Echoes of a Forsaken Heart novel Chapter 256

After enduring a long-haul flight that spanned over a dozen hours, the team finally arrived in Ylandia the next day.

Stepping off the plane, Natalia hardly had a moment to gather her bearings when she spotted Killian emerging from the ranks of their security detail.

She paused, taken aback.

For a moment, she found herself staring at Killian, momentarily lost for words.

"Why are you here?"

Killian cracked a smile. "Mr. Fowler was concerned about your safety, so he had Minister Dawson arrange for me to join the security team."

Natalia quickly grasped Hamilton's intentions.

This trip, after all, was not one where safety was a concern.

The Department of Defense had assigned personnel to accompany them, and even the Foreign Affairs Department had arranged for personal bodyguards.

Hamilton's decision to send Killian was likely due to his unease about her working alongside Ryan.

"That man," Natalia couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

Yet, she said nothing more.

Killian had arrived, and it wasn't as if she could simply send him back.

Ryan, descending from the plane, made his way towards Natalia until his eyes landed on Killian, causing him to momentarily hesitate.

"Who's this?"

Killian, with a friendly smile, extended his hand to Ryan.

"Mr. Holzer, I'm Ms. Jenkins' personal bodyguard."

Ryan glanced at Natalia.

Sighing slightly, Natalia didn't bother with an explanation, merely handed her luggage to Killian.

"Let's get going. Since you're here, stick to the protocol and don't break any rules."

Killian nodded promptly.

Ryan, trailing behind the two, managed a bittersweet smile.

Hamilton, always playing it safe.

Swallowing his bitterness, Ryan stepped forward to catch up.

Their accommodation was arranged by the consulate.

After checking in, Natalia reached out to Hamilton on her phone.

The phone rang several times before he picked up.

Natalia hesitated, suddenly remembering the time difference.

"Did I wake you?"

Hamilton's voice, laced with amusement, answered, "Waiting for your call, how could I be asleep?"

His voice, deep and tender, sent Natalia's heart into a flutter.

Holding the phone, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

Hamilton softly inquired, "Natalia, where's my sunset?"

Suppressing the turmoil inside her, Natalia responded, "I'll send it to you," and was about to hang up.

But Hamilton quickly interjected, "Hold on."

Natalia paused.

Hamilton chuckled, "While you're abroad, no looking at other handsome men or giving out your contact info."

Natalia retorted, "Hamilton, I'm here on business."

Hamilton hummed in acknowledgment before adding, "And don't get too cozy with Ryan, especially no inviting him into your room, got it?"

Natalia, exasperated, "Hamilton, Ryan and I—"

"Ryan, Ryan, doesn't the guy have a name?"

Out of words, Natalia sighed, "Can you stop being so jealous?"

With that, she hung up, sending Hamilton the sunset pictures she had taken.

Hamilton, looking at the photos on his phone, felt a pang of longing so intense it ached.

After a day's rest, the negotiations began.

Their mission involved both a businessman's rescue and the retrieval of cultural artifacts.

Caspian and Ryan were to negotiate the businessman's rescue, while Natalia and Alfonso handled the artifact retrieval negotiations.

Unexpectedly, just before the negotiations began, Natalia's original partner, a young translator, was hospitalized due to acclimatization issues.

And, as if by fate, Delilah, who had been previously eliminated from consideration, just so happened to be in Ylandia.

After some deliberation, the Foreign Affairs Department decided to have Delilah step in.

Delilah, seeing Natalia, couldn't resist a smirk, "Ms. Jenkins, what a coincidence to meet again."

Natalia gave her a glance but said nothing, supporting Alfonso into the meeting room.

Natalia, as the lead translator, was supposed to kick off the proceedings, with Delilah handling brief interjections.

However, Delilah seized the initiative right from the start.

Alfonso frowned at this development.

Natalia bit her lip but did not interrupt.

Delilah, smugly eyeing Natalia, thought she had seized a golden opportunity.

But she hadn't anticipated the negotiations taking such an unfavorable turn.

The talks hit a deadlock within minutes, with the opposing side denying any illegal acquisition of the artifacts.

They even mocked the team's claims, suggesting an obsession with claiming any ancient artifact as their own.

Alfonso's expression darkened as he eyed the eight bronze artifacts encased in glass, his displeasure evident.

At that moment, Natalia spoke up.

"Mr. Spiegel, may I say something?" She maintained formal address in this official setting.