Chapter 497 - Orion Enterprise annual meeting (10)

Sarah, Aiden, JoAnna, Jeff and Felix joined Sophia, Isabella and Leah on the main floor. They found seating at one table, close to the stage.

David was standing on the side. Observing Felix who was returning silk scarf to Sophia and carefully adjusting it on her shoulders, obviously taking much longer than necessary for that action.

When Felix returned from scavenger hunt, he thanked David for watching over Sophia and told him that he is free to stay for the event (and party afterwards) or leave, since Felix will not need his services anymore for the day. David didn't like that Felix said he is not needed and didn't want to leave… he decided to keep his distance, but still be close by just in case if his Boss changes his mind.

Isabella and Leah went to get drinks, and Jeff used this as an opportunity to mention that he finalized sale of Cox industries and other two companies in pieces, and on average they earned $4.2 for every $1 invested.

"You will get details in the email in next few days.", Jeff ended his brief victorious announcement.

They were all happy with those numbers.

All of them invested their personal money into that operation, and the return was staggering.

"These results are impressive! We should find more baddies!", JoAnna was giddy from excitement and pride that her future husband did so well.

The mood was good, and Isabella and Leah returned not long after.

"The game is over.", Sarah showed that device attached to the scavenger hunt bag is red. "Now what?"

"First five teams who completed the game will be called to the stage, and then standings will be announced. Based on that, rewards will be given.", Leah explained.

"Wait… are you saying that top five teams will all be called on the stage, and only after that it will be announced which one of those five is the winner?", Sarah's eyes sparkled.

Leah nodded in response to Sarah's question.

Without delay, Sarah pulled her phone and texted Eve.

JoAnna glanced at what Sarah sent and gave her a thumbs up. "I like it… this will be exciting."

…

Further down in the main hall, members of Venus team are discussing strategies who will dance with Felix.

They agreed on rock-paper-scissors initially, but Denise won. Samantha and Nea outnumbered her and decided to do two more rounds. At that point Nea won, and Samantha asked for a different way to determine winner. They started bickering and man from Venus team got annoyed and moved away. He went to get some more beer, or anything else as long as he can leave. He was not willing to listen to them anymore.

"Look! The thingy is red!", Samantha squealed from excitement while pointing at the device attached to their team bag for scavenger hunt. "That means the game is over, and I get my dance!"

"What do you mean your dance?", Nea squeezed through her teeth. "You are making up new rules and deciding things on your own."

"Well, we can go with original agreement and then Denise gets that dance.", Samantha rolled her eyes.

Nea was stunned. She realized her mistake… if they go with original idea of rock-paper-scissors, Denise won that one. "Yes, I see your point..." Then she remembered that in two out of three she was the winner, and added, "That original thing was not reliable. Two out of three was better."

Denise glared at Samantha and Nea, "You say that only because like that you get to dance with Director Martin." Denise does not speak much. But she wants that dance, and these two are in the way. She can't let them dismiss her, not without a fight.

"Why are you looking like that at me?", Nea scoffed. "Do you have a better idea?"

"Yes!" Samantha interjected. "There are apps that we can use to determine winner… let me find one." She started searching through app store on her phone.

"Hmph… if I knew you will be cheating, I would not join this stupid team.", Denise spat.

"Who is cheating?", Samantha revealed a malicious smile.

"You will come up with different ideas until you win. Don't think I don't know…", Denise accused her.

Nea had to agree with Denise on this.

Samantha laughed waving her hands while indicating to Nea and Denise to stop talking. "You are bothered with me cheating? Don't forget that it was me who came up with this whole idea to begin with. If anyone deserves that dance, that is me. Right, Bryan? Bryan?" She was looking for their fourth member, but he was nowhere in sight.

"Hah! He left…", Nea was happy that Samantha didn't manage to get support. "If you already had it all figured out, why did you call us? Just go, do it yourself and collect the rewards."

"She needs us for numbers. Who will believe that team of two, or team of one finished so fast?", Denise concluded.

"But that still means she needs us… and she can't dismiss us. Not now when we are already at the finish line... and we can smell the prize.", Nea maliciously looked at Samantha.

Three of them bickered, there was no solution in sight for their dilemma: who will dance with Felix.

…

"What do you think they are doing now?", JoAnna asked Sarah. "The Venus team…", she clarified when she saw Sarah's confused expression.

Sarah thought for a second and then analyzed, "There are three females in that team… even if we assume that one is not interested in our brother-in-law, the other two are fighting for the position of his squeeze for the dance."

Sophia heard Sarah's response and gave her a chilling look.

Sarah noticed Sophia. "Hey, hey… don't look at me like that… it's not my fault that brother-in-law is so handsome."

Felix liked the compliment, especially since he knew that Sarah has no romantic thoughts about him.

Sophia was not sure how to react. She likes that Felix is handsome, but not that he attracted so much unwanted attention. She thought for some time and then leaned toward him. "I think we should publicly announce our relationship."

Felix's eyes flashed in surprise. "We are not hiding it.", he reminded her.

"But we didn't announce it either… I think we should do it soon. Sooner the better. Otherwise there will be more situations like this."

Felix smiled in agreement. "OK." He liked that she wants to publicly announce that they are together. Then everyone will know that this amazing woman is his. The more he thought about that, the happier he was.

Sophia looked at him and was dazed for a second. "Stop that!"

"What?" Felix was not sure what he did.

She leaned closer and whispered: "Smiling… your dimples are showing, amplifying your handsomeness… and then all those women will jump on you."

"You know we can hear you?", JoAnna laughed at Sophia.

Sarah observed Felix. "He does have dimples when he smiles… I wonder if your child will have dimples…", Sarah flashed a mischievous smile at Sophia.

JoAnna is not the one to miss this chance to tease Sophia. Her smile matched Sarah's.

Sophia panicked. "Stop that nonsense!" She remembered their talk that babies get dimples when their parents are intimate during pregnancy.

"Why nonsense?", Felix was confused. Why would his child not have dimples, like him? "I thought you like them…", he rubbed his cheek. "What is wrong with our child having dimples?"

JoAnna and Sarah burst into laugh.

Sophia was embarrassed and hoped that they will not continue on the topic.

The others were confused.

Felix wanted to ask for clarifications, but Aiden stopped him. "Don't. It's something between sisters. If I learned anything, that is to not get caught in their arguments."

Felix stopped, but he made a mental note to ask Sophia about that later, in private.

"Here it comes!", Isabella reminded them to look at the stage.

Few people were approaching center of stage with microphones, ready to make the announcement.

"The show begins!", JoAnna and Sarah said in unison.