26 February, Military Base, City K

As everyone was having their fill with lunch, Matthew was interrupted by Joseph. Rather than disturbing Lexi Matthew quietly moved away before in a frustrated tone saying, "What is it?"

"Calm down boss. There is no need to get annoyed with me. Three things. Firstly, the cameras have been checked and all images that should not be there have been removed. A couple of parents wanted to fight, but as we informed them, they all signed to allow us to check all electronic devices for images that they are not allowed to have, so they relented. Secondly, Ben is going on the jump and asked me to confirm with you that you do not want to join us."

"Damn busy body. You know I cannot.."

"Have your true role disclosed. We are not dumb. So, I guess that is a no, but promise me you will not whine about not jumping in the next few days, particularly as the next water jump, which you need to do is a night jump. But getting to business, Head Honcho sent a coded message about twenty minutes ago, and I just decoded it. Major Hung has been agitating with National Command to have your decisions on re-organisation overturned citing the unique nature of the post here, and convinced a few generals to take the decision to a National Command meeting.."

"And?"

"He wants you to link into the meeting in a little over an hour. He is aware that you cannot get to the capital for the meeting, but.."

"You wanted to see what I want to do, as to the reason I am not involved? You manipulative .."

"Language boss. There are children around," came the quick response from Joseph.

All Matthew could do was shake his head before saying, "Just let me talk to Lexi, as I want you with her while she remains on base.."

"And give people ideas. Boss, what would my wife, let alone your wife say?"

"As if I need comedic relief. There are a couple of women on the tour that want to make trouble. I have issued a kindly threat to stop the behaviour, I suspect that if I am not present, they will..."

"Use the opportunity. Talk to your wife, and if she is OK with that, I can be there. David can man the offices while you are in the meeting."

"You have everything planned."

"True Boss, but if we were not efficient, you would not want to keep us in your direct line of command."

"Sometimes, I really do wonder why I do that."

With a light laugh Matthew turned and walked back towards Lexi before quietly explaining the situation to her.

Once she understood, Matthew turned to Dominic and asked "Dominic, if your mummy agrees, if you want to stay tonight at my accommodations here on base we can. You can think about it and talk to your mummy.."

Dominic jumped up and said "Can we mummy. It will be fun."

Lexi looked at Matthew, who simply said "It is your choice. We do not have to, nor will I force you to do so."

"Can I think about it?"

"Absolutely. If you decide to, just let Joseph know, and he will make sure you get to my on-base accommodations. Plus, as you drove your car here, I can have it moved to there for you to use in the morning."

Lexi paused and quietly said "Thanks."

While everyone was finishing their meals, Lexi watched Matthew quietly slip out of the mess hall before asking "Joseph, he is not going to do that jump is he?"

"No, although he is quite capable of doing it. He truthfully has a teleconference meeting called with the capital. We only received the message twenty minutes before I came in and once I decoded it I rushed here to tell him, as he will need to review some things before it."

Nodding, Lexi looked around, and noticed that other parents were watching her. "Can you stay?" was the immediate question Lexi had to ask.

"The boss asked me to, but he knows that I would not stay unless you wanted me to."

"I do."

Lexi turned back worked to finish her meal, while Dominic was talking to Joseph. Before she knew it, they were called by the guides to head to see the last demonstration for the day. As they boarded the bus they were on, Lexi noticed that she was being carefully watched by some of those who previously wanted to cause her trouble.

As Joseph climbed up into the bus, he quietly spoke to the guide on the bus. As he sat beside Lexi, he quietly said "I told the guide that the boss was called to a meeting, and as he knew I know about the jump demonstration that they are about to see, he thought he would have me on hand to explain, particularly as we have had to change from what was originally planned due to conditions."

While they were travelling the distance to the jump demonstration site, Lexi sat thinking about what she should do. Matthew was right, she needed to be comfortable in staying at his on-base accommodation, and Dominic was excited about the possibility. It worried her in being there, as at least at Matthew's villa she knew her way around and she knew despite everything she did not feel trapped as she could go, even though it was with bodyguards, reasonable freely to pre-approved locations. Here was a different place.

But, at the same time could it be a place for that fresh start to their relationship? There were not the memories of the past that she knew was influencing her. This was somewhere new, and it could be the place she needed to be able to make some rational decisions about their future, as fighting Matthew was getting her nowhere in the Villa.

As they exited the bus, Lexi quietly said to Joseph, "Can you let him know we will stay at his on-base accommodations tonight."

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