C10 . The agency

The following day, Anna left the hotel with Mr. Richmond. After a brief conversation, he kissed her hand and lips.

"We will see each other soon. Until then, I want you to replace the person accompanying you. I don't like his look at you."

"I will do that as soon as I get to New York. Would you like a woman in his place?"

"That would be good," Mr. Richmond smiled contentedly.

Anna sat comfortably in the back seat.

"Are we leaving?"

"Yes," Terry answered, looking at her in the rearview mirror. "On the way out of town, we have another car in the parking lot. We will continue our journey with that one."

"OK. After we change cars, let's go to the mountains, find a secluded hotel, and rent a room until tomorrow."

Anna sat down in one of the armchairs and crossed her legs.

Terry sat down in front of her. Sitting down, he couldn't take his eyes off her feet.

A vast window views the gorgeous mountain range beyond, with its ever-changing colors of blue and white. A room elegantly designed in neutral hues that blend well with the surrounding mountains. A natural stone fireplace adds an intimate appeal to the space.

"Sometimes, I let my mind roam free, exploring people's hidden thoughts, stirring up old memories, discovering unknown worlds. And amid all this, a man who repeatedly raped me appears obsessively."

"Since then, hatred has grown inside me, in the shadow of trauma, feeding on revenge specters.

Anna handed him a file.

"Here, you have everything you need to find him. You have both cash and checks. This bastard was my teacher. He is a psychiatrist, and is the director of a hospital."

"You will buy a house in a secluded area. You will set up a cell in the basement to house the doctor. You will fix it with a device that keeps him immobilized in a certain position. This is an attractive position for a guard who likes men."

"One day, I will want to see him, and everything will disappear from there."

Anna lit a cigarette.

"It's not my fault." The anomalies that creep past us bring us into such situations. Being a rape victim is not the end. You should rearrange things and put them in their natural order."

"Do you have any concerns or questions?"

Anna ran her index finger under his chin and slowly pulled him towards her. She felt his hand slip between her legs and tenderly massage her.

Her mouth moved to his, and she tasted pleasure and let the thrill run freely through her entire being. Desire burned through the words; they vibrated together, practicing familiar sensations and creating new ones.

Anna climbed on top of him, clutching his head and staring intently into his eyes.

"Which secret service do you belong to?"

Terry, already dizzy from his incredible experience, was perplexed.

"He has no name." We don't officially exist. We act in our country's interest and benefit from the highest protection. We also have access to the support provided by all other secret services. Soon you will know all the details."

"If it doesn't have an address, does it have a form?"

"It has neither a name nor a form. But it needs you. We need you."

"How do you need me?"

"Listen to me," Terry began. "My boss asked me to take you to him on the same day you want to get revenge on the teacher who raped you."

"How does your boss know about me?"

"I told him about a special woman. He documented himself and came to the same conclusion."

"That means you made my schedule for tonight. Good. I accept meeting your boss. You, on the other hand, must teach me what you know well."

"I think Mr. Richmond won't be able to keep his last promise to me," Anna thought to herself.

"What did you say?"

"Mr. Richmond promised we would see each other soon. But I have a vague suspicion that Mr. Richmond no longer exists."

Terry looked at her with deep admiration, even sincere respect—so much intelligence and beauty in one woman.

He took her in his arms and kissed her long and passionately.

"Come inside me," murmured Anna. "My privacy. You surprised me you got here; I was scared I could love."

Anna and Terry arrived four minutes before the appointed time. A forty-five-year-old man opened the door for them and took Anna's hand.

"Anna Willis. An absolute pleasure to meet you. I'm Peter Ford," he said.

He stepped back, looking at Anna.

"Please come in," Ford said. Mineral water and alcohol bottles were already on the table. "Serve yourselves, please."

"Anna, I will be very direct," Mr. Ford said. "I'm the head of a service where agents deal with sensitive issues. It's a necessary activity known by a few people and occupies the highest position here. I want you to be part of this state structure. Your acceptance would be a plus to our activity."

"What kind of activity is it about?" Anna asked.

"I know you didn't hesitate to order that a person disappear. Our organization engages in a variety of activities. However, we do not engage in discussions or actions related to murder, assassination, or other nonsensical acts. Our focus is on special operations. A great football coach once told his players that if you have the ball, you don't have it; you shoot at the goal. That's how it is with us. No, you don't want anyone to disappear; they are all collateral victims."

"My world is the temple that always accepts offerings. If we live together in this world, I will not hesitate to give the same order."

"Anna, please ask me about your concerns. Anything is fine with me."

"I want more clarification, and I have only one question."

"Please!"

"About protection, I am thinking of the imminent violation of some laws in this country."

"Immunity is guaranteed."

"Mr. Richmond."

"The moment you accept my proposal, Richmond disappears."

"The complex he owns?"

"Richmond is not what he seems. He owns ten percent of the business. The rest belongs to a group of investors. I mean, it belongs to us. Two of the twelve complexes will be sold to Richmond's family, which we will immediately part with."

"Richmond knew you controlled him?"

"No," he answered shortly.

Anna got up and paced the room. After a few minutes, she passed them.

"I will activate this service only if some conditions are accepted."

"Come on," Mr. Ford smiled.

"I like working with percentages, and I respect statistics, but not in this case. The New York and Atlantic City complexes want full ownership of me. If you also give me Philadelphia, I agree to manage the remaining seven complexes without a financial claim. To begin with, I guarantee you a minimum ten percent profit increase. As long as these locations generate profit, I will not accept outside interference if it significantly affects revenue."

"Mr. Ford stands up and pours glasses from a whiskey bottle. The glasses clinked.

"I heard the conditions. You said you had a question. You didn't address it to me."

"How did you know I would accept?" Anna asked.

"You are so smart that you knew that if you refused, you would have been killed.”

Mr. Ford raised his glass to Anna.

"Welcome to us," he said.

He stood up, hugged her with genuine joy, and patted her on the back in a friendly manner.

Anna left the room and prioritized her tasks, paying attention to minor details to avoid mistakes. She thought about Terry, who had created an actual work of art that day. Art must be completed and appreciated.

She called.

"Are you still at the office? Come to my apartment?"

Gloria did what she knew she had to do, without saying a word but with many talents.