Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, Cliffside villa ~

Thursday, 11:19 AM

Sarah was touched when she saw that Sophia, Felix, Haru and the kids together with the rest of the staff organized a warm welcome for her and Aiden.

They had flowers, and balloons and 'Get well soon' banners around the helipad, in the garden and the living area as well as in the master bedroom where extra-wide hospital bed was set up for Aiden, together with the medical machines he will need.

Sarah and Aiden arrived with JoAnna and Emma via helicopter. Jesse was the pilot.

While enjoying the smooth ride, Sarah remembered that Aiden taught Jesse how to pilot a helicopter. Sarah was always amazed by Aiden's ability to transfer knowledge effortlessly and make the most complex things understandable for everyone. She told him more than once that if he ever decides to retire from hacking and coding, he will be an amazing teacher.

Sarah showed several rooms to Emma. "If you decide to stay here, you can pick any of these."

Emma confirmed that all of those rooms will work. Well, each room is about the same size with a bed, sitting area, desk and an attached full bathroom. Ocean view is included.

"I still didn't tell Charlie that I plan to move." Emma said quietly, like she is talking to herself. She looked at JoAnna's inquiring gaze and explained: "I mean… he knows that I will move out eventually, but I have a feeling that he thought I will stay at his villa until he recuperates completely."

"Do you think that he will object?", JoAnna asked while trying to read Emma's reactions.

Based on Emma's calmness, JoAnna concluded that nothing happened between her and Charlie, and Charlie didn't reveal his feelings to Emma. JoAnna wondered if Charlie gave up on pursuing Emma.

Emma shrugged indicating that she does not know. "We spend few hours talking every day. He might miss that… but on the other hand, he has plenty of visitors. I'm sure he will find a way to fill in the gap after I leave."

"Will YOU miss that?", JoAnna continued probing.

"I…", Emma paused and scrutinized JoAnna. "Of course, I will. It became a habit to spend late afternoons and dinner time with Charlie. He is a nice guy and fun to talk to. But there is nothing more than that."

JoAnna awkwardly looked away when she realized that Emma noticed her intention.

"If you say so…", JoAnna mumbled.

Sarah instructed previously for one office desk and a PC to be added to the master bedroom. She wants to be close to Aiden whenever possible. That steady sound of a heartrate monitor reminds her that he is alive… resting.

Sarah has no intention to rest. She has a plan laid out.

Felix committed to complete Sarah's replacement parts (how JoAnna calls them) by Sunday, and that means: next week Sarah will have her surgery. JoAnna will ensure that everything will be done in secrecy, and Emma will work with her on rehabilitation.

Sarah's priority now is: research. To find out who all was involved in the incident and to devise a plan to get the culprits. First targets are the ones who were involved personally, and then anyone associated with them.

After her surgery, she will focus on getting her arm's functions back and then she will start executing her plan. No one will be spared, and anything useful that they leave behind (like Evalina's apartment), Sarah will keep. Ruthless, just how they were and worse, because what she is doing is not business, it's revenge.

Stella didn't say much, but Sarah knows that look in her eyes while she is avoiding to talk about it. Whatever happened involves Lebedev family, and Sarah is aware that Evalina is from a branch family belonging to Voronins.

That means: her targets are Lebedev and Voronin families. Sarah told herself that she will not back down just because of the strength those families have. Just how she discussed with Aiden, they will plan and use their skills and resources, and... they will succeed. 

Sarah powered up the PC and was about to start her information-digging on Voronins, when Sophia's voice came from the door: "Hey, will you join us for dinner?"

Sophia saw that Sarah is about to reject, so she added: "Jeff is also here."

Sarah reluctantly accepted.

JoAnna, Jeff, Sophia, Felix and Emma greeted Sarah with smiles when she came to the dining room.

"It's nice to have you back.", Sophia said to Sarah during dinner.

Sarah responded with a faint nod.

Everyone understood that for Sarah, nothing is good without Aiden. But if they mention it, it will make things worse. The best they can do is pretend that everything is fine.

JoAnna decided to switch topic. She addressed Jeff: "How was your day?"

Jeff understood JoAnna's intention, but why would he talk about boring office work? He found a topic: "It seems that our parents are up to something. I heard Oscar mention that they will have dinner with Stella and Edward to finalize details for tonight."

"Oscar is still here? I thought they would leave now that… things settled.", Sophia finished her sentence a bit awkwardly, unsure if she will hurt Sarah's feelings.

"Yes. Still here. And full of advices.", Jeff sighed. "Most of the afternoon he was telling me to adjust my attitude."

"What is wrong with your attitude?", JoAnna asked.

"It seems that I've become soft since I got married.", Jeff made a face.

"You did.", Sophia chimed in. Seeing Jeff's frown, she explained: "It's all about how people see you. And they see that your behavior changed since you are with Anna."

"That is a good thing.", JoAnna protested.

Sophia shook her head when she saw JoAnna defending her husband. "You can't deny that everyone noticed how icy-cold CEO White is not icy anymore. He is smiling and more approachable and even cracks jokes. People see that as a weakness. And it's not difficult to deduce that his changes happened because of you, Anna. And that means that people see you as his weakness… I'm not saying that he should not be friendly and fun, but that side of him should be exposed only in private settings, when his subordinates and general audience are not present..."

They continued with their discussion over dinner, and Sarah excused herself. She was done with food and eager to go back to her tasks… and Aiden.

In master bedroom…

"Hey, when did you get here?", Sarah asked Kitty when she felt the cub rub against her legs, demanding attention.

After some head rubs, Sarah told Kitty: "How about you go and watch over your daddy? Mommy has work to do."

As if she understood, Kitty looked at Sarah for a second before going toward Aiden. She leaped on his bed and stretched next to him. Sarah wondered, if Aiden is awake, would he chase Kitty out? Probably... Kitty would end up with Jesse for the night. But now she is watching over him.

Sarah returned her thoughts to the computer screens in front of her.

She noticed some unknown locked folders on the share and asked Eve: "Eve, what are these?"

Eve responded in Sarah's earpiece: "Aiden was researching Lebedev and Voronin families and devising strategies against them…"

It took Sarah a minute to crack the lock. Well, Aiden always shared his algorithms with Sarah, and they collaborated on improving them, so it was not a difficult task.

Sarah saw numerous files. All of them with timestamps since they returned from Master Hollow.

Sarah understood that all the time when she thought how he is working for White corp. he was working on this… gathering information, planning. Even with Eve's help, this is an impressive amount of work considering that he had less than two days before… Before he was unable to do more.

Aiden did all this without her noticing, because she was consumed in her stage fright due to the upcoming fashion show and company presentation. Sarah scolded herself while looking at her man who lies on the bed, unmoving… At that time she was preoccupied with insignificant things and because of that she missed her chance to spend time with Aiden.

Sarah used most of the night to go through the files in order to understand his intention.

She saw that Aiden marked as his biggest concern: lack of manpower. And he put as a solution Black & White club and several others…

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