About Deep Cover

by Clare London
16 pages / 6400 words
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc

Max is doing all the right things, as is his lovely girlfriend, Elisa. They don't share a grand passion, but they know that they're expected to get married, which would further Max's military career, and secure Elisa's social standing. Max does have one grand passion, though, for fellow soldier, Ryan. Will he live his life the way he wants, or will he and Elisa be forced to do what people expect?

Sample

In a spacious, expensively-appointed apartment in the exclusive area of town, a young, pretty blonde-haired woman busied herself in the dining room with preparations for the formal evening ahead.

“My brother and a couple of the other senior officers will be along soon,” she called out through the open double doors behind her, though no one else was in view. “Then my parents and the rest of the guests are due around nine.” She ran a silver spoon through one of the cut-glass bowls of salad, admiring the contrast of the dark, peppery rocket leaves and the fierce red of the tomato slices. She had hired staff to organize the whole evening, of course, but she always liked to contribute some of the finishing touches herself.

She eked out a few extra drops of dressing, the spicy tang of it flaring her delicate nostrils. “Thank you for coming early to support me tonight,” she continued, her clear voice carrying easily through the quiet corridor of the apartment. “Though of course these formal events are no problem for me. I’m used to the entertaining that is expected of a military family.” She tilted her head, examining the effect of the latest dish and nodding when she found it acceptable. “Will you fetch up some more wine from the cellar? Max, dear, did you hear me?”

There was a creak from the mahogany floorboards of the lounge, the next room along the corridor, as if someone was getting up from the sumptuous leather sofa. She heard strong, confident steps and the sound of boots striding across the hallway.

Elisa St Ives smiled to herself. “Thank you,” she called back over her shoulder. “There’s such a wide variety of guests coming tonight – I expect many of them to have sophisticated tastes. Try the far rack first, and start with the ’83. I think we should use the best, as it’s a special occasion.” There was no one in the room to see her but she still blushed very fetchingly. The pale pink of her cheeks matched the subtle weave of her designer jacket and skirt.

“Father keeps asking about us setting a date for the wedding. I hope you won’t find him too much of an irritation this evening. And Mother says it’s frustrating for friends and family, not being able to schedule their summer invitations around it. She suggested early in September, but I managed to divert her attention to other matters. I think that was appropriate, don’t you?”

Outside in the hallway, there was the groan of old wood as the hatch to the cellar was lifted up, then the rattle and dull thud of the makeshift stepladder dropping to the basement floor below.

Elisa smiled gently and began humming – perfectly pitched and elegantly in tune - the chorus to an operatic love aria.