by Elle, Leen
"Why is that?" Sophie's eyes narrowed in on him. She wasn't going to miss anything when he answered.
"I wasn't going to tell you, but since you were eavesdropping, I assume you know already." He shuffled through the pile of papers on her desk. When he pulled out an aged, yellow envelope, Sophie's heart clenched. "This is the letter I was speaking to Cleo about. It's from your mother."
"She wrote you?" Sophie asked in a hushed voice.
"Not exactly. I found the letter after moving into this house when I was eighteen years old. At the time, I thought it was written to me. Now, I've realized that it was meant for someone else." He guessed her next question before she could ask it. "I don't know who that person is. If I did, we'd be starting with them, not Slavsky."
"What's Slavsky up to now?" She watched him turn his head back to the computer screen. In one swift movement, she'd reached out and snatched the envelope out of his hands. She suspected he wouldn't give it to her without a price, so this was her only chance.
Before he could stop her, she ripped open the envelope and reached inside. To her disappointment, it was empty.
"Nice try." Robert smirked at her arrogantly. "I figured you'd pull something stupid like that."
She was beginning to resent how well he was getting to know her. Tossing the empty envelope to the ground, she turned her attention back to Slavsky.
"To answer your question, Slavsky's always been connected to shady organizations. I would list them all, but it's really irrelevant. All we need to focus on is the information he has on your parents."
"I'm relieved that we don't have to steal from this guy. I would hate to get on his bad side." Sophie shuddered again as she stared into the man's cold eyes.
"What made you think we're not going to steal from him?" Robert stared at her like she was an idiot. "He's not just going to hand over the information about your parents."
"What?" Her voice cracked. "You mean we have to steal it from him?"
"Well, given our circumstances, it's the only option. We could buy it from him for a small fortune, but that would mean tipping off Max. Cleo's made it clear we're to be working in secret."
"You talked to Cleo?"
"Yes, I informed her that I told you everything, and that you're prepared to take on the challenge. She still doesn't believe you know nothing, but this is the best we can hope for."
"What exactly is the best?"
"She's letting me work with you. The worst case scenario would've been if she'd ordered me to stay out of it." Sophie found it odd that he sounded positive.
"I didn't know you were so obedient." She commented.
"I'm not. Even if she'd told me not to work with you, I wouldn't have listened. I just find that it's better to be on her good side."
Sophie smiled, knowing she was seeing a bit of Robert's own stubbornness leak through.
"So, the goal of this next mission is to steal from Slavsky without getting killed?"
"More or less." Robert closed his laptop and began cleaning up his papers.
"You're not the least bit scared at how difficult this is going to be?"
"Not really. I've stolen from scarier people in the past." He offered out his arm, and rolled up his sleeve so that she could see the star that twisted up the inside of his arm. She hadn't noticed it before, though she cringed when she saw how long the cut had been. "I relieved this present from stealing from a drug lord in Burma."
"You're lying." Sophie accused, trying not be gullible enough to believe him. A sudden thought flickered through her mind, reminding her of what she'd realized the night before. "Speaking of lying, I appreciate you giving me another false name, Mr. Robin Hood. Do all thieves get to adopt famous titles?"
"No, just the clever ones. I'm surprised you didn't realize it before."
"How stupid of me to believe in your word." She rolled her eyes. "Don't you think it's a little arrogant to name yourself after Robin Hood? It's almost terribly cliche."
"I like it." He replied as he finished packing up his things. "Why should I care what others think?"
"So there's no chance of you telling me your real name?"
"Probably not." He answered, grinning mischievously and standing from his chair. "This ends my report. Now that you've been informed of the objective, I've done my part. I'm looking for a date for the mission in the next month. I'll tell you when I've got one."
"Next month?" Sophie had become used to having missions occur almost instantly after being brought up.
"I have to prepare. We're talking about stealing from a man who's made a career out of selling off information. If just anyone could break into his system, he wouldn't be as famous as he is today."
"What should I do while I wait?"
"Study." He answered simply. "I've left you a couple notebooks." He motioned to them sitting on her desk. "They contain every escape route I've ever used. Memorizing them will be your first step to thinking like a thief. I'll send you summaries of some of my early missions, so you can get a feel for what's expected of you."
Sophie couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with how much he was laying out before her. She hadn't realized how much he'd been holding back until she'd seen how he could work when he was serious.
"Are all thieves as organized as you?"
"I doubt it." He grinned, winking down at her slyly.
"Thank you." Sophie smiled up at him, feeling sincerely grateful for his efforts. "I really appreciate it."
He smiled back for a long moment before catching himself. He tried to wipe away their moment of friendliness, but he was too late. She'd already seen the softer side of him.
"Have fun studying." He said abruptly, turning to leave.
"Oh, I will." She muttered, glancing reluctantly at the notebooks. Something about their conversation felt off to her. They hadn't argued half as much as they normally did. "You know." She began. "You're being very predictable today."
He turned towards her with a raised eyebrow. "How so?"
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to be...how did you say it? Oh, yeah, a white knight."
"Is that what you think?" He crossed his arms, a smile dancing on his lips.
"I thought you said you'd return to normal today. Right now you're being way too nice."
"Am I?" He walked towards her with eyes filled with amusement. "Well, we can't have that. I don't want to ruin my image."
Before she could push him away, he'd scooped her up in his arms. Robert was able to carry her as if she weighed no more than a doll.
"Put me down!" She ordered, squirming in his embrace.
"How's this for unpredictable?" He asked, laughing.
"Let me go." She continued struggling until she realized he wouldn't release her. She was too small to fight against him. "I'll scream." She warned.
"Go ahead." He offered, leaning in close to her face. She unconsciously leaned as far away from his face as possible.
Even though she was distracted by his proximity, it wasn't hard to remember that he was playing with her. She didn't want him to think he'd gotten the better of her, so she continued to glare into his eyes.
"It's cute how nervous you are." He mused.
"Nervous? I'm just uncomfortable." She lifted her hand to push him away, but paused as an idea passed through her mind. "I wonder if I can play this game too." Instead of trying to avoid his closeness, she leaned forward until they were only inches apart.
Now it was Robert who was unconsciously leaning back.
"So, Mr. Locksley, what's your story?" The question had been dancing in her mind all evening, but now that she had him this close, she felt like there was no better time to ask. "I know about Gwyn, Teddy, and Rylan, and you know all about me. Isn't that unfair?"
Robert's eyes widened for a moment when he realized what she was trying to get at. His smile faded to the fake mask he usually wore where his grin didn't reach his eyes.
"You're too young to listen to my story."
"I think I'm smart enough to keep up." She replied.
"Not a chance." He lifted a finger to push her head away from him. "Nice try, but there's really nothing to tell you about."
"Liar." She accused.
"Look at it this way, I'd be so much more predictable if you knew everything about me. Without my mystery, I lose half of my attractiveness."
"This is why you'll never be my white knight." Sophie scowled, annoyed at him again. "Luke always tells me what I want."
"Being obedient doesn't make him a knight, it makes him a puppy. Stupid boy doesn't know how to act in front of a girl."
"Luke's sweet." Sophie said in his defense.
"We'll see how far that'll get him." Robert answered. "Women do not appreciate sweetness."
"Someone's bitter." She answered, smirking. "Do you have women issues in your past?"
"Guessing won't do you any good." He reminded her, finally setting her down on her feet.
"Oh, I scared you off." Sophie grinned. "My strategy worked."
"You always want to have the last word." Robert scowled down at her as he headed for her door.
"Have you noticed that our entire relationship is a competition?" Sophie asked as he walked away.
He turned one last time to glance at her. "Yes, darling. I noticed it before you did."
She glared at him as she watched him exit the room.
"My point exactly." She muttered, crossing her arms stubbornly.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It's taken me years to realize that no plan is ever good enough to predict all of life's challenges.
Over the span of three weeks, Sophie devoted herself to her studies. The days were long, but peaceful. After her rocky beginning as a thief, she appreciated the break.
It wasn't as easy as she'd thought returning back to her studious self. Studying to be a thief was much different from trying to pass a test. The material she was studying would mean more than just a grade...it could determine life or death, escape or prison.
In these three weeks, Sophie began to meld into the rhythm of the household. She learned the unspoken schedules of the others, and they gradually began to learn hers. It was a process of becoming accustomed to one another, which the kids were able to do easily. Robert was another story entirely, but she'd always known he'd be difficult.
Their makeshift family continued to grow stronger day by day. Though Sophie spent most of the morning and afternoon by herself, she reserved the evenings for spending time with the others. It became a routine for them to gather in the living room, no matter what they were up to. Rylan and Teddy would tackle their newest video game, while Gwyn alternated between watching and reading. Surprisingly, even Robert was a part of their group. Some nights he would focus on teaching her, and others he would spend debating with her over their newest mission.
Robert had also taken a stricter control over her studies. Four days a week she would memorize the notebooks of his past missions. They now included detailed summaries as well as character profiles. She soon found that his successes were due more to his acting skills than anything else. The remaining three days of the week were spent in the field. The fastest way for her to improve was to gain experience, which Robert took to mean shoplifting.
At first, she'd been skeptical of his "training." She couldn't see how stealing a candy bar had anything to do with stealing a painting, but she learned quickly. It wasn't so much the object that mattered, but how she handled herself while stealing it. The tasks he gave her were simple at first. She was supposed to steal a soda, a deck of cards, a baseball hat. A new day would bring tougher challenges, and call for her to look for new methods to steal.
Only after looking back at her training did Sophie realize how far she'd come. In the beginning, she'd been just as nervous as the day she'd worked with Luke. Over time, though, she found it easier to slip into what she called the "thief's mindset." It was a state where she lost all sense of anxiety and was able to focus solely on her task. Her mind grow sharper in this state of mind, and she felt herself change to become more cunning.
Her most memorable moment during her training was when she'd managed to steal a sofa from a furniture store in the middle of the day. Rather than sneaking it out right under the management's nose, she'd actually persuaded them to carry it out for her. She'd entered the mission without the slightest hint of anxiety, and smoothly executed her plan. Her acting skills were still a tenth of what Robert was capable of, but she held her own.
Grudgingly, she admitted to herself that Robert's teaching was the main cause for her improvement. He wasn't afraid to shove her out of her nest, whether she would fly or crash to the ground. His sink or swim mentality was responsible for her skills. Had he coddled her through the process, she wouldn't be nearly as brave as she was at the end of her training. When he gave her no other choice but to succeed, she was able to find new confidence in herself.
This system of training was a part of their daily lives. The routine helped to pass the time, but for once Sophie didn't mind how slow time was passing. She enjoyed her new life, despite the ever present fear of her situation. More days than not, it was easy to forget her dread.
However, the quiet days were finally interrupted by the sound of someone bursting into their home. The voice that echoed through the house called an end to their momentary peace, and provided a heavy reminder of their task.
"I'm brilliant!" Cleo announced.
Despite being spread over the house, everyone flinched in unison. Cleo hadn't made an appearance in almost a month, and they'd begun to take her absence for granted.
Robert was the first to obediently come to his boss, and both Sophie and Rylan followed slowly after. Gwyn decided to stay upstairs, hiding Teddy away in her room. Cleo wouldn't notice their absence, since Rob was the main person she wanted to see.
"I've got it all figured out!" Cleo said boisterously as she paraded through the hallway. "I always knew I was clever, but I've clearly outdone myself this time."
Robert motioned for her to enter the living room, his smile polite and amused. Sophie could tell instantly he was faking it. She'd been spending so much time with him, it was easy to tell when he was being sincere.
Rylan and Sophie paused at the bottom of the staircase, both hesitant to join Cleo.
"You don't have to come." Sophie said, motioning for him to escape while he still could.
"You'll probably need me." He replied, wincing. "Whenever they're planning something they start speaking their own language. I'll be your translator." He winked at her before disappearing into the living room.
She followed after, silently taking a seat beside him on the couch. Cleo was oblivious to their presence, as she was solely focused on Robert.
"So, what is this brilliant idea of yours?" Robert asked smoothly.
"This year is my year to host the Midsummer's Day gathering." Cleo's dark eyes sparkled with pride. "I was so busy thinking of a solution to your predicament, I almost forgot."
Sophie glanced at Robert, her heart clenching. She'd begun to gradually trust him, and it hurt to know he'd gone behind her back and told Cleo of their plan. Boss or not, she felt like she'd been betrayed.
Robert didn't notice her expression. His eyes were focused on Cleo, his face calculating.
"I thought you were just bragging, but that is brilliant." He mused.
Sophie glanced between them, wondering what had just happened.
"It'll take a little tweaking, but it's the perfect cover."
"I'll need at least a weeks preparation time." Robert's lips curled into a grin. "I've been wanting to pull a Siena again."
Sophie tugged on Rylan's shirt, hoping he could clear up her blank spots. He smiled knowingly, and leaned close to whisper in her ear.
"Every year someone in Cleo's circle hosts a banquet. The gathering is used for bragging over who acquired which priceless work of art. After all, the game's not fun unless you get to rub your victory into everyone else's face."
"Why is it good that she's hosting it?" She whispered back. Robert and Cleo were still brainstorming together, but everything they said was gibberish to her.
"She gets to choose where she wants to hold the banquet. If Robert told her about Slavsky, I'm guessing she's found somewhere that'll be easy to access his records."
"Is there such a place?"
"Slavsky might not be as wealthy as them, but he's not a beggar either. Cleo gives him a lot of business, so he would be obligated to let her stay in his mansion. It'll be a strange request coming from her, but not impossible."