Chapter Eleven

                                    

                                          
Andrea's POV
                          
I accompanied Lucas to the HQ of their so called counseling firm, knowing very well that the masks will soon fall and shatter to the ground, and I'll no longer have to deal with Lucas, but instead try to convince Vale of my thirst for vengeance against Kingsman and Harry.  Undercover work was just about to begin, and I'd like if I said I wasn't nervous at all. I had to make it through everything on my own, and not show contempt towards Vale at all.. Much easier said than done! 
Once in the building, I noticed the clinical white walls and the overall bareness of the place. They didn't even bother much to make it look like the real deal. Only reception looked somewhat law firm-worthy. Lucas took me straight to floor 5, and into Vale's so-called office: a large bare room, except for a desk and two chairs..
                          
  - Andrea. Finally, we meet in person. 
  - Mr Vale! Indeed we finally meet in person. 
  - Sorry for past inconvenience. I hear you had a recent change of heart.
  - You can call it that.. 
  - Emily Scott, eh? How did she get the best of this?
  - I could ask the same. She stole my position, she..! 
  - Sit. Have a glass of water. Or some tea? 
  - I'm good, thank you.
  - Lucas, you're dismissed!
  - Yes, sir! 
  - I hope Lucas has been ever the gentleman. 
  - Hardly.. I gather he's been acting on your orders.
  - Clever! But you always are.. 
  - Let's cut to the chase, Mr Vale! I'm looking for an.. alternative job. You either have one to offer or you don't.
  - Direct. I like that. Depends on just how much you hate Kingsman.
  - Enough to tell you anything you need to know. As long as I know I have a place on your team. 
  - Turning to the other side so easily?
  - I've never took sides just yet. Only enjoyed a challenge. Challenges that frankly you set. 
  - Ah, yes! My little riddles. Those were just a warm up. But I'm sure you figured that out already. 
  - I have. 
  - You killed one of my men.
  - I did what I had to at the time. Frankly, now I wish I hadn't. 
  - And lose the fun of getting revenge over him yourself? 
  - On second thought..
  - See? 
  - Do we have an understanding?
  - I have a condition. You remain under close surveillance. Until I can be sure you're not playing me. 
  - Surveillance meaning? 
  - Lucas will be your shadow. Everywhere you go. 
  - Fine. 
  - Then we have a deal. Andrea, you will tell me all about their resources, you get me? Starting with their location.
  - You surely know about the shop..
  - Saville Row. Yes. That's it? 
  - Of course not! They have an underground den, right below the shop. Of course that does not show on any official records you might have been accessing. 
  - We have one of those too. Lucas will give you a full tour. 
  - Do I get to keep my apartment or have to move?
  - Do they know where you live? 
  - I just rented the place. And as far as they're concerned, all ex candidates are dead to them. 
  - Then keep the place.
  - Good. Anything else?
  - Not now. Lucas will give you a tour and brief you on..things. You're dismissed! 
                          
I went back into the hall, where Lucas was waiting.. 
                          
  - So, you're in?
  - Yea, I'm in. Which also means I got rid of you.
  - Come now, I wasn't so bad.
  - Just fake. 
  - We can be ourselves now. 
  - Just show me around and keep your mouth shut unless you have something interesting to say!
  - Oh, Vale will love you! You have such a smart mouth. 
  - Call it payback. I seem to enjoy it a lot. 
  - Not just towards me I hope. 
  - No, definitely not, you're just a bonus. Hart is the real deal. 
  - Ladies first, he said leading me back into the elevator.
                          
He pressed a button hidden underneath a breach in the wall, otherwise hard to spot with the naked eye if you weren't aware it was there. The elevator started to descend.. floor 4, 3, 2, 1, ground..and underground. Well underground: floor -15! A little more and we'd have descended into hell. Or have we?..
I stepped out of the elevator into a large hallway with innumerable doors on either side. The walls were white, and the hallway as clinically bare as the rest of the building. 
Lucas motioned for one of the doors, and I followed. I found myself in a sort of dormitory, barely like that we have at Kingsman. It was empty, thank God! No other Dark Knights to deal with just yet. Only fuckboy aka Lucas. I was slightly wondering if Merlin was watching all of this. Or Harry? I knew I was recording everything, but felt better thinking one of them were on the other side. Lucas put an end to my train of thought..