Is this destiny?

In the living room…

Aiden looked at the blood stained shirt with mixed emotions.

It reminded him of the evening after the White corp. annual meeting. So far, he was unable to remember the event when Evalina attacked them, but now some images flashed in his mind: Sarah and he walking… there was some music… Evalina was pointing a gun at him, but he had no intention to move. Why? There was a sensation of the warmth on his back. Was Sarah behind him? That would explain why he suppressed his instincts for survival…

"Sorry, Boss…", Haru\'s words pulled him out of his thoughts.

Aiden looked at Haru absentmindedly. "What are you sorry about?"

"I was not fast enough. Nala was in danger and I ended up getting shot."

"You were lucky. Use all this as a motivation to train harder... You acted swiftly with a goal to protect the woman you love. You did good.", Aiden comforted him at the end.

"How can you go on missions knowing that the woman you love can get hurt?", Haru asked.

Aiden understood that Haru is worried about Nala\'s safety. "Sarah is a fighter and so is Nala. I tried to keep Sarah away from danger, and it backfired. I realized that the only way to keep her safe is for me to get stronger, and to keep her close so when the trouble comes I can be her weapon and her shield."

Haru thought how Aiden\'s words are deep. He lowered his gaze.

"Do you have any doubts?", Aiden asked Haru.

"I have no doubts.", Haru said firmly and explained what is on his mind: "I fought many times, but this was the first time I was scared. It is different when I fight by myself, and when Nala is by my side. And now I saw a man pointing a gun at her and..."

Aiden knows Haru\'s feelings. "This is the part when you decide if she is your strength or your weakness."

Haru didn\'t understand. How can he make such a decision? "How did you go through it?"

"Me?" Aiden smiled. "I refuse to think of Sarah as anything other than my strength because when I am with her I feel complete. When the two of us are together, I am stronger."

Haru thought how that makes sense.

The door connecting to the adjacent suite opened, and Melodie stepped in.

Her sight paused on Aiden and her face broke into a smile.

Melodie was unable to sleep, and she is hearing muffled voices from the other suite for some time. She thought that they will come and get her, but no one came, and she decided to come over and see what is going on. What she didn\'t expect to see is the Second Young Master of the White family. He came to fetch her personally? He is younger than she is, but that does not matter. He is super-handsome, and right now in the black t-shirt which is not hiding his toned torso, he is even more attractive than usually.

Her back straightened and she walked toward Aiden without removing her eyes from him.

"Aiden White? It\'s an honor to see you here." She saw Aiden frown and assumed he does not know who she is.

"We didn\'t have a chance to meet before officially. I am Melodie Wright." Melodie extended her hand for a handshake and after few seconds of awkward silence she retracted it. She was not sure why he didn\'t want to shake her hand, but he is here. That must mean something. "Thank you for coming in person to ensure my safety."

Haru observed this interaction curiously. He knows that Aiden is not interested in Melodie, but does he need to be so rude? Will it hurt him to shake her hand? Haru took a mental note to ask Aiden about it later.

Haru felt an ice storm from behind. He wanted to turn and see what is going on, but he was distracted by Aiden\'s indifferent voice.

"Miss Wright, I hope you don\'t misunderstand. My fiancée and I are here to ensure that our people are safe, not you."

"Fiancée?", confusion is Melodie\'s voice was apparent and she was offended that some helpers are more important than she is.

"Yes, fiancée, Miss Wright.", Sarah\'s icy voice came from the side.

Melodie looked at Sarah, but she didn\'t recognize her as the hot Russian bodyguard from Marcus\' party.

Sarah walked toward Aiden slowly while her icy gaze didn\'t leave Melodie. "Miss Wright, my understanding is that you called us to get you out of that world where you are forced to be with people because of the status and money. Did you change your mind?"

Melodie was not sure how to answer Sarah\'s question. She glanced at Aiden before staring at the floor while reminding herself that she can\'t offend them. Not now. She needs their help.

"I apologize. Some habits are difficult to break.", Melodie mumbled.

Sarah relaxed a bit. "Apology accepted. I hope you keep in mind that he is taken."

Aiden looked at Sarah and smiled. He likes when she openly stakes her claim on him. That is his future wife.

Melodie was unsure which way to turn, so she looked at Haru with a hope that he will break this awkward atmosphere. Somehow.

"He is taken as well.", Nala said while taking a seat next to Haru.

Haru looked at Nala with a big smile. She was never so decisive before. And she said that he is taken.

Melodie sighed. The atmosphere just became more awkward.

"When are we leaving?", that is the only thing Melodie could ask. She really wanted to leave this place.

"As soon as the guys freshen up.", Sarah responded and gestured to Aiden and Haru to head out.

"I will use bathroom in the other suite. It will be faster.", Haru announced.

…

The two and a half hour long plain ride to Los Angeles was a torture to Melodie. She didn\'t dare look at Aiden or Haru, and it seems that Sarah and Nala are hostile. Melodie wanted to snap at them and ask them what is their problem, but she didn\'t dare say anything. What if they get so offended and decide to abandon her? She already escaped and can\'t go back. She needs to rely on them to keep her safe. Melodie told herself that it\'s just temporary. Soon she will meet with Jeffrey White and then she can breathe easily. She wondered, is Mrs. Jeffrey White also so possessive of her man?

Melodie had an internal panic attack when she realized… Mrs. Jeffrey White… the woman who beat her in a shooting match and made her bark at her wedding. Great. Just great…

Melodie sighed heavily while thinking that this is not escaping into freedom. It\'s more like moving from one section of hell to another.

Sarah and Aiden used this time to nap. They didn\'t sleep for the whole night, and they desperately needed rest.

Haru and Nala held hands and exchanged light kisses. After some time, Haru pulled Nala in his embrace and caressed her hands. His mind wondered to what Nala said, how she is leaving to him to find them privacy. Where can he find privacy?

Haru sighed when he remembered that the two of them had privacy in the hotel, but what did they do? Sleep off…

It was like a light bulb lit up above his head and he saw the solution clearly: a hotel! He will get a super-romantic suite with a dinner and flowers and candles and… there is the privacy!

He glanced at the girl in his arms and noticed that she is sleeping. Haru kissed her temple and reclined their seats so that she is more comfortable. He spent the rest of the flight trying to find the right excuse… cough, cough… the right occasion for their date in a hotel, where they can have their privacy.

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