The gates slowly started to open. The first guard remained with a ghastly expression. It was obvious that he had realized his mistake but his mouth seemed to have suddenly been sealed with glue. No word came out, probably from pride.
Kareena easily read him like a book and scoffed at this discovery. She rolled up the window before driving into the estate. Dogs could be heard barking into the distance as armed guards patrolled the place.
People walked in and out of the house, looking just as rushed, as though it was still daylight. Yeah, Claude Walker's incident had really brought upon chaos.
After parking her car, Kareena expected to go through security procedures until she was cleared to go in. Contrary to that, all she got was:
"Right this way ma'am."
Two burly security personnel escorted her in. There was no need to go through the procedures, her name alone served as a clearance. There was no conversation among them, and Kareena was not complaining.
Her eyes never wandered off, but she easily commited to her memory every little detail that caught her sight. From the classy furniture decorating the hallways they weaved through, the shiny mahogany railings of the flight of stairs they took, and the men and women passing by them rushing in one direction or the other.
"We're here, ma'am", one of the men looked at the woman behind them. "Please wait inside, the President will join you shortly."
They had stopped in front of a wooden door. Kareena gave a curt nod before one of them pushed it open, and the two gave way to let her pass through. She was greeted with the sight of her friends standing at the lounge as the door behind her was shut close.
"I was beginning to think you wouldn't join us", May walked over.
She examined Kareena's forehead and expressed her displeasure with her eyes. The girl only curved up the corners of her lips, understanding the message.
A knock was heard from behind them and the door soon opened. The other three joined the two best friends and stood facing the opening door. Two security personnel walked in first one after the other.
"There was nothing they could do about it, I am the President after all", a masculine voice belonging to a man whose many speeches were reported on TV was heard.
They subconsciously straightened their postures in readiness to meet him. A coquettish laugh straight through a nasal belonging to a woman resounded, making the girls cringe. The President was aging like fine wine with his good looks and many admitted to his good looks but who was it that could not hide their despera-
Miss Quinn!
May and Kareena exchanged a look at the woman walking in behind their leader of the nation, a huge smile gracing her features. May could not stop her mouth from hanging open before she closed it, amusement shining in her eyes.
"Ah", President Walker greeted with a smile, the smile lines in the corners of his eyes creasing to compliment his kind face. His hair took the color of salt and pepper, as his gray hairs blended with the black one. "Ladies, welcome."
The girls gave a polite bow. Kareena's eyes went to Miss Quinn's. If there was any friction as a result of their earlier squabble, there was none. Instead, Kareena was fast at work looking for answers.
Miss Quinn was not wearing a mask, and more importantly, she actually joined them and in person!! Kareena found this odd, as it was a first. Based on that laugh... It can't be that-
"Is Claude joining us or shall I go ahead and introduce you to the team?" Miss Quinn spoke with all politeness.
"Go ahead, he'll meet them when he joins us", he replied and smiled at the girls. "We can't keep our guests waiting any longer."
"Alright. Mr. President-"
A knock was heard. The older man gestured with a nod at one of his men to get the door. The latter did as ordered and stepped aside, opening the door wider. President Walker's gaze softened as his gaze fell on the person walking in.
"Ah, Claude, you're just in time", President Walker spoke.
Unlike the three whose eyes barely concealed raw excitement at the man's appearance, everything seemed to suddenly slow down for Kareena. Her ears felt like they were clogged with water, the voice of Miss Quinn introducing them sounding so distant.
Panic surged through her body, her heart beating so hard she was starting to hear it in her ears. Her gaze fixated on the tall figure of the man who left her infuriated at the mere thought of him.
Gasp!
Her breath hitched. His cold gray orbs suddenly met her panicked golden brown ones. The man's brows slolwy knitted, seeming to have grown bothered. Her heart sunk to the pit of her stomach, alarm bells blared off in her head with one name constantly echoing, the very one she dared not entertain:
'Yves!'