I help you, Ma'am?" Simon called out from behind her.

"And you are?" Regina snapped, turning abruptly, causing Simon to take a step backwards.

"I think a better question would be who are you and what do you want with Seraphina?" Simon replied curtly. Regina's demeanor flipped like a switch.

"I'm sorry, let's start over, shall we?" Regina asked sweetly.

"I am Mrs. Tutworthy from OPD, and you would be?" she asked, extending her hand. Simon took her hand apprehensively.

"Simon Bud, Executive Director of Fairy Operations," he announced proudly.

"Pleasure, Sir," she said in a voice that didn't match the look on her face.

"Is there any way you can get this door open?" she asked, looking back at the door.

"It's imperative I speak to Agent Sterling, and it appears she is not answering." Simon looked the woman up and down.

"Can I ask to see your ID, you know, can't be too careful these days." Regina awkwardly began feeling her pockets as if looking for her ID.

"Well, this is rather embarrassing, but I don't seem to have it on me. I'm sure you understand how things like this happen. Silly me. I must have left it in my other coat," she said, giggling like a schoolgirl before looking to see if anyone else was lurking in the hall.

"Why don't we just open the door to Agent Sterling's office and sort all this out?" Simon looked at her, seemingly beguiled to her feminine ways. His face began to flush.

"As much as I would like to help you," he stammered, "I'm afraid I do not have a key. Why don't we take this conversation to… shall we say…" he began leaning closer, "to my office and get this mess sorted out?" Regina looked at him and then at the door.

"But…"

"But nothing. She's not in there anyway; she is apparently out of the office." He sighed.

"So, I think it would be a far better use of your time to come tell me what you need from her," he said, taking her arm.

"I am her boss, after all," he remarked proudly, looking up and down the hall nervously. Does this twit actually think I give a flying monkey who he is? My God, do you want a cookie there, Rover? You are a minor cog in a much bigger machine. I eat guys like you for breakfast, Regina's mind screamed.

"Well, Director Bud, if you could simply tell me where I could find Agent Sterling, I can be on my way. I don't want to take up any more of your valuable time. With you holding such an important position, I wouldn't want you to focus on poor little old me. I am sure you have important boss things to do," she said, smiling shyly. You know, like pushing some papers from one side of your desk to the other, her mind added.

"Oh, it's no bother, I would be more than happy to discuss things further, you know, in my office," he said, winking at her.

"You know, where it's a little more," he began, then checking the hall again, "private." He smiled lecherously at her, his eyes giving her the once-over. Regina took a step back, her eyes widening at the implied meaning of his comment. Seeing her reaction, Simon immediately began to backpedal.

"I hope you didn't misunderstand," he began nervously.

"I was speaking in a strictly professional sense." He continued, wringing his hands, looking quite embarrassed.

"You're a married woman after all, I would never…" He paused, looking for something clever to say, "would never, eh, imply…" This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"I completely understand, Director Bud, I didn't think you meant anything but us meeting in your office to discuss Agent Sterling's location." You pervy little slimeball, you'd lose an arm, you really have no idea who you are messing with, do you?

"So, Agent Sterling's location?" she asked without missing a beat. Simon looked relieved.

"No harm, no foul, then? Um, to be honest, I'm not sure where she is at the moment."

"Very well then, I guess I will check back in with the office to see if she perhaps is waiting for me there," Regina said, wistfully.

"If she perhaps returns, please have her wait for me," she said, reaching out and touching his arm. Simon blushed a bright crimson, "Of course, Regina, eh, Mrs. Tutworthy…" he stammered, "I will be sure to have Seraphina, I mean, Agent Sterling, reach out to your office…"

"No!" Regina replied, far more forcefully than she intended.

"You, reach out to me directly, when she returns." She smirked, rubbing his arm gently.

"It will be our little secret," she said, her fingers walking up his arm, gently bopping his nose with her pointer finger. Simon looked up and down the hall blushing.

"Here is my direct line." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handwritten card.

"Remember," she said, putting a finger to her lips, "shh, it's our little secret." She handed him the card, keeping her hand in his longer than necessary, before turning and walking away. Her hips began to sway back and forth exaggeratedly, ensuring that she had his full attention. Simon's face betrayed his every thought, seemingly hypnotized by the sway in her every step.

"Wait!" Simon called out. Regina turned around quickly.

"Yes, Simon, did you perhaps remember something?" she asked hopefully, a smug grin discreetly tucked in the corners of her pouty lips. He motioned for her to come closer. Regina sauntered toward Simon. Her motions resembled those of a slithering snake, stalking its prey. Her smile hid the fangs, but her bite was just as deadly. Simon nervously shifted from one foot to the other before turning the handle on his office door.

"Well," he whispered as she approached.

"I think I may be able to narrow down where she may be."

"Is that so?" Regina asked, seemingly surprised. Men like him just make my job so much easier, Regina mused, stepping closer and stroking his arm. The steady thumping in the veins of Simon's neck quickened at her touch.

"Yes, please, after you," he said, motioning her into his office. He surveyed the corridor one last time before hurrying in after her and closing the door.

"Please, have a seat," he said, motioning to a chair in front of his mahogany desk. He ran his fingers over the top of it while he went to the other side. Regina watched as his eyes never left her body. He kept his gaze fixed on her as she gracefully took a seat, crossing one impossibly long leg over the other. Even in the all-business pantsuit she wore, she knew he could see the curves.

Regina smirked when Simon pulled out a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and began to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead.

"So how can you help?" Regina asked eagerly, leaning forward toward his desk.

"Well," Simon said, as he began typing.

"The best I can do is give you her contact information."

"Oh, Simon, that would be ever so helpful," she replied, smiling brightly at him.

"I wouldn't want you to go to or get into any trouble on my account though." Simon looked up from the keyboard at her.

"Regina, it's no trouble at all. I'm the boss, remember, so…" he said, smiling, beads of sweat reforming on his forehead.

"Of course, who's going to question it right?" Regina agreed.

"I'm sure it's against protocol and all."

"Who's going to know? Right? It will be our little secret," Simon replied.

"Besides your office outranks mine anyway, you could have pulled the information yourself. This way you don't have to go back to your office, look it up and all that. I just saved you the time and trouble is all."

"If you're certain," Regina said, pleased.

"Hey, if you can't help a colleague, then you're not doing your job. With you being with OPD, I am certain it will all be fine." He shrugged, picked up a pen and paper and wrote down Seraphina's contact info. Are you kidding me? Regina thought, as she watched him closely. So, all someone has to do to breach fairy protocol is bat your eyes? If you worked where I worked buddy, your eyes would be on a platter next to your head for giving out employee information, without so much as checking ID.

Simon got up from his desk and came around the other side, holding out a hand with the information on it.

"I hope this helps."

"You have no idea how helpful this is, Simon," she said, standing up.

"This will go a long way with the higher ups. I will make sure they know just how helpful you were." Simon watched her stand up. Her long sleek frame glided effortlessly from the chair. She knew he was watching her; she could feel his eyes watching too closely as her hips swayed side to side while she walked to the door. What a simpleton, and that cologne, my god! she thought, turning and giving him a smile and a little wave.

"Bye-bye, Simon," she said huskily, exiting his office and continuing down the hall.