MB Short Story: First Date, Recruitment Edition (Patreon)

Explanatory Note:

When rewriting Chapter 9, I completely overhauled Kenzie's date to provide a more insight into their backstory and character. When I replayed for my final edit, however, the new version simply didn't work! It was too honest given that Kenzie and Button were undercover, and the length of the conversation made the chapter feel draggy and reduced the overall tension. Basically, I lost the plot and had to reluctantly admit that less is sometimes more.

That being said, there were some nice moments in the deleted date scene that I didn't want to completely throw away. So I took out the code and rewrote the scenes as short snippets.  

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“How did you end up joining the NPO Initiative?” you ask Kenna.

Usually, you’d be wary of bringing up a classified topic in public, except that Rosy had emphasized the whole point of this dinner was to make sure that Vengeance viewed you and Kenna as accomplices. While you don’t doubt Glitch’s ability to leak information (doubting Glitch in general feels unwise), it doesn’t hurt to make sure that Liz definitely-for-certain overhears that Kenna is on the roster of Team Norm.

And if Liz really happens to just be a waitress and not part of Vengeance? Well, she’s unlikely to put two and two together and realize that Mayor Zarneki’s famous daughter isn’t a Ment. Failing that, Rosy and Glitch can deal with tabloid fallout.

“Kim recruited me,” Kenna replies. Her lips curve in a subtle smirk. “My father wanted me to get a degree in Political Science at UChicago. I attended classes for a year but . . .” She shrugs.

“Didn’t see a future for yourself in politics?”

Her upper lip curls in reply.

You’re staring at her lips a lot, Nick notes teasingly. Admiring the red lipstick, or just its wearer?

You ignore your brother, determined not to give Vengeance any clue as to his psychic location inside your noggin (and, more crucially, not provide Nick with the satisfaction of flustering you in front of the girl that you kinda-sorta-totally like).

“Rosy just approached you out of nowhere and asked if you wanted to be a secret agent?” you ask before remembering that you should already know this information as a supposed fellow member of the NPO Initiative.

“Just wanted to compare recruitment stories, is all,” you attempt to course correct upon noticing Liz bussing a nearby table. “Did Rosy make you sign an NDA before discussing the offer or—”

Kenna rests her hand atop of yours, and you fall quiet. She has beautiful hands: her French manicure doesn’t compete with any of Sally’s vibrant art works, but her short nails are neatly trimmed, and her fingers elegantly tapered.

“I was invited to apply to the MIV Program,” Kenna answers your question. “But our recruitments were probably different since Kim actually wanted you as an MIV. In my case, it was only a pretense.”

You’re not certain whether to be impressed, wary, or turned on by the ease with which she lies. “Then you took the ASE like I did?” you ask.

Kenna nods. “Don’t know if I passed,” she answers your question. “Talia was initially waitlisted, so probably not. But Kim asked that I take the APE as well.” Her smirk is the tiniest bit cocky. “That test, I passed.”

“And after that, Rosy asked if you wanted to become an AMO instead?”

She nods again.

“The mayor was okay with you dropping out of college?” Your impression of Tobias Zarneki after overhearing his call to Rosy wasn’t one of a man who’d be pleasantly easygoing when people disobeyed his wishes.

Kenna’s smile doesn’t reach her icy eyes. “My father was convinced to see the benefits of the arrangement.”

“Such as?”

“He deemed working for Unity would be beneficial to my future political career.”

Graduating from Aeon is generally regarded as receiving a postgraduate given the program’s vigor, Nick elaborates. There aren’t many Ment politicians yet—the public still doesn’t fully trust us—but all those currently elected are former employees of Unity.

You bite your lower lip, uncertain of just how blunt you should be with Kenna. Then again, this is the same woman who had no problem whacking your hand away from her car radio. Forthright it is.

“Did the mayor really think attending Aeon will help your future career?” you ask. “Or that the publicity of your enrollment would bolster the numbers for his reelection?”

This time, Kenna’s smile is wide and genuine. “Mostly the latter.”

“Well . . .” You swallow nervously. Is it hot in here, or are you just the main character in a romance novel? “For what it’s worth, I’m glad we’re both at Aeon.”

Kenna’s silver eyes lock with yours. “Same.”