SAGE
DARKNESS surrounded Sage as he lay in bed, staring up at the smooth ceiling. Glancing at his watch, he groaned. It was four o'clock in the morning and he couldn't sleep. His mind won't stop working.He stirred in the silk sheets and lay down on his stomach. Another hour before he needs to wake up. Another hour before damage control. Another hour before the world knows what a terrible man his father was.He rubs his face with his hand. Now there is no race. Too many people's livelihood depends on him. The family will change if he can't solve this problem. His chest contracted as he sat up. He needs a hot shower.Pulling off the blanket, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. The heat from his heated floor travels up his legs and settles in his stomach. Elsewhere, cool autumn weather will affect people's lives. He flinched as he made his way to the adjoining bathroom. He missed the way the outdoors grounded him. All those luxuries were not his, but his father's.As he stared at the large mirror hanging in the bathroom, his jaw clenched. One thing he knows for sure is that he is not his father and never will be. It doesn't matter how his new lifestyle wants him to change.Turning on the shower, he entered the enclosure. Water hit him from all sides.Living in a remote area taught him to take a quick shower. Ice will do it to a man. There is no time to sit there and think when your body temperature drops rapidly.In less than three minutes, he was washed clean. He looked around. What must you do now?Expensive marble walls glistening with drops of water. An entire truck could fit in that bathroom. A wave of heat swept over him. He needs to go out. Leaning over, he turned off the water and grabbed a nearby towel. Once dry, he wrapped it around his waist and stepped outside.While brushing his teeth, he checks his beard. Amanda would probably ask him to do not grow a beard, but Sage didn't care. It was his last stand against the change he was forced to make. The only image of his past life that he could keep. And damn it, I'll keep it.In the room, he's getting dressed. It's not in his standard shorts and T-shirt. This time in a crumpled European blue suit that Amanda says makes him less intimidating - and less like a parasite.Even though the outfit was made of the finest fabrics, it still scratched his skin. The collar felt like he was about to be strangle and the tie was heavy around his neck. After putting on his shiny black shoes, he stood up. He still had fifteen minutes before Amanda was out the door. Fifteen minutes to be yourself.He grabbed the duffel bag he hid in the closet and threw it on the bed. Amanda had informed him yesterday that the maid had packed her things and was in the hallway, ready to go. He scoffed as he grabbed his pants and sweater. It's not like he will go to Greenland uncomfortably.After packing up his clothes, he finds all his outdoor gear and puts it on. He will find a moment to sneak in and climb. Maybe even camping. We don't expect him to always be the CEO of Kennedy Outdoors.He puts on his hiking boots and zips them up. Shaking his head, he slung the bag over his shoulder and opened the door. He won't think about what is expected of him right now. It just made him feel like a six-hundred-pound bear sitting on his chest.He clenched his fist. Right now, he needs to focus on getting to and from Greenland safely. Then good. . . he will find something.The soft sound of the television reverberated in the hallway as Sage walked into the kitchen. He stopped and slid the gym bag off his shoulder and dropped it by the door. Gianna, his chef, is peeling apples at the counter. Her graying hair was pulled up in a bun, and from time to time she would raise her hand to adjust the e-readers she kept on her nose. She was watching the news on the small television next to her."You're up too early," Sage said as he entered the room."Oh!" She shouted, swinging her paring knife at him. Sage raised his hand."Oh, Mr. Kennedy, you scare me." She put her hand on her chest as her cheeks flushed red. She glanced at her watch and then at him.Then her eyes turned curious. "Why are you up so early?”Sage ran his hand through his hair and walked over to the fridge."I cannot sleep."Gianna nodded, turning her attention back to the apple in her hand."Worried about the flight?" she asked. "I wouldn't blame you if you were. I prefer my feet on the ground.Sage smiled as he pulled out a pitcher of orange juice and picked up a glass."It was freshly squeezed," she said, pointing to the jug."You worked so hard." He shot her a sharp look as he poured.She laughs. It is a melodious and moving sound."Okay, I'll rest when I die."Sage leaned back against the counter and smiled, allowing the familiarity of those who had helped raise him to invade his nerves. Being with them has made this transition a little easier."How is your son?" He asks.Gianna places an apple on the tray in front of her and starts eating the next one."He is in Georgia now. He has a wife." She raised her interlaced fingers as she raised her head. "I hope it's the one. I want grandchildren." She smiled at him.He reached out and grabbed the apple she had just peeled.She squinted at him."Sage Rogue Kennedy, just because you're twenty-eight doesn't mean I can't kick you out of my kitchen."He smiles trying to keep the apple juice from coming out of his lips."I love you too, Gianna."She groaned back to the apple in her hand. "Kennedy’s," she muttered.Sage threw the core in the trash as soon as Amanda entered the room. She wears a pressed suit, and her hair is pulled up in a bun. She looks like a top executive. Why doesn't he?"Good to see you're up," she said, filling a cup of coffee. "And wear something decent."Sage tugged at his collar and nodded.Before she could say anything more, the camera on the TV screen showed a reporter sitting at her desk. A cloud of stress settles in the kitchen."More news about the Kennedy family. Things don't look so good this time. Reports have just emerged that Rogue Kennedy, the late CEO of Kennedy Outdoors, was involved in the illegal poaching of endangered animals."The reporter flipped the stack of documents in front."How deeply ingrained are this negligence in the business?"“And do politicians get paid to be silent? Check out the Morning News preview, following these posts.”The journalist has been replaced by a singing chicken.Sage swallowed as his anger grew."Well," Amanda said, breaking the silence and glancing at him.Amanda put her hand on his arm."We can handle this. Just stick to the plan." She gave him a small smile.Plan. They had a plan. Sage finished the remaining juice and set the glass down in the sink. His stomach twisted. Why didn't those words comfort him?Amanda's phone rang, leading her down the hallway. Sage opened the cupboard and pulled a cookie from the drawer he knew Gianna always kept in the back.Amanda was back before he finished it. His face contorted into a worried expression."What's wrong?"She laughs."It was the prosecutor. Apparently, your father is accused of extortion and using company assets to store the animals he hunted." She swallowed hard. "I must see the prosecutor. I'll have to go to Greenland without you.""What?" Sage stared at her.She is the mastermind behind the whole scheme."I couldn't do this without you."Amanda shook her head."I have to stay here." She walked towards the kitchen door. "You can do it, Sage. I know you can." She smiled at him once more and slipped out of the room."It's never quiet at the Kennedy house," Gianna mumbled as she picked up another apple.Frustrated, Sage headed for the door where he had dropped his gym bag earlier. At least now he didn't have to worry about trying to hide it from Amanda. He is free to do whatever he wants. But right now, that wasn't the kind of freedom he wanted.IRENAAS Irena weaves her way through the crowds at Sea-Tac airport, she draws one conclusion: too many people are traveling. She considered standing on a chair and telling everyone to go home but decided not to. It would probably attract too much attention from the security guards standing three meters apart. Pulling her luggage closer to her, she avoids an angry toddler kicking and screaming. She gave her mother a sympathetic smile as she passed. Irena 's heels tapped on the tiled floor as she passed the counter. Sage said he'd meet at the airport at six, but he didn't say where. Not knowing what to do, she walked over to a security guard standing next to a slowly moving stream of people. He folded his arms. "Sorry," she said smiling. "I must meet Sage Kennedy here. Do you know where I can find him?" Now that she said those words out loud, she looked ridiculous. How many people are there in the country? And does she expect this guardian to know someone special? The guard on du
IRENA AFTER the limo had been rolling for a minute, Irena sat up. Anger flooded her body as the woman's last words ran through her. Does Sage know what his dad did? Is she stupid to think he knows nothing? She shook her head. Of course, he would lie. He's rich. The feeling of wetness on her hand pulled her out of her train of thought. She squealed and looked around. Her breathing became hoarse as she stared at the dog's face the day before. He was sitting among the parallel benches in front of her. His heartbeat coincided with the beat of his tail hitting the ground. "W-Why are there dogs here?" she cried, her voice choking with each word. As if talking to her was the key to liberation, the dog stepped forward and pressed his face against Irena's face. She shouted and raised her hands. Ever since she was attacked by a German Shepherd as a child, she has been terrified of dogs. And this fear has not faded with age. The dog's wet nose rubs against its skin. She shivered as she le
SAGE TITAN barked and ran around Sage as he circled the plane for pre-flight checks. There was something about Miss. Derrick that moved him. He wasn't sure what it was, but Titan 's relentless urge to bark at him didn't help him organize his thoughts. He bent down and patted Titan 's head. "Be quiet, my boy. I need to focus," he said. As he circled the plane, he saw Miss. Derrick and Joseph. They are talking and smiling. Seeing their joy upset him. But then that feeling stopped him. What's the matter with him? The day had just begun, and he was already grumpy. "I just finished my final inspection," he said, clearing his throat and nodding his head toward the plane. Irena stared at him. "Sage, are you a pilot? Sage smiled. This plane is his child. It is his second home. A gift from her father on graduation day. It's ironic because his dad hates that he went to flying school instead of Harvard. "Kennedy 's going to Harvard, Sage." To this day, her father's voice still ring
IRENA IT didn't take long before the plane was ready and rolling down the runway. As the plane took off, Irena clutched the handrails to her death. She deliberately put her life in the hands of Sage Kennedy . What is she thinking? She had to do some breathing exercises she learned at the yoga studio—trips requested by Bridget—to calm her nerves. It didn't help that her argument with Sage kept coming to her mind. Man, he really gets goosebumps with his cocky ideas and sexy arms. She shook her head. It wasn't something she should be thinking about. He was a stuffy, rude billionaire. But the image of your muscular arm under the white shirt kept coming back to me. She rubbed her eyes, blaming herself. She's not going to be the swoon, swoon girl that guys like Sage attract. She is better than that. She leans back in her chair, tilts her head back. It makes the interior of the plane more spacious than flying in an overbooked carriage. Traveling with a rich man has its advantages. The
SAGESAGE 'S ears buzzed as he groaned and opened his eyelids. Constant blinking seemed to help blur his vision. The red light on the dashboard is flashing. A piercing sound filled the air. Sage raised his hand and held his head. What just happened? He looks out the window. White surrounds him. The slope of the mountain. He noticed this when he had to land the plane after both engines died. It took all of his school time before he calmed down and went flying in the snow. He winced as he recalled the sound of metal falling to the floor. His limbs ached, but he still endured the pain and stood up straight. Where are Titan and Irena? His heart skipped a beat at the thought of them being hurt – or worse. His fingers fumbled for the seat belt. "Titan? Irena?" he cried, then immediately regretted it. Leaning down, he touched his stomach. He pulled his finger away and stepped back. There was no blood, but his ribs hurt. He wondered if he had hurt any of them. After taking a deep breath
IRENA IRENA stood in front of the pile of clothes she had put in the toilet. Her hands trembled as she grabbed them in front of her face. She didn't know if it was frustration with the fact that she had just survived a plane crash. A plane crash was caused by Sage. It seems to be the source of his problems.She looks out the door. Who does this man think he is? Frustrated, she grabbed the jeans he'd given her. An arrogant man who knows all the pain in his ass - he is.She shakes her jeans, enjoying the moment he created. After taking off her skirt, she puts on her pants and prays that they don't fit. Tucking them into her panties, she smiled. Thanks God. The distance between her belly and waist is ten centimeters.After rolling up the shirt a few times, the pants are still standing. She was still wearing her satin sleeveless top but had taken off her sweater. She rolled her eyes. Lindsay and her insistence on asking her to bring sexy things on this trip. She must know better.After L
SAGESAGE zipped his jacket and turned to glance at Irena. She had a displeased look on her face. He smiled at her again, hoping to ease her pain. She bent down and met his gaze. "You laugh a lot. Should I be worried if you have a concussion?" She raised her finger. "Most people don't even show signs of concussion. Are you confused? Are you more sensitive to light? What about the sound?" She bent down, studying his eyes. "Miss. Derrick," he said, stepping back. "Yes?" "If I'm confused, do you think it's wise to ask me so many questions?" She shyly looked at him. "I'm sorry, unnecessary information." She patted her forehead and grimaced as she approached the incision on her head. "Hey," he stepped forward. "Let me help you with that." He reached out and took her hand. She stared at him. "I... uh..." "No apologies. I am the cause." He led her to the chair and motioned for her to sit down. She looked worried but didn't object. He goes to the sink on the other side
IRENA IRENA is all alone. Scratch that. She is alone in the sense that there are no other human beings. However, there is a dog. And it stinks. Every time she moved inside the plane, Titan followed her. She had counted countless times she almost tripped over him. "Titan ," she exclaimed for the thirty-third time. "Just go lie down." Why Sage refused to take her on an expedition, she did not know. He had been gone for ten minutes, and Irena considered opening the door and driving Titan away. But she had promised Sage to keep an eye on the animal. She sighed. Why did she have to make promises that made her unhappy? Next time she really needs to think before she speaks. Titan barked at him. After saying that, she went into the small kitchen. Sage asks her to cook something for dinner using canned food in the kitchen. Hopefully the rescue team will find them tomorrow. If not . . . Irena shook her head. She didn't want to think about it. They will be found. Arrange. A