Vesuvius

So. It’s back to this now.

My wonderful little power trip over. Back to being bested in wits by these two vicious vultures.

Goddamn sexy vultures.

Maria was still trying to adjust her hefty tit back in to her bra. At least there was that.

So, what now? What’s the lie? What could I possibly say that didn’t sound like I was pulling it out of my ass? That I had mistakenly given them the wrong name? That this particular agent never told me her real name, even though that was illegal?

I couldn’t sell that now. Not after looking guilty as fuck.

Maria wouldn’t kill me now. She’d just smile knowingly and kidnap me one of these days. And then I’d be happy to end up across the globe.

Wait.

I was going about this the wrong way.

Yes, yes… It felt like my brain was starting work its magic again. Thank God for that small nip-squeezing respite, I think it gave me the confidence I desperately needed right now.

Why should I go against the current? They believed they had caught me. My facial expressions told them they had caught me.

Why not lean into that?

“Okay. Fine. Lori’s not her real name.”

Hayley looked well pleased with herself. Maria’s face slowly getting back to her hard-to-read state.

“Please continue, Jack,” Hayley asked with a hint of a victorious tone.

Yeah, why did I? Maybe I should have thought about it before blurting that out. But there was no good options here. Only worse, bad and stupid.

I decided to go with stupid.

“Lori is her cover name for this operation. She told me her real name during my first interrogation… But I’ve forgotten it.”

An audible silence wafted into the room.

They stared at me dumbfounded.

“You… forgot it?” Hayley asked incredulously. I just nodded. “So, why in the world didn’t you tell us that in the first place?”

“I was… embarrassed.”

Another silence.

I could see the wheels turning in their heads. Either I was a really shitty liar… Or a real fucking dumbass.

It clearly wasn’t an easy decision for them.

Then, my phone alarm went off. It capped off the silence nicely.

It was 2 PM. Time for my fake call.

Christ. Oh no.

“Um…”

“Yeah, I’m aware. You are supposed to call your agent now, correct?” Hayley asked.

“Yeah?”

“Just tell her that you, well, uh… Damn. What would be the most non-suspicious way of asking for her real name?” Hayley pondered.

“Just asking it?” Maria chimed in.

“Any agent worth their salt would find it highly dubious if their CI just out of nowhere needed their real name or any such information. I wouldn’t recommend that course of action.”

“I would still like to see him do it,” Maria said while eyeing me murderously.

She was onto me. No doubt about it.

“It’s a really bad decision, Maria. Although the agent is legally bound to answer it, it’s still very suspicious. They might start monitoring Jack more, and find about our co-operation here. Which, needless to say, would be very bad for all the parties involved.”

Hayley was looking at this from the point of view of a lawyer, trying to find the safest route forward. Maria was increasingly trusting her instincts more, ready to take a deadly gamble. In fact, she was more than ready. I saw it in her eyes.

Fuck.

“Jack, I want you to-“

“You know what?” I interjected. “I have a better idea.”

I did have an idea. It wasn’t perfect, but it would stop me from having to asking for “Lori’s” real name. There was no way for Maddy to answer that. Plus this would buy me precious time.

I put my phone on the desk, and called Maddy’s number. Thankfully I had hidden the numbers on my phone a few days ago, so they couldn’t see her number.

“Stop, Jack. Tell me your idea first,” Maria said urgently.

I couldn’t run my idea by her first. What if she denied it? Then I was back to square one, and she’d be forcing me to ask Maddy her real name.

“You’ll see,” I muttered mysteriously. Good, now if Maddy would pick up…

She wasn’t picking up though. The phone rang like three times already.

Oh shit. She wasn’t… still angry with me, right?

It was enough time for Maria to make her move. She lunged at my phone, before I had a chance to grab it. Fuck! Now she was holding my precious phone in her hand!

And just like that, she cancelled the call. I felt a lump in my throat.

(MARIA: FACE SLAP ALLOWED)

Holy fuck.

“Now, you are going to tell your plan first, and then-“

The phone started ringing. Maddy was calling me back.

Thank God, my sweet, precious Maddy! My cum-chum!

I tried grabbing at my phone, but Maria held it away from me.

“I need to answer her!” I shouted.

“No. No answering, before you-“

Fine, bitch. I was done asking permission to do this.

I wound up my hand, willing all the hate and humiliation she had made me suffer onto it, and then let it reign its divine punishment on her marbled, million-dollar cheek.

SLAP!

What a fucking beautiful sound.

Like the singing of angels.

And she never saw that coming.

Her face bent full 90 degrees, leaving only my handprint on her left cheek.

Hayley barely registered my action. It was like it didn’t even happen.

My phone dropped back on the desk.

This was it. I had my chance.

I swiped the green “answer”-button.

Maria’s face returned back to its former position. She looked a little out of it, but it took only a couple of seconds for her to realize that the phone was no longer in her hands. It was now on the table, with the phone line open.

“Wait, how did-“

“Shhh!” I signaled her to shut up. I put Maddy on speakerphone.

The anger inside Maria was so immense, she had to stand up. She was like Vesuvius, about to blow her top. No, not because of the slap. Because I had somehow maneuvered the phone away from her. Clearly disobeying her.

It was intense. She wanted to punch something. But doing so would make sounds. And the agent would hear it. So I just watched her fuming impotently. I was already scared what would happen after the call ended.

Hayley was just plain confused about what was going on. But she understood to keep quiet too.

“…Lori?” I asked tentatively.

Maddy sighed loudly. “Yeah?”

Fuck! She was angry! Please don’t ruin this for me!

I could see Hayley already raising her eyebrows at Maddy’s response.

Wait, what’s the best play here?

Of course! I needed to make her anger part of the plot!

“Listen, Lori, I know you’re mad. I promised you material by the weekend, but I… just haven’t received it yet,” I said as I shot an accusatory look at Maria. She still hadn’t provided any fake info for me yet. That did nothing to quell the anger burning inside her.

“Aha.”

“But here’s the thing. I know I can give it to you tomorrow. It’s just… I’m afraid to send it by mail. We need to meet. In our meeting place. At midnight.”

Hayley looked intrigued. Maria was still seething.

“…Fine,” Maddy finally grumbled.

“Great! See you there!” I said, quickly ending the call. I didn’t want to give Maddy any more chances to slip-

Well, this was new. Maria shot her hand around my throat so fast, I couldn’t even dodge it. Then she dragged my body so hard against the wall of her office I almost felt like my lungs emptied there on the spot.

She pinned me against the wall, and looked deep into my eyes.

Then she leaned in, and whispered into my ear.

“You. Are. Nothing.”

(MARIA: FACE SLAP ALLOWED)

(MARIA: NIPPLE PINCH ALLOWED)

(MARIA: BUTT SPANKING ALLOWED)

Oh fuck. She was seriously breaking rules here. Big time penalty time ahead.

...But… no dice. She was still **** me. She gave me no room to move.

I finally realized that this was getting serious. I needed to get out of this hold.

I shook like those inflatable arm-flailing tubemen that you saw in car dealerships. I tried to grab anything. Anything at all. But no. This part of the wall was pretty desolate.

I tried grabbing for her arm, but I couldn’t move it one inch. It was iron. Then I tried grabbing for her tits. She saw that coming and used her other arm to pin my left arm to the wall. My right arm still tried desperately to find any objects. But it was hopeless.

I tried kicking at her shins, but the kicks weren’t very strong. The **** was taking too much out of me. If I managed to hurt her, she wasn’t showing it on her face.

All I could see was the gritting teeth of this madwoman. She wanted me dead. There was no mystery about that. But really, she wouldn’t kill me in her own office, now, would she?

Would she?

Somehow her grip got tighter. I couldn’t even cough anymore. I was just gasping for any air.

I had been choked before, by Reagan, but this was on another level.

There was real murderous intent here.

Jesus Christ, how was this woman so insanely strong?!

Shit, how did it get so serious all of a sudden?

All I tried to do… was… have some control… for once…

No release. It… just… got… tighter…

I couldn’t believe it. I was actually starting to black out.

Damn. I thought I… played it well… I…

Was I… going to… die?

I saw… Hayley…

She put her hand… over Maria’s… shoulder… gently…

Then… I couldn’t focus on anything.

It was getting black.

I just about… heard… Hayley’s… voice…

“…Maria…”

Then. Nothing.

…

…

HUAAAH!

She let go off my throat, and I fell to the floor.

I gasped for air! Sweet, sweet air!

I was still alive. Reduced to nothing but a pile of flesh on the floor, but still alive.

Gasping for air like a newborn.

I could hear the clip-clop of Maria’s high heel shoes as she exited her office.

Don’t you… try to… get away…

Hayley squatted down in front of my face.

Once again… she wasn’t aware that I had straight eyeline… to her panties.

Sweet… red panties…

Fuck… I was still a little delirious… I think Hayley was talking to me…

I should focus…

“…yeah… but anyway… that was actually some quick thinking. I’m impressed. We may not get her name, but we get to see her face. That’s what you were going for, right?”

I was somehow able to nod.

“Great. I’ll accompany you to your secret meeting tomorrow. I’ll hide in the shadows. That’s what all the good lawyers do, right?”

She actually laughed at her dumb joke.

“So. I just need to know where that is. But, I’m kinda in a hurry. I’ve got another client meeting in the next hour. So, if your vocal chords are still fine… well, spit it out. Time is money, as they say. And with lawyers it’s also fucking expensive.”

Oh Hayley… It’s not like you weren’t one of my targets before…

But now I was going to make your downfall extra special also.