Fantasy So Night Follows Day by TMaskedWriter

[Ramesh_Rocky]

The dirt or concrete floor that Troy would have expected was, instead carpeted. Or rather, rolls of something that had a black grippy surface on the bottom side and blue carpeting on the top had been deployed across the floors of the barn, so there was no hay or sign of animals on the ground. The walls of the barn had been covered with tapestries to hide whatever farming equipment was hanging behind them. Men in expensive suits mingled with women in expensive dresses as Troy took it all in. It felt very quickly put together, as tastefully as possible, and still very easy to take down and be gone with in five minutes.

Heads turned as La Contessa and her escort entered. Troy stayed as cool as he could with all the attention on him, then relaxed when he realized that it wouldn't be him that they were all staring at, anyway, but Helen. He'd been surprised at how many of his fears had turned out to be groundless recently; however, he'd remembered that the fear of his first girlfriend was not only a perfectly healthy one, but likely her country's primary export.

Helen released Troy's arm and grabbed a pair of champagne glasses from a passing waiter, giving one to Troy. Helena clinked glasses with him and drank. Troy followed her example, then waited for his next cue and leaned over to whisper to her again.

"So, what next?" He asked her.

"Next, we make you interesting enough to be approached, but not so interesting as to outshine me." Helen finished her glass, grabbed Troy's, finished his drink, too. She kissed him on the tip of the nose, then stuck her tongue out a little and licked him before giving the glasses to another passing waiter.

"That ought to do it." Helena said with a smile. "Mingle." She turned and waked away. Mander followed her.

Troy looked around the room, at the gathering of the rich and powerful who'd been on the guest list. He knew a lot of them from the news, almost none in a good context, and many of their opinions of his date were matters of public record. Some of them had large, public bounties on their heads that he was aware of, even though Troy didn't usually follow such things. One phone call to the FBI right now would probably mean he, Julie, Susan, and all his clients could retire tomorrow, if he thought he'd live long enough for anyone to answer if he tried. He remembered the words Helen had told him at another fancy party that she'd thrown. "You're a good person, Troy, and these people are sharks."

He touched his ring and walked into them.

* * *

An hour later, a bell sounded. An area of the barn that had been shrouded in darkness lit up, revealing rows of chairs, most with a name card and a numbered sign atop them. La Contessa's spot was, of course, in the front row, as was the seat for her Plus One More. Mander stood with the other bodyguards off to the side, watching the room and each other.