Chapter Thirteen
1769 Words
Zander walked over to Marissa while Stephanie went to their room to freshen up. Zander asked Marissa as he stepped beside her, “Would you like to join Stephanie and me for dinner tonight?”
“I would consider it an honor sir.”
“Please call me Zander. I appreciate that you have befriended Stephanie, and she seems so much happier with you around. I am glad that our paths crossed when they did.”
“Stephanie is a wonderful woman; you are lucky to have her.” Marissa asked looking at the maps on the wall, “What are these maps for Zander?”
“They are maps of the regions where the king and queen have residences in the country.” Zander watched as Marissa nodded in understanding and returned to looking at the maps again. “I have been pondering on when the best time would be to attack them but, none of my people can seem to figure out where they will be staying.”
“I can understand your frustration. Do they not normally come back to the states for Thanksgiving?”
“Yes, they do normally come back for Thanksgiving but, no one has caught chatter on when they are coming back or where they will be staying.”
“Let me see if I can find the information that you are seeking. I have someone placed in the royal guard that may be able to get us the information.”
“You are an asset to this organization Marissa. I look forward to seeing how far you go here.”
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Marissa was impressed with Stephanie for keeping up the charade of being controlled by Zander’s powers. Marissa talked with Zander for a little while longer before excusing herself so, that she could freshen up before dinner. Marissa heard a soft knock as she stepped into her living area and asked, “Who is it?”
“Stephanie.”
“Give me a second.”
“Okay.” Stephanie replied softly.
Marissa changed into the outfit she had placed on her bed, went to the door, and opened it to a smiling Stephanie. Marissa said with a warm smile, “Please come in Stephanie. What do I owe the honor of a visit from you?”
“I came to pass along a request from Zander and to make sure that you were settling in.”
Marissa closes the door once Stephanie had taken a seat on the love seat. Marissa knew that it was safe for Stephanie to speak freely in her room. For some reason Zander trusted his followers to be loyal and had not placed any kind of cameras or recording devices in the rooms that occupied this section of the hideout. Marissa said softly, “You can speak freely here Stephanie we just have to watch how loudly we speak. Do you know why Zander has asked me to join the two of you for dinner?”
“Zander plans to ask you to become the leader of one of the other hideouts.” Stephanie replied just as softly.
“How many other hideouts does he have?”
“Two other hideouts, that I know of. Zander has not told me where the other two hideouts are located but, I know they are in the same mountain range.”
“Zander has provided me with information on his plan to locate the residence that the king and queen will be occupying for Thanksgiving but, I am not sure what else he is planning.”
“I wonder if Zander will reveal more while we are at dinner.” Stephanie asked a bit louder as she heard footsteps approaching Marissa’s door, ‘Would you like to join me for a walk?”
“I would like that very Stephanie.” Marissa said as she stood up. When Marissa and Stephanie were out in the hallway Marissa linked arms with Stephanie. Stephanie let Marissa out of the hideout through the kitchen to a small field that had a small vegetable and herb garden each located to the left and right of the door that they had exited through. Marissa expanded her mind to find out who was outside with them.
Stephanie said, “I come out here when I need a break from the chaos.”
“It does not seem that they watch this field. You have made Zander believe that he has placed you under his control.”
“Have you been able to get in touch with Zander and the others?”
“Yes, I was able to relay some information. Crystal asked after you and wanted you to know that she loves you and wants you to remain as safe as possible.”
“I am doing what I can but, sometimes it is hard for me to get away from Zander so that I can be myself.”
“I will do what I can to help you sneak away as long as I am here.”
“Thank you for that.” Stephanie lulled into silence, walked into the empty field, and closed her eyes for a few moments.
Marissa stood where she was and kept an eye on their surroundings. As the sun set Marissa said, “It is time to go in for dinner.” Stephanie nodded and led Marissa to her and Zander’s private quarters.
When Stephanie and Marissa entered the room, they saw a small table set for three with candles and a vase full of roses placed in the center. Stephanie took the seat that Zander pulled out for her, and Marissa took the seat across from Stephanie as Zander sat beside Stephanie. Zander asked as he placed their meals on the table, “Have you been able to reach out to your contacts?”
“I was going to do that this evening but, I will need to be able to step away.” Marissa said cautiously.
“That is fine, just stay a mile or so of the hideout. I have also decided to name you the leader of one of the other headquarters if the information you provide to me proves to be valid.”
“I am honored that you would trust with such a post. I will contact my contacts this evening and should have something to you in a few days.” Marissa said turning to her food.
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Zander noticed that there was something different about Stephanie but, he could not tell what was different. Zander felt Stephanie had pulled away from him but, again he was unsure how that had happened. Zander had a private conversation with Marissa asking for advice. Marissa told Zander that Stephanie seemed to be a romantic, which she suggested showing Stephanie how much she meant to Zander.
Zander had pondered on those thoughts for the hours until dinner finally thinking of the perfect surprise for Stephanie. Zander said to Stephanie once Marissa had left, “I have a surprise for you.”
Stephanie looked up at me from the dinner table and asked, “Really, you are not too busy?”
“I have delegated my duties this evening so that we can spend some time together.” Zander says with a soft smile.
“That sounds lovely.”
Stephanie placed her hand in Zander’s and followed him to the theater room. When they entered it was completely empty. Zander said, “I have reserved the room for the evening. I thought we could watch a movie and then talk about our future together.”
“This was very thoughtful Zander. Thank you.” Stephanie sat on the sofa in the back of the room once she had grabbed some popcorn and soda. Zander joined Stephanie on the sofa and started the movie. Zander had chosen ‘Maid in Manhattan’ with Marissa’s help. It was a movie that Zander had not seen before, and Zander was hoping that Stephanie was not familiar with it. Stephanie said softly when the movie started, “I have not seen this movie.”
“I was hoping that you would say that. I was going to go with ‘Pretty Women’ because I knew that was your favorite movie.”
“That is true however, I am glad that we will be able to watch this movie together for the first time.”
“I am as well.” Zander snaked his arm around Stephanie’s waist and pulled her closer to his side. When the movie was over, they talked about the film and the thoughts that they each had about their future.
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Marissa left the hideout once everyone had gone to sleep and found a secluded spot by a waterfall. Marissa set up her equipment to be sure that her phone call would not be overheard and called Quinten. Quinten answered the phone groggily. Marissa said, “Wake up Quinten.”
Quinten shot up in bed and asked, “How is it going?”
“My cover is intact for the time being. Stephanie is healthy and pretending to be under Zander’s control until she can be safely rescued.”
“We are working on that.”
“I need you to tell me which residence your parents plan to use when they come to visit for Thanksgiving.”
“Whitlock Manor.”
“You will need to send in their body doubles so, that Zander does not know that there is a mole.”
“I will touch bases with my parents. Zander still may think there is a mole since they will not be there.”
“I am going to give him three residences that they may use and that was all my source was able to get me. You all need to not be in the states for Thanksgiving.”
“Understood.”
“Zander seems to want to put Stephanie first instead of his revenge but, we will see how long that lasts.”
“I am not sure how that helps us.”
“It may not. I just thought you should know. I will send you the blueprint of the hideout but, it is not going to be 100% accurate.”
“Understood. You keep yourself safe Marissa.”
“Will do. I will be in touch in a few weeks.” Marissa hung up the phone, hid the equipment and the burner phone in a shallow cave behind the waterfall so that she would not have to drag it all out here again.
- Writer
