_“Going somewhere?”_ A deep, masculine voice seemed to chuckle behind me.

The instructions were simple: infiltrate the gala, swap the codes, and avoid the charming spy. __

__

The metal of the vent seems to echo loudly over the muffled music as I snap my hands back to my side. I feel my cheeks start to blush as I shuffle my heels around the lid of the toilet, clearly having been caught.

_“I- uh… bad date! Looking for a way to sneak out.” _I gulp, finally making eye contact with the voice.

He lends his hand out to help me down; the blood suddenly rushing to my head as I feel his other hand clutch my waist.

_“Looking for a way to sneak out… an air duct?” _He glances up toward the vent, then back to me. _“Really?”_

He positions his frame - perfectly blocking the door - arms crossed as the black suit seems to perfectly fold around his biceps. When suddenly, the bathroom light reflects perfectly off the black revolver tucked into the side of his belt. The realization begins to set in.

_Avoid the charming spy. _

_“Really.”_ I say back, slightly more sternly than was intended. I glance at the door behind him and begin to tap my heels, implying that he’s blocking the only exit.

His eyes grow darker as they proceed to look me up and down, only slowing as he gazes at the slit in my gown that’s currently exposing my impatiently moving leg before he steps towards me. As he attempts to place a hand on my face, I can’t stop my reflexes from catching him by the wrist to stop him.

He chuckles once more, twisting his arm hastily to change our positions. I feel the sensation of the cool door against my back as he proceeds to hoist my arm over my head. The warmth of his breath tickles my neck before reaching my ear. I gasp as I feel his hand running over my thigh until the sudden snap of the garter against my skin brings me back to reality. My breath shallows as vulnerability replaces the air in my lungs.

Now holding the blade I once thought I had concealed perfectly, he whispers,

_“Just tell me what you did to the original codes.” _