Tom walked into Lisa's office, his expression as serious as ever. Lisa, sitting at her cluttered desk, leaned back in her chair with a sly smile, her pen spinning lazily between her fingers.
"Ah, Tom," she said, her tone dripping with amusement. "Just the man I wanted to see."
Tom crossed his arms, already wary. "What is it this time? Another international crisis?"
Lisa's grin widened. "In a way, yes. You'll be handling the High-Profile Women Case."
Tom raised an eyebrow. He'd heard whispers about this one. "The list of women who need protection? Isn't that more of a security team's job?"
Lisa tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh, come on. You're perfect for this."
Tom frowned. "I deal with terrorists and syndicates, not babysitting."
"Who said anything about babysitting?" Lisa said, her voice taking on a teasing edge. "This mission will include all your favorite things—danger, intrigue, life-threatening situations. You know, the usual."
Tom sighed, clearly unimpressed. "I don't have time for games, Lisa."
Lisa leaned forward, her smirk unwavering. "You can't refuse this one. Because you're the best. And because I said so. "
Tom rubbed the back of his neck, his reluctance obvious. "Fine. Who's first on this so-called list?"
Lisa tapped her pen against the desk, dragging out the moment just to get under his skin. "Tasha. Celebrity. Currently being hunted by some very nasty loan sharks."
Tom's eyes narrowed. "Where do I meet her?"
Lisa chuckled, her tone almost too casual. "Oh, you won't meet her. You'll be rescuing her. She's already been kidnapped."
Tom closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly. "Of course she has," he muttered.
Lisa handed him a file, her amusement still evident. "All the details are in there. Good luck, Tom. Try not to scare her too much. She's a delicate flower, after all."