SORRY THIS HAS TAKEN SUCH A LONG TIME! PLEASE REVIEW, IT HELPS ME WANT TO KEEP GOING WITH THIS STORY!
Chapter Twenty-Six
"I did it because I didn't want her kids in danger. I wanted them to have nothing to do with CHERUB. I wanted them to have a nice family, a good school, and to get on with their lives. I just wanted them to be safe."
Zara's heart ached with sympathy as she listened to the young woman in front of her talk. Bethany was grieving, and badly, and she had only been doing what she thought best. It was unlucky for her that it had gone so badly wrong.
"You can keep your job, Bethany," said Zara. "But I'm moving you to admin for six months. After that, you may return to your previous post." Bethany nodded miserably. Zara was being kind to her, she knew.
"And I want you to talk to Megan and Max. They deserve to know what happened. They've been through a lot in the past four months and this could have cause extraordinary damage if it had gone ahead. It's lucky for you that it didn't."
Bethany started.
"Please, Zara, I don't think I can face them." Zara looked at her sternly.
"You can and you will. I don't want to have to step in again. Those kids need all the help they can get." Bethany miserably agreed and stepped out of the chairwoman's office.
Half an hour later, Zara found herself in the same position, except with two terrified young faces in front of her.
"Freddie, Rueben," she smiled warmly. "I want to commend you both."
The boys looked shocked. Was this a trick? Was Zara trying to lure them into a false sense of security?
"You never let adults pressure you into lying, and that is one of the most important qualities we look for in agents. You were determined, resilient and morally strong. Your courage is fantastic."
Freddie and Reuben looked at each other, still confused.
"What happened in training was not your fault. I hear from Mr Blueman and Mr Walsh that you were on target to finish in a respectable time. Therefore, I thought you'd like to have these."
Zara pulled out two grey t-shirts from under her desk. The boys to a moment to register, they were so shocked. Normally they would have screamed their heads off, but the moment was far too serious.
"Are you serious?" whispered Freddie. Zara burst out laughing.
"Of course I'm serious! Now go, tell your friends. I'm sure they'll be desperate to know what's happening to you!"
The boys ran out of her office, ecstatic. Zara smiled to herself. Being the chairman of CHERUB had its downside, and the last few months had been pretty tough, but the look on those boys' faces made it worth all the pains and hardship.
Zara was still astounded with how close kids at CHERUB became, and how they managed to cope with such massive issues. She was proud of each and every one of them.