~ Salina ~


    Wednesday morning, Jeff and JoAnna are in a hotel suite in Salina, getting ready to go and meet with Isabe.


    "Are you sure it''s OK that I join?", JoAnna was reluctant.


    "Yes, my dear wifey." Jeff embraced her and ced a kiss on her forehead. "Isabe already agreed to the n. There are no problems if you to join and meet her. It will be good for you to see for yourself that I have nothing to do with her, except the desire to help her be independent."


    JoAnna relented, "OK. Fine..."


    "Thank you." Jeff exhaled in relief. He does not want to leave her by herself, and if the meeting will not be with someone who is hostile, he prefers that JoAnna joins him. "For the afternoon, you can stay in the room. Lambert will probably resist the n, so you should avoid the stress."


    JoAnna nodded in agreement. "I trust your judgement on this." JoAnna knows that Jeff is good in assessing situations, and he would not put her in an awkward position. She wants to join and support him, but she also knows that she might get in the way. That is why JoAnna wants to trust him, if Jeff says that she should not join him, then she will not insist.


    JoAnna stepped away from Jeff and twirled on her toes, showing off her light purple summer dress. "How do I look?"


    Jeff looked at her with admiration. "Amazing, Mrs. White... the only thing that could make it better is if you remove it." He was approaching her with a lustful expression.


    "Jeff! Behave!" JoAnna scolded him but could not hide smile on her face. She likes when Jeff does not behave. "We will bete..."


    ~ Seattle, Cabin ~


    In the back of the Cabin, nearby Seattle, under watchful gaze of Ste, Sarah was showing Aiden set of moves that he needs to practice on the exercise dummy* that resembles the one they have in their Fairfield apartment. He picked it up quickly.


    Ste was pleased and praised him. "Good memory and coordination. You have half an hour to practice. Then I wille to check, before you move to your second task."


    Ste faced Sarah. "We go this way."


    Sarah was proud that Aiden got a praise from Ste. Somehow, she felt that her mom is also approving of him as a boyfriend. Sarah gave Aiden a quick kiss on the cheek and followed Ste between bushes. Soon they were out of sight.


    ~ Salina ~


    In Salina, when Jeff and JoAnna arrived at the private club, Isabe was waiting for them. She was seated at arge circr table with light pink table cover. In front of her was an assortment of bite size sandwiches and desserts, and she was sipping tea. Behind her were two bodyguards.


    "Sorry we arete." Jeff said as soon as they approached the table and helped JoAnna sit by pulling a chair for her.


    Isabe greeted Jeff politely and showed interest in JoAnna. "So, this is your fiancé? I''m Isabe. Congrattions on your engagement!"


    JoAnna found that Isabe is very nice person. They hit it off right away and started chatting random girly stuff, leaving Jeff to feel lonely at the table. Even though JoAnna was chatting with Isabe, she still held hands with Jeff and nced at him once in a while. It made him feel that he is not forgotten.


    There was not much for him to talk with Isabe. They already talked online about the n. This was mostly a social visit, and for JoAnna and Isabe to meet.


    They had lunch at that private club.


    Isabe knows thatter in the afternoon, Jeff will go to meet with her father. "Anna, will you join Jeff to the meeting with my dad?"


    "No. He will do that himself."


    Isabe perked up. "Do you have ns for the afternoon?"


    "Not really. I was thinking of rxing in the room."


    "How about shopping? I would love to show you around.", Isabe was enthusiastic.


    JoAnna nced at Jeff and he smiled letting her know that it''s her decision.


    "OK. I would love to." JoAnna epted.


    Isabe was very happy, and immediately pulled out her phone and showed locations of threerge malls in the area, asking JoAnna to pick one.


    They agreed thatter in the afternoon Isabe wille to their suite to pick up JoAnna for their shopping.


    ~ Seattle, Cabin ~


    Aiden finishedst set that Ste asked him to do for measurements. Heid t on the ground, so exhausted, that he thought his soul is about to leave his body. ''I need to get out of this... Maybe I can say that someone called me for something urgent from work...''


    "How are you doing?", Sarah leaned over him, offering him a bottle of water.


    "I''m fine. This is nothing." There is no way that he will admit to her that he can''t take this anymore, and that he is making a n that during lunch suddenly he will get a call from office.


    Ste watched him from few steps away and smiled at him as if she can read his mind.


    He shed a forced smile before gulping cold water that Sarah gave him.


    Before lunch, they went to shower. Aiden noticed new bruises on Sarah''s body and felt sorry for her. He pulled her into a tight hug.


    She giggled. "I''m impressed that after all that you still have energy left..."


    Aiden realized that they are in the shower, and him hugging Sarah got her to think that he wants intimacy. But how can he say that he is drained of all energy? That would not be manly at all.


    Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "You should save your energy for afternoon... if you have any left in the evening, let me know." She yfully winked at him and left the shower.


    Aiden felt relief and guilt seeing her leave. Relief that he does not need to expose hisck of energy, and guilt that he ns to avoid afternoon training. But it''s too much. He needs to avoid it at all cost.


    When Aiden came out of the bathroom, the maid was giving first aid to Sarah. Aiden was surprised to see how much better her yesterday''s bruises lookpared tost night. And cuts were almost healed.


    "That is some magical healing cream", hemented.


    Sarah smiled, "It''s something my family is perfecting for generations."


    Aiden thought for some time, "I didn''t know you are in pharmaceutical industry..."


    "It stays within the family." Sarah shook her head. "Not for sale."


    Aiden'' was not satisfied with her answer and wanted to ask some more, when Sarah stopped him. "From my mom''s side."


    He nodded in understanding and didn''t ask anything else.. If it''s rted to Ste, probably it''s not a good idea to dig too deep.