⤷

Slimming down my dress, I breathed in and out, before pacing back and forth backstage. Musical notes were playing in the background as I waited for my turn. Nerves were going through my body, as I checked my reflection in the mirror beforehand. I needed this performance to be perfect, or else I wouldn't gain their trust.

"And now, please welcome, Miss Y/n Y/l/n!"

With a last deep breath, I walked up the stairs, my heels clinking with every step. The lights were on me, as I headed straight to the microphone, looking out onto the crowd. Shifting my dress, I checked my thigh for my secret gun strapped onto it as I smiled and motioned for the pianist to start playing. The first notes of Bad Reputation by Shawn Mendes.

"She's got a bad reputation
She takes the long way home.
And all of my friends seen her naked
Or so the story goes.
Mistakes we all make them
But they won't let it go, no.
Cause she's got a bad reputation
But I know what they don't, hmm."

With a breath, I immediately changed notes, the audience becoming shocked as I continued to sing a song that had been requested for me.

"And I don't care what they say about you baby
They don't know what you've been through
Trust me, I could be the one to treat you like a lady
Let me see what's underneath, all I need is you."

As I continued the song, I grabbed the microphone, walking around the stage as I watched their faces, their eyes watching my every move. My heels allowed me to move around a little softer as I kept going, my eyes landing on a group of unfamiliar people in the back. As I kept looking at them I realized who they were, my voice never stopping, as I finished the song strong.

Clapping was heard through the bar as I walked off the stage and headed to the back, asking immediately for a drink. My elbows perched on the bar, the group that I had been watching neared me, each of them perching themselves on the bar next to me.

"I'm not here for any trouble, and I'm certainly not here to give you guys any fun."

One of them chuckled as the bartender handed me my drink. Slipping off the gloves from my hands, I twirled the ring on my pointer finger, accidentally slipping over the scar on my wrist.

"We need to talk."

Turning to the group, I groaned before walking backstage with my drink, them following close behind. A door was open close by, as I realized it was soundproof. With my drink perched in my hand, I walked inside the room, the group following behind as I closed the door, put my drink on the table and pulled my gun from my thigh holster.

"Who are you guys?"

They mirrored my actions, as they each brought out their gun, except for one. He pulled out his badge instead, which said FBI and had his name on it.

Dr. Spencer Reid.

"Why are you guys here? I told them I didn't need surveillance."

Putting my gun back, I crossed my arms over my chest, anger boiling inside my body.

"We need to talk to you about your job."

"What about it?"

"You do realize this is too risky? You could get caught easily."

"Well, guess what? I haven't. There's a reason they sent me in the field and not someone else. I'm the best trained agent in the business and I'm this close to catching them! Tonight was supposed to determine whether or not I was accepted!"

"How long have you been in this operation?"

"A year."

"What?"

"Yeah. I was sent in when they first started kidnapping the children. I'm supposed to be the substitute for the kidnapper."

"So your job in this operation is to kidnap the children?"

"Do you think that's what I want to do? I don't have a choice."

"We need to get you out of this."

"I can't. I'm so close, I swear, I can catch them!"

"This wasn't our call."

"Strauss? Again?"

The lead agent nodded as I groaned, grabbing my drink and flinging it at the nearest wall, the glass shattering.

"Give me 5 hours. I swear I can bring them in!"

"Fine. But you're bringing someone else with you."

"I can't!"

"You have to. Either you're out or you follow my orders, Agent Y/n."

"Fine. I'll take Spencer."

A shocked expression went over their faces as they realized I knew his name.

"I saw his badge, okay? I know his name."

"Remember, you have 5 hours. If you can't bring them in within that time, we have to take you out."

"I'll do it."

Opening the door, I walked out, the group disappearing as I was left with Spencer, as I knew him. Looking at him, there were certain things I recognized about him, nothing I could piece together at the moment.

"Okay."

"You need to be my partner, I guess. Just, when they ask if I'm in or not, you have to say that they either have to accept both of us or neither."

"Fine."

⤷

An hour passed, as I was walking around the bar, talking to various people, Spencer following close behind. Suddenly, a mysterious person, who I recognized as one of the bodyguards of the group, neared me. With a smile, I approached him, bringing him into a hug before he talked to me.

"The boss wants to talk to you."

"Sure! But I need to bring my partner."

The bodyguard looked confused as he looked up at Spencer and then back at me.

"You guys are together?"

"Oh, god no. We work together. It's either both of us, or neither one of us."

The bodyguard nodded as he motioned for us to follow him, as Spencer walked behind me, his distance close enough to where he could hear what the bodyguard was talking about.

"I don't know if the boss is going to like this."

"He's going to have to if he wants me in the operation."

"I guess so."

We reached a closed door, as he knocked before letting us in.

The man I had known as the boss was sitting on a throne-like chair, his gaze on me as he smiled.

"Y/n. Welcome back."

"Marcus. It's good to be back."

"Sit, please. Who's this?"

"This is Spencer. He's my partner."

His shocked expression was noticed as he stood up, his hand outstretched to shake. Spencer, without hesitating, shook his hand, before sitting down next to me.

"I didn't know you were in a relationship, Y/n."

"Oh, I'm not. He works with me."

"Oh, that makes much more sense. So, let's talk business. That was an amazing voice you have. Great talent."

"Thank you."

"I'm ready to make you and your partner an offer."

"Okay."

"You can come and work for us, but you have to give up everything."

"What do you mean by everything?"

"I mean everything. As the boss, I give you specific instructions and you have to follow them. Ever since I laid my eyes on you, I realized you had to be mine."

"Wait, what?"

Confused I waited for his response, knowing fully well it wouldn't be a good one.

"If you want to join us, you need to marry me."

"Why? I thought the job was about the children, not about me becoming someone's wife!"

"Yes, but, as the boss, I decide everything, as well as partners. I get first choice in a woman and I choose you."

"Fine."

"Great! As for Spencer, I might have a lady just right for him."

Spencer smiled, keeping eye contact with Marcus as we were taken to a helicopter, which would take us to the lair.

"Marcus, where are we going?"

"To your new home."