Treatment 297_Badass in Disguise

Chapter 297 

 Author’s POV:

 :

 92

 The early morning investment meeting dragged on with projections and quarterly reports, but Ethan Haxton seemed different today. His usualser focus was reced by something lighter–almost buoyant. The board members exchanged nces as their CEO smiled faintly, asionally ncing at hisptop screen.

 “And that concludes our analysis of the Asian markets,‘ said the CFO, watching Ethan curiously. “Mr. Haxton, would you like to add anything?”

 Ethan looked up, momentarily disoriented. “No, that’s… that’s fine. Good work, everyone.”

 His fingers tapped absently on the table as the presentation continued. The brief meeting with Jade earlier had left him in an unusually good mood. But as he sat there, reying their kiss in his mind, something clicked into ce. Her words, her demeanor, the unusual intensity of that goodbye–it all suddenly made sense.

 His expression darkened, the smile vanishingpletely. The warmth in his eyes cooled to calction as realization dawned on him. <fnbe09> Original content can be found at F?ndNovel</fnbe09>

 “Let’s take fifteen,” he announced abruptly, closing hisptop. “I need to make a call.”

 Ethan barely made it back to his office before pulling out his phone. He checked the time–Jade should be at Princeton by now. He typed quickly: At school yet?

 The response came faster than expected: At the airport.

 Ethan’s brow furrowed. Going where? 

 A few seconds passed before her reply appeared: Going to Siwa Oasis. Finding Shadow Organization to settle some ounts.

 The kiss. Now it confirmed what he’d just realized–that wasn’t a casual goodbye; it was a farewell. That’s why she’d seemed mncholyst night but purposeful this morning. Why she’d indulged him sopletely.

 A heaviness settled in Ethan’s chest as he typed: Going for the final reckoning?

 I’d love to storm its headquarters directly. But it’s not that simple. I’ll cut off their limbs first, then take their head.

 Last night’s explosion in Princeton must have been one of Shadow’s outposts. She’d been cleaning house, minimizing threats before leaving.

 Ethan sent her a number: I have people in Siwa Oasis. Call this number if you need weapons or manpower.

 After all, he was one of thergest arms dealers in that region.

 Her reply made the corner of his mouth twitch: Love you.

 Something warm bloomed in his chest despite the worry. Waiting for you toe back.

 8:20 Tue, Sep 30

 ??

 He stared at the phone for a long moment, hoping for another message, but nothing came. The thought ofde hunting down a global assassination organization alone made his stomach clench. He’d seen what she was capable of, but he’d also seen the scars–physical and otherwise–that Shadow had left on her.

 With a deep breath, Ethan tucked his phone away and straightened his tie. The board was waiting. He’d have to put on his CEO face again, even as his mind raced with contingency ns and worst–case scenarios.

 The ck desert rover cut through endless sand dunes, leaving transient tracks that the wind quickly erased. Jade guided the vehicle with practiced ease, her eyes scanning the horizon where the desert’s golden expanse met the cloudless blue sky.

 The dashboard thermometer read 105°F, but the air conditioning kept the cabinfortable. asionally, she’d pass a bedouin encampment or a solitary camel herder, but mostly it was just her, the machine, and the eternal sand.

 The istion felt familiar. Comforting, even.

 After two hours, the fabled Siwa Oasis appeared in the distance–a verdant mirage of palm trees and ancient buildings surrounded by sand. Jade parked on a ridge overlooking the settlement, bathed in the amber glow of sunset. She snapped a photo and sent it to Ethan before driving down into the small town.

 The narrow streets bustled with a mix of locals and the asional tourist. Men in traditional gbiyyas lounged in front of small shops, smoking and chatting. Women carried baskets of produce and children yed in the dusty alleys. But beneath the sleepy fa?ade,de sensed watchful eyes and carefully maintained perimeters.

 She found a modest hotel with peeling paint and a faded sign, grabbed her backpack, and headed inside with Maxi trailing behind her.

 The robot’s presence turned heads immediately–a white American girl with a sleek, cartoonishpanion wasn’t exactly inconspicuous. Several men at the reception area followed her movements with predatory interest. One of them, a burly figure whispered something to hispanion that made them bothugh.

 Jade ignored them all, collecting her room key and leading Maxi up creaking wooden stairs to the third floor.

 Once inside the room, she dropped her backpack onto a chair and surveyed the space–sparse furnishings, a bed that had seen better days, and a bathroom with dubious plumbing. The ceiling corners housed at least three visible cameras, and she suspected there were more hidden in the light fixtures and air vent.

 “Block the signals in this room,” she instructed Maxi. “I’m taking a shower.”

 “Understood,” replied the robot in Ethan’s deep, measured voice.

 The bathroom’s water pressure was weak, but the cool shower felt refreshing after hours in the desert heat. Jade was midway through rinsing her hair when a knock sounded at the door.

 Through the thin walls, she heard a man’s voice in heavily ented English: “Room service, miss. I bring fresh towels.”

 Maxi responded in Ethan’s authoritative tone, switching seamlessly to fluent Spanish: “Leave the towels outside the door, please.”

 A pause, then hurried footsteps retreating.

 By the time Jade finished her shower, four more visitors had tried their luck with various excuses. Each time, Maxi’s Ethan–voiced

 8:20 Tue, Sep 30 

 Chapter 297

 responses had sent them away. 

 Wrapped in a towel, Jade stood at the window, observing as lights began to illuminate the oasis town. In her previous life, she’d fracked Shadow operatives here. Queen of Clubs, one of SO’s highest–ranking members, had frequently visited this ce. So had Selene from the

 Shadow team. 

 This ce likely concealed one of Shadow’s facilities–perhaps even QC‘ retirement sanctuary. Last lifetime, Jade had followed Selene here but never investigated further. She’d been too focused on survival then, gathering information only when necessary.

 Now, she had purpose. If Selene was here, she’d start with her. 

 “Master, this ce has many dangerous people, Ethan’s voice came from behind her. “Please be careful.”

 Jade turned, eyeing the ridiculous round–headed robot. “Call me ‘Mommy‘ instead.”

 “But you’re only neen,” Maxi objected.

 Jade tossed her damp towel at the robot’s head. ‘I’m older than you think.”

 1 

 Her phone chimed with a notification. Ethan had responded to her sunset photo with one of his own–a sunrise over what appeared to be the same desert, taken years earlier.

 Been there before. Spectacr sunrises. Watch for scorpions.

 She tossed the phone aside and began preparing for tomorrow.

 Morning came with blinding sunlight streaming through thin curtains. After a quick breakfast of dates and tbread, Jade headed outside to begin her mission, only to discover her desert rover was gone.

 “Shit,” she muttered, scanning the street. The spot where she’d parked was empty, not even tire marks remaining in the hard–packed dirt.

 She nced up at the hotel’s fa?ade, noting the absence of security cameras. Of course. Arguing with hotel management would be pointless and draw unwanted attention.

 A dusty tan SUV slowed beside her, the driver–a middle–aged man with weathered skin and a salt–and–pepper beard–leaning out. ‘Need a ride, miss? American, yes? I show you Siwa, very good price.” 

 Jade assessed him quickly, noting the calloused hands and alert eyes. Local guide, most likely.

 ‘Yes,‘ she replied, sliding into the passenger seat. 

 8:20 Tue, Sep 30 

 Badass in Disguise

NovelLamp

Treatment 297