Power dynamics

Wallenberg shifts uncomfortably. "Based on the titles of some of the videos, I would guess that he is interested in... power dynamics."

You sigh in frustration. Wallenberg is far too prudish to provide any useful information. "The titles," you mutter. Maybe Wallenberg has watched the videos himself, maybe he hasn't, but even if he has there's no way he'll ever admit to doing so. "Can you give me a list of those titles?" you ask. Maybe you can remember enough about them to form your own guesses. Maybe not -- you've appeared in hundreds of videos, and you can't remember them all off the top of your head. But even if you can't, you can always look them up.

Wallenberg nods, retrieves a sheaf of paper from his briefcase and hands it to you. "Here you go," he says. "First column is the name of the video, second is how many times he watched all or part of that video, third column is total amount of time spent watching that video -- or at least amount of time spent on that page, we don't have...." you tune out the rest of Wallenberg's speech as you browse the list.

Hm, Secretly Subby Secretary... well, everyone likes that one, it's one of your most popular. Under Her Nose... if you recall correctly, in that one you played the lover of a married man, and most of the sex scenes were the two of you trying to be sneaky while the man's wife is in the same room and somehow doesn't notice what you're doing. You look up. "Is Li Wei married?" you ask.

"No, you don't have to worry about that," Wallenberg assures you.

"That's a shame," you say. Wallenberg looks confused, but your attention is back on the list. Blackmailed Bondage Bitch, that one was pretty much what the title said. You see what Wallenberg meant about power dynamics. Taming the Boss....

"I think I know what to do to get him wrapped around my finger," you announce.

"Are you sure about this?" Wallenberg asks you a few days later. "We've got a standard doctrine for how to run honey trap ploys, and this plan does not fit that doctrine. At all." You are currently standing outside the building where you are going to have the chance to "accidentally" meet Li Wei.

"I'm positive," you say. "You may know what men in general want, but I know what this guy wants." You tug slightly on the hem of your tiny black dress, smoothing it out.

"Maybe so," Wallenberg allows, "but there is such a thing as subtlety, and this" -- he gestures at your dress -- "isn't subtle. "You have to concede that this is true. It's a shelf dress -- necessary, because the absurdly low neckline would make any bra visible, and that would not fit the image you're trying to project. It's so tight that a close inspection might be able to make out the shape of your navel, and barely comes down to mid-thigh. "Seduction isn't just being as blatantly sexual as you can be," he continues. "You have to build up a romantic relationship over--"

"No I don't," you say. "Look, no one watches porn for the deep romance plotlines. What this guy's looking for is someone submissive and very slutty. In all the videos he watched I'm the initiator, except for one where my character is being blackmailed -- and in that one, the **** material was me being slutty. Besides," you add, "I've only got a few hours to seduce him. I have to move fast."

Wallenberg winces. This much is true -- the Agency had arranged for Li Wei to be invited to a party that you were also attending, but there simply was no way to plausibly arrange for an American porn star and a Chinese scientist to regularly bump into each other. Wallenberg had repeatedly apologized for this, seeming to feel that it was a personal failing on his part. "I guess. And that is an attractive dress. They look very nice. I mean it. It looks very nice."

You conceal your amusement. "Look, don't worry about it. Most people assume that porn actresses are complete sluts. He'll totally buy that this is normal behavior from me."

"And that's not true?" asks Wallenberg hesitantly. You wonder if you detect a note of disappointment. Had he thought that he might have a chance with you? If so, he's dead wrong. A middle-aged, average-looking man like Wallenberg was not at all your type. Now, those two agents who'd been his bodyguards at your first meeting, on the other hand....

"Well, we're not as slutty as people tend to think," you say. "Now hush, it's showtime." Turning to the door, you press the bell.