Chapter 293: Secret Operations V
"With the number of times you've saved us, Ewan, we should give you a Medal of Honor... maybe even an
award..." Aiden joked as they boarded the aircraft that would take them to their next destination.
The mood was light, and Ewan chuckled in response, an eyebrow quirking up in curiosity as Aiden subtly
gestured with a nod for him to take the seat next to Athena.
A brother's code?
Ewan found it interesting. He never thought he would see the day when Aiden would look out for him like this.
With a gracious nod toward Aiden, Ewan took the seat beside Athena, who pretended not to notice the silent
exchange.
The realization hit her like a gentle wave: Aiden had somehow managed to score Ewan good points. And she was
beginning to understand why Ewan had seemed so irritated during their flight earlier.
Was he that eager to sit close to her?
Disposing of that thought, she forced herself to focus; friendship was all she could allow between herself and
Ewan.
"As a matter of fact..." Aiden continued, filling the silence as the aircraft began preparations for takeoff. "Il owe
you snice drinks, Ewan, for savingfrom a heart attack... To be honest, | was so flustered seeing the
capacity of mercenaries in there that | almost gave up on the mission, opting instead to make small talk and live
to fight another day..."
Athena and Ewan joined in Aiden’s laughter, fully understanding where he was coming from.
"But really, Ewan, thank you. Don’t mind Athena’s anger; I'm sure she is grateful."
"I'm not angry..." Athena interjected softly, casting Aiden a glare. "I just wish he would involve us in these backup
plans of his. The surprises are enough to trigger high blood pressure! Who knows what he’s got in store for us?
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
Wait a minute..."
She paused, turning to Ewan, who was already staring at her unabashedly.
She swallowed before she could help it, feeling a rush of heat bloom on her cheeks. What was wrong with this
man?! "What...are your plans for us over there..."
She glanced away from his piercing gaze, which felt as if he were reading her very thoughts. "I'm sure you have
a backup plan too..."
Ewan shrugged, a playful smile playing on his lips. He had noticed the faint blush tinting Athena's cheeks before
she turned away, and it pleased him more than he cared to admit that she wasn’t as impervious to his presence
as she always pretended to be.
"Just the sas before. If things don’t go as planned, we have an extra team waiting."
Just then, Athena's phone lit up with a text message. Her brow furrowed as she read it twice.
"What is it?" Aiden asked, accepting the drink the single flight attendant had placed before them, his other hand
holding a glass cup.
"Is it from the CIA colleagues?" Ewan interjected, stretching his hand toward Aiden for a drink as well. He could
use something to soothe his head—the wine might help.
"Yes." Athena finally answered, her voice steadying. "They have successfully arrived at the black site. | think we
can say that the first phase of the mission is complete."
"Will they be able to retrieve Alvarez and the others soon?" Ewan asked, gratefully accepting the glass of wine
from Aiden with a nod of appreciation.
"They won't need to. Only Eric was available at our previous location, along with ten of his trusted officials.
Shawn is waiting for us at our next stop. | hope he hasn't burst a vein from impatience." She muttered the last
sentence under her breath, but it was just loud enough for Ewan’s sharp hearing to catch, eliciting a light
chuckle from him.
"Okay then. That's better." Aiden relaxed further into his seat, taking another sip of his wine, mentally preparing
for what would surely be another emotionally taxing mission. Alvarez was an old friend of his and Gloria's, and at
this stage, his ex-wife might think he was bent on harming her relationships with people that mattered.
"Are you not going to pourswine, Aiden? Is it only Ewan who deserves that kind of attention?" Athena
teased, her tone a strange mix of annoyance and playful challenge.
Ewan chuckled, and Aiden, surrendering with a grin, raised his left hand in mock defense. "Pardon me, Le
Princess..."
As he spoke, he deftly set down his wine on the platform between them and began pouring wine into another
goblet with exaggerated flourish.
Athena couldn't suppress the laugh that escaped her lips, especially when he presented the glass to her with the
stheatrical flair.
It occurred to her how fortunate she was to have let go of her anger—if she hadn't, she would have missed out
on this light-hearted moment. Aiden was a good friend, despite his occasionally frustrating antics.
Accepting the goblet as a princess would, she earned another chuckle from Ewan, a sound that sent pleasant
warmth trickling down her spine.
"So, tell me, Ewan... those men... who are they? Which agency do they work for?" Athena started, her tongue
loosening under the influence of the strong wine.
Ewan, who had just lifted his goblet for another sip, paused, letting it hover near his lips. He pursed them
thoughtfully before finally bringing the goblet down. "They're part of my security team..."
"They don’t look like your security team," Aiden and Athena remarked simultaneously, exchanging knowing
smiles.
Ewan sighed, dropping the goblet onto the platform. "Honestly, they are. You just don’t know them yet."
Athena and Aiden shared another glance filled with curiosity.
"So, your security has levels?" Athena queried, taking another sip of wine.
Ewan nodded, picking up the goblet again, his heartbeat calming back to normal.
"That's cool. Does Zane have the ssetup?" Athena inquired, genuine curiosity piquing her interest.
Ewan nodded again. "Yeah."
"Wow, you should introduceto where you recruit them then..."
Aiden laughed. "You already have the Nimbus operation, Athena,"
Athena shrugged. "Yeah, right. Still..."
"It's cool to have security agents who prefer to stay hidden and undetected," Aiden concluded, still chuckling. "I
bet our agents are like that; you've just seen them all considering your position."
Athena tsked lightly, turning her attention back to Ewan, who was savoring his wine. "Do you think Old Mr.
Thorne would have something like that?"
Ewan paused, contemplating whether Athena's current fixation was a good idea. "I think you should ask the old
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