9:00 PM (GMT8)
"Agents, I would like to apologize for my absence the past two days in this agency. Things have been taking a turn for the worse in the cases we are currently investigating."
Another day, the same sort of routine. The agents that worked under her sat around the tables, standing on the walls of the room. The conference room was filled to the brim with agents full of potential, eyes for justice. Amelia had always kept her eyes open for the next person to take a higher position.
A black dress suit was her choice of attire today, a white button up shirt half buttoned. High boots that pushed her height up a few inches, her golden hoop shining with the reflection of light. Her usual makeup, red lipstick as dark as the devil's skin. Hair pushed onto her back, bangs hanging over her forehead.
Besides her stood Dallas, hands behind his back. Wearing a white turtleneck, and tan dress pants. His black dress shoes shined to perfection, all the while his hair was swooped back with gel. Both professional as ever, both at the top of the food chain.
This conference was the same in visual senses, but the context was entirely different. Days were going by faster than she had hoped, closer to the mysterious meeting she was meant to walk into. Precautions had to be taken, plans for unknown scenarios. Amelia had to think of every outcome and plan accordingly.
"I, and many others in this room know the dire situation we have all been thrown into."She gestures towards the people within the room. "And it is not a pretty ending it seems in the long run."
There were looks of fear on the faces of those who knew of the case, while others sat expressionless or confused. Regardless, all of them would feel their own emotions in the scenarios. Whether it be fear, sadness, anger, it didn't matter. Amelia had no recollection of how fear had felt until the ongoing days.
She was scared, but her face would never show it.
"To fill you all in. We believe that the Headless Madman running around our streets is wishing to make an interaction." Eyes watch as Ellis raises her hand, Amelia nods to her to speak.
Ellis clears her throat, eyes looking towards her. "Who do they wish to meet?" Eyes follow back to Amelia, waiting for a response.
Before she's able to open her mouth to answer with her own name, Dallas speaks for her. "Agent Reston." His voice says her title flatly, facing straight forward when Amelia looks in his direction.
A chair scraps against the floor, Amelia turning her head to see Dallas' older brother standing. "We will be coming with-"
The higher authority of the two raises his hand to stop the other's speech. "I'm afraid not brother, if you remember this.. Thing's warnings. No one can come along." Dalla's eyes narrow, "Or you may be the next victim."
Murmurs and loud speak of protest begin, agents of all calibers within the room voicing their concerns for their boss and her safety. Amelia had never seen such a display of opinions being tossed from one person to another. On the outside her facial expressions stayed the same, yet inside she was shocked.
Amelia was a cold hearted boss, how could all of these people truly care if she returned from this or not? If Amelia fell to the hands of this stranger, one of them would be placed in her position. Surely someone would be overjoyed to have such an opportunity.
Hands slam onto the table, Amelia's eyes locking with Kay's. Her face is stretched with worry, eyes pleading with her superior. "Agent Reston, I get that you're our boss but!" She starts, but she isn't given the time to finish.
"But, nothing Katherine. I am your superior and you will do as I ask. All of you will."
Yet, Beth follows her partner. Standing up to protest her boss' words, it was a display of emotions. All of the agents in the room showed some sort of distaste for the sudden need for their superior to go into a dangerous situation alone. All but Dallas, who was the closest to Amelia who stood in the room. It was ironic, it was pitiful.
They all were here to do a job: bring justice to those who had fallen. Not care for her, try to make sure she stays safe. Amelia was her own woman, regardless of having a team. She didn't worry for their safety, they were trained to be the very best. The feeling should be mutual.
Feeling as if they were undermining her skills, doubting the things she had learned from all her years of training. Emotions got those around them killed, and caring so much for her wellbeing was a kiss from death.
Beth begins to speak, "Reston, I really don't think this is a wise idea, going in with no backup is risky!" Her words bring others around her to shout in agreement, trying to get their words into the conversation.
"I agree, this isn't something that should be handled alone." Even Ellis, the one person who never questioned her, agreed with the pleas of safety.
The more the ones who served her spoke up about their concerns, the more agents around began to beg in protest for her to go alone. They weren't family, they weren't friends. Colleagues or acquaintances for half of the room was stretching the connection.
So why the hell did they care so much?
Perhaps losing her would be loss of direction in her department, loss of the justice that followed when she was the lead of any case. The success rate was high when it came to her skills, losing her would be losing a limb to the agency itself. That's what she wanted the answer to be, caring for the sake of the department. A way to not feel as if more weight was on her shoulders, that she was cared for again.
The tension was building in her shoulders, in the nerves of her back. Hands balling into fists, trying her best to keep her calm composure as long as she could. She could feel the twitching of her eye, gritting of her teeth inside of her mouth. Ples become louder, more people standing in protest. Hand gestures of frustration, anger: the entire room had erupted in protest.
Amelia had enough.
"Quiet!"
In an instant, the voices cease. All eyes are now on her as she shouts. Amelia was clearly unamused by the display that befell in front of her, it had to be stopped immediately. With her cold word, many sat back into their seats. Slowly but with no doubt all were back in their seats as her eyes stared into the crowd. A stare as cold as ice, yet as dangerous as fire itself.
Amelia's chest puffs up, before she's fixing the sides of her suit. Clearing her throat, she speaks. "I decide what is to be done, so I will be going to this meeting alone." A tone so cold it could have the strongest to the cold shiver.
She looks towards Beth. "Agent Wilson, you will be in charge of the agency while I am gone two days from now." The other woman's eyes seem to widen at her name leaving Amelia's lips. "I will refrain from contact about this case unless it is needed information."
"I will be monitoring your progress here without Agent Reston. We still expect the utmost greatest performance from you all." She turns her head to look at Dallas, his eyes facing straight ahead.
Amelia nods, looking back towards the group. "Conference dismissed." With her words, the chatter begins once more. Some getting up from their chairs and leaving the room, others continuing to talk amongst themselves in various seats.
There's a pull on her waist, turning her head to meet her lover's eyes. There's a slight pull on her lips with a smile, placing her hand on his chest.
"You go on ahead, I have to speak with one of my agents." Dallas nods, squeezing her side.
His grip releases, "I'll warm up the car." She gives him a nod of her head in response, watching as the man with long strides steps out of the conference room.
That left Amelia to do her own business. She felt bad for going behind her lover's back, however it was the most plausible way to get the information she wanted. To make sure there was barely any evidence of that day, so no one would be able to dig up her past any further. As well to narrow down the suspect list of who could know parts of her identity.
Walking over to her top group of agents, she stops in front of them. All four stare in her direction, but Amelia's eyes are placed on only one in particular.
"Come with me, we need to have a conversation." Amelia speaks strictly, looking at Ellis. In a split second the woman rises in front of her boss. Adjusting her bag over her shoulders, waiting for her next command.
Ellis nods, "Right away Ma'am."