Chilly never liked being in the Director's own office, with its dimmed lights and brushed steel walls. There wasn't even a hint of color in the room; even the nine monitors that were up behind the large dark mahogany table was not an object to draw comfort from. In fact, the whole room was cold, and it wasn't just from the air conditioning.
The high-backed chair swiveled slowly, almost indulgently. He had to swallow for his throat had gone dry, and he was sure that Naika was feeling just as nervous as he was. Reporting directly to the main head of the Org was not always a pleasant experience. As Kira was actually the Director's protégé of sorts, he demanded the utmost and best from them, even full obedience to the letter of the mission. Any perceived misstep was unthinkable, or forgivable.
The chair now made a full turn, its occupant staring intensely at Kira. The Director was an elderly man, but there wasn't anything old in the way he looked. His long shock-white hair was slicked back, a trim beard framing his sharp, even handsome features. Even his body looked fit and trim, evident in the broad shoulders and chest and his erect bearing. If the Director wasn't just so harsh, Chilly would have harbored a fancy for him. But even the man's austere taste in dark grey suits was enough deterrent for that.
He never even acknowledged Naika and Chilly's presence, not that Chilly would care. The bright green eyes seemed to always cut deep inside you, not caring whether or not you'd mind the intrusion. "It's amazing how WNN covers the latest news so…immediately," the Director suddenly said without preamble. "They're commendable, I guess, since the death of the Russian Prime Minister is something extraordinary, don't you think? A sudden beheading in the midst of his tryst with his latest mistress is not something you see everyday." His eyes narrowed as he seemed to study the young woman before him.
Chilly, though, wanted to melt where he stood. Naika was right after all; Kira risked exposure to her and the Org with what she just did.
"Yes," Kira merely said. Chilly wanted to grab Kira's hand and drag her away from here, if only to avoid the humiliation he knew was coming.
"It was also more unique in that no one has an idea how it happened," Kira continued to the surprise of all. Kira rarely gave herself defense from the Director. She was usually compliant and subdued, but tonight it seemed that she was standing her ground for what she'd done. Chilly could see Kira's head tilting up slightly in defiance. Good girl, he thought.
He wasn't sure if the Director had the same sentiment, though. He went silent once more, but he actually had one eyebrow lifted – the only response to Kira's statement. Chilly wasn't sure what that gesture meant. He dreaded to even try to imagine.
It seemed like hours passed by. Dreadful hours that crawled by like slime oozing with agonizing slowness, but it was only minutes that went by. But then, something happened that took Chilly by surprise, and he wasn't even sure if that was a good thing or not.
The Director smiled at Kira.
********
Author's Notes: So there, I've put up the title of these whole series of posts I've been putting up lately. "Angel's Apple" might seem a bit lame (believe me I had a moment thinking like that myself), but they're the closest I can think of that can describe the whole story. What does it actually mean? You need to wait till the next chapters come up! ~_^ I'll try in the next few days to add AA to the title of my previous ones. I don't have time to do that right now at this very moment :P
Originally Posted On Site: 2007-05-07 03:59:59
Last Login: 05.09.08
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