“I’ll book you a flight,” Charlie says without preamble.
Outside, Oliver’s office door opens. His booming voice carries, even through closed doors. Through the frosted-glass wall of my office, I see him and Celine file out of their meeting.
Oliver knocks at my door and opens it without waiting for the all-clear. “Hey, Declan,” Oliver begins as he enters my now cramped office. “Oh, hi, Charlie,” he says, not surprised to find her here. “Declan, can we talk about the Finland registration opening date?”
“We’ve got other matters,” I say and nod to the office door.
Oliver shuts it and takes a seat next to Charlie.
I review the information again, as Oliver nods his head, following along. “Great, you’ll go right away.” Then he gestures to Charlie. “This would be a good opportunity for Charlie to get some field experience.”
Charlie perks up in her chair.
I do not mirror this action. If anything, I want to challenge Oliver.
Copenhagen with Charlie in tow. A flight, taxis, all with her never-ending stream of questions and curiosity. A rendezvous with my contact to not mess up. A cover to not blow. Another team member I’d be responsible for protecting, bringing home alive.
At least at the end of the day I’d get a break when we go back to the hotel. My mind catches on that word. “Hotel.” Keys. Locked doors. Perfectly made beds with plush duvets. Charlie’s piercing eyes. Her hand finds mine in the darkness . . .
26
CHARLIE
“Hej. Velkommen til København,” the concierge at the hotel says, greeting us as Declan and I approach the desk. I’m exhausted, but I can’t stay still. My eyes are wide, taking in the glimmering details around me. The hotel we booked is distinct and refined. Not a chain. The lobby has gilded mirrors and a marble entryway.
But my excitement for travel is dampened by the very real danger of this assignment. We need to find Monique, Declan’s mysteriously disappearing photographer. Sure, work is stressful right now, but I like the job itself. And I’m not going to quit just because the job’s tough. I don’t quit things when they get hard, only when it is medically necessary.
Declan slept for the entirety of the flight over, which left me to read case files and stay hopped up on ginger ale.
Now he responds to the concierge in what sounds to my ear as perfect Danish. “Tak, der er en reservation til Davidson.”
The concierge hands us an antique skeleton key with a tassel on the end. Very social-media-worthy, but a pain to keep on us. I hold it awkwardly as we head to the birdcage elevator, one of those old-fashioned kinds with the door and the fence.
“They’re bulky but no one can hack the room lock,” Declan says when he catches me admiring the key.
Great, now I’ll definitely be able to sleep well tonight, I think and roll my eyes. This is the most he has said to me since we landed. “Wait, where is your key?” I ask him. He must have pocketed it already.
“That’s it.” He points to the key in my hand.
One key? One room?!
“Uhh.” I try to think what to say.
The elevator stops on our floor and we both shuffle out. The walls are hung with artwork, the carpet plush.
Declan checks the hallway before whispering. “Our cover” are the two words he offers me.
I look back at him confused. This does not explain why we are sharing a room.
“Couple on a romantic holiday,” he states matter-of-factly. As if this should have been obvious. He nods his head, indicating we should move on and finish this conversation in our room.Our room!
We find the correct door and I unlock it.
I gasp. This is not a room. This is a well-appointed suite. The midday sun is pouring through the white curtains, the gilded accents on the antique couch sparkle. There are two doors on the far end of the living room.This suite is so big it has a living room!
I place my bags on the floor and resolve not to let the pretty decorations distract me for a moment longer.
“Why can’t we just be coworkers? Wouldn’t that be easier, since it’s the truth?” My brain has the priorities straight. My stomach is dancing, flipping, doing eccentric jumping jacks at the idea of sharing this room with Declan Davidson.
