by Don Easton
She smiled as he clinked glasses with her and they each took a sip, then he put his glass down and asked, “How do you know the Rolstads?”
“I rent their suite downstairs,” replied Mia. She saw the surprised look on Wolfenden’s face, followed by a glance toward Max who was talking with a cluster of people on the far side of the room. “Oh, don’t get it wrong,” continued Mia. “They don’t need the money.”
“Oh, I, uh, wasn’t thinking that,” lied Wolfenden.
“My mom is a freelance journalist and last year interviewed Max in his role as a political spin doctor,” explained Mia.
“Ouch! I wouldn’t want the things we tell Max’s company to ever go to the media,” said Wolfenden, looking concerned.
“Oh, God, no.” Mia smiled. “His company is locked up tighter than the Canadian Mint for things like that. It was more of a personal interview relating to how people climb the corporate ladder to success. I don’t think what Max actually does had much to do with it.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, Max mentioned how much he was flying back and forth to Ottawa and Mom noted how lonely it must be for Julia staying in this big house all by herself. She told Max about me and said I was looking for a place closer to the university. One thing led to another and here I am. They barely charge me any rent. I’m more for companionship for Julia than anything.”
“That’s nice it all worked out. Your mom’s a journalist, so what does your dad do?”
“My dad died in a car accident when I was three.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. I was an only child, but it was tough on my mom, having to make ends meet. Once I was older, she went to university and took journalism.”
“I deal with journalists quite a bit. Is she friendly to any particular political party?” asked Wolenden, with a mischievous grin. “Maybe I could get her to do a favourable piece on me.”
“Well, her profession demands that she not show any bias, but I could talk to her,” said Mia, seriously. “She has told me that she likes your party, but she would never admit it openly to anyone else.”
“How was her piece on Max? He never mentioned it to me.”
“I’m afraid it never made it to print. Perhaps someday down the road it will.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Wolfenden glanced at his watch as he stifled a yawn.
Mia knew there wasn’t much time. She had already plotted her strategy and was counting on Wolfenden’s choice of drinking beer to assist her in that regard. “Do you enjoy living in Ottawa?” she asked. “I plan to look for a job there next year when I graduate.”
“It’s a beautiful city,” he replied. “I love it there.”
“I’m definitely interested,” replied Mia. “Maybe you could give me your number and email address as a contact when I get there?”
“Well … it might be better if I give you a number for our Human Resources, although Max could help you out in that regard when the time is right.” He drained the last of his beer and said, “I’m sorry, but I need to leave. I have an early start tomorrow.”
“So soon? I feel like I’m just getting to know you,” pouted Mia, while reaching out and giving his hand a squeeze.
“Believe me, I would like to stay, but I have to be at the Boeing plant near Seattle in the morning. I have an entourage to meet at the airport at five o’clock in the morning. There’ll be a gaggle of mucky-muck military types all standing around in outdated sports jackets waiting for me. They’ll throw a tantrum if I’m late.”
“Boeing? You’re not the defence minister. Do you plan on buying a private fighter jet for yourself?” teased Mia.
“No, I think I’ll hang on to my BMW,” chuckled Wolfenden. “I’m the point man assigned to check on the progress of something.”
“Something?”
“I can’t say what I am really going to see. Secrets you know,” he said, grinning and putting his finger to his lips.
“Gotcha,” replied Mia. “Still, it’s early. Where are you staying?”
“The Fairmont at the airport.”
Mia glanced at her own watch. She knew she would be meeting Mr. Frank tonight. He in turn would have to reach out to his contact. Photos would be taken at the airport. Players would need to be identified. She gazed at Wolfenden briefly. Even if nothing else happens tonight, Mr. Frank and our dear benefactor should be pleased …
“I should really go,” said Wolfenden, leaning forward on the sofa to get up. “I need to say goodbye to Max and Julia, but first, can you point me in the direction of the bathroom?”
“Yes,” replied Mia, while gesturing for Wolfenden to lean closer, “but I don’t suggest you use it. I was in earlier and someone had left a couple of lines of coke on the top of the toilet tank cover.”
“That’s all I need is to be linked to that stuff,” replied Wolfenden, giving a frown toward Max on the opposite side of the room.
“I’m certain the Rolstads don’t know about it yet,” replied Mia. “No worries. Follow me and I’ll let you use mine.”
Moments later, Wolfenden followed Mia downstairs, past her bedroom door and to her bathroom.
“Thanks,” replied Wolfenden, but before he could shut the door, Mia walked in with him and he looked at her questionably.
“Two rules in my bathroom,” smiled Mia. “The important one is you sit! I don’t want to walk in here in my bare feet in the morning on a sticky floor.”
“I think I can do that,” grinned Wolfenden. “What’s the second rule?”
Mia picked up a pen lying on top of a newspaper crossword puzzle on the vanity counter. “Complete one of the words that I haven’t got yet,” she said, clicking the pen before putting it down.
“I promise I’ll try,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Promises, promises. Typical politician,” teased Mia as she walked out and closed the door behind her.
Wolfenden had no idea that the pen not only worked, but concealed a wireless video recorder capable of recording up to seventeen hours. Far more time than Mia needed.
Mia listened at the door as she slipped off her panties and tossed them in her bedroom, before undoing another button on her blouse. Wolfenden had not bothered to lock the door, but even if he had, the manufactured pinhole on the outside doorknob would have allowed easy access.
“I’m not done yet!” said Wolfenden, clamping his knees together when Mia re-entered the bathroom.
Mia closed the door behind her and stared at the floor. “Don’t move!” she said. “Don’t move your feet!”
“What? What —”
“One of my contacts fell out,” she said, wiping her eye for effect. “It’s in here somewhere,” she added, bending over and placing one hand on the top of Wolfenden’s bare thigh while pretending to look on the floor.
“But I’m not done,” stuttered Wolfenden. “Maybe … let me pull my pants —”
“Oh, God, I wonder if it fell down the front of my blouse,” said Mia. “Can you see it?” she asked, leaning over his face while placing one hand behind his head, urging him to take a closer look.
“I, uh, I…” Wolfenden stopped talking when one of Mia’s breasts fell from her blouse.
“Maybe it went straight through,” said Mia softly. “I’ll see if I can feel it down here,” she whispered, reaching down and first cupping, then gently squeezing his scrotum while staring at his face.
“Oh, Jesus,” muttered Wolfenden, leaning back against the toilet seat and briefly closing his eyes while arching his pelvis upward and spreading his thighs as his erection grew.
Mia appeared to use the vanity for support as she got down on her knees, but in doing so, she moved the pen to catch the day’s newspaper headline before sliding it farther back on the vanity for a fuller image.
Wolfenden subconsciously held his breath, then breathed in shallow gasps as he felt the excruciating slow progress of her tongue lick and probe up his shaft, to be followed by her mouthing and slowly
twirling her tongue around the head of his penis. She repeated the process several times, all the while using her other hand to cup and gently squeeze his scrotum while urging him on.
He was on the verge of climax when she stood and used her hand to guide his penis inside her as she slowly lowered herself onto him.
“Protection,” he gasped.
“I haven’t made love in over a year,” whispered Mia. “Plus I’ve got a morning-after pill.”
His reply was only a grunt as he braced his feet and thrust upwards.
“No, stay still,” she whispered. “I’ll do the work.”
Wolfenden soon relented to the pleasure of allowing her to control the movements as she slowly eased her body up and down while she undid the remaining buttons on her blouse.
He eagerly fondled her breasts and kissed her nipples before she pressed the side of his head tight to her chest, facing the counter. Eventually he could contain himself no longer and wrapped his arms around her as his body jerked and shuddered, lifting her feet entirely off the floor as they each released primal moans.
Chapter Twenty-Three
It was after Wolfenden pulled up his pants and flushed the toilet that he heard Mia sob and saw her put her hand over her face from where she stood in front of the vanity mirror buttoning up her blouse.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” he asked, putting an arm around her so she faced him.
“I, I can’t believe this happened,” she replied. “Cocaine and marijuana upstairs … the two of us coming down here and having sex. I really like you … but, my God, I can’t believe I let it happen. You must look at me like I’m a prostitute or something.”
“No, not at all,” replied Wolfenden. “I have to say, this was totally —”
“I don’t know how we got to this point,” mumbled Mia. “I feel so strange … like I want to keep rubbing myself,” she said, placing a hand between her legs. “It feels all tingly.”
Wolfenden gave a half grin and said, “Well I’d be glad to help you with —”
“I think someone must have put ecstasy in my drink.”
“Ecstasy!”
“I had it once before. Years ago. I felt the same way then as I do now. Except then, nothing happened.”
“You think someone would do that?” said Wolfenden in surprise.
“I don’t know. When I left my drink with you to go to the kitchen, did you see anyone fiddle with it?”
“No … and I certainly didn’t or wouldn’t!”
“Oh, my God,” replied Mia, looking concerned. “Don’t think for a moment that I thought you would. You’re a man I really look up to. I always thought you were handsome, too, but … now I feel so ashamed. I beg you, please never tell anyone about it.”
Wolfenden hugged her and said, “I assure you, it will be our little secret.”
“Oh … and Max,” she cried.
“What about him?”
“He’s the guy … where he works … that’s who you guys tell all your personal secrets to, so they’re prepared in advance for damage control in case some scandal erupts. Max thinks of me like a daughter, please, don’t ever —”
“Like a daughter?” said Wolfenden, sounding concerned.
“Yes. It would be devastating if anyone found out that —”
“Believe me, nobody but us two will ever know,” said Wolfenden, firmly.
“Thank you,” replied Mia, holding him tight before kissing him on the cheek. When she pulled back she looked at him and said, “I bet you never want to see me again.”
“No! Are you kidding? I’m flattered. I’ll give you my email and private number at work. I’ll be flying out west again soon. Maybe we could go for dinner?”
Mia paused to wipe a tear from her eye. “I’d really like that,” she said quietly, “although in your position … I would never want to jeopardize that … we would have to be discreet.”
“Uh,” Wolfenden was about to suggest meeting at his hotel when he returned, but hesitated.
“I’d be willing to meet you anywhere,” replied Mia, “as long as it is not in a bathroom! I still feel disgusted over what we did here.”
Wolfenden grinned. “It’s a deal … no bathrooms,” he said, before kissing her passionately on her lips.
It was eleven-thirty at night when Mia crossed the Lion’s Gate Bridge. A few minutes later she pulled into the north end of Klahanie Park. She felt mixed emotions. On one hand she was excited. It was the first time she had ever used her computer to request a high-priority meeting. Up until now, the cryptographic messages she had sent were either mundane or simply training exercises. This time it was the real thing.
Something else tonight was also the real thing … this is the first time I have ever seduced someone for the benefactor. She stared at herself in the rear-view mirror. I feel so dirty and disgusted. Is it what I did, or who I did? An overweight, middle-aged man whose inflated ego makes him think I am actually attracted to him. She shook her head in disbelief. God, he even believed it when I faked my orgasm. What a chump …
Normally Mia would not have brought her car so close to the meeting spot, but there was no other traffic in the park this time of night and she knew she was not being followed.
She had barely stepped out of her car when a low whistle from Mr. Frank directed her to a wooded area. She glanced around and saw that her car was the only one present. As usual, Mr. Frank had opted to park farther away and walk the final distance to ensure he was not being followed.
Mia handed Mr. Frank the covert pen and quickly relayed the events of the evening.
“Absolutely fantastic,” replied Mr. Frank, beaming with delight. “Your conversation about the drugs following … uh, what happened, will clearly implicate him in what was going on. Few people will believe he didn’t partake. He may even be suspected of slipping you the ecstasy. Well done!”
Mia nodded in response. Her stomach was acting up and she wondered if it was from the mouthwash she had used.
“And he let it slip that he is heading off to the Boeing plant in the morning,” said Mr. Frank, shaking his head in amazement. “His naïveté is astounding.”
“Him and some military types who will be wearing civilian clothes,” added Mia, sounding distracted.
“What’s wrong? You should be pleased with the work you accomplished tonight.”
Mia looked at him and shook her head. “I feel dirty … like a whore. Doing that on a toilet.”
“We are in a war,” replied Mr. Frank. “Sometimes you need to sacrifice your emotions.”
“A war?”
“Not one that has been officially declared … although that could easily change,” he added. “Still, make no mistake. We are in a war to defend ourselves against a corrupt regime that is trying to take over our country and destroy our culture. We need to level the playing field to maintain status quo. Much like the Russians and the Americans, each one afraid to attack the other because of their balance in technological and military might. Your work could conceivably save thousands of lives by preventing a military war. You have no reason to feel ashamed. In fact, it is the opposite. You have become a true heroine.”
Mia was silent for a moment. “Guess I hadn’t really thought of it that way. Until tonight, I looked at it like an adventure or a game.”
“This is no game,” said Mr. Frank, coldly.
“Tonight, I realize that,” she replied, then gave a nod toward the covert pen in his jacket pocket. “What do you think the benefactor will do with it?”
“I doubt anything at the moment. You are much too valuable to risk by disclosing your involvement at the present time.”
“Because if an attempt is made to blackmail him and he goes to the police … my cover would be blown,” said Mia.
“Exactly. Still, there are many possibilities. Perhaps tidbits will be released to the media at a critical time indicating he is using drugs. It could sway an entire election.”
Mia nodded and said, “I th
ought as much, which is why I worded the drug conversation with him as I did.”
“Journalists protect their sources in Canada,” said Frank. “All they need is to hear the conversation and confirm it is Wolfenden’s voice to support the authenticity of the allegation. Then they would be on him like crocodiles attacking a calf in the river. Once that starts, I am sure they would dig up other, uh, dalliances he has had as well.”
“Wolfenden would not know who was behind it,” replied Mia, feeling relieved that she would remain anonymous in the matter.
“It may depend on his future success in government,” continued Mr. Frank. “Psychological analysis may tell us if such a man, ambitious for power and having a loving wife and family … would be willing to throw it all away. He may be susceptible to blackmail, but that is a decision for the benefactor. Much of it depends upon your future success with him as well.”
“Mine?”
“Your continued relationship with him. Future access to his hotel rooms. Does he travel with a laptop? If the laptop could not be corrupted, could a hidden camera pick up his password? What influence might you have on him to benefit us on a commercial level? If you relocate to work for some firm in China for a year, would he want to come and see you and use investment in Chinese industry as his excuse? These are things the benefactor needs to weigh. It is evident he has access to technological and military secrets … so in my mind, that would take priority.”
“It is difficult to believe that such an individual can be so stupid,” said Mia. “The only thing larger than his stupidity is his ego.”
“In my experience, given time, he may come to realize that he is being used without a need for any overt action on our part. By then he may simply decide not to rock the boat and give us what we want rather than risk the penalty he would receive if his actions became known.” Mr. Frank shrugged and added, “Who knows, he may fall in love with you.”
“And love is blind,” said Mia. “Or in his case, it could be wilfully so.”
“Exactly. Hopefully he will follow through with his promise to meet you again.”
