Mikaela's grandmother, Maeve Reeves, was protective with her grandson to the point that it got overbearing. Mikaela knew it was because he was an omega and she wouldn't have treated him like glass if he was an alpha but he tolerated her because since his relationship with Morgan was non-existent, she was the only one who gave a damn about him.
— • —
Mikaela knows he's not cut out for an undercover mission. He's a 'punch first and ask questions later' kind of agent, the type of agent you call when you need to take care of some goons or rough up some crooks.
It was his fists that got him into The Special Forces in the first place. He was employed by The Director-General after she watched from a distance how Mikaela fought and blocked attacks from some drunk delinquents who tried to assault him in a dark alleyway.
"You got guts kid, have you ever considered working for the government?" This was the question she asked him. Mikaela remembers how he just stared at her with his black eye like she just said something crazy.
You're asking if I'm in the right line of work? Is it obvious that I'm a fish out of water?
"This man right here," Ji-hoon gestures to the Russian, " he is a business associate of mine. Sergei Volkov."
Mikaela takes another look at the Russian man again. He resembles a professional wrestler more than anything business related.
"New bird fight strong." Volkov comments, nodding.
Mikaela cocks his head, "Bird?"
Ji-hoon shrugs, "He refers to all my employees as birds. But he is right though, you managed to hold down a man of his size surprisedly well. How were you able to do that?"
Mikaela picks the first excuse that pops up in his head, "Oh I was…in the army."
Ji-hoon brows raises, "Really? Ola didn't mention that being part of your resume…"
"Not proud of it." Mikaela shakes head.
"Oh? Well in that case-" One of the bodyguards from behind cuts Ji-hoon off as he whispers inaudibly into his ear, "Oh, right. Mr. Miller, I would love to stay and chat about your secret military past but right now I'm in a hurry, come along Volkov."
"Shouldn't I accompany you as your secretary?"
Ji-hoon grins, "How earnest. But there is no need for you to follow me where I'm going. Well, at least not today. You are free to go home and rest."
Ji-hoon exits the building with his guards and Volkov walking right after him.
Mikaela has half the mind to go after him but decides not to. Too risky, could be some type of trap for all I know.
He decides to heed Ji-hoon's instructions to go home.
— • —
Mikaela rests against the leather seats in the back of a cab he called as he exited the company building. He makes a call to Darcy.
"Darcy, is the apartment ready?" He questions.
"I guess so, you plan on living there?" She ask curiously.
Mikaela rolls his eyes "Obviously Darcy."
"Okay I'll send you the exact location."
"Great, so did you deliver my message?"
"What message?" Darcy's tone carries disinterest.
Mikaela catches on to it and his voice gets more agitated "The message I specifically told you to deliver to the Director Park? Keep up Darcy!"
"Oh. That. Well you'd have to confront her yourself about it, you didn't exactly make yourself clear."
"Damn it Darcy! That's it you're through, I will have to ask for new intelligence because right now you're as useful to me as a piece of stale bread." He terminates the connection call.
— • —
With the address Darcy sent him he was able to make his way into a small apartment building just around the street end of Baker's Row.
The building looks new, he could have sworn he never laid his eyes on it once before. He works his way up the stairs to the third floor where his apartment: Apartment No. 17, was located.
As he approaches the room door he catches sight of a key sticking out from underneath the doormat. He takes it and unlocks the door.
The room is cool, the air-conditioning is at medium temperature. The windows are closed so the entire space is dull and dark, only illuminated by the glowing light coming from a laptop laying on the center table.
"What the hell…" Mikaela edges closer to the device with caution. He sits on the couch before it, the laptop only has a white blank screen on. He then proceeds to press a random button first.
The laptop goes black for a moment after which a video pops up. It's Director Park in her office.
Mikaela squints his eyes at the screen, "Is this a recording?"
Director Park smiles, "This is a live video call Agent Reeves, I've been expecting you."
Mikaela is taken back a bit when she speaks but he regains his composure. He couldn't help but scoff, only the director would be theatrical enough to make a set up like this instead of just calling him directly like normal.
"Good Evening, Director Park." He greets her in a neutral tone.
She nods in response, "Darcy said you want to speak to me concerning your ongoing mission? I hope there's no problem."
One of his eyebrows rises, "What exactly did she tell you?"
Director Park turns around behind her, "Why don't you ask her yourself?"
Darcy steps into the light, positioning herself at Director Park's Side, adjusting her glasses nervously.
Mikaela sneers but continues to focus on Director Park, "You were aware of how Ji-hoon treated his secretaries, weren't you?"
Director Park maintains a straight face, "Miss Wires informed me that she mentioned Ji-hoon's perverted nature."
"She didn't mention the secretaries being his personal playthings!" He snaps before running his hands through his hair, cursing underneath his breath. He's getting too rattled and he didn't like getting emotional in front of the Director.
"I wasn't aware about that part." Darcy mutters. Mikaela could see that she's just as surprised as he is.
He jabs a finger at the Director through the screen, "I didn't sign up for this. You sent me to my first undercover mission, knowing damn well I would be a target of Ji-hoon's advances? You must want evidence real bad to stoop to such tactics. Using me as bait?"
Director Park sighs, "I understand your frustration and for that I apologise. I wasn't lying when I said you were the best agent for the job. And I trust you will adapt and make the best decision for the mission, your priority is getting close to Ceo Jang Ji-hoon, by any means necessary."
"By any means huh? Even spreading my legs for a suspected sponsor of a human trafficking ring? Because that's what you're basically asking me to do right now!" He sees Darcy getting visibly uncomfortable from hearing that, "That's low even for you Director. And another thing, we both know why you sent me, so enough about me being the agent for the job. We both know that's bullshit." He angrily closes the laptop.
For a moment he almost blurted out that she sent him because he was the only omega. He couldn't help but think that she didn't send her best agent, but her most disposable one. That would have revealed his identity to Darcy, the last thing he needs is for someone like her to pity or look down on him because of his identity.
He takes off his suit jacket when something falls out of it. He bends over to see it's the USB he took from Ji-hoon's study.
"Christ, my mind got so preoccupied I almost forgot about this."
He grabs the USB, plugs it in the laptop and lifts the laptop lid back up. He clicks on the USB storage Unit and sees only one file: Admin_internal_key_records.txt. He clicks on it.
What appears on the screen is a series of lined up numbers:
07
01
12
05
14
Mikaela's eyes stay glued on them, as if trying to decipher the code. What the hell am I looking at right now?