Is this destiny?

Aiden wanted to say that it does not matter. It is not her fault that she met Maksim at the place Aiden picked. If it's anyone's fault, it was his for not getting ready sooner so that he waits for her in that lounge instead of the other way around. Why does Sarah's expression look like she did something wrong?

Sarah saw that Aiden wanted to say something, and she spoke with haste before he could make a sound.

"Please, let me finish. After that, at the Bolshoi Theater, during intermission, you went to make a phone call and Maksim approached me again. I didn't know that he was at the theatre until he was right in front of me. I didn't tell you about it because Maksim was harmless and I left him behind, and I thought that was the last time I will see him, and I didn't want to spoil our date by talking about someone who is not important..."

Sarah saw that Aiden's brows furrowed. She took in a shaky breath and continued: "Today, before your competition, we met again. You were on the stage already when Maksim came to me at the bleachers; he caught the timing when Hong went ahead to find us seats. Maksim told me that we were able to leave the base during the break between your events thanks to him allowing it and I have a feeling that he pulled some strings in order to be the leader of your team."

Sarah felt that the rest of the words were stuck in her throat. Aiden is already frowning and gritting his teeth and if she tells him about the dinner, she has no idea on what side he will blow up.

"What does he want?"

Sarah was surprised that Aiden asked her that question.

"What makes you think that he wants something?"

"After the mission, Maksim asked me if I will stop you if you decide to leave me."

"Bastard…", Sarah said under her breath.

"What does he want?", Aiden repeated his question.

"A… date.", Sarah said timidly.

Aiden was not sure if he heard her right. "What?"

"He said that in exchange for not hurting you during the mission, I need to have dinner with him."

Sarah squinted when she heard Aiden gritting his teeth.

Sarah saw that Aiden is upset. Probably more than he ever was before. And she didn't know if he was upset because of the information she just dumped on him, or because she didn't tell him about this earlier. Maybe a mix of both.

But how much earlier could she tell him? She didn't know that Maksim is in this base or that he will ask for dinner until a few hours ago and Aiden was in the middle of a mission. Telling him during that sensitive time, would not be good. Aiden must know that, right?

She hated that Aiden was conflicted, and he looked like he is in pain while avoiding her gaze. It's all her fault. Maybe if she didn't act so arrogantly at Madam Kovac's, Maksim would not be interested in her. Maybe if she acted differently, Maksim would not see her as a challenge. Maybe if she had a more elaborate disguise, Maksim would not recognize her here. There are so many maybes that could result in a different outcome, but here they are… and Sarah feels horrible.

Sarah lifted her arms to hug Aiden, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Aiden stood up and went to the door without a word, leaving Sarah behind with her arms up in the air awkwardly.

Sarah wanted to stop Aiden. Why is he opening the door wearing only a towel around his waist? But considering his tangible fury, she decided to keep quiet.

"What?!", Aiden asked angrily when he flung the door open.

Two men at the door took a step back and eyed Aiden's nearly-naked body. Both of them were obviously in shock.

"Uhm… we… we have…", one man stuttered. "…have for… Perun…"

Aiden saw that the man is holding an envelope and he snatched it. "That's me."

"This also…", the second man lifted his hands that were holding two boxes.

Aiden grabbed the boxes violently. "Anything else?"

The two men shook their heads and Aiden slammed the door shut, ignoring their confused gazes.

Aiden looked at the envelope and his frown deepened when he read that it's for 'Olga Perun'.

Aiden flung the envelope on the bed. "It's for you. And I guess this is for you as well…" He threw the boxes on the bed and went to the bathroom.

Sarah jerked when the door closed with a bang behind Aiden.

Sarah exhaled. Now what? She thought that maybe giving him a few minutes to cool off will be a good idea.

She reached for the envelope and opened it. Sarah exhaled in dejection when she read that it's from Maksim. He wants her to have dinner with him that same evening.

Sarah peered into the larger box and saw that it's a dress. She didn't pull it out, but based on the black luxurious fabric, she concluded that it's an evening gown and she didn't need to look in the other one to know that it has shoes inside.

Evening gowns usually need to be well fitted, is it possible that Maksim reached to Madam Kovac to ask for Sarah's measurements? Anything is possible. This probably means that Maksim planned this dinner in advance. Hong was right, who knows how long Maksim is watching her and waiting for the right opportunity to approach her?

Sarah frowned at the thought that Maksim reached to Madam Kovac for her measurements. The people in that place addressed them as Mr. and Mrs. White, so if Maksim got information from someone at Madam Kovac, he would know who they are. Or maybe he assumed that those are aliases and not relevant.

But no matter what the answers are to all those questions, nothing will change the fact that she has a dinner invitation from Maksim and that Aiden is not happy behind that door. 

In the bathroom…

Aiden hit the tiled wall with his fist until his knuckles ached, but it didn't reduce his emotional turmoil. He was angry, and he didn't know at whom to direct that anger, but he knew that it's not fair to vent on Sarah.

He saw that she is reluctant to tell him about Maksim and there was even some fear in her eyes, and he hated it. How come he is not able to protect her from such creeps? What is the point of his skills and status and everything he has if he can't ensure that his wife is not disturbed? Far from protecting Sarah, he ended up being her weakness that Maksim used to bully her.

Aiden groaned in disgust at the thought that was enjoying his victory and planning to use a massage as an interlude to some sweet lovemaking, and he was being totally oblivious that Sarah is hurting while shouldering that secret on her own. He should have seen it. The moment she ran toward him after the mission with panic and relief on her face, he should know that something is off, but he didn't see it. Aiden never felt so useless in his life.

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