~ Austin, the White Mansion ~


    At 8 PM dinner was served and Jeff and JoAnna returned to their seats.


    The people who were still in the queue waiting for their turn with new Master and Madam faced disappointment, but Oscar informed them that after dinner they can resume their congrattions.


    They all enjoyed a lovely meal with seven dishes, and it took almost two hours until the dessert was served. If anyone wants more food, they can turn to several tables which were arranged buffet-style, and on top of that, Vi''s staff ensured that bite-sized snacks are always present on each table. Food and drinks were notcking at this event.


    The music from the band sped up and Sarah and Aiden exchanged exciting gazes: it''s time for dancing!


    Charlie and Emma went to the dancefloor, and so did Jasper and Ellie.


    JoAnna wanted to dance with her husband, but people created a <em>''congrattory queue''</em> again, and she had to go with Jeff to smile and say <em>''thank you''</em> to people she does not know.


    "Mrs. Martin, can I interest you in a dance?", Felix offered his wife.


    "Sure. Let me just finish this cake."


    Felix chuckled at Sophia''stest desire for sweets. He wanted to tell her that if she is not careful she will gain weight, but he swallowed those words down. He knows that since she got pregnant, weight is a no-no topic with Sophia. And he does not care, even if she gets fat, there will be more of her to love.


    In the section with tables…


    "My dear, shall we dance?", Ron offered his hand to Z.


    Sarah and Aiden told them to y their roles as a couple. And if they neglect the part of having fun at the party like a young couple, then their security-spying cover might be blown.


    Z looked at Ron shyly and ced her hand in his, allowing him to guide her to the dancefloor.


    Ron is 17 years old and Z is 15. So far Z didn''t have any feelings toward Ron, but tonight he is very dashing, and she wondered: howe she didn''t notice that so far? She knows that all the attention he is giving her is only for the cover… but her teenage heart can''t help but skip a beat whenever their eyes meet.


    "Rx…", Ron told Z when they reached to the dancefloor and he noticed that she is stiff. "Just follow my lead."


    Z held her breath when Ron spun her on the dancefloor, and his boyish grin made her heart beat violently.


    For the first time in his life, Ron appreciated that as a part of growing up in a well-to-do family, he attended dance lessons since young age. Seeing Z''s gaze full of admiration directed at him, all those hours of practicing are worth it. No one ever looked at him like that, and it made him feel good.


    Back at the section with tables…


    Jesse nced at Oni and saw that her gaze is on Ron and Z.


    Jesse leaned closer to her and asked: "Do you want to dance?"


    Oni was startled with Jesse''s unexpected proximity, but she didn''t reject his hand. And she was pleasantly surprised that Jesse is a very good dancer.


    "Where did you learn how to dance?", Oni asked Jesse.


    Jesse''s eyes dimmed for a moment when he remembered that ballroom dancing was one of must-have skills to acquire while he took training for Shadow Ravens. "In UK, a long time ago."


    "You were in UK?" Oni''s eyes were full of wonder.


    "Yes. For education."


    Jesse was never the one to talk much, especially not about his past. But he didn''t want to be rude to Oni by not answering her questions.


    Oni knows that Sarah and Aiden brought Jesse from Sierra Leone with other neen boys.


    "How did a person with an education from UK end up in a diamond mine?"


    Oni saw Jesse frown slightly at her question and quickly apologized: "I''m sorry for asking. I didn''t mean to intrude."


    Jesse was sorry that he made Oni ufortable. She is only a sixteen-year-old girl, it''s normal that she is curious.


    "I was betrayed.", he responded shortly.


    Oni was happy that he responded and reminded herself not to be too nosy. Sarah told her to pay attention and follow Jesse''s lead because she can learn a lot from him. Instead of questioning him, she should focus on the mission… and the mission is to be a couple.


    Oni looked Jesse in the eyes and smiled.


    "It''s too much.", he said in a low voice. When he saw her confusion, Jesse exined: "Your smile, it''s too much. I can see that it''s forced."


    Oni exhaled helplessly.


    Jesse chuckled. "You don''t need to smile if you don''t feel like it. But the eye contact was a good idea."


    Oni perked up. She got one out of two, that is a progress!


    "That smile is much better.", Jesse said.


    Oni was not sure if she imagined, but for a moment it seemed that Jesse smiled. Not a mocking one, or a forced one, but a real warm smile. She looked at his handsome face and gave herself a mission to make him smile like that at least one more time tonight.


    Back at the tables…


    Tejan and Daniel are at the table with Mr. and Mrs. Wright (Melodie''s parents). The two boys got instructions on whom to pay attention to, and from the files they received, they know that their bosses got Melodie out of the grasp of her parents. Both Tejan and Daniel were surprised that Mr. and Mrs. Wright are enjoying the evening. Number of people stopped by to greet them, and they spoke about their business, their connections, how they are delighted to be invited to this party… but not a single time they mentioned that they are missing a daughter. That was strange, Tejan and Daniel thought.


    Few tables away…


    Allen and Julius are at the table with the Mr. and Mrs. Fortin (Tiffany''s parents). The two boys had no problems engaging in a pleasant conversation with the couple. As soon as they introduced themselves as young heirs of arge shippingpany from South America, Mr. Fortin was very pleasant toward the boys. About half an hour into the talk boys said that they are single and that earned them invitations to visit the Fortin family home.


    "Our daughter is also single and avable. I''m not trying to set you up, but in case you like her…", Mrs. Fortin ended with a giggle and Mr. Fortin nodded in approval.


    Allen and Julius smiled politely while internally wondering, what are these people thinking? They read the files, their daughter is ten years older than they are! For two teenage boys who never dated before, that is a huge age gap.


    About one hour after dinner ended, Mr. Fortin got a call. His face darkened when he heard from his bodyguards that Tiffany disappeared in the movie theater. And based on the fact that all three bodyguards were disabled for some time, someone kidnapped her or... she had help.


    Mr. Fortin did his best to keep hisposure, but Allen and Julius heard that his daughter is missing. And they know that Haru and N went on a mission to save some young woman and bring her to a safehouse. The two boys exchanged knowing nces and silently praised their two seniors for a sessfully executed mission.


    ---


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