Chapter 1

• Billie Clinton had the command of the room. Or rather, the picture of the handsome face enlarged on the projector, had the command of the room. Rightly, it should, for it was not just any face but that of–according to the latest edition of the Affluent magazine– the 'Best Billionaire Bachelor,' or as we in the agency liked to term him; the 'Bad Billionaire Bachelor' in the city. I look hard at the grinning face. No doubt, it was charming, but what lay beneath this, was what we aimed to unearth.
• "Agent Meyers, let's hear you." I turn towards where I hear my name, it was my supervisor, Brian Marlowe, seated at the far end of the table that had called my attention. Billie Clinton has just finished his presentation, so our supervisor's words has me standing by the projector, ready to give mine.
• "This man,'' I start, pointing to the enlarged face on the projector, "has been on our radar for the past two months, constantly, and this is due to the shady engagements he has been suspected to carry out under the guise and cover of his billion dollars worth of establishments, which spans and includes; chains of hotels, restaurants, bars and night clubs and plazas. Although no concrete evidence has surfaced, we have facts that point to this billionaire, Mr Simon Scott, as a participant and patron of human and drug trafficking." I pause to let this sink in. "Our biggest aim then is to uncover just how he conducts his business, his operations, then we'll uproot him from his comfort yard."
• "I want to understand what you mean by 'our biggest aim'?'' Billie asked, buttressing his question with air quotes, "We all know we have had people tailing him for a month now, don't you know? Oh I'm sorry, I forgot. You were not here at the time." Clearing his throat apologetically, Billie smiles. He seeks to unbalance me, but I won't let him.
• "I do know we have people following him, and that's just the problem," I say calmly.
• "How do you mean?" The supervisor asked this time around.
• "I mean that we have people in the move, but they're not in the game, they are too far from the scene and what we need, is someone, in the scene!"
• "What do you propose?" Kingsley, the tech expert asked.
• "We have to send in an undercover. Someone who can get close to Simon Scott, study his business patterns, his partners, if any, and his mode of operandi. This person can report to us on a monthly or weekly basis, that way we don't just get into Scott's business, but his daily activities and that would help paint a picture of who he is, and then we nail him."
• "Okay okay, this is all a brilliant plan, but I still suggest we carry on with how we've been doing it before. By tailing him. Undercover would be too risky. If the cover is blown, we stand to risk everything we have got so far." Billie still did not see reason.
• "And exactly what have we got so far?" The Supervisor asked looking pointedly at Billie, who mumbled an unintteligient reply. I tried to hide a smile.
• "Meyers, what's the plan?" The Supervisor asked me again.
• "I would propose sending in an undercover agent. A male undercover agent who could initially pose as a potential client, then a friend seeking to strike a partnership, going on to…" I stop headlong, when Sarah, another one of the brilliant agents in the tech department raised her hand.
• "I am sorry to interrupt, but wouldn't a male undercover be too much effort, how about a female?"
• "Yes! A female." Billie jumps greedily at the idea and I cringe because I know already who he was going to suggest.
• "From our sources, we discovered that Simon, has the universally acclaimed weakness, women." Romano, our field expert added. He went on, "And not just any woman but a specific kind."
• "What kind?" The supervisor interjected.
• "He likes submissive women. Women who are pliant. Simply put, Scott likes damsels in distress." Sarah put in.
• "More for the distress and less for the damsel. You see, Simon favours workers, cashiers, and waitresses in his own establishment. He's been seen going out with tons of them."
• "Isn't that like unconventional business ethics?" Billie butted in.
• "Yes and a weakness right there." Kingsley says.
• "So it would be best if we send in an undercover from this angle?" The supervisor asks and everyone affirms. Then the supervisor asks another question, "Alright, who's going to bell the cat? Who can we send in as our UC?"
• When he asked this question, everyone turned gapingly at Cassandra Meyers where she was still standing by the projector.
• "What is it?" She asked.
• "You would be the best agent for this."
• "What!" I say loudly before checking myself in. "Sir, I'm sorry to ask, but why me?"
• "Obviously, you are the best person for the job."
• "How about Sarah and Bertha?" Even as I asked the question, I knew it wouldn't work. Sarah, was down to earth and no good at acting. Bertha is married with two kids and she is an anatomist, always on call. As if on cue, her phone rang and she excused herself.
• Sarah said to me; "Don't bullshit us Meyers, you're good at this. Besides, I'm past the age to go mingling with the crowd." "And you know Bertha's taken with work and family, you're the only lady versatile around here and you're going to kill it." She smiled encouragingly at me.
• "Can you successfully play the role of an obedient woman though?" Billie asked, once again, with a daunting smile. Was I obedient? I was headstrong, stubborn to a fault. Everyone knew this. But I was also loyal and obedient, mindfully where need be. It was clear Billie said this to throw me off balance once more, to let everyone know that if I took this project, I might be setting myself up to fail by acting contrary to my nature. But, he had something coming if he doesn't know how versatile I can be. Versatility is a part of being strong. At twenty-two years of age, I've achieved what many young women my age, had not. I am more than the average girl. Working with law enforcement and balancing other affairs was harder than it looked. Billie and some others in the room doubt I could do this, but doubt from people around you isn't always a let down, sometimes, it is a bolster.
• "You're right Sir! I'm the best person for the job and I won't disappoint." I tell the Supervisor and in a sense, everyone.
• I can do this, I tell myself. And I will. This, was an examination and I never fail any exam. I wasn't about to start now.