He turned to look at Tatiana, who was trying to pretend she wasn’t aware of his attention. Her rapid breathing spoiled the illusion, and her eyes snapped to him as he slowly stepped closer.
“Anything you’d like to mention about the story they’re reporting?” he said very softly so only she could hear.
Her eyes flicked to the screen, then back to Ben’s. “I won’t tell you what you don’t want to hear.”
He took a deep breath to calm himself. “There’s no evidence linking it back to you?”
Tatiana snorted in scorn. “Of course not.”
“Because they’re bad guys isn’t enough. That’s no longer your job–”
“So, I take down your over-zealous fanboys now?” she hissed. “This is what I’ve become?”
Ben clenched his jaw and looked for anyone watching them. Liliya and Evelyn were, but none of the people nearby seemed aware of their words.
“What you’ve become is someone I rely on to protect my loved ones and me from hostile forces, as I believe you have exceptional skills for that. But most of the time, we won’t be in crisis situations. During those times, I rely on you to remain vigilant for dangers and take reasonable steps to disable them, non-lethally when possible,” Ben explained as he looked into her eyes.
She looked like she might argue, but Ben put his hand on her shoulder, squeezed a warning, but nodded with a smile. His eyes were tracking the progress of a few airport security men who were walking through the departures area in their direction. They seemed like they might be looking for someone, but that might have been Ben’s paranoia now that he was aware of Tatiana’s extra-curricular activities
“Sergeant? Any word on boarding, like now?” he called out for her to hear. The woman in question hustled over to the gate and spoke tersely to the agents there. They talked into their mics and nodded to her. Evelyn caught his eye and gestured to come.
Ben released Tatiana’s shoulder, and she wobbled momentarily before turning and walking to the gate casually.
He turned to Louis and his group and gestured for them to board quickly. Ben picked up his carry-on and joined them, with Liliya bringing up the rear.
She was keeping an eye on the security people, and they hadn’t spotted Ben’s group yet as she stepped into the gangway.
Once they were on the jet, the flight crew expedited their roll back from the gate and taxied out to the runway. They got into the queue, and soon they were rushing down the runway.
Ben allowed himself to relax as the jet reached cruising altitude and the seatbelt lights turned off. He turned in his seat and looked back at Tatiana, who quickly turned her head and looked out the window. He just didn’t have the energy to continue with her now. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, feeling his age.
“Excuse me, Ben?”
He opened his eyes to see Louis and Dan standing next to his chair. “Yes?”
“Can you tell us what that little bit at the end was? Something we need to be concerned about?” Dan asked.
Ben knew Dan was the legal brain in their company, so he wouldn’t put the man in a compromising position. “It wasn’t anything for you or your people to worry about. It may be another burned bridge for me, though.”
When Louis and Dan saw that was all Ben was willing to say, they nodded, shared looks, and went back to their seats.
Liliya had moved back to sit with Tatiana, and they began speaking quietly, but neither was smiling. The tension could be felt, and the Sergeant joined Ben.
“I take it that news story was related to a certain team member?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Ben replied.
“The headcount was reported to be twenty to twenty-five. That’s not a minor blip. It isn’t something I can downplay for the General,” Evelyn said hesitantly.
“Don’t,” Ben said as he held her eyes. “I’m out of my league here. I’ve done what I can, and it’s apparently not good enough.” He looked away. “Do what you need to do.”
Ben closed his eyes again. He felt sick to his stomach. Giving up on someone grated on him like nothing he’d felt before. He forced the bile down and turned his face to the window to avoid more conversations.
-=-
Robin picked up on the tension the moment their passengers stepped on board, so she tried to melt into the background. She ran through her pre-flight duties and skipped the less essential ones to ease them on their way.
Now, she sat in her position at the front of the jet and absorbed what appeared to be happening.
The Angry Beauty was first to board the jet. She didn’t look at Robin and immediately took her seat at the back. She seemed to be having trouble breathing like she’d been running and suddenly stopped. She might be the instigator or the target of the tension.
The Developer Team was next, and they just looked confused and concerned. They were the innocents.
The Sergeant followed, and Robin saw the tension in her expression. She was a doer, so she might be the final solution.
After Ben arrived, the Deadly Blonde slipped inside and kept her eyes on the Angry Beauty until she could move to the back and speak with her. Robin wasn’t sure what role she played in this. The last line of defense, perhaps?
Ben’s expression was most telling. He was trying for neutral, but his frustration showed in his eyes, and now she could see he was having trouble swallowing, and his look was now one of defeat. That seemed out of character for such a powerful man.
She felt an instinctive tug, a need to go to him to make it better, but she knew it wasn’t her place to do that, so she’d just give him space.
Something had happened while they’d been in Hong Kong. She was aware of the media frenzy over Ben’s interlude in the supply closet. She doubted that was the cause of the current mood. Something must’ve happened after that. She looked at the angry expression on the dark beauty’s face again. She caught her glancing toward Ben. Maybe the interlude was a factor?
She’d do some research once they got to Singapore.
For now, she’d do her duties.
Ben fell in love with Singapore.
To him, it felt like a modern city that embraced nature within it. Beautiful, tall, mature trees shared space with gleaming glass and steel office towers.
There was also what seemed like a harmonious mix of religions and cultures, with civility and hopeful enthusiasm amongst its populace.
He admitted he might have been projecting his own current need onto his perceptions, but he didn’t believe so.
Then there was the food.
The food was unlike anything he’d ever experienced! After their first meal in the city, Ben was already making plans to bring everyone he could to share in this experience.
The security team was on the best behavior, so he could relax and enjoy the visit. Ben enjoyed getting to know Ed, who seemed to be a sponge for knowledge. He asked questions about the meals in the restaurants and even managed to get some recipes from the chefs so he could make some dishes at home.
This made Ben realize he was observing one of the biggest differences between him and Ed. While he was considering bringing his entire family to Singapore, Ed followed the simpler, more reasonable path of a homebody, bringing the experience to his loved ones. Ben wondered when he’d switched behaviors, as his new ease with wealth felt recent.
The real estate developers they met were both suitable, but Louis and Dan opted for the first one as they had more years under their belt and had an excellent relationship with the country’s governing body.
They enjoyed their second night in the gorgeous city and did a little sightseeing before heading back to their hotel to sleep. Their flight to Germany was first thing in the morning, and they’d been visiting three developers, so they needed to rest.
Ben was feeling much better than he did when they left Hong Kong. Tatiana was subdued but behaving professionally. Liliya seemed more relaxed as well. Evelyn was watching Tatiana like a hawk. He’d spoken to her about easing up to prevent Tatiana from lashing out, and the Sergeant accepted his advice, and her observation became less obvious.
The primaries of the company they selected took them for an incredible seafood meal on the patio of a restaurant overlooking the beach on the southern shore. The conversation was lively, and the food was exceptional.
Afterward, they shook hands, and Ben’s group went back to their hotel and up to the rooftop bar to enjoy sunset views and drinks.
Ed and Ben continued to discover similarities. After dinner, the two began comparing notes on their areas of technical knowledge, and the conversation drove Louis, Dan, and Mark to find more interesting scenery.
Like Ben, Ed avoided alcohol, but for different reasons, so they enjoyed some herbal tea as they sat in the lovely rooftop bar watching the sunset. Ed confessed to enjoying scotch, but his tolerance was low, and he said his behavior changed when he was drunk, so it was safer to avoid it.
Robin walked into the bar, and Ben spotted her looking around. He smiled and waved to her, so she approached their table. He couldn’t help but notice how good she looked in her little black cocktail dress, which emphasized her long, toned legs. She’d also released her long hair from her ponytail, and it flowed down her back.
“Good evening! Would you mind if I joined you two?” she asked.
“Good evening, Robin! Please do,” Ben said, gesturing to the chair between Ed and him.
She sat and glanced at their beverages. “You’ve come all the way to Singapore, to one of the country’s premier bars with the most spectacular view, and you’re not following the tradition of enjoying a Singapore Sling?” she asked with a smile.
Ed perked up. “What tradition?”
“It began with the poshest hotel in Singapore, Raffles. They have a lovely bar where the drink was said to have been invented. I understand there is a tradition to enjoy a Singapore Sling as you enjoy the view of the city, especially when it’s this breathtaking,” she said with a smile.
Ed looked over at Ben as if asking permission, but Ben just raised his hands. “If you want to try one, I’m not going to stop you. You know your limits far better than me. For myself, I’ll pass.”
Robin flagged down a waiter. “Two Singapore Slings, please.”
“I’ll have a bottle of spring water. Put the drinks on my bill,” Ben added.
Robin grinned at him. “Thank you!”