On the smaller terrace, two pairs of eyes are fixed on the two shadows which are dancing on the dock.
Oni's laughter mixed with Michael's drifted their way and Sarah's lips curved into a smile.
"Happy?", Aiden asked Sarah.
"Happy and relieved.", Sarah responded.
"What are you going to do about Marija?" Aiden asked because he knows that Sarah is conflicted about this.
"If she does not leave by herself, I know what to do."
Aiden asked Eve to watch over Marija and to let him know of any potential trouble. When he got a notification that Marija went with Oni to the docks, he told Sarah about it, knowing that this is something Sarah wants to track.
Sarah used her phone to watch the scene of Marija saying hurtful things to Oni and she was about to interfere, but then Oni stood up for herself. Sarah and Aiden arrived on the terrace to see Marija ending up in the lake.
Their intention was to handle Marija, but Michael rushed in, and Sarah decided to wait and see what will happen. It is his mess and he should have a chance to fix it. Sarah was curious how Michael will handle the situation, and she is happy with the outcome.
What Sarah is not happy with, is Marija's behavior.
It does not matter if Marija was after Michael because her goal was to secure another hookup, a long-term relationship, or if Marija was just angry because he rejected her and she wanted to vent her frustration. The fact that Marija tried to mess with Oni in retaliation is not excusable.
Sarah warned Marija that Oni is to her like a daughter and that she should not harm her, but Marija still went ahead with it.
Sarah wonders, did Marija bring Oni here so that no one can see them? Did Marija think that she can get away with bullying if there are no witnesses? And Sarah knows that if Oni wanted, she could snap Marija into two with ease, but Oni decided not to be violent. Again, Oni showed how she is a sixteen years old girl who is acting like a grownup. Sarah sighed. No matter how composed Oni is on the outside, the fact is that she is a teenager with a fragile heart and this whole thing must have shaken her up.
Luckily, Michael handled the situation well, and Oni responded favorably.
Sarah smiled at the sight of Oni and Michael dancing and laughing. It made her heart all warm and fuzzy because seeing them happy made Sarah happy as well.
Sarah leaned onto Aiden and took a deep satisfying breath while lifting her gaze and observing millions of stars in the clear night sky.
"When are we going to our room?", Sarah asked after some time.
"Room?"
"Yes. After the party, we are going to sleep somewhere, right?" Sarah assumed that they will spend the night in the top floor suite where they changed clothes, but Aiden's lack of response told her how that is not the case and that he prepared something else. Again.
Ah, Sarah really-really hopes that it's not like a glider-to-parachute scare he gave her earlier that day because she is not sure how much stress her heart can handle in one day.
Sarah moved to see his expression and met with his smile. "Where are we going to sleep?"
His smile turned into a devilish one. "Sleep? Mrs. White… tonight there will be no sleeping."
Sarah knows what he means, but even the 'no sleeping' needs to happen somewhere. And he avoided to provide her with an answer, again!
Sarah was ready to start questioning Aiden, and probably pinch his handsome check as well, but her attention was drawn to the man who approached them.
"There you are!", Owen said enthusiastically.
"Uncle…", Sarah greeted him.
Owen beamed, happy that she calls him that. "I was wondering if I can have a dance with my niece."
Sarah shoot a glance at Aiden who responded with a small nod.
"We will continue this later…", she murmured before giving Aiden a quick kiss and standing up.
"Lead the way.", Sarah said when she linked her arm with Owen's.
…
At the dock…
Oni and Michael were dancing when a male voice reached them: "There you are!"
Oni's eyes darted toward the source, and she saw Owen stand next to Sarah and Aiden who are relaxing on the terrace. Oh, God! Were they watching them? How embarrassing.
Now that she thinks about it, just Michael and she on this dock… it's too intimate.
"Do you mind if we go to the dancefloor?", Oni asked Michael.
"Of course, not."
Oni was happy that he agreed immediately. Part of her wanted to stay on the dock… just the two of them, in the dark, doing their own thing. It was like they were in the world of their own. But their world had an audience and Oni didn't dare to think if they saw them kiss or not. Oh, if Sarah and Aiden saw that kiss, that is super-embarrassing! Oh, God! Oni remembered the drones! There must be a footage of that kiss and who knows who saw it already!
She exhaled and told herself to focus. They will go to the dancefloor and that area is lit up and full of people and they will act decently. It's not that Oni does not want another kiss, but she is shy of admitting that, even to herself.
She smiled and stole glances at Michael while they walked. Oh, God! He is holding her hand in his! Like a real couple and everything!
They stepped on the terrace when the light hit Michael's face and Oni froze.
"What happened to your eyes?", Oni asked with concern apparent in her voice.
For a moment, Michael was not sure what Oni is talking about, but then he felt that his eyes are still stinging… "Uhm… remember the smoke thing?", he saw Oni nod in response and continued: "At the bonfire, there was a gust of wind, and some stuff flew into my face. That is why it took me so long to return."
She turned him to face the light so that she can get a better look at his eyes and she gasped when she saw how bloodshot they are.
Her brows furrowed and she sighed.
"Why are you careless? This does not look good.", she scolded him gently in a soft voice.
She was not aware of his condition because they were in the dark, and Eve-lens didn't show abnormalities. But maybe it does not have a function to do so.
Oni thought how Michael is irresponsible. This must be uncomfortable; how can he stand on the dock and hold her and dance and not take care of himself?
Oni is good in first aid, but she knows how to treat fevers and cuts and bruises and broken bones. She has no idea what to do about the sclera which turned from white to scary red.
"You need to get this checked. How can you leave it like this?", Oni scolded him.
Without waiting on Michael to respond, Oni took Michael's hand in hers and led the way toward the large terrace where the dancefloor is while fingers of her free hand moved. She used Eve-lens to locate JoAnna. Michael's eyes are frightening.
They found JoAnna on the dancefloor. After one glance at Michael, JoAnna told Jeff to bring her medical bag and four of them headed inside the hotel.
Jeff touched his ear stud. "Felix, Michael is not available for security, and neither is Oni."
"Thanks for letting me know.", Felix responded. He is dancing with Sophia a bit further away.
"Did something happen?", Sophia asked.
"Michael and Oni are not available. But it can't be anything serious." Felix saw them walking away, but there is no commotion at the party, so it's an isolated incident.
Sophia glanced to the side and saw Sarah and Owen dancing. "I agree. It can't be serious. Sarah would not be dancing here if one of her people is in trouble."
A second later, Felix stiffened and frowned.
"What now?", Sophia asked.
"The drones knocked out Marija in her room.", Felix responded unhappily. After so much time checking on stuff, everything was fine and he finally got to dance with Sophia and now it's one thing after another.
"Why?"
Felix moved his fingers in the air, searching on Eve-lens information to answer Sophia's question. "Per Michael's instructions… What a timing.", Felix sighed. "Jeff just told me that Michael is not available. I will need to look through the video footage to figure out what happened."
"I will help you. But if she is knocked out by the drones, there is no rush. She is not going anywhere until morning.", Sophia said and smiled slyly. "Felix, the head of the security. I like it. How about we go to our room and you check if everything is… secure?" She looked at him suggestively.
A dashing smile bloomed on Felix's face and he led the way toward the hotel. "Yes, ma'am. I will personally make sure that you are secure."
Felix touched his ear stud and said in a serious voice: "Steve, I need to check something. Until I'm back, you are in charge."
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