CHAPTER 1
une 29th, 2006, 6.50 a.m.
* Ding-Ding * message notification
Alec: “Office. 8 a.m.”
Argh! That was an order and that means I’m in trouble. Fuck!
June 29, 2006, 8.01 a.m.
I am in front of the door of my boss's office, who also happens to be my friend from middle school, a huge asshole who loves to break my balls just for the sake of being right (although he never is) since we were teenagers.
Middle school, high school and navy together.
Between us, it has always been a competition. Who had the highest grades, who got the best score, who graduated first? And so at sixteen, we graduated and enrolled together.
Best decision ever.
After 3 years, I went home, with 9 completed missions. He continued for another couple of months. Obviously, he wanted a career on the upper floors and I didn't really want to be led by someone who had never left his office.
What can I do, I am a hot head, I have a tough character and many avoid me because they know that I don’t carry out certain orders and I can keep up with any person, often getting into troubles.
Military ranks are only ornaments when they’re shot at you from all sides. When the safety of my team hangs in the balance, it's up to me to decide and the only thing that matters is to go back home safely with a mission successfully completed. The ends justify the means. Always.
I took a breath and went inside. I didn’t bother to knock, it's not worth it and I already know that I’m in trouble. Big one, too.
Alec Carter, CEO of the International Defense Department, is at his desk, with a tired face and quite pissed off posture.
“You are late!”he shouted
I look at the clock behind him. “It’s 7.55 am. Actually, I'm early. What happened? “
“Actually, and you know it very well, that damned clock is 6 minutes back. I know it was you, don’t deny it.”He looks at me amused.
“However, it happens that my damn phone doesn’t stop ringing, I guess your bags are ready, inform your team. You’ll leave in 2 hours, they want you in Washington. And we have to have a serious talk...“I heard the silence so I looked up from my phone.
“I informed my team. They will be here in an hour. “I put my phone on his desk and sit down. “ Before you say anything I have to explain to you that...“
“Katherine, no. How? I mean, what in the fucking hell have you done? You called him a stupid idiot in a video conference. Do you realize that hanging up the phone and especially insulting a General has serious consequences for you? “
My level of being pissed of goes beyond the limit and I burst out.
“Now, stop! That jerk had the courage to say that his team risked their lives because of us. After we showed up to save their asses in Kandahar. Yes, the General gave me precise orders, go and pick them up, but it wasn’t so easy and we found ourselves together with his team in front of a firing squad.
What did I have to do? Extract the resource and leave them there. You know very well what would have happened. I don't give a fuck if he felt offended for not obeying at his orders, you know better than me that the moment must be seized in those situations and they too, like us, have families. Nobody gets left behind, I've never lost a man in these 9 years, Alec, and I don't want to start now. Did he want my head? “
I was so seized with anger that I didn't see Alec's amusement.
“Yep, but then he asked to join him in Washington for a collaboration or something like that. I don't know why but the only thing he asked is that you show up in civilian clothes. You know like heels, skirts...“he ended gesturing and laughing.
“You’ve got to be kidding me! What the hell is on his mind now...“ He burst out laughing “You know! Speak up, Alec!”
“I don't know much about that, but Kate, be careful if you need to leave somewhere, and keep me update”
“Hahaha… you’re not funny. Do I have to remind you that we’ve just come back from a mission? “
“No, but you have to go.”
