Becoming Perfect (closed for Vagrant)

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Katherine or "Kate" to her friends, had been in the FBI for five long years. She'd slowly made a name for herself in undercover work, because she is really good at adapting to new circumstances. Her parents had died a few years back and she didn't have any siblings, so she felt free to dive into her work. In truth, she was a bit of a loner and liked the challenge.

Kate had red hair and blue eyes. She is 5'7" and a little curvy. Her eyes and long legs are what people notice first about her, followed by her commanding presence.

When her superiors offered her a big case, she was almost surprised. It was a boys club in the office, and they tended to give her grunt work. She looked at the file and memorized it before shredding it.

She decided that this time her name would be Joy....Joy Speldman. Her bosses drew up the papers and set up her background so that she could pass as a lawyer. Now she just had to get close to the new crime boss.

 

[Vagrant]

It had been nearly a year since Vittorio Rosi had passed away. For over 40 years, he had been at the head of the Rosi crime family, deftly maneuvering their activities to keep them safe from law enforcement and rivals alike. His two sons, Alessio and Matteo, and one daughter, Sofia, grew up in luxury, raised to continue the family work, but only one was groomed to be his successor. Alessio Rossi had been taking more and more of the day to day business over from his then 70 year old father. Matteo was much more the fun loving and unreliable son. Not a Ruthless pragmatist like his brother. But one of the lessons Matteo had learned early was to hide his true self. Control the message and you control the audience. He was content being the second favourite so long as he could continue to live his life the way he wanted.

Disaster struck when Alessio was killed in a car crash and suddenly the son that was never thought of to take over was the only one left. It was feared that the family would decline after Matteo took over the business, but in the year since his rise to power business had been good. Not one for tradition, Matteo got the family heavily involved in the drug trade, which was something that his father had only dipped their toes into. Also, he had gotten involved in prostitution as well.

Something else he was unexpectedly adept at was discovering disloyalty. Withing six months of taking over, every undercover law enforcement officer was exposed and dealt with.

It was one of these many shakeups that gave the FBI the opportunity they were looking for to get someone back on the inside. Matteo was transferring the family legal accounts from their long time firm to a newer more high profile firm. The FBI thought that because the relationship with the new firm was so new, that a new lawyer would never be noticed, but what the FBI didn't know was that the partner of the firm Matteo was dealing with was not just a minor acquaintance but a life long friend. Both of them had benefited from Matteo's need to keep his true self hidden and that effort was coming to fruition. The money the Rosi family was bringing in to the firm would put his friend on the short list for Senior Partner.

The day that 'Joy' had been assigned to the Rosi account wasn't even over before Matteo was informed of her true purpose. While her real name and background were unknown, it was enough to know that she wasn't who she claimed.

He looked at her picture and smiled. "No, don't kill her. I want to deal with this one personally. I have something very..." He paused and chuckled softly. "something very fun in mind."

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

"Joy" straightened up and headed to her first day at the new office. Everything was in place and she was hopeful that this assignment would go well. She wore a conservative, but nice suit, with heels and a light blue blouse. She put her hair in a nice up-do, and wore light make-up. She wants to be taken seriously, so she adds several law books and a "copy" of her diploma into the box to take with her. The FBI had even generated some picture of her in a cap and gown in front of the Georgetown University Center.

She walked into the office confidently and headed upstairs. Personnel had already given her the badge she would need and the five cent tour. Joy walked into her new office and began setting everything up.

Just as she was finishing, someone stopped by. "Hello." The young man said. "Welcome to the firm. I'm John Morelli. I'm on of the partners you'll be working with."

Joy smiled. "Nice to meet you, John. I'm Joy Speldman. I look forward to working with you."

Just then a call came through to Joy's office phone. "Hang on one moment for me, John." She asked, as she picked up the phone. It was personnel and they needed her to sign one more form. "I'm so sorry but personnel needs me." She said as she hung up. "I'm sure I will see you around the office soon?" She said as she grabbed her purse and headed down to personnel.

 

[Vagrant]

"You will," John replied. "After all, you're on my team for the Rosi account." He smiled, trying to be charming.

That afternoon, he had gathered the team of Associates that were going to be responsible for his friend's legal team. The firm was large and prestigious, so he couldn't claim they were the best team of Associates at the firm, but he also knew that none of them were less than great. With the exception of the one he knew was a cop. But Matteo had been clear that he wanted John to not interfere with her investigation.

"Alright everyone, as some of you may have heard, I've brought in a rather big new account to the firm. It's big enough that I can't possibly take care of all legal needs myself, and that's why you're here. You are my team to make sure that everything with the transition and subsequent management of the account goes smoothly. Some of you will work with the account full time, others only when needed. Please remember to keep track of your billables, and do right by the client, and the firm." He looked at the 6 people seated around the conference room. "This has the potential to be a big windfall for the firm, so lets get it done. Sam, Joy, and Rachel, you're on this account exclusively. Joy, the Senior Partners want to see what you can do so I'm making you the point person. You'll have the most direct access to the clients and you'll be the face of the firm. Don't let me down."

John stood up and dismissed the team saying their assignments were on their desks. Most of the work would be coordinating with the client's former lawfirm to make sure any relevant documents and files were sent over, and then familiarizing themselves with the client. Joy was sent to introduce herself to the client.

Before she left, John called her to remind her not to tell the client she was new. It wouldn't come across well if he knew that his point of contact with the firm was on her first day.

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy left the meeting feeling energized. She was already on the Rossi account! Her superiors would be pleased. Now all she needed was to hone her skills. It was a good thing that they had a large on site Law Library, full of everything she would need to know. Joy made her way down there to look at a few things she had questions about from John's brief. It would not be good if they suspected anything this soon.

She read over statutes and laws related to the Rossi accounts quickly, scared to be seen taking too much time in the Library. She copied a few pages for easy access later and went back up to her office.

Once she was back in her office, she began putting together their strategy based on the brief that John had given her, making sure to include some of the more obscure information that she had just found during her research. She wanted to make sure that she was valuable to the Rossi's without overselling it.

After she had put everything together, she stopped by John's office. "John, I just wanted to let you know that I was about to make contact on the Rossi account. Do you want to look over my notes first?" She asked, also trying to get in good with John. It wouldn't help her at all if he hated her or was distrustful.

 

[Vagrant]

John looked over her material and nodded. "This all looks good."

He sat back in his chair and regarded her across his desk. "Before you head over to introduce yourself, I do want to talk to you about the Rosi family."

Glancing at his coffee he noticed it was nearly empty. Picking up and finishing the last of it he walked over to the bar in his office and poured himself a glass of water. "Can I get you a drink?"

"As I understand it, you're from the midwest and just moved here recently." He quoted the background that was constructed for her cover identity. It wouldn't look real for a 20 something woman from the city to have very few connections there.

"Since you're pretty new, you may not have heard the rumours that the Rosi family are into organized crime. I want to make it clear that we are not a firm of Mob lawyers. We're not looking to get involved in illegal activity. The police or FBI have not, to my knowledge, ever been able to actually charge anyone with anything so of course nothing is proven, which is the only way the firm agreed to take them on as clients. Just be careful with what you get the firm involved in. Got it?"

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy answered that she would like a glass of water and then listened intently while John talked about the Rossi family and their proclivities.

After taking a drink she joked "You mean the Rossi families alleged activities, right?" She laughed. "If you did away with everyone who has ever been accused of something, then there'd be no politicians at all." She straightened up. "I appreciate your point of view though and I will keep my head down. Should I come to you if anything feels....weird?"

Joy finished up her water and stood up. "I need to go freshen up before I meet with the Rossi's. Anything else I should know before I go?"

 

[Vagrant]

John nodded at her question. "Absolutely. You do report to me, after all. I may very well tell you to simply go ahead with what they want you to do, but you'll at least have my backing. We want as little legal exposure to the firm as possible, but we also have a duty to our clients. So we'll have to walk that line."

Shaking his head, he saw her out of his office to get ready for her first meeting with Matteo. Once he was alone in his office, he called his friend. "It's me. She's on her way. She's a smart one, so be careful. What ever you're planning, don't go too far."

John had no idea what his friend had in mind, but figured he would simply sideline her and keep her away from anything incriminating. He was very very wrong.

At the Rosi estate, Matteo hung up the phone and smiled. He crossed the room and opened a cabinet to reveal a safe. Opening it, he withdrew a small bottle and set it aside. He'd be using it again today. He'd come across this drug completely by chance a few years ago. It was a powerful hypnotic, leaving someone open to suggestion. When he was in university, a fellow classmate had found out Matteo was cheating on his exams and threatened to turn him in. One dose and Matteo had convinced him that the government was trying to steal his thoughts. The resulting paranoia had seen him drop out of school and last Matteo had heard the man was living on the street raving like a lunatic.

He had been heavy handed in that initial foray. He was going to be much more subtle with his new Lawyer. He was going to have some fun with her.

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy gathered up everything she would need for her presentation and put it in her leather briefcase. She wore a tailored black suit with pants, blazer and a light purple blouse, along with black heels. Her glossy red hair was up in a loose bun. She drove over to the Rossi estate slowly, trying to calm her nerves as she went. This was the big leagues. She needed to succeed for her bosses to take her seriously. Pulling up in front of the opulent house, she parked and got out of the car. Walking up to the door, she hoped that she was prepared enough.

At the door she paused for a moment and then rang the doorbell.

It seemed like infinity before a stiff looking butler answered the door (if you can call him that, he really looked like a bouncer).

"Hi, I'm Joy Speldman from the Baker, Jackson and Hewitt law firm. I have a meeting with Mr. Rossi." She smiled politely, hoping to project confidence.

 

[Vagrant]

As she was escorted into his office, Matteo rose from his chair and came around the large oak desk to greet her. "Good afternoon! It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Matteo Rosi. And you are Sue..." He paused for a moment at a loss, but seeing the look on her face as he got her name wrong he wracked his brain to recall who he had been told would be coming to meet him. "No, that's not right, what is it.... JOY! That's it. Joy Speldman. Why did I have the name Sue on my mind? No matter. Come in, come in."

After she took a seat, he walked to the bar. "Can I get you a drink? I have Scotch, Whiskey, Amaretto... name your poison." He smiled at her with his best smile.

Already he was altering his plans. He had been planning on sidelining her, undermining her efforts, using the drug to make her perform poorly on the job to give him valid, unimpeachable grounds to have her removed without drawing suspicion as to why the under cover cop was unable to continue her assignment.

But now that he had seen her, he was reconsidering. Sure, she was plain and staid, dressed to minimize rather than enhance her femininity. He doubted she was even wearing makeup. But he could see there was potential there. She could be perfect. He would only have to mold her into what he wanted. And with the drug he could make her want it too.

Oh yes, this could be very fun indeed.

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy couldn't help but make a face when Mr. Rossi called her "Sue" but once he corrected himself, she smiled. "It's nice to meet you as well, Mr. Rossi." Joy took the seat that Mr. Rossi offered and tried to look comfortable. When he offered her a drink she replied "A whiskey sounds good."

Joy took the drink once he had it prepared and drank it slowly while she went through her pitch to Mr. Rossi.

Somehow, she dug deep and presented everything in a very confident manner to Mr. Rossi, trying her best to convince him that she was really a lawyer. There is a lot riding on her being convincing.

 

[Vagrant]

He poured the whiskey and unbeknownst to his guest he added a few drops of a clear, tasteless liquid in as well. To avoid any possibility of the drinks being confused, he fixed himself an amaretto sour.

Handing her the glass he moved back to the other side of his desk and sat in the fine leather chair. Matteo really wasn't expecting a large presentation, but he listened to her go through her notes.

As Joy was nearing the end he could tell she was starting to fade. The drug was having an effect on her and her eyes were dilating, her movements slowing.

"Excellent, Joy. That was very good. Now I need you to listen to me. I need you to listen to me very carefully.You're going to forget that we talked about this, but everything we discuss, everything you learn, will be etched deep in your mind. A part of who you are that you won't question." He kept his voice calm and soothing.

"I know you're a cop Joy... I know you're here to infiltrate my organization and bring me down. But that's ok. I'm not mad. But lets talk about you being a cop. I want you to forget why you became a cop. Forget it as if the reason never existed. You can't remember it because it was never there. There's a different reason you became a cop there in instead. A different reason... a better reason. Better than what? Who knows, it's the only reason you have for becoming a cop."

He took a sip of his drink as he regarded her. "It's time for you to find out what that reason is, Joy. The reason so strong and powerful that it influenced your entire career. That reason is Power, Joy. You want it, you lust after it. It makes you hot. It makes you wet. People doing what you tell them to do, because they have to, it arouses you. You know that you yourself have no real power, Joy. You know you don't have power. That's why you became a cop. So you could borrow power. It's not yours, the people who obey you know it's not yours. They're obeying someone else, not you. You're just the object through which the power flows. And that thought arouses you the most."

He leaned back. That was enough for now. "You're not going to remember any of this conversation, and you're not going to think that anything in our meeting was odd or strange."

As she came back to her senses, he had a smile on his face. "So, Joy. I'd like you to stay for dinner, if you're free. My family have always had a close relationship with our lawyers, and just because I'm changing law firms doesn't mean I want to change that. So I'd like for you and I to get to know one another better. What do you say?"

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy didn't taste anything strange in her drink, but she did wonder at the fuzziness in her head as she went through the last of her presentation. She wasn't a lightweight, so this was strange. As soon as that thought popped into her head she fell under the drug's effects.

As the drug took hold, Matteo's words etched into her brain.
Joy changed.
She became just a little different.

Power.

The pursuit of power.

That's what she craved. That's why she was in the FBI. That's why she wanted to prove herself. To get more power.

But he also said she was only borrowing the power. She was an "object" the power flows through. She didn't really own it. But Joy is very turned on by those in power. People like....him? Since she was still under the drugs effects, she wouldn't remember this musing...but it was also hidden somewhere inside her.

She came to slowly, seeing a smile on Matteo's face. She heard him ask her to stay for dinner and honestly, she couldn't see any reason not to stay. "I'd be delighted to stay for dinner. And also let me say that it will be a pleasure working for you sir, and I look forward to getting to know you better as well."

As they rose and walked toward the dining room, Joy had the strangest sensation of being aroused. But nothing had happened that would have provoked that response. "How strange." She thought. She didn't realize that her arousal scent was pretty strong. Strong enough for Matteo to smell.

 

[Vagrant]

Walking to the dining room, Matteo's smile only widened as he detected the scent of lust from his companion. He had thought to make the connection between her lust for power and himself later on, but it seemed that she had done that for him. The human mind was a wonder, given only a hand full of open ended instructions, and it would fill in the details in the most surprising of ways.

As dinner was served they drank a 20 year old bottle of wine, not the best in the family wine cellar, but certainly not an $8 bottle from the corner store either. "You know, I was not expecting you to come with a presentation about the legal services and direction you were intending to embark on as we establish this new relationship together. I had expected your firm to take it's time, spend my money and then come to me with something. I fully expected your visit today to be more of a social call. Since you and I will be working closely together, after all. I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong." He raised his glass in a toast. "To a well prepared brief."

Between courses he looked at her, wondering just how horny spending this time with him was making her. "I'm sure you're wondering why I would change lawfirms when my family has dealt with the same firm for over 30 years. But allow me to explain. It was never intended that I would take over the family businesses. I'm not sure anyone even considered the possibility. My brother Alessio was always to be Pater Familia, not me. I never minded that, it was less pressure on me after all. While Alessio learned everything there was to know about how our father ran the business, I was free to learn things in my own way. I am not Alessio, and I am certainly not my father, so now that I am Pater Familia I am hardly about to pretend that I am. I'm going to bring this family into the twenty first century. And those who underestimate me do so at their peril."

That last sentence was said, dripping with barely veiled malice.

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy's eyes widened at Matteo's frank disclosure. "May I be honest sir?" She asked. Receiving a nod from him, she continued. "My company is more than happy to be your new law firm. Since the letter of the law is our domain, we choose not to waste or squander your time or ours. I prepared the brief for today, because in my mind, you would want nothing less." She gulped. "As for the rumors of your family history and proclivities, those are not my business, nor the firms." She smiled. "We prefer to know only what is important to you legally. Plausible deniability if you will."

She took a long drink of wine. The malice in his voice was apparent. "We want to take care of you and your family and help you usher in a new image." Joy smiled. "The firm is very eager to help you with anything you might need and I am at your disposal."

 

[Vagrant]

"You're at my disposal, are you? Well that's a very enticing thought. Are you talking just legally, or in...other ways as well, hmmm?" He winks at her and drains his glass of wine.

He had cast the lure, but now it was time to set her spinning. She was, in truth nothing like the women he was attracted to. You could barely tell she was a woman at all, in his opinion. A real woman relished in her femininity, reveled in it. The woman before him was very nearly the exact opposite. "I'm only having a bit of fun with you Joy, I hope I didn't offend. You're not my type so I would sadly have t o decline even if you were to make the offer, which of course I know you weren't. You're all business, and you want to keep this relationship business, don't you. I can tell, I'm good at reading people. Which is exactly why you're not my type."

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy blushed. "No sir. I meant..." Her voice broke a little. "I meant that anything you need in a legal sense, that I will take care of it. My firm is very eager to prove to you that you made a good choice." She laughed a little. "I'm not willing to offer anything else to you at this point, so it is good that I'm not your type. That would make things even more complicated, wouldn't it?"

She took another drink of wine. "Now you said you wanted to get to know me...but we haven't really talked about anything personal. Was there something specific that you wanted to know, Mr. Rossi?"

 

[Vagrant]

"How rude of me, I've been dominating the conversation by talking about me. You're quite right, I did want to get to know you better. So, with that said, I want to know why you chose to become a Lawyer, surely there were other careers you could have pursued."

He wondered if she would tell him some modified version of what he told her about power, since Lawyers had a great deal of power, sometimes able to see the accused killed, or to save him from such a fate.

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy's eyes almost seemed to glaze over for a second when he asked the question. She thought for a moment and then answered: "I was attracted to the pull of the power. The funny thing is that lawyers themselves don't have the power, but the use laws and statutes to get the ruling they want from the judge, who has the power to recommend in favor or against. I like the pull between detective work and the tediousness of small details." She took another sip of wine.

"If I could have done anything else....I guess in a perfect world, I'd be the first female president. Since that's not going to happen, I'd say that the other thing that pulled me was writing. I like how the author has the power to create and mold the story. To bring the reader to a certain conclusion."

She took one more long swig, draining her glass. "I guess you could say that the common theme is the pursuit of power, or at least the appearance of it." The butler refilled her glass. "How about you? You mentioned that you are different from your father and your brother. What else would you want to be or do, given the chance?"

 

[Vagrant]

Matteo laughed. "I said I was different than them, not that I didn't want what they wanted, or to be what I am. I just have different ideas of how to achieve my goals. My father was old fashioned, if you shook his hand he treated that as firmly as a contract. It was part of his charm, but it also made him vulnerable. Deals would fall through, forcing him to retaliate, spending capital that wouldn't have needed spent if he had just been more practical. My brother was a traditionalist. He would have run the family in the exact same way our father did simply because that was how our father did. No innovation, no forward thinking."

"As for me, I'd rather shoot for the moon and miss than stay where I am. So I am absolutely certain that I'll be putting your firm to the test in dealing with my ambitions." He smirked at her. "We'll see how at my disposal you truly are."

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy nodded her understanding as he spoke. He was not a man that one would contradict lightly. "I think I understand what you mean. Just because something was done out of tradition, does not mean that it is the most expedient way to do it, or the most profitable. So moving forward and updating how you handle business seems to make a lot of sense."

She took another drink of her wine. "Also, since you truly have power, to have someone question it, is not acceptable. I can see how it would be important to have a standard set of procedures in place, so that anyone working with you would know what they are getting in to."

She smiled. "On the lighter side, what's your favorite food? Is there anything you're allergic to? I must admit that I am partial to chocolate, Asian food, and I'm allergic to sour cream." Her voice trailed off as she was suddenly very self-conscious. "Sorry if I'm talking too much." She said with a shrug. "Wine does that to me."

 

[Vagrant]

"I'm the head of a prominent Italian family. My father moved her from Sicily. I'm sure you can guess my favourite cuisine. Though aside from the obvious, I have to say I'm quite partial to Sushi. And if you talking more is a function of the wine..." He reached over and refilled her glass with the last of the bottle and motioned for another to be brought to the table.

"Power," He said, deciding to play with her a bit. "That's the second time you've used the term. I'm starting to think you have a thing for the idea of power. I've heard it said that Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Would you agree with that, Joy? I can call you Joy, can't I?" It was almost not a question, as if he would be shocked if she were to refuse him this sign of familiarity.

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy smiled. "I could have guessed, but I didn't want to offend you. Some people who are from a strong cultural background, don't like the food." She took a sip from the new glass of wine. "And sushi is awesome! I love sushi....and many other Asian dishes, but pastas and such have their place in my heart as well. I still dream of a cannoli that I had in little Italy in Boston."

Joy relaxed in her chair. "Power is a very compelling thing. I'm not sure I would say that it is the ultimate aphrodisiac, but it is on the list. There's just something about a person who actually has power....that's magnetic." Joy shifted in her chair, as if the topic was making her uncomfortable....or maybe a little turned on.

Joy took another drink, answering his statement. "I do not mind if you call me Joy. May I call you Matteo? Or do you prefer Mr. Rossi?" She smiled for a second. "I have really enjoyed this evening. I hope that you have as well, sir."

 

[Vagrant]

Matteo was nearly certain that if he made a pass at her now, she would acquiesce to his advances in the moment, but he was nearly as certain that in the light of a new day she would regret it and that would set back the progress he had made in just one dose immeasurably. That wasn't something he wanted to deal with, and fortunately, Matteo was nothing if not patient.

"When we're alone like this, you can absolutely call me Matteo. One thing my father and I did agree on was making everyone who worked directly for us feel like family. So if this partnership works out, you can consider yourself part of the Rosi family for as long as we work closely together."

Once the wine was gone, he stood and helped the now tipsy lawyer to her feet. "I enjoyed this evening as well. I'm going to have someone take you home, since you are quite obviously in no shape to drive. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, but not even I would advocate for that one." Alessio had been killed by a drunk driver, and while even before Matteo hadn't been too keen on the idea, afterwards he was staunchly against such recklessness. Even criminals had their better angels.

 

[smart_and_sexytxgirl]

Joy blushed at his words. "Thank you for looking out for me Matteo. I would not have driven myself home, but a reminder is always appreciated." She stumbled a little walking down the long hallway back to the main foyer. "I do think I over-indulged a little. That's not like me. But I am glad that we have ironed everything out and have come to an understanding of sorts." She drew in a long breath. "I won't let you down."

Joy thanked him again and followed one of Matteo's men out to a waiting car. She climbed in and headed home. The man told her that her car would be delivered to her shortly and that the key would be left with her doorman.

Joy crashed as soon as she got into her apartment. She didn't know that not only was she combating the wine, but the residual effects of the drug were wearing off as well. She woke in the morning feeling refreshed and headed to work, eager to keep up the momentum.