Is this destiny?

~ France ~

Saturday

Aiden got out of the elegant black car and walked to the other side in steady strides while smoothening the lapels of his sharp suit.

He opened the door for Sarah and offered her his hand with a smile that widened when her slender leg peeked out of the car.

Sarah placed her hand in his and stepped out.

She was wearing a knee-length light blue dress that flared from half of her thighs. It was flattering her figure and it didn't hide her five-month pregnancy belly that was showing.

Aiden gazed at the bulge that curved Sarah's abdomen and enjoyed the view, knowing that he did that.

He was eagerly waiting for Sarah to start showing, and finally, the wait is over. Yup. He did that.

Aiden loved that Sarah was wearing a dress. It provides easy access. It's not that he was aroused, but with Sarah's pregnancy hormones, the mood can strike anytime, and he was always ready to provide his assistance in satisfying her needs.

The two of them were dressed elegantly, like they are going to the finest cocktail party. Sarah even had makeup on, and her hair was braided and intertwined into a bun. Her look was completed with high-heels and a fancy purse, and Aiden's shoes were shiny.

Sarah and Aiden always loved role-playing and this was right up their alley.

On this day, they were powerful bosses of mysterious organizations, and also madly in love with each other. Today, they are themselves.

The couple took a moment to appreciate the quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of Paris, disturbed only by the melodious chirps of birds that are hidden in nearby trees.

Most of the homes in this area are small villas on big plots of land, surrounded by a lush landscape that provides privacy.

"We could get a house here. It's beautiful.", Sarah said.

"Not as beautiful as you, my love…", Aiden murmured while giving her hand a gentle squeeze, and Sarah's lips curved into a smile.

Her smooth-talking husband is always ready to flirt, and she loves him to pieces.

Sarah and Aiden held hands and walked down the paved path toward the villa where the Council meeting will be held.

The invisible drones silently hovered above Sarah and Aiden, providing Eve with everything she needed in order to protect the couple. The cameras on the drones also provided a live feed to numerous people who were observing from afar.

The Council has several safe houses for their meetings, and this was one of them.

Albert asked if they can meet here. He had too many issues to deal with and spending hours traveling was a problem for him.

No one objected to having a meeting here because they met the last two times in Los Angeles, and it was time for a change of location.

The Council members are secretive and cautious, but they can't ignore the possibility that someone is watching them. Getting ambushed during a meeting because they are always at the same location would be a big error from their side. For that reason, the Council often randomly changes where they will meet.

Sarah and Aiden arrived in France on the previous evening, and they spent the night in their Chateau.

Sarah was not happy to leave Los Angeles because now Vasily was awake, and she wanted to spend time with him.  However, Vasily told her to go. He was still in the hospital, and he will stay there for at least one more week, according to JoAnna and Dr. Williams-Anderson (aka Liz) who are monitoring his condition.

Sarah visited Vasily and spent a few hours in his VIP room daily. They spoke about kids, her pregnancy, and he said that he looks forward to playing with the dogs when he moves to the Cliffside Villa. Vasily also hopes to win over the overgrown cats (how he calls Kitty, Atlas, and Vega).

Sarah gave Vasily updates about the Lebedev family and he approved of the decisions she made in his absence, especially the part where a number of his subordinates are now in Los Angeles.

He didn't ask about Ivan, and Sarah didn't say anything about that traitor, yet. Ivan is a prisoner at the base of the Army of Chaos, and he is not going anywhere.

Sarah knew that Vasily would love to deal with Ivan personally, and she plans to bring up that topic once Vasily recuperates.

Vasily was elated that Sarah told him about the Council and their plan. He even suggested a few tweaks and Sarah (and Aiden) approved.

She wholeheartedly agreed with Vasily's tactics of: show them that they can't mess with you, and if they retaliate, crush them.

Back to the present…

Sarah and Aiden made their way into the villa and down the hallway. No one stopped Aiden, assuming that he is present in the role of Sarah's bodyguard.

Sarah glanced at the man who was holding her hand and her heart was full. Regardless of how this day ends, she was happy that she will go through it with Aiden.

Just like at the beginning of their relationship, Aiden makes Sarah's heart shake in anticipation while providing her with a feeling of safety and trust. Sarah remembered how from the start, there was an attraction and fear of unknown, yet her instinct screamed that she can trust him and she never regretted that decision.

Aiden shot Sarah a side glance and his eyebrows lifted slightly while wondering why she was looking at him with hearts in her eyes, like she was smitten. It's not that he didn't like it, but he wanted to know what caused it, so that he can make it happen again.

They entered the conference room and Sarah's gaze fell on the massive table that had nine seating spots marked by shaped grooves on its surface. The shadows were unable to conceal faces of people seated around the table because Eve-lens can reveal everything, and she saw that other than Albert, everyone else was present.

Sarah was focused on the arrangement of the shapes on the table.

She noticed that the positions are different compared to the ones that are on the table in Los Angeles, and she was delighted to see that the eight-pointed star is next to kolovrat.

Jarred and Suvedini didn't say anything when he saw Aiden. Ksenia, Sinet, and Sloan were visibly surprised and confused.

Rance had to speak out, "This is for members only, Sarah. Did you already forget the rules? Or are you set on creating your own rules?"

Albert would probably blow a fuse, but he was not present. He notified them that he was on his way and to wait for him.

Without responding to Rance, Aiden pulled a chair for Sarah to sit in front of the kolovrat-shaped groove, and he sat on the chair next to her.

Sarah placed her medallion in the corresponding groove and leaned forward so that her face is illuminated.

"We will address the point of my husband's presence when everyone gathers. Please, be patient.", Sarah said with a smile, and then she leaned back into the chair and into the darkness.

Aiden extended his arm toward Sarah, palm up, and she put her hand into his, their fingers interlaced at the same moment in a silent confirmation that they are in this together.

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