The Safe House

Halia sighed, "So, I'll be gone for a week and I'll be attending a charity ball, is that right?"

"The charity ball will be in 2 nights time. There will be some food, socializing and dancing before the night ends with an auction event. Tomorrow night, all the guests are invited to a viewing event where they can see all the items that will be available for auction," Sean explained.

"After these two nights, we have arranged 5 extra nights in case you get any leads to follow. If not, then you can just use it as a holiday. I'll be there to assist you if you need anything."

"You're coming too?" Halia asked in surprise.

"Of course, I'm still your handler," the man replied with a warm smile.

Halia looked at the man and her heart began to race. For some reason, she felt nervous and excited at the same time.

"I guess I'll have to give my father a call and tell him I'll be attending the event," Halia said as she picked up her phone.

Sean smiled and nodded.

...

Over in France, Jackson had just arrived at his safe house. He had already been asked to hand over all communication devices and all he had were a few sets of clothes.

The house was in the countryside of France among some wine vineyards. It was on a huge block of land and was quite secluded from its neighbors.

As soon as he arrived, Jackson noticed a man and a woman working in the vineyards in front of the house. "These are the owners of this house. We've used this place as a safe house for many years and it has never been discovered. So, you will be living with them until the trial. They will provide you with food and a place to sleep, so just stay here and don't go anywhere," the agent that drove Jackson to the house explained.

The man and woman noticed them and waved. "Please make yourself at home," the woman yelled across the field.

Jackson smiled and waved back as he walked into the house.

Inside, there was a warm fragrance of coffee and some noise coming from the kitchen. The smell of coffee subconsciously reminded Jackson of Halia and the taste of their first proper kiss in the lab. How he wanted to hold her in his arms and kiss her right at that moment.

Unfortunately, they were in two completely different countries and he didn't know when he'd be able to return to her side. Would she forgive him for lying to her? Did she have honest feelings for him? Was everything just an act for her mission? Jackson had so many questions running through his mind. But, he was helplessly stuck in France with no method of contacting her.

Deep in thought, Jackson walked into the kitchen and sat down on a stool without glancing up at the people that were already in there. "Agent Wu, this is Agent Roux and Agent Dupont, they will be watching over you in case anything goes wrong," the driver introduced.

At that moment, a woman's voice said seductively, "Agent Wu, we meet again." Jackson snapped out of his daze. He recognized this voice. It was a voice he thought he'd never hear again and it gave him goosebumps.

Jackson immediately lifted his head and looked up at the woman in surprise. "Amelie, you're alive!!"Jackson exclaimed as he stood up and hugged the woman in front of him. Agent Dupont and the driver looked at each other in confusion. Did these two know each other?

Amelie hugged Jackson back and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I've missed you," she whispered beside his ear.

"I've missed you too," Jackson replied.

...

At that moment, in the office of a building in Guiyang City, the Chairman of Fengtai Corporation received a phone call from a number he hadn't seen for a while.

His face immediately lit up as he picked it up, "My precious, you're finally calling me. I haven't seen you since my birthday last year."

"Sorry, Daddy, you know I've been busy settling into my new job," Halia's voice resounded from the other end of the phone.

"Errr, Daddy, I need to ask for a huge favor. Don't ask me why, but I want to attend the charity event that's coming up in Hong Kong on behalf of Fengtai Corporation. I heard I was invited," Halia said.

Halia's father was ecstatic to hear this. "Of course, I've been waiting for you to get involved in your family business. This will be a good chance for you to meet everyone," he replied.

"Do you want me to book you flights and accommodation? Do you have a dress to wear? Do you need a driver?" he asked excitedly.

"It's OK, Daddy. I've got everything under control, I just need someone to bring me the invitation letter," Halia replied.

"OK, I'll send someone to meet you in Hong Kong" Father Feng replied.

After he got off the phone, he immediately called his assistant. "I need you to do a few things for me..." he said.