I

       "Ready?" Melaney tucked a stray curl behind her ear and glanced to her partner.
       "Ready as I'll ever be," Clay smirked and hooked his arm with Melaney's before beginning to walk across the room where Simon Cowell stood by the bar taking small sips of his mixed drink. "Simon!" Clay greeted.
       Simon looked to Clay and Melaney with a hint of disgust. "Aiken, what do you want?"
       Clay gave a heartfelt smile knowing this would make Simon even more disgusted. "I just wanted to chit chat. How have you been?"
       Simon leaned in closer. "Cut the crap, what do you really want?"
       "Well Simon, since you put it that way," Clay said slightly dejected. "I was wondering if we could talk in private."
       Simon's eyes narrowed looking back and forth between Clay and Melaney. "What for?"
       Clay sighed. "Well you know that I lost American Idol, and we both know why."
       "Because Ruben was America's favorite 'Velvet Teddy Bear'." Simon smirked as he took a sip of his drink.
       "Well, I always thought it was because I didn't sing as well," Clay said in a disappointed tone and looked to the ground.
       Simon's smirk fell off his face as he studied Clay's. "That too," he slowly added.
       Clay looked back up at Simon as he bit his lower lip. "So I was wondering if you could help me, I mean I'm the runner up, I should be getting some kind of fame."
       Is he kidding me? Simon thought as he glanced down at his drink. He landed the bloody cover of Rolling Stone before Ruben! He looked back up at Clay and Melaney who looked back at him expectantly. Something's fishy. "Alright," he said after a moment. "Come upstairs with me."

II

       Melaney was first to enter the room with Simon and Clay close behind. It was a nicely furnished bedroom, the carpet a light brown shade that helped the peach walls stand out. She continued over to the window holding onto her small clutch like she was instructed. She couldn't help but fumble with the clasp as she listened to Simon and Clay talk.

       "You want to know how to improve yourself?" Simon asked, setting his glass on the night stand next to the bed. "You can start by telling me what the bloody 'ell is going on here."
       Clay bit his bottom lip. Could Simon see through him? "W-what do you mean?"
       Stay strong Clay, it's almost over. Melaney encouraged silently in her head as she continued to look outside the window.
       "You know what I mean." Simon spat out bitterly. "You ask me up into this room so I could give you advice, when I could have given it to you fine downstairs."
       "I didn't want people to overhear. Coming in second is bad enough, do I really want people hearing me ask you for advice?" Clay said ashamed. Did he buy it?
Simon glanced back at Melaney who seemed to have her eyes glued to the window. "I don't think it could damage your career anymore than you already have," Simon said with a laugh.
       "Yeah," Clay added with a nervous chuckle. "Do you think they have any turkey?" he asked as he glanced over Simon's shoulder. Melaney turned around and slowly began to sneak up behind Simon.
       "What does that have to do with anything?" Simon asked, confused by the question.
       Melaney raised her arm back and brought it down with force towards Simon's neck but was stopped as Simon grabbed a hold and twisted it around behind her. "Move and I'll break it," Simon hissed in her ear. "So Aiken, is this what you really wanted me up in this room for? So you and your little friend here could kill me?"
       Clay felt his throat tighten as Melaney shot him a painful look. "We weren't going to kill you, only capture you."
       "Then I was right. I knew you were working undercover as a mole. From the minute you walked into that auditioning room."
       "Just let her go," Clay said firmly. "She has nothing to do with this. It's between you and me."
       Melaney winced in pain as Simon pulled her arm back a bit further. "She just tried to knock me out cold, how is she not in this?"
       Thoughts raced through Clay's mind as he tried to think of something to tell Simon.  "It doesn't matter wether you get out of here or not. We have your whole setup captured. Over here in the States and over in England. Your days of a jewel smuggler are over."
       Simon studied Clay's face. "I don't believe you. It's a lie."
       "Fine, don't believe me. How about let you free and see for yourself. I mean, I have no problem letting you go. You'll have to show up for the American Idol 3 auditions sometime and we'll be waiting. Then we can nab you and Seacrest."
       Simon's eyes widened. "You know about Seacrest?"
       Clay smirked. "No, but you just told me."
       Simon glared. He let go of his grasp on Melaney and shoved her into the vanity dresser against the wall. "Move away from the door Aiken, and I won't have to hurt you." he growled.
       "Don't you mean I won't have to hurt you?" Clay teased before Simon charged at him. "Oof!" The air had been knocked out of him as Simon slammed him up against the door. Simon drew back and ready to deliver his foot to Clay's jaw but before he made contact Clay grabbed a hold of his foot and twisted causing Simon to crash to the floor.  Simon raised both feet into the air and used his body weight to bring himself standing again in a fighting stance.
       "Is that the best you could do?" Simon asked as he got ready to attack again but before he could Melaney slammed the table lamp's weight against the back of his neck causing him to fall to the floor and out cold.
       Clay winced as he pressed the spot where Simon had tackled him. "Are you okay?"
       Melaney stared down at Simon as if expecting him to jump alive at any second. "Yeah, you?"
       "I'll survive. Think anyone heard?" Clay asked taking a few steps closer to where Simon laid.
       "Probably not, someone would have come up to check things out by now."  Melaney wandered over to the vanity dressed and picked up her clutch. "I'll call the agency to let them know the mission is completed." She opened her clutch and took out her cell phone. "Yes, we have him captured. No, no one noticed. Alright, we'll be waiting." She hung up and put the phone back inside then took out a pair of handcuffs and continued to put them on Simon.
       "Ryan too," Clay said dazed as Melaney sat next to him. "I guess that explains why him and Simon always seemed to hate each other...you don't think Paula-"
       "No, I think she was completely oblivious to what had been going on. Ryan and Simon's hate for each other was like an act. Simon and Paula...just don't get along." Melaney grimaced as she put her hurt arm around Clay.
       Clay removed the arm and put it up against her. "You should have that looked at, it might need a sling."
       "I'll be okay. I've had worse." She said pointing to the spot on her head where she was still healing from the stitches.
       Clay moved a stray curl from in front of her face. "Yes, but that's what you said when you received that cut."
       Is it just me or his face closer than it was before? Melaney thought as she glanced away from the direction of his eyes. She looked into them again and forgot completely about the pain that felt like jagged glass in her shoulder. No, it is closer. She decided as Clay looked at her lips and leaned forward. Slowly she closed her eyes and felt his lips graze against hers briefly as he hesitated kissing her.
Suddenly the door was kicked open causing the two to jump and stand up as four men marched in followed by a man dressed in a suit. "Good work you two. Were you able to get any information from him?"
       "We know that Ryan Seacrest is definitely working on his side." Clay said unable to control his blushing.
       "Are you okay Agent? You look a little red." The man stated.
       "Mr. Cowell knocked the air out of me that's all," Clay said looking to the ground. Not a complete lie.
       "And what about you," The man asked, looking to Melaney and spotting her arm. "is it broke?"
       Melaney attempted to pull it from the position of it rest against her body but winced in pain. "Mr. Cowell twisted it behind my back Sir."
       The man looked a little closer then pulled back walking over to where the four men had pulled Simon up off the floor. "Well then don't move it, I'll take you to a hospital." He turned to Clay. "As for you, go home. You look tired but I expect to see you in the morning."
       Clay nodded and started to leave. He stopped at the top of the stairway where a officer was explaining to the confused guests what was going on upstairs. It wasn't the complete truth though. He failed to mention the small details like Clay had captured Simon for running an illegal international jewel smuggling ring, but that was something they weren't ready to learn yet. While everyone wasn't looking he crept down the stairs and out the front door to the cold New York sidewalks.