Chapter Text
The next few days saw the trio moving into their official apartments for the duration of the mission. They didn’t expect it to take too long, however, their covers all required permanent addresses.
Gaby’s new name was Maria Glaus, a hopeful new secretary for Capello’s use while staying in the Barcelona area. Together, Illya and Solo put together a suitable wardrobe for such a woman, and although she had little sense for the stuff, she used the clothes they supplied her with to create her persona.
She was thankful that she made Ms. Glaus a bit of a nervous personality on her first day. It had been quite some time since she worked alone. Of course, she could see Illya and Solo on occasion, working together. But she could never make contact with them. Meetings to discuss any findings and new developments were top secret and had to be perfectly orchestrated.
So, on this first day, Ms. Glaus walked into the massive building with its ancient parapets and columns, wide eyed and trembling. She was in control of the situation and her own fear, and she knew her boys would be listening close by.
But she was, in the end, alone for the majority of the mission. The weight of that fact pulled down on her, threatening to swallow her up in the marble floor of Capello’s building. She had been uneasy since Waverly gave them their assignments. Something about it nagged at her. Regardless of her attempts to shrug it off as anxiety about working alone again, it remained. A seed of doubt that tainted her every thought.
Thankfully, this feeling of hers was nameless. Though she couldn’t tell why she was so agitated – and consequently couldn’t confront the cause and end it, it was small enough to be ignored as white noise. She had a job to do, after all. The part of Ms. Glaus may not require confidence, but it did require focus if she had any hope of cracking through to Capello.
Mr. Gabriel Capello was the kind of man that wore his entire personality on his face. He was cold and calculating but slimy and slick all at once. He looked every bit the perfect businessman, his suit was sleek and perfectly tailored, his hair was coiffed just so, even the silver hairs in his black mustache seemed to be perfectly placed for symmetry. Yet in every feature, there was an unshakeable air of contempt and arrogance that turned Gaby’s stomach.
He was drawn to her immediately, which took Gaby by surprise. She had expected him to ease into working with her, a disinterested glance as they were introduced, an offhand comment as he got back to work and piled files on her desk.
But no, as Capello’s assistant led Gaby towards the man himself, she felt his beady eyes roving over her. She slapped on a smile, innocent and sweet, as she shook his hand, nodding when the assistant gave her name.
Capello met her gaze and pulled her hand up to his face. She felt the prick of his mustache before she felt the soft pressure of his lips against her fingers. He never broke eye contact, not even to blink. “Miss Glaus, was it? What a lovely name.” With a languid grace he straightened his back, not releasing her hand. “It isn’t often I have foreigners in my offices.” The curl of his mouth deepened the lower his eyes sank down the front of her dress. “I look forward to working with you.” He turned his head without moving his eyes, addressing the assistant. “Have you given her the tour?” The assistant made a valiant attempt to answer him in the split second he was given, but Capello had no intention of listening. “Come, Miss Glaus. Allow me to show you around.”
Like a snake his hand slithered up her arm, pulling her close as he walked away from his befuddled assistant, leading her through the grinding gears of his perfect machine. As they walked, Gaby tried to burn the map of the building into her mind. This wasn’t vital to the mission, she knew Solo and Illya would be able to map out the place for themselves if they were making any progress with Jordi. However, it was good for her to see it for herself, and memorizing the details was an amazing way for her to distract herself from the feeling of his hot hand on her lower back and the tickle of his fingers brushing over the top of her behind.
When Capello was satisfied Gaby was as familiar the lay of the land as he was with her backside, he led her back to his office and her desk. With one final, if lengthy, kiss to her hand and more unwavering eye contact, Capello left her. Relief eased over her as the door to his office clicked shut and she was able to bury herself into the paperwork his many assistants had given her. The mission was going beautifully already, the nagging feeling in her head was satisfied. She had a decent mental map of the building, where Capello liked to go and where he didn’t bother to tread. Moreover, she was also blessedly released from his presence for the day.
~*~
The first day of the mission was complete, they had a greater understanding of the personalities and settings they would be working with, and were now able to formulate a more solid plan of attack. Everything seemed promising, not only for Capello’s interest in Gaby. Solo had managed to rack up the charm for Jordi, discovering the heir’s weakness for tall, dark men. Solo’s seduction would be far more subtle than Gaby’s, but just as useful, if not more so. However…
“I don’t like it.”
Gaby let out a long, slow breath. Solo had abandoned her and Illya to go enjoy the nightlife. Now that the two of them were alone, her Russian was finally able to relax and open up for her.
Shifting in her seat to follow his pacing, Gaby rested her chin on her arms over the back of the chaise. “I know you don’t. But it’s what we need to do. This mission’s outcome affects the world, Illya. That’s far more important than-“
“I know!” Gaby blinked, clicking her mouth shut at his outburst. The thin line between Illya’s brows deepened as he forced himself to relax. “I know,” he repeated, far calmer than before. “It’s our job.”
Silence hung over the room, but Gaby did nothing to break it. She could see his mental turmoil behind his eyes. He wasn’t done, and she knew it before the corner of his mouth curled. “But he is a repulsing man,” he spat as he turned, thumbs rubbing white knuckles. Gaby waited through another pause. “I should never have agreed to this decision of Waverly’s. He will hurt you and-“
“I don’t need your blessing to do my job, Illya.” His head snapped back to her as her voice rose. “Or Waverly’s. He wants me to gather information. That’s all. That’s all it has to be. So far it doesn’t look like he’s going to be too hard, the man is-“
“A lecherous beast.”
Gaby ignored his interruption. “Simple. ” A thought dawned on her, the feeling akin to breaking out in a cold sweat – seeping and sudden. The nagging thought finally had a reason. “You don’t think I can do it alone. Do you.”
Silence dropped on the room. Gaby could hear nothing but the electric buzz of the lamp, humming in agitation in the stillness between them. Illya was frozen, half-turned towards her, having stopped mid-pace. His eyes were wide with shock, the pain at her accusation jabbing her somewhere in the chest. She wanted to say something, but no words came to mind, blocked by her desire to hear his answer, to hear her suspicions squandered.
“No, Gaby – “
“No?” The word pushed out in a gust of breath from somewhere in her gut, taking all the strength out of her. His voice had been soft, the condescension she heard in it burned her ears. “You don’t think I’m capable of getting some information from a simple old man who is distracted by my very existence? You think I need you or Solo to be a decent agent?” She stood from her seat, itching to move, to run. The warm air of the room was stifling, and Illya’s stunned silence was doing everything but helping. “Did you forget I spent nearly two years working with Waverly before you two even heard of me? Or did that not count because I was withholding a secret and not actively fighting to save the world?”
Looking at the door, Gaby decided she had had quite enough of the conversation, one-sided as it was. Nobody likes talking to a slab of marble. She shot one last look at Illya, desperate for some change in emotion, so explanation, some argument even. She found nothing but a tall, pale statue of shock. His jaw twitched, and she waited for a breath for the words he was trying to say. Nothing came. What did she expect, he was a man of action, not of words. His usual response to confrontation was a fight, and he would never lay a hand on her like that. So she was forced to wait as he racked his brain to find the words to defend himself. But Gaby was very tired – of waiting, of the day, of the job, everything. “Well. Why don’t you worry about your job with Solo and Jordi, and I’ll worry about my own.” Her feet led her to the door and her hand pulled at the doorknob, working of their own volition but not against her will. “Goodnight, Illya.”
“Gaby, wait – “
The thick crack of his voice reached her a second before the door clicked shut. She stared forward at the gaudy wallpaper of the hallway, not registering anything really. Just a haze of gold and cream as her heart thrashed in her ears.
Taking a deep breath, Gaby swallowed her wounded pride and walked through the labyrinth of the building to her room, vowing to think of nothing but the mission until the job was done.