~ Austin, the White Mansion ~
Saturday, March 14
4:23 PM
In one of the bedrooms…
"Why don't you go to the room where stylists are?", Aiden asked Sarah when he saw that she is stuck in front of her laptop.
"Few more minutes. I want to go through the plan for Haru and Nala again.", she answered absentmindedly.
Aiden sighed but he knows that she is concerned.
Tiffany contacted JoAnna two days ago and said that the best window for her to escape is during the event at the White Mansion. Her parents will attend, and they are leaving her home with minimal security. She told them that she will use this opportunity to go to a movie theater, and that she will escape from there, at the end of the movie when she mingles in the crowd who is departing the screening room. No more than two bodyguards should be with her.
Sarah and Aiden are unable to avoid the event at the White Mansion, they are some of the more prominent faces, so they decided to ask if any of the kids volunteers for the mission. Of course, they all volunteered.
Haru jumped right in because he found out that the event at the White Mansion has dancing involved. A second later, Nala remembered their 'dancing' in the nightclub when they went to extract Melodie and she vehemently supported Haru.
"We are not much into parties and dancing.", Nala said. "We are your best candidates, because we have experience." Nala backed up her idea to go with Haru.
"If we don't go, how do we get experience?", Ade protested.
Nala flicked his forehead. "You are just a shrimp, where can you go without an adult escort?"
Ade opened his mouth to protest, but Nala added: "You should go with bosses to the event and use your skills to protect them. There will be hundreds of scheming people there. Leave this simple extraction task to us."
Sarah was impressed how Nala pacified Ade. This sixteen-year-old lady will be a handful when she grows up and gains more experience.
Haru was impressed as well. His girlfriend is awesome!
They scored their second mission!
When Haru and Nala found out the details, both of them held their breaths while trying not to show how happy they are. It's a movie night! They never went to a movie theater.
Their mission is to locate Tiffany on her way out after the movie, avoid or disable her bodyguards, escort her to the airport where a private jet will wait for them, and fly with her to Los Angeles. There they will take her to the safehouse. Mission completed.
Back to present…
Haru and Nala are on their way to Huston where they will have a dinner, and then go to the movie theater.
Sarah is going through security footages to see if they missed something. She has to admit that they planned for everything they could. She closed the laptop.
"I need to believe that they can handle any situation.", Sarah murmured.
"They can.", Aiden said while hugging her from the back. "You worry too much. If they are in danger, Eve will let us know."
Sarah took a deep breath to control her temper. So what if Eve lets them know? It's more than two hours' drive to reach them, and if they fly is one hour. Doesn't he know how many things can happen within that hour?
Sarah believes that Haru and Nala can manage, that is why she agreed for them to go… but that does not mean that she is not worried! She craned her neck to look at Aiden. "You are not going to call me annoying or difficult?"
Aiden closed his eyes and exhaled. He knows that she remembered his careless talk when they left Haru and Nala in San Antonio earlier that week.
"You are not going to forget that?"
"Women don't forget when someone hurt them..." Sarah reminded herself to stop and not to be petty. It's probably just PMS or something.
She kissed his cheek. "I am not angry. I will go and get ready now… there is not much time left. You should get ready as well."
Aiden watched Sarah leave their room and felt helpless. He decided to go and join the guys. Maybe they help improve his mood.
…
Sarah entered the room and saw Sophia chatting with Ellie, Emma and Bridgette.
Two hairstylists and two makeup artists were busying with their hair and makeup. Fancy gowns are hanging on the clothing rack by the wall.
"Anna is not here?", Sarah asked.
"Not yet.", Sophia responded. "She is probably with Jeff."
Sarah saw Jeff in the hallway, he is not with JoAnna. Sarah silently went back to check on her sister.
Sarah found JoAnna on the bed, resting.
"Are you OK?", Sarah asked.
JoAnna shifted a bit and turned toward Sarah. "Yeah… tired, but OK."
Sarah was concerned. She knows that JoAnna is tired because of her pregnancy. Sarah sat on the bed, next to JoAnna and got her phone out. "Do you want me to call Sophia? She has been through this and maybe knows some…"
"No, don't.", JoAnna held her hand.
Sarah observed JoAnna's expression. "You didn't tell her?"
"I didn't find a good opportunity." JoAnna said timidly. She saw that Sarah does not approve and frowned. "You didn't tell her about the Chaos army either!"
"Yeah. Both of us are in trouble when she finds out.", Sarah admitted. "But don't compare my stress-inducing news with your happy one. So… should I call her now?"
"No.", JoAnna refused. "There is so much going on right now. Let's tell her when we are done."
"Will you be able to pull through tonight?"
JoAnna sighed. "Do I have a choice? I need to stand by Jeff's side and smile and wave, even if people know about my pregnancy."
"Your what!?", Sophia's almost-screech came from the door.
JoAnna craned her neck to look behind Sarah who is blocking her view of the door.
JoAnna smiled and waved to Sophia to come in. "Close the door."
"I saw Sarah walk out with a concerned expression and decided to follow and see what is going on…", Sophia said. "Did I hear correctly, or I need to get my ears checked? You are pregnant?"
"Yes. I just found out recently and I still didn't tell Jeff. I'm keeping it as a birthday surprise. Please, help me keep it a secret.", JoAnna quickly told Sophia.
Sophia's eyes were open wide, and she was silent for some time while processing this news. She already calculated that it takes two-three weeks at minimum to determine pregnancy which means that the baby will be born before New Year.
"Wow! My Lia will have a cousin of the same age! Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
This excitement made Sophia forget for a moment that they left Cecilia with her nanny in Los Angeles. They will be back tomorrow evening, so it's only for one night (and two days), but still it's nerve-wracking. As much as they want their baby close, both Sophia and Felix agreed that she should not be brought into this environment, and they trust their nanny that she will take care of Cecilia. Sophia pumped breastmilk, so there is plenty of food and their bodyguards are left in Los Angeles to protect the baby. Sophia repeats this as reminders few times every hour.
JoAnna was happy that Sophia didn't bring out the fact that Sarah knew before her.
"It's early to find out the gender. I will do a blood test next week… Everyone will be surprised." JoAnna said mysteriously but refused to elaborate.
Sophia and Sarah assumed that JoAnna will hide gender of the baby until the grand reveal. That is the only thing that can be surprising. Right?
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