Is this destiny?

~ The base of the Lebedev Family ~

June 3rd

2:30 PM

Grand Elder, Konstantin, is at the head of the table and he is looking at 9 other people who gathered on short notice. Three could not make it, and they are attending the meeting online. Their faces are visible on the large screen that is hanging from one of the walls.

"Elder Milena…" Konstantin addressed Stella. "You requested this meeting; do you care to share with us what the emergency is and why this could not wait for our regular weekly meeting which is in two days?"

Stella stood up and bowed slightly toward Konstantin. "Grand Elder… there is a challenge for the position of an Elder."

Everyone was serious and all eyes were on Stella, waiting for her next words. Only Vasily smiled. He was giddy from excitement because he knows that Sarah is here and it's happening!

"A challenge? By whom?" Konstantin broke the silence.

"My daughter, Sarah." Stella responded.

"Is she qualified?" One of the Elders asked Stella.

"Yes, she is."

Konstantin nodded in approval. They all know that Stella trained Sarah, but it's also known that the Hill sisters are not interested in joining the Lebedev family. He wondered, what changed? "I assume that she is here."

"Yes. She can join us if you approve." Stella said and looked around the room. Everyone nodded. Well, they don't have a choice.

Stella got her phone and texted Owen.

During that time…

Sarah is in the lounge which is next to the conference room where her mother and other Elders are. That is the lounge where all assistants are waiting while their bosses are in a meeting.

Sarah saw that most of the assistants were observing her curiously, and Ivan's expression was not friendly, but no one approached her so she didn't want to bother with them. She sat on a sofa and used this time to close her eyes which are burning from lack of sleep and looking at the screens.

Sarah mentally went through all the Eve-fixes she did so far. Wireless charging is done. It enables Eve to scan the electrical network across the globe in a series of pulses, and as long an Eve-compatible device is close to the infrastructure, it will start charging. Sarah confirmed that it's working because it charged her lens and ring and it should charge Aiden's devices he is wearing.

Sarah really hopes that they didn't remove his ring and lens. The lens is difficult to spot, but for tracking, the ring is much better. Sarah remembered that Aiden said about a year ago how his wedding band is fitting him snugly and that unless he uses some lubrication, it's almost impossible to remove it. And he said that he will not remove it ever because it is part of him, just how Sarah is.

Sarah exhaled a shaky breath and forced her thoughts back to Eve.

Next on the list to fix is GPS tracking. Sarah enabled Eve's functionality to track all Eve-compatible devices, but reporting is still not working. It is one thing for Eve to find Aiden, and it's a different thing to notify Sarah about it.

Sarah was dejected. Currently, everything Eve-related is are automated processes that are forced with simple mechanical logic. The core of Eve that used to control all these processes and make decisions based on the results is still heavily damaged, and as much as all these pieces are part of Eve… Eve is still offline.

Sarah wondered if she will ever get Eve back. What if she is damaged beyond repair? Over the years, Eve observed and learned and grew into an entity based on everything they went through and if Eve's memory and reasoning are damaged, she will never be the same.

Sarah's thoughts wandered toward Aiden again. If her hunch is right, they will feed him that damned memory-erasing medicine. What if he forgets about her? What if he is not the same? What if those endless dark eyes never look at her lovingly again? What if…?

"We should go…" Owen's voice pulled Sarah out of her dark thoughts. For the first time, she was grateful that someone interrupted her because she was sinking deeper into desperation, and she can't allow herself that. Not now when Aiden needs her. 

Sarah rubbed her face. It's the fourth day how Aiden is missing and this whole thing feels like she is trapped in a nightmare.

"Last chance to change your mind…" Owen said as they approached the door of the conference room where Elders are.

Sarah looked at Owen and half-smiled. "Uncle… if I let go of this, I am letting go of my hope to find Aiden."

Owen pressed his lips into a line and patted Sarah's shoulder. "I understand. I can't go in. Don't allow a bunch of old men to intimidate you."

"Thanks…"

…

Sarah entered and faced ten people in person, and three on the screen.

Her insides jolted when her eyes met Vasily's and she did her best to ignore him. For now. His grin was giving her the creeps.

Sarah's eyes settled on the Grand Elder. She does not know Konstantin, but Stella told her about this conference room and where he will be sitting.

"Sarah Hill…" Konstantin addressed Sarah.

"White." Sarah corrected him. "My name is Sarah White."

Konstantin cleared his throat. "Sarah White… We heard that you are here to challenge the position of an Elder. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Do you know what that means?" Konstantin asked his next question.

Sarah confirmed. "Yes. I need to beat up someone in order to take his place at this table as well as his power and resources under the Lebedev family."

Vasily chuckled. He had difficulty controlling himself.

Konstantin shot a side-glance at Vasily before asking Sarah: "Do you know whom you want to challenge?"

"Yes. Elder Nikolai."

Vasily's grin dropped. He hoped that Sarah will challenge the position of the Grand Elder. He exhaled. Well, something is better than nothing.

"Why me?" A man in his late fifties asked.

"Why not?" Sarah responded with a question and then looked at Konstantin. "Are there any limitations who can be challenged?"

"No. Elder Nikolai, you either accept the challenge or give up your seat."

Nikolai looked around the room apprehensively. He is the eight Elder, not high to be a threat and not low to be an easy target. For more than two decades no one challenged him. Just what is this? But there is no way he will give up his position willingly. What will he do if he is not an Elder? Run errands? Be a guard? Start a farm? Or will he go on missions to gather information and fight?

Elder Nikolai stood up, glanced at Sarah, and bowed to Konstantin. "I accept the challenge."

Konstantin stood up and spoke in an official tone: "I will send a notification to clan heads. The match will happen three days from now…"

"No!" Sarah exclaimed. "I can't wait for so long."

"What's the rush?" Nikolai asked in disbelief.

Konstantin raised his hand, indicating to Nikolai to stand back. "Sarah, it takes time for everyone to gather so that they can witness the match."

Sarah thought that her mind is going to explode. She can't wait for three days! "Can't they watch online? Or you can record it so they can see it later."

"Well… it is possible, but we never did anything like that. The protocol is…"

"The protocol is that Elders can vote on changes." Vasily interrupted Konstantin and continued enthusiastically: "Let's vote on speeding up the process. The requirement is that Elders and leaders of the top branch families witness the match. With online streaming and recording for them to watch later, this is fulfilled. Who is for modernization?"

Vasily lifted his hand. Stella was one second behind him. Elder Dimitri and Milan were next.

"Five more seconds…" Konstantin called.

Vasily glared at one elder who reluctantly raised his hand, obviously intimidated by Vasily.

Sarah observed people and saw that several of them are exchanging gazes. There are five votes in favor of speeding up the process, and it needs the majority to pass. Only the regular Elders can vote, and if it's a tie, then the Grand Elder breaks the tie.

Konstantin started counting seconds: "Three… two…"

"Ha!" Vasily exclaimed when two people who attended online, raised their hands.

Konstantin spread his hands toward Sarah and made an official announcement: "It is approved. The match will be held today at 17:00… I will notify others…

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