Chapter 493 - Orion Enterprise annual meeting (6)

Sarah, JoAnna, Aiden, Jeff and Felix were on the side, reviewing the rules for scavenger hunt.

"It seems that teams have different starting points, so that we can't just follow others around… smart…", Sarah mumbled as she went through the rules. And then went through the bag which was provided for every team. It had a: camera, magnifying glass, pink sunglasses, plastic cup, flashlight, gallon size ziplock… a lot of things that they should use while progressing through the hunt.

JoAnna was also reading with Sarah and checking all the things that Sarah pulled out of the bag, "We will need to find clues and solve the mysteries, find items, take photos and upload them… someone thought about this…"

JoAnna glanced at Felix. "Felix, we will rely on you for the things which are related to the company and this building."

Felix nodded. "As long as I can help, count on me… but why do you bother with these? You know I can just give you all the things listed as prizes, right?"

Sarah looked at Felix as if he said something outrageous. "It's about the win. Bragging rights. Being first." She lowered her head and continued reading.

JoAnna nodded in agreement with Sarah.

Jeff and Aiden stood one step behind the girls. They agreed to let the girls play, assist them if needed and keep them safe.

Felix exhaled seeing that the girls are into the game and took a step back. He wished to go upstairs and be with Sophia. Or wait in front of her office until her meeting is over.

JoAnna grabbed his sleeve and pulled him closer. "Don't move away. We also have a mission to keep you safe." Before he could object, she added: "Sophia's orders."

Felix awkwardly smiled and didn't speak much until scavenger hunt officially began.

…

Few steps away Isabella, Leah and David were checking their packet for scavenger hunt.

David was mostly glancing toward Felix, thinking when is a good time to disappear from this team-of-three and to join his Boss.

Isabella was reading instructions for their team while Leah stood few steps away from her.

Leah was observing Isabella, a well-proportioned petite young woman with a fiery red long hair and sky-blue eyes. She could see that Isabella is looking at the paper intently, and her lips are pursed slightly. 'Those lips… soft…'

"Don't you want to play?", Isabella shoot her a side glance.

Leah was startled and hoped that Isabella didn't see her stare. She lowered her head and nodded.

Isabella noticed Leah's discomfort and frowned slightly. "You should read rules. It seems that number of tasks require knowledge of the company and building. We will rely on your help there."

Leah made a step closer, but she was still not close enough to read the rules which Isabella held in her hands.

Irritated by Leah's behavior, Isabella lowered the paper with rules and faced her. "You don't need to play if you don't want to. No one is forcing you. You know that, right?"

Leah lifted her gaze and looked into Isabella's blue eyes.

Isabella was happy that Leah finally looked at her. "If you don't want to play, just say so."

Leah was not sure if Isabella is talking about the scavenger hunt or about their… incident from earlier. But she knows that she is acting childish. If she does not like something, she needs to say it, or step away. Sulking does not solve anything. Somehow, Isabella's words made her relax. She came closer and started reading instructions.

"Here, I'm done reading.", Isabella gave her the printout.

Leah took the printout from Isabella and their hands touched. Leah felt the smooth skin on Isabella's hand and looked up at her. She was disappointed that Isabella didn't return her gaze, but instead started going through the bag, as if nothing happened.

'Did something happen? Am I overthinking it? Our fingers touched a bit… what am I expecting?', Leah scolded herself. But she still hoped that touch of their fingers meant something to Isabella. Leah forced herself to focus on the paper and read the instructions for their scavenger hunt.

David was next to them, now playing on his phone. He was burning time while waiting for his chance to join his Boss. He decided that will happen after the game starts.

…

The scavenger hunt game began…

Sarah was reading their clue: "place which connects people and products…"

"Marketing!", JoAnna exclaimed.

They all agreed it makes sense.

Felix led them to the seventh floor where people from marketing department have offices.

Through the hallway they passed another team of four young women. The women could not decide on which of three men in front of them to stare first.

Jeff, Aiden and Felix ignored them, but JoAnna and Sarah felt that something needs to be done.

JoAnna's fuse blew up first. "Move along! All of them are taken!", JoAnna exclaimed while glaring at the women.

"What kind of a place is this? Shameless women only?" Sarah was frustrated. She obviously didn't notice a group of men who passed by few minutes earlier, while checking her and JoAnna out. They stopped staring only when Jeff and Aiden gave them chilling gazes while holding their women tightly.

Aiden pulled Sarah closer to him and gave her a side look, "Would you prefer shameless men more?"

"That is not what I meant!", she pinched his cheeks. "With you being this handsome I can't focus on the game."

Sarah turned to Felix, "What kind of a workplace is this? Everyone has dirty minds?"

Felix shook his head and explained, "Usually is not like this. People work like everywhere else… But this is an out-of-work-hours social event, so people are more relaxed. To add to that, everyone is in a good mood because since lunch morale events are happening, with drinks and food in casual atmosphere people are… happy."

They all understood what he said, but it didn't improve the situation.

Sarah and JoAnna glanced at each other and reminded themselves that it's not only Felix they need to protect. As the time goes by, those women are drinking and will be getting more brazen. Aiden and Jeff are in danger also!

By following clues, they found a desk full of envelopes.

"Rules say that our team gets next clue from purple envelope…", Sarah reminded Aiden who reluctantly kept the blue one back and reached for the purple one.

They read the clue from purple envelope and moved on to next location.

…

On the ninth floor of the building, Isabella and Leah found the envelope with their next clue.

While walking around and solving clues, Leah relaxed, and she was back to her cheery self.

"Where is David?", Isabella glanced around while Leah opened the envelope.

"Restroom?"

"Should we wait for him here?" Isabella thought that if they head to next location, David won't know where they are.

"I don't know… let me call him and see." Leah got her phone.

Few minutes later, Leah frowned. "He is not answering."

"Maybe he is constipated… and needs to focus.", Isabella laughed.

"Maybe… anyway, he can call when he is done. Let's see what is next…", Leah moved paper with clue so that Isabella can read as well.