Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 1828

Halfway through the movie, Estelle's phone lit up with the emblem of Eagle Valley. Her gaze sharpened, and she switched off the TV, entering the password to access Eagle Valley's secure network.

Upon seeing the black eagle wings on the screen, Estelle squinted her eyes and tapped on the covert mission briefing.

After reading through the details, she pondered for a moment, then rose and made her way to the study.

She picked up a different phone, dialed a six-digit number, and after a secure passphrase, waited for the "beep beep" of the pager tone.

Seconds later, the call connected, and a voice with a digitally altered tone spoke, "What's the issue?"

"I'll take the mission," Estelle stated. "But I have a condition this time!"

"Let's hear it."

"After I complete the mission, I want Gab to retire."

There was a brief pause before the voice replied, "Gab has his own assignments, and we haven't been able to contact him for a month now. His status is unknown, I can't make that promise."

"What if he's alive? Can he retire after this mission then?"

Silence fell on the other end of the line.

Estelle's voice was calm and resolute, "Doesn't Gab deserve some peace after twenty years of service?"

"Some things are beyond our control," the voice replied. "Gab's role is irreplaceable. Only he can subdue certain forces. There are matters we can't intervene in, and only Gab can handle them."

Estelle pressed on, "You said yourself his status is unknown. If he's dead, his mission would end, and you'd need to find a replacement. Why not consider him dead this time?"

"Do you really think Gab himself wants to retire?" the voice challenged.

Estelle paused briefly, "This is my only condition. I complete the mission, and in exchange, Gab retires. Besides, our agreement is nearly up. This might be the last thing I do for you."