otomescriptdoctor

[otomescriptdoctor]

Masking - Chapter 5

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27939147/chapters/68519532 He’s agreed to let you monitor him in exchange for your later services. This is not how you saw this night folding. You wonder why he needs someone whom he believes to be a government spy. Parliament is about to recess before the snap election. Are his motivations political? You speculate with so little evidence. Better than thinking about how your heart rate is still racing from his unorthodox oathmaking.

“From now on, you’ll be acting with me.”

“Like you want me to come to work with you?”

Kei laughs. “Oh no, no, no. What are you talking about? I mean...You’ll be by my side 24/7.”

Isn't that awfully extreme? Shouldn’t have put it past him, though. He's been very thorough so far. His only blindspot being that he seized on the idea that you're a government agent and discarded all other possibilities. The usual fatal flaw of highly intelligent people. Your hindbrain chimes in.

Alpha wants to protect us. That's why he wants to be near.

Perish the thought. At least this means your job is much easier in a sense. You are supposed to be surveilling him, after all. The only trouble is, how do you report to the Boss? You turn your head upwards and notice the cameras. This is going to be tricky, to say the least.

Kei gathers the glasses, putting them casually back on the tray. He clearly doesn't trust having staff within his home either.

“It’s not as if you’re a prisoner, though. Feel free to make yourself at home here. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” Kei brings the tray into the kitchen and starts washing the spoon and absinthe glasses.

You snort derisively, “Got it. How sweet of you.”

Alpha knows he has to take care of us. Why don't you trust Alpha?

Your Omega seems insistent on trusting him. You're torn. All your training is at odds with your instincts.

Kei replies cheerfully, “But of course! You’re my accomplice now. It’s only natural I treat you well.” He smiles, as if he wasn’t just licking green liquor off of your lips not five minutes ago. He continues, “Now then, if you work for the government, then you must be reporting to a superior.” He continues tidying away the drink accessories.

You nod.

“Report to your superior. Right here, right now. Contact your boss.” Kei doesn’t even look at you while making this request.

You’re not so certain about this part. What if Kei traced the call? Maybe you could bluff. It’s worth a shot. “My bosses could figure out you’re up to something. If I were you, I wouldn’t let me make a report from here.”

He finishes with his cleanup, and chuckles softly. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but you don’t need to worry about me. Just contact your boss and make a status report. I’ll be fine.”

Once again, there is an illusion of having a choice, but you see he’s forced you into only one outcome. You turn the video off on your phone and run it through your VPN, to at least make it a little more difficult to trace your employers. If he’s going to do it, He should have to work for it. Turning the video off is a signal to your Boss that you’re in a situation where a target could see his face. Might as well put on a show, just a little razzle dazzle. You don’t intend to keep him long.

The boss’s voice plays through your phone’s speaker, “Heyyy Nagisa. How’s it going?”

This is a very casual greeting even for him, and he’s using your alias. You turning off the video portion is the standard operating procedure for reporting in a place where you’re probably on camera.

“I’m calling to report on the results of today’s assignment. Per Kei’s suggestion, I’m going to be working with him as his partner while he is in Japan. Evidently, he was pleased with the way I helped him entertain his guests for afternoon tea.”

“Excellent. Keep me updated on his every move. You’re doing alright, I presume?” Alright is one of your code words for if you need extraction or other help without blowing your cover to bits.

“Yep, everything’s great. Well, talk to you later.”

You hang up the call, keeping it brief enough that tracing it will be an exercise in futility. You didn’t exactly lie to the boss. Unless you count lies of omission. You feel a little sick for giving an incomplete status report. But what choice did you really have?

The Alpha smiles at you, pleased with your little performance. “Sounds like you’re going to have to keep him ‘up to date’ on my every move.”

You want to scowl at this man so badly. He is treating this like a game. You don’t have that luxury without any of your weapons. There’s an awkward silence while you stare at each other. “So what’s next?” you ask, impatient to break the silence. You’re feeling a little overtired from the back and forth, and would welcome a few moments in sweet oblivion. You lean back in the sofa and exhaustion starts closing your eyes.

“Come this way.” he pulls you up from the couch firmly, and leads you into another room.

It’s a beautifully appointed guest room. Ivory curtains frame the windows, but they’re a heavy velvet, so they would keep the room dark during the day if desired. The view of Tokyo is incredible up here, a sea of stars in the inky void of night. Every stick of furniture is a beautifully restored antique. Maybe from his family’s home? It’s almost nice except… there are cameras everywhere. That panics you, a little, and the adrenaline wakes you up.

“You’ve got quite the place here.,” you say, while motioning to the cameras.

“I have friends who are into some pretty...hm… shall we say sinister stuff.” His smile is chilling.

“What are you plotting?

“Me?” he scoffs. “You’re the one monitoring me. That’s on you to figure out, isn’t it?”

“Fair point.”

You might as well be in an actual cage. Ensnared. Ah. that’s how this feels. It’s hard to breathe around him, scent notwithstanding. You’ve been caught in his web, and for your part, eagerly awaiting his treacherous caress. So much for thinking you earned his trust earlier.

“Next, I’d like you to take off your clothes.”

You give him a blank stare, pointedly blinking. He can’t be serious. Kei pulls out a small briefcase from under the bed and slides it towards you. He steps back and leans against the wall, watching you.

“Remove everything you’re wearing -- everything you don’t need -- and put it in that briefcase. Don’t forget your jewelry and your phone.”

“I didn’t think you were the kind of guy who’d watch a woman change clothes.”

His laugh is sinister mischievous. “I don’t know what gave you that impression. But this is who I am.” He leans against the wall and pulls out his phone, starting to read.

“I thought you were supposed to be the darling of English High Society. A veritable prince.”

“Princes are still only men, after all.” Kei again makes eye contact with you. It’s not passion in his eyes, but it grips you nonetheless. Your instinct is to shrink from his gaze. Every sense says he’s right next to you though, that there is no escape. You search your alias’s notes for anything to center around. Ah yes, Nagisa was very flirtatious. Might as well make it a show, right?

You turn your back to him and unzip your dress and let it fall to the floor. He looks you over once, and hurriedly turns back to his phone.

Maybe he’s telling himself it was just to make sure you’re not carrying any weapons.

You could hear a fucking pin drop in this room. His scent intensifies, and you pick up a hint of confusion. It seems like the ice prince isn’t entirely unaffected, though he regains his poker face. He must be trying his best to look disinterested. You slowly peel off every layer, catching his occasional stolen glances.

Though you’d consider yourself to be in control at the moment, your pulse is racing due to his scent. You detect very strong, focused interest from him, only growing in intensity. Your breathing is a little shallower than usual. Is this what it’s like to be with an Alpha?

You place everything, stockings, garter belt, and jewelry into the briefcase. You only have your bra and slick soaked panties left. Unless..

“Are you going to make me remove my undergarments as well?”

Kei doesn’t look up from his phone again when he replies. “No, that’s fine. Making women strip under these circumstances isn’t really my thing.” He shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts. He approaches you and closes the briefcase, pulling away from you quickly and crossing to the door.

“I’ll have a change of clothes ready for you. In the meantime. You can use the dressing gown in the closet. Good night, sleep tight.” He leaves, shutting the door behind him.

Though the room is still full of cameras, Kei leaving the room lets you exhale a breath you were holding.

He could have taken you forcefully like you’ve heard about other Alphas before.

He didn’t.

Another startling realization, up until this afternoon, he was distinctly Mr. Soejima. After he told you to call him Kei, it’s like a switch was flipped. Your curse, your biology betraying you still.

At least he didn’t know your bra still has a camera and recording device. Small blessings for repurposed areas of push-up bras. You can still do your work.

You have an unshakeable feeling that he’s definitely got something worth exposing to put you through the wringer like this.

---

You wake up. Right. He’s essentially got you on house arrest. You put on the ivory satin dressing gown. There’s a clothing box outside the door. You quickly pull the box inside and check the labels. He must have measured your confiscated dress to get your size. There’s some undergarments as well. There’s a note that falls out after you put away the clothes. It reads: Come down for breakfast in my office.

[otomescriptdoctor]

Masking - Chapter 4

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27939147/chapters/68499806 Kei’s voice breaks your concentration. “I couldn’t help but overhear some of the things you were saying. I was a bit surprised at the breadth of your knowledge.” Your throat is almost painfully dry, being so affected by his scent just being everywhere around you.

Just have to keep calm, you tell yourself. You turn around to face him, saying, “What a lovely place.” Your eyes flit to a keypad on this side of the door, including a motion sensor. The lock must have been automatic. That’s a rather serious setup, and you realize that you likely have no escape route here. This is the top floor after all. And you’re not exactly equipped to break out of plate glass windows and rappel down a building. This means you’re at Kei’s mercy. Shit. Shit. Shit.

It takes everything to keep your face a neutral slate, and you watch him as he goes to casually grab a glass from his cabinet, filling it with water and taking a drink. Kei watches you in turn, with amusement. You know your face hasn’t broken out in panic, but wonder if perhaps he’s figured it out some other way.

“You can’t be too careful about security in my line of work. Sorry to scare you.” He almost sounded apologetic. Almost.

“Scare me? You’re… not going to lock me up in here, are you?” Fear creeps into your voice, despite your best efforts.

Kei laughs, “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“This is a lot of space for just one person.”

“Well, I invite my close friends, Kazuomi and Yuzu, sometimes. But...I don’t often have women over.”

“You know, no one believes men when they say things like that.” You keep walking around the lounge, looking for any other paths of escape. Kei laughs, “You’re surprisingly...Actually, nevermind, it’s not that much of a surprise.” His piercing, darkened gaze grips you. “You’re tough.”

You daintily sit down on the large sofa, and watch Kei for a while instead. He returns to the kitchen area, and grabs two small glasses, a tall green bottle, and brings over a tray with an odd spoon and a sugar bowl.

Kei sighs, as he sets the tray down on the coffee table and sits on the adjacent loveseat. He loosens his scarf just a bit, and runs his hands through his hair.

“I wish I could hire a full staff for afternoon tea, but… with so many people discussing possible investments, I can’t hire just anyone. It’s all about...trust.”

This was not what you’d expected. “I’m sure,” you offer sympathetically.

“I’m always understaffed when I host afternoon tea outside of England. You ended up helping me out this time around, but I really ought to come up with a better solution.”

He picks up the unfamiliar deep green bottle. You’ve never seen this before.

“What’s this?” you ask.

“Absinthe. It’s an anise-flavored spirit. It’s very well known in Europe. It has a distinctive taste. People either like it or they hate it.” He continues, in a lower tone, as he swirls the liquid in the bottle meditatively, “I chose it for you because you have piqued my curiosity. To tell you the truth, I only bring out the absinthe if I’m with someone I’m certain will enjoy it.”

Anise-flavored? Oh, the madeleines were anise-flavored, weren’t they, you think. Licorice is a very polarizing flavor. That explains why the bottle is nearly full, then. Your heart flutters at his gesture, even knowing it’s likely a ploy just to make you feel special.

“There’s something very appealing about a man who can sate a woman’s curiosity.”

You’ve never had absinthe before. You remember hearing about it when studying abroad. The green fairy. Rumored to be hallucinogenic, but it’s probably just a strong liquor. Made with wormwood, you think. You don’t typically accept drinks from targets while on the job, and there’s no telling what he could slip in there. ‘Never accept drinks from the bad guy,’ that’s literally secret agent 101.

Alpha wouldn’t do that to us.

Kei places the curious spoon on his glass. It’s shaped like a leaf, and perforated with tiny holes.

“And what’s that?” Curiosity is getting the better of you tonight. “Les cuilleries, an absinthe spoon essentially. You use it when drinking absinthe for the preparation. You place a cube of sugar on the spoon and pour the absinthe over it.” He cracks open the lid and the licorice-y scent wafts out, intermingling with his natural Alpha scent. He pours a little absinthe into both glasses. He opens the pewter sugar bowl, and delicately uses the tongs to dip a sugar cube into the green liquid before setting it on top of the pierced area of the spoon. Then he strikes a match to light it on fire. You both watch the flame flicker and caramelize the sugar for a few moments before he dips the spoon into the absinthe and swirls it, starting a controlled burn inside the glass. He repeats this process for your glass. His eyes are so dark, with the flames twinkling like small torches in a deep dark cavern. Threatening to swallow you whole. He then pours ice cold water carefully into both glasses to extinguish the flame and cause it to cloud over.

“So, this is how you’re supposed to drink absinthe?” you ask.

“Well, I’m being a bit showy about it, but I like to play with fire, a little. I find it makes quite the impression, don’t you?”

The flames could also have been seen as a little romantic, but you want to perish that intrusive thought. Kei is a little too much of a smooth operator, you realize.

“Absinthe has been called ‘forbidden nectar’, ‘the devil’s drink’, and--”

“La fée verte,” you offer a little too quickly. Oops.

“The green fairy, yes. But I thought you’ve never had Absinthe?”

“I’ve never seen it before in the flesh, but I’ve at least heard of it.”

Kei continues on his lecture, “Well, it has had a long history with connections to a number of cultures. Medieval Europe, ancient Greece, the middle east...” His voice trails off as you both realize you’re staring at each other. You look away and he clears his throat, continuing, “Absinthe preparation had been poisonous due to adulterants like copper sulfate, or antimony, and was rumored to cause hallucinations so it was banned for a time. That’s how this infamous liquor earned its nicknames, but the modern day product is perfectly safe.”

Sensing my unease at him being so close, with his scent growing stronger, he softens his tone. “It’s captured the likes of Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec among its fair share of hearts… making it the perfect drink for you.”

“Just who is capturing whom?” you murmur softly. Oh no, that was out loud.

He just smiles, and offers you a glass.

“We won’t find out until after we drink.”

You take the glass of green liquid, gone somewhat milky with the swirled, burnt sugar.

“I hope you like it.”

He sips at his glass and watches you. You bring the glass up to your nose to sniff at the interesting olfactory bouquet.

“It smells very strongly of licorice, I can see how this is an acquired taste.” You make no move to drink, however.

Kei leans forward in his seat, grinning. “Well...why don’t you tell me a little about yourself, Nagisa Mikami? Or...would you prefer I called you by another name?”

Your heart hammers away ominously in your chest. Your mind empties itself, trying to think of what to do. You think of the cyanide capsule in your clutch. You foolishly thought you were holding your ground with this unreadable man, but now you’re the one caught in the honey trap. You curse at yourself for not being able to resist your own biology. You don’t dare let this show on your face.

Kei notices your loss for words, and his grin becomes a triumphant smirk. You’re not sure if it’s just his face, or the affect his scent is having on you, but you find it dangerously alluring. Just the notion sends a chill racing down your spine. You’re intent on calmly meeting his gaze directly, even as you’re feeling like your heart might stop at any moment.

So he thinks you’re possibly using a fake name. Still have no reason to give him the satisfaction of being right. You allow your face to settle into a sultry sneer, “Another name? Whatever do you mean? Is that absinthe getting to you already?” You giggle before continuing, “Do you have me confused for another woman? I thought you were better than that.” You pointedly cross your legs, intending to take back control of this situation by using your Omega’s desire to appeal to his Alpha, exuding an unflappable, purposeful confidence.

“Drunk? Maybe.”

He sips a little more of his drink before leaning toward you.

“But I think I was right to seek you out. You’re perfect.”

His cool fingers reach out toward your cheek. His elegant fingers are perfectly manicured, and make contact with your skin, drawing away some of the heat flushing there.

Alpha is curious about us.

“So, what name will I call you by?” His hand cups the side of your face. You’re already feeling that uncomfortable dampness that you thought was over for this month.

“Nagisa Mikami is just fine. Why are you so eager to give me a nickname already?”

Kei continues to smile, touching his forehead to yours. “James Bond...MI6...The Secret Intelligence Service...England is obsessed with spies. So when a beautiful woman -- an unmated omega, no less -- appears in front of me, out of nowhere...” He flicks his eyes’ focus into yours. “I have got to assume she is either a spy or an assassin.”

You protest, “Are those the only two options, then? That’s not terribly creative. That doesn’t sound like the educated, intelligent Kei I met downstairs.”

“You think you know me pretty well, hmm?” Kei regards you with fascination twinkling in his eyes.

You continue, “If you were trying to hide your intelligence, you really messed that up for yourself with the way you were talking at afternoon tea.” You’re flying by the seat of your pants, scrambling through anything that might be used to bolster your confidence. It looks bad at the moment. You feel like your own bravado might have finally failed you this time when thinking about getting alone with an Alpha who affected you this deeply. You regret not handing this off and removing yourself from this mission sooner.

But, Kei must have known this would happen. Curiosity killed the cat, and you were very curious. Maybe, just maybe you can simply charm your way out of this.

“Last I checked, James Bond is fictional.”

“I know, but 007 jokes aside...I’m on an unofficial visit to Japan. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the government took the precaution of putting me under surveillance. The British government takes those kinds of measures when other countries’ diplomats start acting strangely.”

What a fortuitous turn! At least he doesn’t know where you’re from. “You mean...You think I’m a spy sent by the government?”

“Or maybe an assassin,” his smile is cold, and his face settles once again into a sharp glare as his grip tightens into your hair.

The crushing anxiety you were feeling at being caught in a trap evaporates. Maybe you can salvage this. He still essentially knows nothing. Not your real name, not your agency. He may be moving me into check, but he hasn’t clinched the checkmate yet. You refocus your alias in your mind. He should believe you are a government spy, cleverly caught out by him. This is your last chance to catch him unguarded.

You speak, but with the air of neither confirming nor denying his suspicions. “You must like spy movies. I do too, but it’s important to distinguish fiction from reality. If what you’re suggesting is true, Kei...Why not shoot me dead right now?”

“That kind of thing happens in movies all the time… I’m not a huge fan of guns, though.” He releases his hold on your hair, trailing his fingers downward until they rest on your neck, his elegant fingers on both sides of your throat. Your heart is racing again. His hand is large enough to crush your windpipe.

Kei moves his head close to your ear. “If all you want to do is watch me, I don’t mind. You can watch me all you like.” His voice somehow reminds you of some lovers’ pillow talk. But that may just be your Omega reacting.

“What...what do you mean?” That comes out a little breathier than you expected.

“In exchange...I’d like for you to be my accomplice.”

Something tells you this isn’t just picking up the slack on his afternoon tea duties.

“I’ll tell you more once you’ve signed a contract. You don’t have to worry. It won’t be anything illegal.” You look at him curiously, but he continues, “There’s something I need to take care of, and I could use the talents of a capable woman like yourself.”

You think, this could work out well, you’d definitely find out why he’s in Japan. And he wouldn’t think to look further to find out your real identity. That’s a risk you’re willing to take to get out of this. May as well play a little though, flirting is the fun part, after all.

“And if I refuse?”

Kei frowns a little, furrowing his brow. “That would be a problem. I hadn’t considered that possibility. What should I do if you tell me no…?” You feel his grip on your neck pressing ever so slightly into your skin. No one ever said Alphas were normal.

“...Fine, I’ll indulge your little fantasy. After what’s happened today, it would probably even be educational.” You make a big show out of being ‘found out,’ lowering your eyes in resignation. You submissively meet his gaze again to look at his triumphant expression. At last, his hand pulls away from your neck.

“Well then, it’s a deal. Let’s drink on it.” Kei pushes your glass of absinthe towards you.

You reach for it, bringing it up to your lips; aware of Kei’s steady gaze trained on you the whole time.

“You actually have to drink this time. No pretending like you did last time.”

Guilty. You steel your nerves. Is there still some way to avoid drinking with him? If the final nail in your coffin before was your refusal to drink, maybe you should refuse again? As long as I can keep him on his toes, I can regain the advantage. “You want me to drink something this strong all alone with a man I just met…? I’d have to have a death wish.” You craft your expression into something innocent.

Kei smiles at you, cheerful in reply, “We’re no longer two people you ‘just met.’ If you’re going to be my accomplice, you’ve got to trust me.” He picks up the glass, pressing it into your hand. He then grazes his fingers along your lip, to show you he is watching this very closely.

You take a single sip of the absinthe. Licorice flavor is awash over your taste buds, and you hesitate to swallow. Kei’s fingers trail back down your face, along your neck as you involuntarily swallow. You feel a trickle of the cocktail dripping out of the corner of your mouth. That sneak is looking so smug, and self satisfied. You’re wondering how you ever thought he looked like a fairy tale prince.

“What do you think of the flavor?”

“It’s.. a lot to take. Like you, in a way. You and the way you do things.”

Kei lowers his voice once again and brings his face into your neck, breathing deeply, “I’ve just been captivated by your beauty, that’s all. The way your veins show ever so slightly under your delicate skin… makes me want to kiss them.” You feel his lips move downwards along those very spots and you shudder. Controlling someone like this is playing with fire, you think.

He moans into your neck, “Mmm, yes I definitely like you better without the mask. I want to see all of the different sides of you.” His voice tickles your rapidly heating skin.

Alpha wants us.

“...You just might get the chance. If you play your cards right, that is.” When did your voice become so breathy? Your throat is so dry.

Kei pulls his face up to look back into your eyes in response, “Sounds like a challenge has been issued. I’ll have you show you what I’m made of.” He punctuates his comment by licking the remaining absinthe from your lips. His tongue sends arcs of pleasure thrilling through your every breath.

You’re frozen, staring at Kei. He leans back, smiling.

“Well then, I suppose it’s now my turn…” Kei picks up his glass and knocks back the whole thing in one go.

“That seals our deal.”

“If you say so.” You feel your confident Nagisa mask slipping. What was that feeling? Logically this is still going your way but… as you look at his confident smirk, worry starts melting into an impending sense of anxiety and doom.

[otomescriptdoctor]

Masking - Chapter 3

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27939147/chapters/68493032 You step off the elevator at the top floor.

The Interior is sumptuous, but you don't get time to take it in fully before Soejima leads you inside. He holds the door open, and bows slightly. His commitment to playing Prince Charming would be impressive if he wasn't the target of your investigation.

"After you, Nagisa."

You nod your head and step inside a bright, open space. It reminds you of a greenhouse, with floor to ceiling windows allowing natural light to flood the space. Harp music flows in from another room. Did he hire a harp player? Every pluck is clear as a bell, and soothing. Two massive bookcases dominate this main room, one filled with decor and books-as-decor and the other, adjacent to a wet bar, filled with bottles of rare vintages of wine. Many of them still look full. There is no ladder in sight.

You approach the center of the room to look at the main spread. A semi circular leather couch and two accent chairs surround a glass topped low round table filled with trays of cookies and sandwiches, chocolate, desserts. Despite the sumptuous spread, the relaxed atmosphere suggests that many of his guests are regular attendees.

Around the room are other tables for private conversation, appointed with bright white table cloths. The chatter is lively. Hotel waiters glide throughout to refresh tea pots and trays of treats.

Nothing sketchy or sleazy at all. You inwardly sigh in relief that this will be nothing like the suggestive environs of the masquerade. And yet...you feel a slight twinge of regret that you likely won't be verbally sparring with Kei Soejima today. He seems to be on his best behavior today, in fact.

This mission has nothing to do with wrongdoing, and you remind yourself this is a target and a mission somewhat different than your usual. You've always gotten a thrill out of exposing a closet full of skeletons. But this is merely watching someone. Being reduced to a walking camera feels below your formidable skill set.

Soejima turns around to face you. "In addition to the basic afternoon tea menu…there's champagne, brandy and other drinks as well." He waves to the well stocked wet bar you noticed on your way in. "Feel free to help yourself to whatever you'd like."

You reply politely, "Thank you. What a lovely space you have up here."

A smile warms his face -- accepting your compliment. He takes a deep bow before continuing, "Thank you, I'm flattered you think so. I want this space to be a place for lots of people to come and share ideas."

He starts walking towards the windows, and your feet follow him to a small table by the window. You both take your seats and a waiter approaches the table. Soejima claps his hands, exclaiming, "it wouldn't be a good tea party without any tea. Let's start off with some, shall we?"

"Sure."

"Your choices are Earl Grey, Assam, and Darjeeling."

"I will take the Darjeeling, if you don't mind."

Soejima smiles at the water. "I'll have the same, then. Bring over a little of everything, as well." The waiter nods and disappears through a side door.

Soejima is certainly laying it on thick today. How should you approach conversation? You're to assess the real reason he came to Japan. Typically you get close to your target for information, but you're hesitant. His scent completely overwhelmed your senses two nights ago. Today it’s barely noticeable. To say your hindbrain is confused is an understatement. Your rational mind is relieved - you can treat him like anyone else.

“Soejima, I heard you own this floor?” “Yes, a friend of mine owns this hotel, so… he sold me this floor to use while I stay in Japan on business. He gives me free rein to hold whatever gatherings I want. I'm very lucky.”

You scan his eyes for any hints of mischief and find none. His face is a perfect mask of calm. Not likely to get anything out of him in public. You maintain your wariness, though. Your eyes flit to the scarf he is wearing around his neck. It’s a bit out of place, and it looks a little suspicious for a well-put together man like Soejima.

“As you saw from my business card, I am a diplomat. So whenever I am in Japan, I like to make the most of my time. Oh! Right on time.” His attention snaps over to the approaching waiter.

They bring a large tray and expertly set up a stand, carefully balancing the large tray on it. The spread they brought over is rather ambitious for your small table. Soejima helps with setting out our tea, with a small platter of cookies, scones, and sandwiches. The spread is complete with two small cups of soup and a single hors d’oeuvre on a plate in front of each of you.IIt takes up your table in no time. The smells from the savory soup make your mouth water. You do get to eat fancy food for work quite often, but this is a whole new level. And you were sure the British weren’t known for their cuisine.

The waiter rattles off, “Today you have a stilton cheese and asparagus soup, watercress and egg salad sandwich, with a selection of savory and sweet scones and spreads. The amuse-bouche is pincho with cheddar cheese.The cookies are anise seed madeleines dipped in chocolate. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to notify one of the staff.”

You can’t quite stop yourself from exclaiming, “This looks fantastic!” One of the perks of being a spy in high places has been getting to sample exquisite flavors. Today looks to be no exception.

“I've found that excellent food is important when you're looking to get people to open up to you. Essential for me, as I run my family's charitable foundation,” Kei offers, while spreading butter on to a scone. All of a sudden, his scent hits you and you find your attention fixed on his adam’s apple as he bites into the scone. Soejima catches you staring. He bends forward, his look is mischievous -- it makes your heart flip. The woodsy spiced aroma tickles your nostrils and you feel your Omega standing at attention. It's still faint and yet, Your attention is drawn to the gathered satin kerchief around his neck. It’s slipped.

Soejima looks around before speaking in a conspiratorial tone, "I take it your heat is over? I'm trying to be on my best behavior today since I knew I'd be seeing a particularly delicious Omega again today."

He’s choosing now to show his hand? Interesting. But it’s better to slide past that topic given the present company. “So you're looking to snare some Japanese donors, then with this gathering?”

His eyes twinkle. “You did say you wanted to get involved with a charity. You are more than welcome to make a contribution.” He winks as he takes a sip from his tea.

You know he's playing with you, but you seize on the charitable donation topic to back off from the sudden tension his little admission generated. You want to keep this professional and detached. For your own sake. You pop open your clutch purse to take out one of your prepared business cards, recalling your alias's business when he holds up one finger, looking across the room.

“Please pardon me for a moment.”

He sets down his cup onto his saucer and scoots back from the table. It’s only a few long strides before he’s back at the entrance to greet an older woman, walking with a pronounced limp. He offers her his arm, and he leads her toward the window table next to ours. You catch the conversation as they approach

“You'll love the view from here.”

“Thank you Kei, you're always such a dear.”

“On the contrary, I should be thanking you for making such an effort to be here today.”

Our Alpha is considerate. He is a good Alpha.

“I could never turn down an invitation from you. You're looking well, as usual.”

Kei smiles and pulls out the seat, motioning for her to sit.

She pats her gloved hand on his and takes a seat. Her seat faces yours, so you briefly make eye contact. You smile warmly at her. She responds with gleeful surprise and turns to Soejima, “Let me guess Kei, is this your…”

You look at Soejima curiously.

Soejima laughs, “She's a new...friend. We’ve only just met.”

Her excitement fades. “Oh, I see. She's just so lovely I thought perhaps… but I shouldn't pry.”

Their voices lower and you pick at your food, trying to angle your recording device toward the conversation.

“Don't worry about it. Everyone is always telling me I should settle down.”

“You must have lots of girls chasing after you. You admire Japanese culture and you come from such a fine family. Not to discount all the hard work you've already done at your age to fight poverty.”

Is this...Is this woman a plant? At first, you thought this was a genuine conversation, but it feels like she's rattling off his resume.

“You're too kind, really.”

"I'd trust you with my entire fortune. And the work you do to help…"

Come on. Isn't this laying it on a bit thick? Even for a diplomat? You resist the urge to roll your eyes back into your skull. You stop paying attention, but only because you've already read all this before. You scan the room, it must be full of donors. You recognize a few socialites from the tabloids in attendance, but at least they're the nicer ones.

And every penny from these people is meticulously accounted for, from your little hacking session yesterday. But your gut says there's still something more at play. Between his weak scent -- that somehow still nags at your memory -- and his carefully prepared image. There must be something.

Their conversation shifts gears into the philosophy of donating.

“Donations are in essence another asset that help stimulate economic function. It does better for the money to move through an economy rather than simply holding the funds. Take a look at the Forbes list of richest people for example…”

This feels rehearsed to death. You wonder if your gut thinks that he might be an MI6 asset, just exceptionally well funded. Members of the royal family have served in the armed forces, why wouldn't some descendant of a well appointed Earl be an intelligence agent? You finish off your cup of soup while thinking. Soejima sneaks a glance back at you, and you make eye contact.

As if on cue, your mind wanders again to the masquerade.

"I want to lay claim to you."

The intense stare of his dark eyes and his potent spicy scent from your memory rush into your senses. You look away, deciding you need some air and distance.

---

You gave yourself an impossible task, trying to simultaneously keep an eye on Soejima, but also maintaining some distance. Left with very little choice but to make conversation with the attendees. Glancing back to your table, it looks like Kei similarly has his hands full with meeting and greeting all of his guests. Perhaps this can be to your advantage, though part of you is still concerned about meeting with him alone. You did take an opportunity earlier to reapply your work perfume and to pop a suppressant. That little tease of his scent was sending you down a dark road. It’s never been like this before. Entirely new territory is not how you like to perform out in the field.

You have a few more conversations with other donors, they’re all so similar. They’re all eager to extoll all of Mr. Soejima’s virtues, every single person speaking very highly of him. It’s downright bizarre. Your stomach rumbles, since you didn’t get the opportunity to polish off much more than the single bite of the amuse-bouche and the cup of soup. You pass by your table, another woman is sitting in your seat, chatting happily with the host. You notice the teapot is empty, and you grab it to go get a refill on a sachet of tea and hot water. When you get back to the table, your chair is empty. Mr. Soejima looks a bit tired. His scarf is tied back up, covering his neck. He lights up when you place the newly refilled teapot on the table.

See, Alpha is considerate. Didn’t want to send you into a heat. Not yet.

You want to make sure this day goes well, and swallowing your internal struggle is part of it. Now you pour on the charm to him. “And here I was hoping that I would get a chance to talk to you a little too, Mr. Soejima.”

His eyes narrow at your request. He pours himself a cup of tea, and takes a deep swig. Color and life returning to his face. He laughs and replies, "I didn't expect you to be the one to ask me out! Do you have any plans for later today?"

"Not especially, Mr. Soejima." You try keeping your smile mysterious. Maybe if you can keep him on tilt, he'll slip up.

"Great! My private residence is right above where we're standing now. Why don't we chat there when this is over? And please, call me Kei."

You smile back at him. "Now who's being forward, Kei?" You draw out your pronunciation of his name for emphasis. It's not often that people who are not dating refer to each other by their given names.

"Oh, is it rude of me to invite a woman I just met back to my place? Please allow me to beg for your pardon." Kei exaggerates his bow with his over the top apology. You giggle daintily. It would be natural for you to play along to disarm him. Your eyes meet again, something in his gaze tells you that the ball is in your court, but his tone tells you that he expects you to come with him regardless.

You turn your head to the staircase leading to his private residence before replying. You want to make sure he knows you got his message.

"Not at all. I'd love to join you."

"Wonderful. Could I ask you to bear with these ladies and gentlemen for just a little while longer?" His arrogant mischief once again replaced by his charming prince facade.

"Of course."

You're not really trying to get him indebted to you, but feeling that way might get him talking and trusting a bit easier. You continue to maneuver among the guests like a secondary host, since half the ladies have already imagined you're dating anyway. A little acting to gain his trust will go a long way, you hope. It's been a valuable tool in your arsenal to keep yourself from having to sleep with targets like other agents.

---

The sun's last rays stream through the window, the orange haze encouraging guests along to their dinner engagements. As the last person leaves, Kei waves away the hotel staff and turns to you, all apologies.

"I was supposed to entertain you, and you ended up helping me instead. I'm terribly sorry about that."

"I'm just glad I was able to make myself useful," You reply with a smile.

Kei returns your smile, and indicates that you should follow him. He shows you up the set of stairs in the corner of the room. At the top of the stairs is a small landing with a door and a keypad. You recognize it as a SHIBA lock. Makes sense given his associates.

The door opens into a luxurious open concept suite of rooms. His scent is everywhere here. Already you feel your concentration slipping. Kei gestures for you to walk in first, and you are starting to regret this decision. You feel him following you closely, and try to calm your steadily beating heart.

That's when you hear the door lock click into place.

[otomescriptdoctor]

Masking - Chapter 2

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27939147/chapters/68451419 You take a deep breath. It’s always hard to ride out your heats alone. Past lovers haven’t been able to handle you during a heat, because you’d rather take care of your own needs than worry about unpracticed hands further frustrating you. It’s all over now, though. There’s an electronic hum from the dresser, you only have a few moments to fix yourself. The mirrored surface is swept away by the display interface of an EAC agent. It reminds you of Minority Report; one of the few non-Mission Impossible movies you adore because it has Tom Cruise. Yes, maybe it was Minority Report that made you want to work for EAC. The Boss’s voice comes in, polite but betraying a mild impatience, “How are you getting along, Nagisa?”

Hearing Boss's voice call your alias switches you into work mode, your posture stiffens.

“The same as usual, all going according to plan.” Your reply is automatic, like your muscle memory, it’s part of your routine.

“Well, I’m happy to hear that, last night was a lot of fun.”

Your mind wanders, thinking about the woman he was dancing with. Did he go home with her?

The Boss continues, “I almost can't believe how quickly you completed your mission. You never fail to impress me.” You detect a hint of sarcasm at the end.

This is not our Alpha. He is jealous.

These thoughts are not helping. Usually your hindbrain is leashed after heat, but it’s stubbornly keeping part of your attention. Reminding you that there is an Alpha who wants you to burn for him. You are thankful for being exhausted enough to leave a towel on your vanity seat. The Boss clears his throat. Oh shit, you’re expected to respond.

You manage to get out, “Thanks, I couldn't have done it without you, Boss.”

It was honestly sheer dumb luck you got it so fast. Remembering his touch gets your heart racing. Remembering you didn't have control boils your blood.

But we met Alpha. Alpha will take care of us.

No, you think, you should use your frustration at your unusual lack of control during the mission to reign in your rebelling hindbrain. That inner voice quiets again, for now.

The Boss continues, “I collected more information on Mr. Soejima, I'm sending it to you now.”

Kei Soejima’s curriculum vitae appears on your monitor. He went to Oxford. Still doesn’t explain how an Englishman ended up with a Japanese name. Oh, his family name is Romley. Huh.

“He is descended from a line of English nobility. His grandfather is an Earl. Earl Romley is a powerful figure who owns some of the most valuable land in England. Mr. Soejima is following in his footsteps. He's a special diplomat working for the British Embassy.”

You have your own ideas about long-time diplomats, and remember the feel of his strong arms. He must work out a lot despite being a diplomat.

Your mouth races ahead of your brain. “Does he have any enemies?”

The Boss frowns slightly. “That's the strange part, he doesn't seem to have any enemies to speak of.”

That explanation feels odd. He's an Alpha. Alphas make enemies everywhere. They literally can’t help it. He definitely didn’t smell like he was suppressed.

Your employer continues, “He's an influential man not only in Europe, but around the world. He helps out with his family's foundation in addition to being a diplomat.”

It’s your turn to frown. “It sounds like he's... perfect? Literally, too good to be true. There has to be some reason he's one of our targets, Boss.”

Any excuse to drop this case. You silently plead with the universe to give you a break.

He continues in a lower pitch, “This is off the record, but there's a snap election coming up - parliament is being dissolved ahead of time and obviously the prime minister position will be in play. Given that's just around the corner, why is he in Japan on unofficial business? Your next job is to monitor him and find out why he is here. Perhaps ascertain whether or not he has political ambitions.”

Inwardly you groan. Your heat only ended this morning. Being around that Alpha is likely to awaken it again. Okay, you don't have to steal any information or prove wrongdoing. That's a plus. You look down at your planner while replying.

“Understood, I already have his contact information, I sent it to you earlier this afternoon,” You look up to see him nodding, “I've already been invited to afternoon tea hosted by Mr. Soejima. I'll work on getting closer to him there.”

This is what you’re known for, and he gives you a smile. “Impressive, you've already made arrangements with Mr. Soejima… I knew I could count on you.”

You used to live for compliments like this from the Boss, but it doesn't give you the glow you used to get. He only asks you to do one thing after all: be an excellent agent. And now it’s simply what is expected because in many cases, you have arrived. A long time ago.

“Sounds like you're well on your way to success as usual. Mr. Soejima was quite taken with you.”

Your heart rate quickens involuntarily. Oh dear. His spicy, woodsy scent lingers in your mind, as well as the only warmth he had -- the warmth of his lips on yours.

“...What makes you say that?” Smooth… just barely saving face while your mind was racing.

“You looked like you were enjoying...the dance with him.” His pause to watch for your reaction offends you. You are a professional.

You scoff, "I better have. It was part of my job to make it seem like I am having fun. You were the one who taught me that.”

He doesn't sound convinced. “Just a part of your job? Hmm. I wonder if that's the whole story. There were times when you weren't even looking at me.”

He is jealous because we found our Alpha and he knows it.

Oh, was he jealous? You feel a little relieved he was keeping an eye on you, but now you wonder about his intentions. Maybe he saw you had a crush on him previously. Maybe this was why he insisted on having you, despite marking your calendar for private time to deal with your heat, to perform this mission. Disgust rises in your core.

“I wouldn't have let him touch me if it weren't for the mission,” you hiss.

“I'll believe you this time. Just be careful prince charming doesn't sweep you off your feet. I'll be looking forward to your success.”

His smile seems genuine, but you know this is a test of your loyalty. Same old song. Same old routine. There’s only ever one correct answer.

“I won't let you down.” He ends the call.

You sigh. Being tense at the start of the mission is normal. You're just edgy staying at home. Especially when the dress you wore the night before still smells like him. You even used his lingering scent to help you get off during your heat. Now that the smell has mostly worn off, and your heat is over, you are eager to scrub the rest of his scent from your memory.

While there may not be as much obvious danger, you remind yourself that you'll need to stay on your guard. Soejima is an Alpha, and your Omega reacted very strongly to his scent. Suddenly, his smile invades your mind. It’s upstanding and refined, but there's darkness underneath.

Was it just your imagination? You're unsure if you want to see it. You’re going to have to keep close to Mr. Soejima and his associates to gather as much information as you can at Raven Resort.

You take a deep sigh. Well, at least you still have most of that tub of your beloved Lady Borden French Vanilla to polish off. You walk out to your living room and decide that you need to spend some time centering and getting your id back under control. Preferring to disassociate by having a movie marathon, you know the perfect man to get your mind off of Prince Charming incarnate. Waving your arm across your DVD collection you stop on Minority Report. Time to put it in and get comfortable.---It’s the weekend, and you make sure to dress far more conservatively than you did for the masquerade, an off-white lace dress with a high collar and three-quarter sleeves. The pencil shaped skirt of the garment comes down to your knees, but it does hug your curves. You’re ever aware that part of you hopes he’ll like it.

You step into the hotel lobby at agreed-upon time, and you see Soejima is already there, waiting. Seems like he always has his own bubble, separating him from the crowd. There’s no hint of the devilishness he displayed at party. You start wondering if you imagined it. The Boss’s warning echoing in your brain - he may look like prince charming, but you’re sure you’re prepared this time.

You want his attention, on your terms. You turn towards him, taking a step and loudly clicking your heels on the floor. He immediately notices the noise and spots you. His eyes widen in recognition and he breaks out into a gentle, welcoming smile. It's only the second time you’ve met. Mirroring facial expressions will make him feel closer to you. You smile back. He maintains eye contact as he walks to you. It doesn’t feel quite the same as it did at the party. Back then, he was a predator stalking an easy kill. Now, he is a living embodiment of charm. But his eyes darken, drawing you into their warm depths. You curse at yourself for falling for those damn eyes again. Time for grounding your senses. You’re wearing work perfume with suppressants. Your comm device is in your ear. You’re insistent that today will go by your terms today. His steady pace toward you is producing an almost hypnotic rhythm. You struggle with trying to ignore the smoke and spice of his scent.

“I’m so glad you would make it, Nagisa.” His voice sends gentle rumbles straight to your core.You bow deeply and reply, “Thanks again for the other night.”

“Don’t mention it. And if I may say…” He takes the opportunity to look you up and down. “You look absolutely stunning.”

A blush crawls across your cheeks. No mask to hide it today.

He takes your hand and brings it to his lips, “No matter how bewitching the mask, it's just an unnecessary decoration on a woman like you.”

Your hand slips from his cold grip as you reply, “You’re too kind. By the way, thank you for inviting me today.”

He smiles. “You’re a welcome addition to our little get together. Now if you’ll come this way...”

 He directs you to an elevator that goes directly to the upper floors. Although he makes no further contact, it nonetheless feels like he is escorting you on his arm. The perfect gentleman. You think back to your intel -- he owns the floor where he’s hosting the afternoon tea. Considering the masquerade, you brace yourself for this being far beyond the average get-together. You have no idea what to expect, and Soejima doesn’t seem keen on letting go of all his mysteries. You wonder if you can peel off his Prince Charming veneer and expose him for who he really is. Overcome with a feeling of exhilaration, you step on to the elevator with him.

[otomescriptdoctor]

Masking - Chapter 1

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27939147/chapters/68422182 The door shuts behind you. You work on adjusting your gait as your approach The Boss. It’s not often that you get to work on a mission together.

Your target is the British Diplomat, Kei Soejima. He’s an odd character, a British man with blond hair and piercing brown eyes who somehow has a Japanese name. He runs in some rather broad circles for a diplomat, and your employer, Edmund and Company, suspects that he is actually an MI6 asset. He is suspected to be an Alpha given the company he keeps. Diplomats are a convenient cover for an agent, one role that you have yet to play since EAC works on a global scale and doesn’t limit its operations to one governmental relationship.

You were chosen for this mission because of your presentation as an Omega. You’ve always been able to perform your missions flawlessly, but you’ve never been sent out during one of your heats. You’ve held a torch for the Boss for years, harboring a small crush, but never acted on it because you valued your professionalism above all else. Very few Omegas have been as successful as you have been in espionage. It’s always been betas, deltas, or gammas in the organization. Having someone with potent natural hormones is a liability, but your dedication to the cause - your thirst for justice in the world - has helped you keep your hindbrain under lock and key. And of course, suppressants help.

Your switch, the perfume you sprayed on your mating gland at the nape of your neck, contains a suppressant that is more for your benefit than the mission’s- but you’re not keen on falling victim to the Boss’s Alpha scent. It’s strange. His scent is interesting, but doesn’t seem to change. But that’s why you found comfort in the Boss when he first met you. You push those thoughts from your mind. You are here as Nagisa Misaki. To attend a party at a members-only restaurant at the base of the Raven Resort in Tokyo.

The Boss greets you warmly, “You’re right on time, Nagisa! Are you ready?” Your smile comes automatically. He offers you his arm, you feel your pulse quickening. You’re finally getting to be near the Boss again. He sweeps you into a quick hug. His scent is exactly as you remember it from when you first became an EAC agent years ago. The party you are infiltrating is couples-only. You walk in as a team, heels clacking on the travertine floors leading to the restaurant proper. It feels good, but not quite right. As if sensing your hesitation, the Boss says, “Let’s make tonight a good one.” You push that thought from your hindbrain back down as you cross the threshold.

The doors lead into a carpeted, tiered space facing a stage with vintage footlights ringing the apron’s downstage edge. There’s a band onstage, playing classic ballroom music. The tables scattered throughout remind you of stars, with their small votive candles flickering on the rich burgundy tablecloths. You and the Boss turn to each other and nod, deciding to split up and mingle amongst the other couples present at tonight’s masquerade ball. His hand raises up to graze against your earrings - a gift from him, but also a tool in your arsenal. He activates the switch on them, allowing your conversations to be recorded from this point on. The warmth from his fingertips lingers on your ear. You remember when he saved you from certain harm while studying abroad in America. You had only just started presenting at that time. His quick thinking saved you. By chance, you met again when you applied to work for EAC. His calm demeanor has spurred you on to greatness within the organization through several assignments. But tonight is your most complex mission yet.

The suppressants in your perfume are not like any normal masking agent. You’ve always taken advantage of the scent you produce as an unmated Omega. Many of your targets in the past have been Alphas tripping over themselves to rut with you. This suppressant is just to help take the edge off - you know it’s almost a suicidal mission to walk into a club that is potentially full of Alphas in this state, but there was little you could do. It’s time to see if your mental control over your instincts is as complete as you thought it was.

While the Boss goes to get some drinks from the bar, you work on gliding through the crowds of people, scanning the tables for your target. You spy the party’s host, Kazuomi Shido -- even in a mask, he simply cannot hide -- surrounded by curious women trying to peek at his face. It’s clear from his scent that he is an Alpha; he smells of too many womens’ perfumes though. You search your memory: he’s a close friend of Kei’s according to the dossier. They went to school together. He’s called the “Resort King” on account of his preferred line of work. He exudes the seductive confidence of a strong Alpha. You spy his head turning just so - did he catch your scent? No, it’s his friend, another Alpha.

This one smells like a cool, brisk breeze. You overhear him grumbling, “I have no interest in cheap flirts,” while trying to fight off some of the women hanging around Kazuomi. You recognize him as Yuzuru Shiba, the CEO of the tech corporation bearing his name. He’s also been a long time friend of Kei Soejima. And, another Alpha. You silently thank your lucky stars that you applied the suppressant. His severe black turtleneck sends a vibe that he’s a heartless, unforgiving man. Being mated to someone like that would be a fate worse than death.

Suddenly there is a sweet smell, like incense filling the air. The smell is incredible. There are notes of sandalwood, frankincense, and myrrh. The smell evokes warm, spicy notes intermingling with the floral and earthy notes to overpower you. It’s definitely another Alpha. It takes every fiber of your being to resist salivating. You turn your head, and discover the source of the smell. It’s emanating from a familiar blond, refined man. The one from your dossier. He turns to the unmasked lady by his side, extending a hand.

“Let’s get together later for a chat over tea.” Soejima’s British accent combined with the smell sets your heart fluttering. But Alpha’s attention is on her. You resolve to get closer to listen in. The woman snorts derisively, “Really, you’re not going to “forget” you said that when the party’s over?” Soejima replies, ever the charmer, “I don’t make empty promises, you took off your mask for me. I can’t wait to see you again.” You notice his hand never quite touches her, though he could make contact any time he wanted to. He’s acting the perfect gentleman. You make the mental note that his demeanor and accent track with his privileged upbringing. While everyone here tonight is wearing a mask and committed to hiding behind them, he feels different somehow. Like the seedy nightclub vibe of the rest of the restaurant simply doesn’t hit him, as if he is in his own bubble of rarified air. You imagine he has sophisticated tastes, and wouldn’t be tempted by the normal feminine wiles. You wonder, as you take in his scent, what will he fall for?

Need to check in with the Boss. Your head turns to look for him until you get the distinct sense that you are being watched instead. You turn back to find Kei Soejima’s smiling eyes gazing at you. Your hindbrain floods you with pleasure, at Alpha finally noticing you. Your Alpha. You shake your head, you know better; though part of you desperately wants to get the wrong idea about this. Just as you think of how to respond, the lights immediately dim.

A voice rings out from the sound system, “It’s time for what you’ve all been waiting for, your date with destiny, our one-night-only swap!” You see a lot of perked-up head turning at this development as the band plays a slow song. People are finding new partners. Typical rich people crap. You finally locate the Boss, but he's already deep in conversation with that woman Soejima unmasked earlier. He's facing you, and his eyes briefly meet yours, as if to say, "It's showtime. Have fun." He must have planned for this.

Again you feel the intensity of being watched. You look around, but no one seems to be approaching you. Were your instincts wrong? No. Kei Soejima is staring at you. His brown eyes piercing into your soul. As he moves toward you, you're reminded immediately of a predator stalking its prey. Your Omega hindbrain urges you to preen and attract this Alpha. He could help you through this heat. Every step is methodical, as if he's testing your reaction with each step. When he's finally in front of you, you let out a breath you didn't realize you were holding.

Soejima smiles-- a mysteriously gentle smirk. The kind of expression of restrained amusement you'd imagine a prince bestows upon a subject. You don't often get to see foreigners with perfect glassy skin. The dossier wasn't kidding about him being called Prince Charming. You're not used to feeling this vulnerable, this first mission where you're in heat. Not only that, but his scent is invading every sense. You look away, trying to regain your composure. Nagisa Misaki isn't in her heat. You are.

Cool fingers wrap around your hand, and your warmth sinks into his icy grip. He brings your hand up to face level, politely asking, "May I have this dance?"

With a racing pulse, you focus everything on maintaining your cover. Nagisa would be pleased to catch the eye of a gentleman. You’re thankful to hear your voice respond, "Sure, it would be my pleasure."

He starts moving, his arm effortlessly drawing around your waist. Your etiquette and dancing training kick in, your hand going to his shoulder. Ever so thankful that your muscle memory never lets you down. The music shifts into a livelier waltz and Soejima leads you across the floor. Normally, you'd flush with pride at making contact so quickly, but his scent hijacks your thought train. You never once used your body when setting honey traps, just your formidable assets as an unmated Omega. But you feel your resolve crack, just a little.

His voice is low, and sensual. “It’s an honor to dance with someone as lovely as you." Your eyes flit to his, and you see they have appreciably darkened as he has spent time in your presence. It seems that he is also affected by you. This little fact gives your rational mind a leg up on maintaining your alias.

You laugh gently, “Very funny, you’re obviously handsome enough to have any woman here." And yet, alpha has us in his arms. As if in response to that thought, he draws you closer and his hand creeps to the skin bared by your backless dress. Oh, how it burns at his icy touch. You shiver. He’s a well trained dancer, leading you perfectly. His smell is just so different from the rest of the party.

Some part of you wants this Alpha. Badly. The scent is exotic, and your mind wanders, trying to place it. The Boss's scent is the predictable musk you've come to expect from an Alpha, and is remarkably consistent, like he has a tight lid on his instincts. But Soejima, oh, distinctive doesn't begin to describe the smell. It reminds you of a church when they burn incense. Clean, reverent, and urging the willing to supplication. You notice an uncomfortable dampness in your panties. Might be more willing than you thought.

“Is he your date for the night?” His voice is tinged with jealousy, as he draws his face close to yours, close enough for his hair to brush your cheek. He must be talking about the Boss. Your Omega wants to say no, he's not - because I am yours.

Instead, you reply with a simple, “Yes.” Your eyes wander to find the Boss. You see the Boss dancing flirtatiously with the woman from before. You feel small pangs of jealousy and betrayal. Boss was never your Alpha, but your rational mind can't help the feelings. Your Omega is working against your resolve, urging you to secure the Alpha holding you.

“Haha, you look like you miss him.” Soejima's hands pull you closer. Your heart beats faster. No way he read you like that. Absolutely no way, you'd only just met. Can he actually feel how your heart is hammering away in your chest? You look back in his eyes, he's much too close for comfort. You manage to string together a response. But just barely. “Really, how about you? You don’t miss your date?”

His eyes crinkle in delight. “On the contrary, she and I only just met. But you on the other hand…" He dips you, so you catch an eyeful of the Boss's heated dancing with Soejima's date. His strong arms return you to a much closer position. He murmurs, "it seems you’ve known that man for quite a while.” Your Omega picks up on the jealous pangs in the scent.

Don't displease Alpha. Submit.

Your Omega has never been so forceful before. Your brain scrambles to remember your script.

“Yes, we’re old friends, I told him I was interested in getting more involved with...charity work and he brought me to this party. He said it would be a good way to make connections.” Thankful for your training in acting, you rely on your rehearsed response while fighting for control.

Soejima brings his mouth to your ear, and you shiver. “A friend, huh…”

A stark contrast to his icy touch. His breath is warm. Too warm.

You pull away, your speech threatening to stammer. “But I didn’t have a clue what kind of party this was going to be. I’ve got to admit I’m kind of surprised. Especially with all the partner swapping stuff.” You swallow, hoping to abate that awful dry feeling. His lips look so inviting.

“You came to the party with a special friend and now you’re dancing with another man," he replies. With a laugh, he continues,"Guess that makes me a homewrecker.”

You snort. “A homewrecker, huh? Haha, that’s a laugh."

“How does it feel, knowing your ‘friend’ can see you in the arms of another man?” You notice he barely repressed a sneer when referring to your former date. Your focus drifts to the Boss. he’s still dancing with the other lady. You don’t feel good.

Suddenly, you're turned around by Soejima and he whispers to you, “Why don’t we make him a little jealous? Men always want what they can’t have.” He gently nibbles your ear to punctuate his statement. Barely noticeable to others, but it sends shivers of pleasure down your spine.

Your eyes look over his shoulder making eye contact with the Boss. It feels like you're dancing with Boss’s eyes and Soejima’s voice. His eyes normally have no emotion, but you swear you saw a tiny flicker of jealousy. He's always been insanely observant.

While you are pleased to elicit even a tiny reaction out of the Boss, you feel a little guilty about your earrings. Recording such a personal conversation feels embarrassing. You remind yourself that it's just the societal pressures of living in Japan that are making you feel this way. Soejima is from a western country, their women and men are far more forward in conversations like this.

Soejima's low voice rumbles through your ear, “But your friend, he underestimates you..” Caught you off guard. “Oh?” “He’s a little too certain you’ll never have eyes for another man, yet you’re an unmated Omega.” You didn't say anything about your status.

We can't hide from Alpha.

He wraps an arm around your neck, taking the lead. Your Omega succeeds in hijacking control, and you nuzzle into his neck. His scent is intoxicating. You can feel his throaty laughter.

“Oh you would do that”, he says, his voice husky.

“What?"

“Out of sight out of mind, right? You show him who’s boss.” He brings his lips to your exposed left ear, the one without a microphone. You damn your Omega for hiding your equipment in his shoulder.

“Sometimes flings that were supposed to be temporary can turn into something real. You seem like a girl who falls hard when she falls for a guy. Once another man dominates you, you’re hooked for good, huh?" His seductive whisper, sweet as honey, holds dark promises.

You balk at the idea of being dominated. You have always been the one in control.

But this is your Alpha.

No he's not. He's not your Alpha, you insist.

But he could be. Alpha is very interested in us.

“You said he’s a friend, if he’s still just a friend, perhaps that means there’s an opportunity for me to sink my hooks in you...or perhaps you would prefer my teeth?" His silky voice is mischievous, and he says the next part so softly into your ear, to keep anyone else from hearing. His voice sends electricity through your veins.

Alpha is offering his bite.

Stop it, stop it, stop it, you scream internally. This is an intelligence target. This is not courtship of any kind. You pull back to gauge his reaction. His earlier words echo in your mind. "Men always want what they can't have."

Do they? Do they always?

“There might be...a possibility.” The words tumble out faster than you expect. “You’re right, feelings can change, especially when someone particularly alluring is involved.” Your hindbrain had taken over. Were the suppressants wearing off?

His sigh of relief tickles your ear, “I’m happy to hear that." Your Omega nature purrs with pleasure internally. Your mind thinks about your loyalty to the Boss, and struggles, a little. You held a candle to him for so long.

Soejima's masked face fills your vision. Black and gold satin framing his perfect glassy brown eyes, reflecting only you. His pupils are dilated.

His voice is practically a growl, “It’s official. Now I really want to lay claim to you.” That gets your attention. Then he brushes by your lips in a most natural feeling kiss. It's a brief, perfect moment that leaves you breathless.

The music starts winding down, and he pulls away. Your skin burns with a heat that suddenly has nowhere else to go. The cool air of the lounge causes you to shiver. Soejima's eyes still glitter when looking at you.

“You said you were interested in charity. If you’d like we can continue this here.”

His arm only releases you to fish out a business card from his inside pocket of his jacket. He removes his mask. You’ve seen his face before, but up close it’s stunning. Anyone could get lost in those warm brown eyes.

He grins, “I probably shouldn’t be revealing myself at a masquerade party. This is against the rules. Keep it our little secret, pet." He winks, and presses an index finger to his lips. He looks...deliciously naughty in the moment. You're thankful your lacy mask covers the burn you feel in your cheeks.

The overhead lights get brighter, signalling the end of the night. His face goes back to a neutral dispassionate expression, like an image of Prince Charming. This is the face from the dossier. You find yourself struggling to reconcile the two natures he presented to you.

He takes your hand and brings it to his lips to give your knuckles a polite kiss. Eyes meeting yours through his long blond eyelashes as he says, “I'll see you later, and remember… the path to paradise begins in hell.” Something sensual and devilish flickers across his eyes. He takes his leave and his footsteps fade from your detection.

Your brain swims in confusion. What are paradise and hell supposed to mean? What just happened? You can still hear him whispering about making you his. Sinking in his hooks. Giving you his teeth. His Bite. The memory of his exquisite scent overwhelms you. This is the first time a target made a hell of an impression, as if he never left. You shake your head to chase the shadow from your mind. Gotta go back to the Boss. You stop dead in your tracks. You realize you didn’t think about the Boss at all since Seojima kissed you, until that formidable Alpha left.

You take a deep centering breath, and exhale with a big shudder. No sign of him anywhere. His previously comforting scent is long gone. Well, he must have seen you with Soejima, and left. Pangs of loneliness shoot through your consciousness. No no, it makes sense, you're rationalizing desperately. You completed the mission for the night, you can leave.

As if he was still there whispering to you, Soejima's words echo in your mind: He underestimates you.