It only took that one moment (closed)

[zydrate]

***closed***

The dress... or in this case, gown, had to be flowy...

Besides, it would be kind of hard to hide her service pistol in a form fitting gown. Hell, this was the first time Nicole Mason was in a gown. But it was a necessity in this case because she was part of the detail that would be securing the party for when the prince arrived.

Everything seemed so boring so far. Just a bunch of dignitaries, the mayor, the governor... all whom Nicole had met for a brief moment as the party got started. In a few more minutes, the Prince would arrive for this state dinner.

Nicole hadn't told anyone she had worked with the prince before... not that he would recognize her nor know she was there among the guests. A couple of years back, Nicole was on a special mission with some other handpicked members of the military from different nations. All had some sort of special skill set or talent. And the Prince just happened to be one of the ones on the mission as he was fulfilling his military duty for his country. She had been irked that he was one of the ones there because not only was that endangering the mission, but they would have to make sure nothing happened to his ass.

Of course, after the mission, that all changed. No one had gotten hurt, they all went their separate ways and that was that. It was a love/hate relationship between them because she had been the only one to tell him, to his face, that he had better pull his weight and not to expect to be waited on hand and foot.

So yeah, he might remember her in that fashion.

 

[Homerun2611]

Prince Azir Alcamada was the crown prince of Arikistan. At 29 years old he was groomed to be the next ruler of this incredibly wealthy, yet small country. With its northern coast along the Mediterranean Sea, it had temperate climates, beautiful beaches, and strong fishing and agriculture. More importantly, as the 5th largest oil producer in the world, it had unparalleled wealth per capita. An interesting fact, despite the reality that 9o% of that wealth was owned by the royal family. Therein was the issue.

The natural pressure to overtake the King and steal or nationalize his riches, meant they lived on high alert. The trained and prepared a strong military the was prepared to fight enemies on every front, every front. Every front other than their key allies, the nations of North America, Western Europe and Scandinavia, and their unholy alliance with China. Those enemies were both internal and external. There were constant rumors of a military coup or a civil uprising. Azir actually understood some of Arkistan's peoples frustration and complaints. He vowed when he took power he would change many of his father's policies. But he needed to survive until that point.

The Prince not only handsome, he was incredibly well trained. His father had seen to that, a martial arts expert in Karate, Taekwondo and Escrima, a sharpshooter with both a pistol and a rifle, the ability to fluently speak 7 languages and holding an MBA from Stanford, the Prince was not one to be taken lightly. However, that is what SHE had done.

She would be here tonight. He had both admired the honesty of Agent Nicole, and been pissed at how little regard she had held him. He hadn't seen her since the mission, but she was here tonight. For some reason, she had stayed in his mind. Perhaps because she was the only woman he had ever met that hadn't treated him like a Prince. What he wasn't sure of, was whether he was actually looking forward to seeing her. However, if nothing else, it might make this hellaciously boring dinner at least a little bit interesting.

 

[zydrate]

A waiter passed and offered Nicole a glass of champagne, which she politely refused. She tried her best to be interested in the conversation she had gotten herself into but just couldn't, but it wasn't that obvious to the others in the small group--all men--as she laughed when they did and then nodded in agreement as they did. Yeah, pretty ordinary.

In fact, everything up to that point seemed normal. But that's what made her nervous.

Was she over re-acting?

That's when she heard the buzz of words in her earpiece, which was covered by her hair, so no one could see it. She excused herself from the group and walked away to do one more final check around the large dining hall because the prince was on his way.

As she checked around once more, she saw some new faces, no doubt, the Prince's men, making sure everything was good. She remembered when she was asked to help out and she had tried to get away from it but the chief wasn't having it. Everyone did at least one state dinner and well, tonight was her turn.

At least she'd get a free meal out of it, right?

"Relax Detective," she heard a voice behind her say... it almost sounded a but slurry...probably from a little too much champagne. It was the Mayor. She knew him...or at least of him and his handsy ways... "You should learn to enjoy yourself Ms. Mason, it'll all be over before you know it." He said as he took her arm and lead her to his table, where she would be dining.

"Well Mayor Lawson, I am here to do a job, not have fun, remember?" She said, her voice full of sarcasm, "By the way, where is your wife?"

Oh, Nicole knew full well where the wife was. The mayor's personal life had dominated the news lately due to the trouble his marriage was facing lately. Seems Mrs. Mayor had found a new boy toy and had said she was leaving the mayor for her new man.

Well, one thing led to another and yeah... cops had ended up there that night because of accusations... the court date is pending.

Before the mayor could say anything, Nicole heard the announcement.

"He's here."

 

[Homerun2611]

The Prince walked in, his men on each side of him, and he was soon surrounded. This was the job and he knew it. Pressing flesh, improving the perception of his country and gaining supporters in the US. He knew the role and played it well. A dazzling smile generally adorning his lips. His bright white teeth a compelling contrast to his deep caramel skin, jet black hair, and dark, dark brown eyes.

It was always the same, wannabe politicians and business men, trying to ingratiate themselves to him, photo ops with one of the 100 wealthiest and most eligible younger bachelors in the world. He tended to talk more in groups rather than one on one. He had mastered "group talk" meaningless hums with just the right mixture of laughs, smiles, and head nodding. That was the first 30-45 minutes always. Then they would sit down to dinner, he was always at the head table, seated next to the highest official there. Tonight it was a US Senator representing the great state of New York. Next to him, on the other side, was either the man or woman who had paid the most to be there. Tonight it was a woman, a stunningly beautiful and very wealthy socialite, the wife of the head of a New York wealth management firm, one of the big guys, the biggest, and they desperately wanted some of his family's assets to manage. She had a different plan. She had a daughter you see, one who would be just perfect for him. He smiled and tried to put it off. "You know Prince, my husband will be headed back to the Hamptons tonight, but I am going to be staying over...as is my daughter". He felt her hand slide up his thigh, and had to stifle a chuckle. 'This was a new one'. He had many a debutante offered by many an ambitious mother, but this appeared to be a package deal...one experienced, probably highly talented pussy for a night, maybe more, if he were willing to entertain the idea of the virginal, inexperienced one she was trying to marry off.

It wasn't as if he didn't entertain some of the offers, he enjoyed bedding women, all types, but it stopped there. He would never consider marrying one of these well cofed but vacuous whore offers, offered up by some of the highest class pimps in the world. No, he would enjoy, quite often taking their virginity, and then he would send a lovely bauble to commemorate the event. He had heard the stories of Yankee's shortstop Gary Jeter's departure packages. An autographed ball, candy, some small jewelry. The Prince sent gold rolexes, or diamond tennis bracelets. The girl felt reasonably appreciated, and the mother/father pimp, at least had gotten a good price for the forfeiture of their daughter's chastity.

Now, a woman like that was for fucking and throwing away, he wanted a challenge, an equal, a woman worthy of his scarce time and availability. As the night went on he finally saw her, Nicole, he wanted to at least say hi. He walked over looking at her, but the mayoor interceded, signaling for photographers to "capture the moment". The Prince looked at Nicole, then the mayor. "Sir the photographers will not be necessary. Thank you for coming tonight, but I understand you may be having some, shall we say, brand issues. I do not need my association bringing into question if you and I have a relationship. We don't".

He saw the agent suppress her laugh, and he walked by the huffing and puffing mayor. "I'm sorry, but I believe I know Agent Mason..." moving close to her and taking her by the arm, "...we do know each other Nicole, don't we...I think the last time we spoke you told me you didn't want me, what was it...oh yes, endangering the mission?...and then we got cornered, and i was the only one capable of speaking fluent Iranian...that was it wasn't it...or perhaps I have my facts wrong". He was smiling, not angry, but he did want her to know, he remembered.

 

[zydrate]

Oh Lord, the couldn't turn any redder, either from anger or embarrassment...maybe both. Either way, it took a lot to suppress a smile as she turned her full attention to the Prince.

"That's right." She said, not bothering to deny it. "And just because you speak another language didn't mean you still weren't a liability, your highness." That tone. She had used it before when they were planning out the initial stages of the mission. Of course she had wanted to say it many times over open comm but knew that THAT would be dangerous had anyone been able to listen in.

Why did he infuriate so? She had never met the man before that one mission. Maybe it was because she truly thought he shouldn't be there. How had he earned the right to be there with the rest of the team, ready to give his life? OK, maybe it was because Nicole worked hard to get where she was. And here...this man..this Prince, just stepping out of nowhere to fight as an equal?

Of course, she didn't hate the man, necessarily. She just....just hated the rich and spoiled. And there was no way in hell she was jealous just because her upbringing was as glamorous as his.

"Besides, I'm not here for fun. I'm here to make sure this state dinner is safe. Seems we had to pull in some extra man power because of it being so high profile." With a deep breath, Nicole tilted her head slightly, "From what I can see, you're used to all this I suppose." This definitely wasn't Nicole's scene of choice. If anything, she would probably be home right now, in shorts and t-shirt, Netflixing it alone. Just like always after work.