September 30, 1998, 3:30 PM, Villa in the Arklay Mountains
Soon, a dense, spicy aroma drifted out of the kitchen, the scent of seared meat and garlic cutting through the stale air of the villa. It was the smell of home—discordant, almost profane in that stone mausoleum—and it pulled Eddie away from the pages of his book.
Surprising, he thought. Spy, assassin, weapons expert. And now, cook. Ada Wong was a puzzle with too many pieces.
"It's ready." Her voice was neutral as she emerged from the kitchen carrying two plates. Steaks, grilled to perfection, sprinkled with fiery spices.
"Another unexpected skill in your repertoire," Eddie said, the compliment doubling as an evaluation. "Whoever marries you will be a lucky man."
"Jill cooks well too." Ada's reply was a precise jab, a reminder that she knew. That she saw his weaknesses. She was running out of tricks to seduce him, but not to probe him.
"Sure." Eddie ignored the provocation. "Let's eat. Wait… I'll call someone else." He stood. "And don't wander around snooping. I know agents like you are curious creatures. If there's something you want to know, ask me."
"Wait. Why this sudden change in tone?" Ada's anger faded, replaced by genuine confusion.
"You'll be staying here for one night. I don't want you getting yourself killed wandering through the villa," he said with a strained smile. "And I don't want you drawing more monsters to the area. Nighttime is dangerous."
Ada studied him, perplexed. What a strange man. Gruff one moment, almost friendly the next. The mission was becoming complicated. And most unsettling of all, she was beginning to think that maybe—just maybe—he could be a friend. The idea of exploring the villa vanished. She stayed seated, waiting, as he went to fetch the other woman.
Soon, Eddie returned, holding Yoko Suzuki's hand. The girl, upon seeing Ada, only gave a silent nod, her calm an island of normality in a sea of strangeness.
They ate in silence, heavy with tension. Once finished, Yoko excused herself and went back to the laboratory.
"Is she your girlfriend too?" Ada asked, curiosity overruling caution.
"Do you think one person can have two girlfriends?" Eddie replied rhetorically, raising an eyebrow.
"Why not? Some men have more than one wife," she countered with a smirk.
"You said it, not me." Eddie shrugged with a smile. "Alright. If you have questions, ask them now. I've got about an hour before I head to bed." He took a glass of lemonade and downed it in one go.
"Is Umbrella developing weapons here?" Ada asked, straight to the point.
Eddie stared at her for a long, silent moment. "Enough with the act, Ada. John. The FBI. The worried girl. Nice story. But it's bullshit." He paused, letting the words land. "I checked the FBI roster. Your name, of course, isn't on it."
Ada's eyes flickered, the slightest crack in her porcelain mask. Then the crack sealed, her lips curling into a seductive smile. "You surprise me, Eddie. It's true, I'm not FBI…"
"But I'll tell you this," he cut her off. "Trying to pull information from Umbrella is a suicide mission."
"So… you know what I want, right?" she murmured, her voice a velvet whisper.
"Don't tell me you came here to kill me?" Eddie said, feigning fear.
Ada laughed, a sound sweet and crystalline. "What makes you think that? If I had wanted to, you'd probably already be dead. And no, for now, you're not my target."
"Good. Because you wouldn't succeed." His confidence was absolute, almost grating. "Let's make a deal. Question for question. You ask me, I'll answer. Then I ask you. How about it?"
Ada's brows arched. So sure of himself. Interesting… A strange spark flashed in her eyes. "Deal."
"Then you start," Eddie said, generous.
"What's your relationship with Spencer?"
"Marcus, one of Umbrella's founders, was a relative of mine. A good man. He was killed by his colleagues. I don't know which, but Spencer does. I need to find out who's behind his murder. And if I get the chance, I'll make them pay." His performance was flawless.
"And if you don't get the chance?"
"Then I'll go on living. Maybe with a small regret…" He shrugged, indifferent.
"Interesting. Your turn." Ada lifted her coffee cup with grace.
"Do you work for Shen Ya Pharmaceutical or Tricell?" Eddie asked.
"Both," Ada answered curtly.
"What do you know about the T-Serum and the G-Serum?" It was her turn again.
"I know a bit about the T-Serum. The G-Serum, no. It's being developed by a man named William."
"Would you do anything, if the price was right?" Eddie shot back.
The question caught her off guard. "What kind of work?"
Eddie blinked. Did she really think he meant… "Espionage. Special missions. An operative with your skills is a valuable asset."
"Of course. But right now, I'm on assignment. I'm helping The Family." Ada nodded.
The Family? The group that can rival Umbrella's power? Eddie thought. Simmons.
"Yes. Not my family, of course, haha. I'm just an ordinary person, I could never join them." Ada laughed, vaguely describing the multinational group.
"Working with them is dangerous. I think we could help each other…" Eddie proposed suddenly.