7. SWEPT AWAY.

Angel.

Stepping into the field office, I knew I was in big trouble. My black suit from last night was rumpled, and my hair was disheveled, but the bigger problem was Cyrus—my SSA.

I woke up to twelve missed calls from him and a couple of texts that I didn't bother reading.

Thoughts of the masked man from yesterday plagued my mind even as I made my way to my office.

We had gone to a hotel last night, and spent the whole night devouring each other well into the early hours of the morning, when I managed to fall asleep.

I woke up to find that he was gone, no contact information left. To him, it was just a senseless hookup but to me, it was more than that.

“Di Cristina,” I heard someone yell.

I stopped in my tracks and turned to face Cyrus, who was looking at me with a murderous expression on his face.

“My office, now.”

He didn't bother waiting for a reply before he turned on his heels and entered his office. I tried running my hand through my hair a couple of times as I followed him, trying to fix my disheveled look even though I knew it was hopeless.

Dan, my partner, slid beside me and said, “Oops! Seems like someone's in trouble.”

I ignored his jab, knowing he just wanted to get a rise out of me. He had pleaded to be the one sent on the undercover mission yesterday, but Cyrus had refused his request, saying I was the best man for the job.

He had then been assigned to monitor the mission, making sure I wasn't in any trouble. And now that I had somehow found a way to fuck that up—of course, he would be there to dig in deeper into the wound.

I already knew I was not in for a pleasant experience in Cyrus’ office, so when he began yelling at me, I didn't say a word—just kept my gaze lowered in respect.

It was my fault a stranger had managed to charm me away from my job last night.

“Where the hell were you last night?” Cyrus asked after he was done yelling.

I didn't know how to answer that, so I kept quiet.

“Di Cristina, do you know the importance of the job I put you on last night? Do you know how many times Dan has requested to be the one assigned to that particular job? And do you know why I insisted that you be the one to do it?”

“No sir.”

“Because I trusted you. Because you have the highest rate of pulling off undercover jobs, and you have never failed a mission before. But after that stunt you pulled yesterday…” he paused, and I steeled myself.

“Why didn't you answer your phone? You replied to my texts, and four hours later, when you were supposed to report back, you just went off the grid?”

“My phone was on silent mode, sir. I lost track of time and I honestly didn't see your calls until some minutes ago,” I replied, hoping my explanation would be enough.

“That is totally understandable. But what I can't seem to understand is: what were you doing? According to my sources, you didn't even stay for more than an hour in the ballroom. Where did you go?”

At this point, I was sweating and cursing inwardly.

Because how do you explain to your direct supervisor that you were busy having sex with a masked stranger that managed to charm you out of doing your job?

Oh, shit. Dan would have definitely seen me yesterday, kissing and groping the masked man outside the club.

Did he tell?

Now, I was fidgeting. How I had somehow forgotten about Dan last night—and the mission as a whole—was still a mystery.

Cyrus sighed when it seemed like I wasn't forthcoming with any information.

“Did you manage to gather any Intel?”

“No sir,” I replied shamefully.

He sighed again. “You're dismissed, Agent Di Cristina.”

But as I got turned to leave, his voice stopped me. “You have never given me a reason to doubt you, Angel. Don't start now.”

Those words pierced through my chest as I left for my office. Cyrus had been like a father figure to me ever since I watched my dad get murdered ten years ago.

The disappointment in his voice made my chest tighten as I entered my office. I groaned when I saw Dan sitting leisurely at his desk. I didn't know how I wasn't prepared to meet him—we shared an office after all.

“So how did it go?” He asked, turning his attention to me.

I shrugged and feigned indifference as I went to my desk. “It went well.”

“Really?” I looked up to see his eyes cocked at me, like he didn't believe it.

“Yeah, really.”

“No punishment, whatsoever? How?”

“Dan,” I turned my body to face him. “If you have something to say, just say it. Or you can pick it up with Cyrus.”

“Oh, I have lots to say, Angel.” He spat my name out like a poison. “But for now, I'll let sleeping dogs lie. It's obvious you didn't tell Cyrus what you were up to last night.”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration. Here comes the blackmail.

“I'm doing you a favor by keeping it a secret. Soon, I'll call in my favor and you better be willing to help, partner.”

With that, he strode out of the office. Once he was out, I buried my face in my hands and let out a frustrated groan.

I should go to Cyrus's office right now and tell him what happened last night, so that Dan would have nothing on me in the future.

But the look of disappointment on his face when I left there some minutes ago was still replaying in my mind.

And I just knew there was no way I could tell him that I had abandoned an important mission for a tumble in the sheets.