Chapter 10: Hmm...
1217 Words
Elliot sipped his wine, quiet but engaged. This was the part he enjoyed—the slow unraveling of truth through effortless conversation.
“You both travel a lot—what’s been your favorite place so far?” asked Ava.
Myra answered first, too quickly. A rehearsed response.
“Oh, Paris, definitely. We just love the atmosphere, the food, the romance of it all.”
Edward nodded slightly. A fraction of a second too late.
“Yes, Paris was incredible.”
Ben took another sip of wine. That wasn’t the city he was expecting.
Alexia, for the first time, saw the game in motion. The subtle shifts, the silent hesitations. Ava never pressed, yet caught every inconsistency. Ben let silences stretch just long enough to force a slip. Each pause, each glance—like a misplaced note in a well-rehearsed song.
This wasn’t an interrogation. This was a dance, and it fascinated her. And Alexia was learning the rhythm.
“Elliot tells me you’re working on some new projects. Something in real estate, was it?”
Edward relaxed. A topic he was comfortable with.
“Yes, actually. Some exciting ventures are coming up, particularly a resort development overseas.”
“Overseas? That’s interesting. Where about?” It was subtle. Not prying, just interested.
Edward hesitated—a pause just long enough to matter.
“Singapore. And, uh, a few others we’re looking into.”
Ben said nothing, just a slow, approving nod.
Myra glanced at Edward, and at that moment, Alexia saw it. A moment—no, a shift.
They were hiding something.
Ava caught it too. She caught Ben’s eyes briefly. Just a second. That was all it took.
Elliot noticed, but said nothing. This was Ava and Ben’s game.
The dinner wrapped up as smoothly as it started. No alarms. No suspicions.
Myra and Edward left, unaware of how much they had revealed.
Elliot exhaled, swirling the last sip of wine into his glass.
“Well?” he asked.
Ava set her napkin down, smoothing it over her lap before leaning back.
“They’re exactly what we thought.”
Ben stretched his arm over the back of his chair, giving Elliot a half-smile.
“And they don’t even know it yet.”
Alexia noticed, feeling the weight of what had just happened.
“You two knew they were lying?” Ben glanced at her, amused.
“We didn’t know. We just let them tell us.”
Ava giggled, lifting her wineglass for one last sip. Ben looked at her and smiled.
“People always do, if you listen right,” said Ben.
Alexia let that sink in. She had thought she was just an observer. But now? She realized she had learned more than she expected.
Back at the estate, the living room held a soft glow from the recessed lighting, a warmth that contrasted with the calculated precision of the evening.
Ava set her wineglass down, the liquid catching the dim light. “Well, that was… informative.”
Ben leaned back against the couch, stretching an arm across the back. “They think they’re in control.”
“They aren’t.”
Alexia sat quietly, processing. She had watched Ava and Ben work through dinner, unraveling details without ever pushing. It had been subtle, effortless. A dance, not an interrogation.
Ava glanced at her. “What did you think?”
Alexia hesitated, then admitted, “It was like watching a conversation I wasn’t fluent in.”
Ava smiled slightly. “The last time we were here, they supposedly just started dating. They went to Paris last weekend.”
“Myra had told me that Edward invited her to go away for the weekend, but when I talked to her yesterday, she didn’t mention Paris,” said Alexia.
“Exactly,” said Ava. “Do they act like they have just started a new relationship?”
“Not really,” said Alexia.
“We’ll go over it in the morning. Harris, Sarah, Anna, and Steven need to be looped in.”
Ava nodded. “No need to jump to conclusions tonight. Let’s get actual intel before we start making assumptions.”
Elliot exhaled. “Agreed.”
Ava stood, smoothing out the fabric of her dress. “Then I say we call it a night.”
Ava gave Alexia a knowing look. “We’ll talk more in the morning. Good night.”
Elliot watched them go to Alexia’s suite.
Alexia hadn’t moved. When she spoke, her voice was softer.
“They don’t even have to try, do they?”
Elliot glanced at her. “That’s the trick… make it look like they aren’t.”
She exhaled.
“I’m going to bed. I’m tired. Good night.”
“Good night.”
An hour later, Alexia was still awake.
She slipped out of the room, walked toward the kitchen bare-footed. She grabbed a glass from the cabinet, filling it with water.
A voice broke through the quiet. “Couldn’t sleep?”
She turned. Elliot sat on the couch, one arm draped over the back.
Alexia exhaled, walking toward him. “Not really.”
She sat down beside him, pulling her knees up.
“Please pass me the cover. I’m a little cold.”
Elliot handed her the small couch cover.
“I’m nervous. And scared,” said Alexia.
Elliot didn’t react, just let the words settle between them.
“But what can I do?” she added.
Elliot put his arm around her shoulder. “Trust me when I say that with Ben and Ava here things will change for the better before all of this is over.”
“What do you mean?”
“Five years ago, it was because of them that I didn’t lose anything, and they protected my life. Remember, I told you they have a security company like none other?”
“You mentioned it.”
“Well, I am the silent partner, and they are in charge.”
“They are…”
“Different?”
“Yes, but I don’t quite understand them, but you can tell they are in control and powerful.”
“Alexia, they are geniuses. They speak, read, and write 12 languages, and speak many more. They both have photographic memories, and that is just the beginning.
“How can that be?”
“You can trust them in your life. So, if they ever tell you to do something, just do it. Ask questions later.”
“I wonder what their children will be like.”
“We’ll find out in seven months.”
“Do they have family?”
“No, but I’ll tell you more another time. It’s getting late.”
They both stood up from the couch.
Alexia turned and faced Elliot. “I don’t want to be alone tonight,” said Alexia softly.
“Neither do I.” Elliot put his arm around her waist and led her to his bedroom suite.
“Alexia…”
Alexia put her finger on his lips, and said “Hmm,” barely audible, and led him to bed.
It had been a long evening leading to unusual conversations, but Alexia saw a different side of Elliot. She also knew there was much more to discover about Ben and Ava.
The truth is… Ava and Ben flew here for…
- Writer
