"You..." Cassel clutched his stomach and pointed at the CIA agent before him. They hadn't mentioned anything like this last night.
Cooper pulled out handcuffs and slapped them on him. He then hustled the renowned writer down a hallway, found a secluded restroom, and hung a sign saying "Clean Up.
" "Stand here," he whispered to the two men in black suits following behind him. He shoved Cassel into the restroom. Soon, the muffled thud of fists hitting flesh and the cries of pain from someone being beaten
could be heard from inside. Meanwhile, the host's opening remarks drifted faintly over the loudspeaker in the hall outside. "He's a true battlefield hero, a respected prosecutor, and an exceptional leader.
Now, please allow me the honor of introducing Senator Robert Bracken, the future Vice President."
As Bracken appeared on the stage, deafening applause erupted from the audience.
Victoria and Anna, along with the other dignitaries, stood up and applauded. The old lady discreetly scanned the crowd for a familiar figure, but found nothing.
In the parking lot, Jack checked the time on his phone and, with a light cough, reminded Frank, who was dozing in the backseat, "Isn't it almost time? You should get back to your car and get ready."
The bald man lazily said, not even raising his eyelids, "Politicians' speeches are always long and boring. Don't rush."
This time, the veteran agents were handling everything from planning to execution, which was quite eye-opening for Jack.
Without any secret agent equipment, they just huddled together, talking back and forth, and quickly completed the entire plan, from division of labor to execution.
Jack was used to fighting in large-scale wars, but this was the first time he had witnessed an operation plan that didn't even require a communicator, but was cobbled together by everyone's tacit understanding, each doing their own job, and improvising.
But that wasn't the most bizarre thing. The CIA and MI6 might have had experience coordinating during the Cold War, after all, everything had happened back then, but Ivan, a former KGB agent, could work so well with them. What was going on? "
Thank you for accompanying me on this wonderful journey, but I firmly believe the best part is yet to begin. May God bless you! God bless America!"
Amidst enthusiastic applause, Bracken, having finished his speech, stepped off the stage for a short break. The band played soft dance music, and the guests flocked to the dance floor or gathered in groups around their round tables, glasses in hand, to socialize.
Victoria, dressed in a white dress, stood by the dance floor, searching for a familiar figure until her left hand was gently grasped and led unquestionably to the center of the dance floor.
"Hello, little bunny," Ivan said, turning her gracefully and holding her tightly in his arms.
"Take it easy, old man. A surprise attack like this could get you killed." Victoria patted him on the shoulder, her tone slightly coquettish, yet also somewhat dissatisfied.
"You are so beautiful tonight that I can't describe it. It's as if it happened all over again yesterday." The love in Ivan's eyes was so thick that it could hardly be dissolved. "I feel like I am walking on clouds when I can hold you in my arms again."
"Oh, are you serious?" Victoria said with disdain. "So you later married that woman and gave birth to two beautiful daughters."
The old Russian's smile froze on his face for a moment, but then he showed a look of surprise. "So you know all these things? God is my witness, it was just a political marriage. Katya and I broke up peacefully 15 years ago.
Even Natasha and Talia are grown up now. They are no longer the two cute elves who would hug my legs and call me daddy. God knows how they can grow up so fast."
"Yes, what happened between us took even longer, Ivan." Victoria leaned back slightly with a look of disgust, trying to avoid Ivan's old face that was getting closer and closer.
Ivan spun her around, then gently pulled her back into his arms. "We're different. Tell me you love me."
The two of them danced in the middle of the dance floor, oblivious to the others, until the music faded and the guests' polite applause echoed.
"Ivan, the music's over," Victoria reminded the intoxicated old man who was still holding her.
"Ah?" Ivan glanced around, as if waking from a dream. "It seems so."
He took a half step back, bowed slightly like a gentleman, and kissed Victoria's right hand. "Now, let's get down to business."
Seeing him turn and leave, Victoria quickly called out, "Ivan!"
The old woman pulled the spray bottle Marvin had slipped into her purse and handed it to him. Ivan grabbed it again and kissed his palm.
Anna, watching from a distance on the dance floor, ate her fill of candy. She smiled and nodded at Victoria as she approached. The two women, one old and one young, walked together to the main entrance of the banquet hall.
Security was significantly tightened compared to a typical banquet. A man in a black suit stood on either side of the main entrance.
"Excuse me, where is the restroom?" Anna smiled at the burly man on her side.
The girl's sweet smile caught the man off guard for a moment, and he paused before reacting. He quickly raised his hand to his left, "This way, ma'am."
Before he could finish his words, a swift knife strike landed on his carotid sinus.
"Nice moves," Victoria, who had also taken down the security guard on the other side, glanced back and complimented with a smile.
The women struggled to block the two security guards from the doorway. The old woman even removed the necklace that had prevented her from passing through security and wrapped it around the door handle.
After this, the two women continued arm in arm, chatting softly and chuckling as they headed towards the escalator at the end of the hallway.
This was the closest access to the annex parking lot. A security guard was stationed at the fire door below the escalator, ensuring the emergency evacuation route was clear.
"Madams, this is a no-go zone." Seeing the old man and the young woman coming down the stairs, talking and laughing, he quickly stepped forward to block their way.
Victoria pulled Anna, who seemed hesitant, and soothed her as she continued forward. "It's okay. I think I have the right to go wherever I want here."
"Please step back, ma'am, or I'll consider you and your companion a threat." The black-suited security guard spoke in a businesslike tone, unfazed, allowing the two to approach him.
"Do you think we're a threat?" The gentle words were followed by a fatal blow, and the old woman's smile faded. "I'm sorry to hear you were right."
There was the sound of hurried footsteps. Marvin, carrying a large bag and a pair of sneakers in one hand, trotted down the hallway.
As the two women kicked off their high heels and changed into shoes, a commotion erupted in the banquet hall they had just left.
Just a few minutes earlier, Bracken had reappeared in the banquet hall, ready to greet and pose for photos with his donors. A faint odor of sulfur slowly filled the air.
Then Ivan, who was mixed in the crowd, cried out, "Oh my God, gas! I smell gas!"
(End of this chapter)