As the clock struck 5:30 PM, Aquilina was glad to have made it to the WACO's Head Base in good time.

Knowing Javier would be waiting for her, she had sped up on her way to the Base. She hoped to finish up her business and make it home in time.

"Princess," Ray nodded in her direction as she stepped off the elevator on the last floor.

He was her former boss's assistant, a man she had never seemed to have a good feeling about.

"Ray," she responded in kind, giving him a quick polite smile.

Despite her identity having been revealed, her picture was not as publicised. So only those in the higher offices knew her real identity.

As Ray by-passed her into his office, Aqui headed towards her goal, Mike's office.

———

At Velvet Regent's Checkpoint

Boris was mulling over the latest instructions he had received from his Rukovoditel' as he went through the Security Checkpoint and handed over his ID.

"I need to find out everything about the Princess the scoundrel Javier is supposed to get married to. Rumours have it she was right under your nose," his Boss had told him quite furiously.

"Remember, it is to get the Jayes seal of authority and access to the Israeli RTS device, the Lion Dome, that we wanted to use their future son-in-law as quarry."

Boris sighed and ran a hand through his slightly unkempt hair. He'd had little rest the previous night.

He had already given them every information about Prince Javier he could find, along with intel on his friends.

Yet, his boss had no clue about who that Princess was. Aquilina.

Despite her being at the tournament, her identity was yet to be fully revealed to the public.

He remembered when Aqui's mother had once saved his life when they were younger. Thus, his resistance to give up any information about her.

It seemed he had no choice now.

"Here you go, Sir," the Security man handed over his ID card and ushered him to enter through the teacher's entryway.

Yes, he was a teacher at Velvet Regent. But, he went by a different name.

As his card read, Francis Jones, Art Department.

———

Back At The WACO Head Base

"So, that sums up what we've extracted from them so far... nothing."

Mike sighed and stood up from behind his desk to stand by the large screen in his office.

Aqui glanced at the files he had just shown and gone over with her. They were lying on his desk and were the same as what was displayed on the large screen.

On reaching for them, she thought she found a strange pattern.

"Mihai(Mike)?"

He turned around to face her. He looked really worn and stressed out.

"Would you mind if I take these and study them overnight?"

"Of course..." he started slowly. "Is there anything you see?"

She caught the glimmer of hope in his eyes but didn't want to give him any false hopes in case it didn't turn out as she thought.

"Uhm... I'll just look through and see."

He stared at her for a second before giving her a slight smile.

"Alright."

Aqui was glad to see his mood lighten up, even if it was just a bit.

"Have you eaten yet?" He glanced at the clock on the wall for a brief moment. "Let me take you somewhere."

"Oh, I'm okay." Aqui rose from her seat whilst gathering the documents with the details on the assassins.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't mind."

"Actually... Javier is probably at home waiting for me," she quickly looked down to hide the blush on her cheeks.

"Oh," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "No time for the brother now, eh? I never should have allowed this then," he faked a pout. "You go on and leave me here alone."

"Mike!" She looked up—her face crimson at that point.

Mike's shoulders shook as he burst out laughing.

"You go on and tease me. I'm leaving."

She rushed out as he continued to laugh behind her.

Aqui still had a slight blush on her cheeks as the elevator descended to the Tech Floor. But, she sobered up when she remembered her mission.

Before going up to her brother earlier on, she had left the footage of the woman she had met whilst exiting the QRS Plaza with someone on the Tech Team.

She could have done it herself, but had an uncanny feeling she would not like what she would find.

So, she had given it to a close friend of hers in the Team, Suzy, and told her to be discreet about it.

"You're here," Suzy, an intelligent Korean-Nigerian, looked up the moment Aqui arrived at her work station.

"Have you found anything yet?"

Suzy took off the head-phones she had over her ears. After glancing around to see if anyone else was watching, she pulled Aqui to the side.

Suzy finally turned to look at her with a serious look on her face, and replied.

"You are not going to believe what I found."

——————

Ooo... How many of you had thought there was something shady about Mr Francis?

And... any guesses on the woman's identity yet? Come on, drop your answers! I can't wait to hear them.

P. S. I'm sorry if there are any mistakes in this. My eyes want to shut at this moment. Might go over it again, God willing.

Con Amor,

Phela.

(Picture of Suzy below, actual person is really Korean-Nigerian)