| Subject: Chapter 10 |
Author:
Rita
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: Friday, January 18, 10:24:41am
In reply to:
Rita
's message, "TMTC" on Tuesday, July 24, 12:04:39pm
Chapter Ten
********
Although Nikita had achieved her objective in securing her and Michael’s positions for the next three months, she nevertheless felt vaguely unsettled on the way back to Section. She had the feeling that the triumvirate had their own agenda for capitulating with such relative ease. She also correctly deduced that Mr. O’Neill had been the driving force behind the decision.
Whether he truly supported her was still unclear, his ambiguity at the end of the meeting reinforcing Nikita’s wariness. The reality that he was simply waiting for her to fail so that he could bring in someone of his own choosing loomed large. He did, after all, cut the deadline for improvement in half. It was now even more imperative that she and Michael and possibly Walter (the only person in Section they both trusted implicitly) find out everything there was to know about the various members of Center’s ruling three.
On the short trip back to Section One Nikita mulled over all the possible avenues to obtain the information needed without word leaking out. Unfortunately, their options seemed very limited.
********
Unbeknownst to Nikita, the decision to allow Michael’s return to Section was not undisputed. Mr. O’Neill had made it clear to his colleagues that their support was mandatory, but the two were far from happy about it.
“I don’t understand why you’re allowing this,” Etienne Lacroix challenged Daniel O’Neill in the privacy of the older man’s office. “Samuelle will be more of a distraction and hindrance than help.”
“Furthermore, moving up the deadline all but guarantees their failure,” Elisabeth Giles added, agreeing with Mr. Lacroix’s opinion if not his reasoning. She’d spent many years in the Agency and did not believe Section One’s current regime, with or without the newest addition, was strong enough to carry out the job at hand.
“I thought that would make you happy,” Mr. O’Neill retorted. He knew Ms. Giles had already tabbed Nikita, and now Michael, for lesser positions in the organization.
“Given that approval was granted with the condition of an ultimatum, my proposal would not be feasible anymore.” Ms. Giles returned. Mr. O’Neill had virtually threatened Nikita with cancelation if she and Michael failed. It would undermine the triumvirate’s credibility to renege on a threat.
“She’s right,” Lacroix reentered the discussion. “It would be a waste of resources to cancel them and now there’s no going back.”
“I have my reasons.” Mr. O’Neill replied enigmatically, effectively ending that part of the conversation. “Let’s get back to funding.”
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 