Chapter 320 - Team of six (9)

Later that evening, Sarah got out of the shower and plopped on the bed next to Aiden. He embraced her. "Talk to me."

Sarah sighed. "I have difficulty understanding how much malice Vivian has toward me because she is jealous."

"Think about it this way..." Aiden paused for a second. "You are a bright star, amazing, blinding. People stand around you and can only admire you. But there are few who can't stand your light, because it's too intense. They will turn away from you and see their own shadow. They don't hate you, they hate their own shadow, but they see it because of you, so they think that by diminishing your glow their shadow will go away."

Sarah looked at him in awe. "Since when are you so good with analogies?"

He chuckled. "I have many talents that you still need to discover."

"I see..." She smiled. "Thank you for cheering me up."

He smiled for a second and then his lips straightened up. "When do you want to go back to the warehouse?"

Sarah shook her head. "I don't want to go back."

"Are we going to leave them locked up in there?", he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"No." Sarah got out of the bed and picked up her phone. She dialed a number.

"Mom..."

Sarah heard Stella exhale. "How many?"

Sarah could not help but smile seeing that her mom knew why she is calling about. "Four. Vivian, she sold me out. Philip, who drugged me, and two of his henchmen."

"Their state?"

"Some beating, and they might be in a compromising situation."

"Compromising?"

"I didn't do anything that they didn't plan to do to me." Sarah was not comfortable talking about it. Not yet. She hoped that her mom will not probe further into this.

"Location?"

Sarah explained where warehouse is. "Can you get them tomorrow afternoon?"

"Yes... Sarah, honey..."

"Yes, mom?"

"You did well." Stella always taught her daughters to retaliate and not to be victims. Hearing that Sarah punished people who wronged her made Stella feel proud.

"Thank you." Sarah was happy that her mom praised her.

"Good night." Stella hanged up first.

Sarah kept her phone away.

"Your mom is awesome." Aiden praised Stella. "Scary, but awesome."

...

During weekend, certain blogs, magazines and news sources published damaging information related to two companies. One was owned by Simmons family and other one by Peterson. News ranged from money laundering, suspicious activities of companies, to criminal and immoral behavior of executives of those companies. Several new stories got published every hour, everything was backed up with documents and pictures.

Sarah and Aiden watched trends on social media and made sure to take down any posts that are in favor of those companies.

From Saturday morning, to Sunday evening those two companies became synonym for dirty way of doing business. Many of their business partners announced that they will break their relationships with those companies.

It was not surprising that on Sunday late afternoon, both companies had emergency board meetings to discuss what is going on and how are they going to handle the situation. They knew that with these news, their stocks will plummet as soon as markets open on Monday. They need to find a way to remedy the situation. Both board meetings ended with the same conclusion: to save companies, they need to invest more money into them.

But none of existing board members wanted to put more money than what they already had tied up to this sinking ship. Most of them considered selling their stocks as soon as stock market opens next day, but no board member talked about it openly.

...

By Sunday evening, Eve redirected more than dozen calls from Sam Peterson to Edward Hill. Edward was not aware that Sam tried to contact him or that his company is in crisis. Or maybe he knew about it but decided to not take any action.

Eve notified Sarah every time she redirected a call.

Sarah texted JoAnna: "Sam is looking for dad. You will need to be there as soon as you can. I will join you later in the day as a support."

~Los Angeles~

Sunday evening, Jeff is clinging onto JoAnna on the sofa in the living room. He is not letting her go get ready for sleep.

"You know we need to sleep, right?" JoAnna was amused and irritated at the same time by his behavior.

Jeff pouted. "If you get ready, you will sleep... and then in the morning you will leave me."

"I'm leaving in the morning regardless if I sleep or not tonight." She tried to reason with him.

"But if we sleep, time will pass faster." He buried his face in her back.

She exhaled and turned to face him. "There is not much I can do about the time."

"Don't go." He looked at her like a child when does not want to separate from a loved one.

JoAnna smiled seeing him be so childish. "I have few things to do in Seattle. If my dad gives money to Sam, you will end up taking it. I can't let my dad suffer a loss, not from you. By Tuesday evening everything will be done, and I will come back home."

Jeff stuck out his chest, like a rooster ready to fight. "I am your husband... if you ever need to choose between me and your father, who will you choose?"

"Future husband!" JoAnna corrected him. "And I made my choice. I'm living with you already!"

"Mmm... that's better." He approved that she chose him, neglecting the fact how ridiculous his question was.

"I really want to get some sleep before flight tomorrow. I need to leave for airport at five in the morning." JoAnna whined.

"If you take a private jet, you can sleep longer." Jeff gave her a meaningful look.

JoAnna shook her head. "I don't want to spend money on a private jet."

"One will wait for you at nine in the morning."

"You are kidding me..." JoAnna was shocked. 'Why is he spending so much money?'

"I'm not kidding, I want to stay longer with you. I will drop you off at the airport in the morning." Every minute counts when he thinks of his time with JoAnna.

JoAnna felt her heart melting. "Thank you. You are spoiling me... Now I need to call airline and cancel my plane ticket."

"Done." His tone was final.

JoAnna was shocked. "When were you planning to tell me?"

"I just did." He didn't understand what the problem is.

JoAnna surrendered. "Sometimes it's impossible to talk to you."

He still didn't understand what the problem was. But JoAnna stopped struggling out of his embrace, so he was happy.