Chapter 3

"Let the games begin anew" Gabriella thought with a hint of malice. With Chen again thinking that he could use her to curry favor with his leader. The sycophant claimed he knew nothing about the Ambassador wanting to see her sooner than the time he had already stated for their appointment. The assistant really was going to have to learn that she saw things a lot better than he would ever be able to.

Gabriella and Taz used the service elevator to get to the Chinese Ambassadors suite. As they arrived on his floor, two of the bodyguards tried to stop them, until the guards realized who was standing in front of them. They both bowed to her, showing her the respect that was her due. One of them using their comm. unit called ahead to inform those inside the ambassador's suite that she was there. The doors to the suite were opened by the nanny ushering them into the rooms. The nanny bowed low as they walked past her into the suite, and Gabriella returned the bow.

The Ambassadors suite was decorated much as she expected if you had stepped into a wealthy Asian home. Rich in colors and sumptuous fabrics the suite was gorgeous if a little overbearing for her taste. As it was, she was glad Yodie and Irena hadn't come, they would have been overwhelmed and hyped up by all of the pretty and all too interesting things to get into. Things that probably cost more than Gabriela even wanted to think about.

Thank goodness the kids weren't overly concerned with material things. They never worried about things that they may not have, the latest sneakers, the top of the line games, but they had a large loving family. There was occasional strife in all families, the strife comes and goes, it is the love that remains.

As she entered the ambassador's receiving room, Gabriella bowed to the ambassador, noticing as she did Chen coming in with a broad smile on his face. She had enough though and decided that smile would be coming off of his deceitful face later.

They passed the time at first by drinking their tea, and talking about family. The ambassador wanted to know when his granddaughter was to get her Genutec animal.

Gabriella laughed at that but not unkindly, "I hate to inform you but it is not the adults that get the animals, it's the kids that get the animals." she continued her explanation, "If she were pregnant, she might be picked by Tangiers, but at the moment Tangiers is with Wes, Clara's oldest. He has a 3 year old girl named Ever. Tangiers is in heaven with little ones, he does not deal well with teenaged angst. That's why he rarely comes to visit us anymore except for check ups and so forth. Too many teenagers at my house."

The ambassador nodded at this information, he realized he had misspoken and apologized quickly for his faux pas. The conversation returned to their family, what was happening with each other, and the business of the pact. He wanted to know why she would endanger her life for another person knowing the consequences of that action. Gabriella informed him as she had Ivan that it seemed a good idea at the time.

As she was getting ready to leave, she turned to the Ambassador and said, "Thank you so much for rearranging your extremely busy schedule to see me today. Especially as Mr. Chen informed me that you would not be able to see me for 4 more days." She pretended not to see the sudden look of fear in the assistants eyes or the masked irritation in the ambassadors as she concluded, "I am thankful you were able to work me in so soon and I have thoroughly enjoyed our luncheon and tea, and look forward to seeing you again soon, Ambassador Huang."

She and Taz left the suite heading for the service elevator as they were going down to the lobby she pulled out her cell phone. She waited till they got to the lobby though before using her cell phone, to call Ivan to find out where they were meeting.

He answered on the second ring, "Dah, Yes…What can I do for you…" you could hear him laughing and the children giggling and someone else laughing also.

"Ivan, is that you and Benjamin laughing with the children? Where are you, so I can meet with you and take the kids off your hands?" He was still laughing as she finishes the sentence.

"We are at the Central Zoo and Botanical Gardens. It is quite beautiful in this butterfly garden, not as beautiful as some of the gardens in Russia. But seeing as this country does not have the history of mother…Sorry rambling about home already." Ivan spoke to her but he was more distracted than normal and she knew it had to be due to the kids but in a good way for a change.

"I'll be there as soon as I can, Ivan." Gabriella said into the phone as she hung up.

She was looking for Liu Zhang the Chinese chauffer, to drive her to Central Zoo. When an older man came walking up to her he was definitely not the Chinese driver. He quickly apologized, "Forgive me Madame Ambassador, I'm with the Russian ambassadors group and I was supposed to meet you earlier. I'm afraid I was delayed conducting some business for the Ambassador. My name is Alex and it really is great to be back in the States by the way."

Gabriella just stared at him wondering why no one seemed to notice the half ton bear standing beside her and if he had any idea of the danger he was putting himself in with Taz. "You do know about the animal's first duties."

Looking down at Taz whose hackles were rising as he started forward slowly placing his paws precisely and angrily in front of him as he moved toward the perceived threat.

The thirty something man stepped backwards quickly. "Wow! Are they all this big? I noticed when you came out of the elevator that he is bigger than most of the bears that I've seen. Oh, by the way my name is Alex Christopher. I'm from Ivan's entourage and I'm supposed to be your liaison. So I'm supposed to run interference with your family, the public and delegates."

Gabriella just stared at him, he was either playing dumb or he really didn't have a fear of the animals. Plus there was the whole fact he was practically chattering away like a magpie she was expecting someone a little more circumspect. After the incident with Tangiers and the man even Warren and the family had a healthy dose of cautions, aware that the animals could and would kill to protect.

She just shook her head at Alex. Liu Zhang came walking up to her quickly and bowed. "Liu Zhang is there any way you could get the car, and take me to the Zoo and Botanical Gardens, while Alex and I have a talk about his potential employment with me, please."

The Chinese driver looked at the American man with great doubt of his surviving the drive, Liu Zhang nodding at her then said, "Yes, Miss Wallace. Are you sure, about him riding with you in back?"

Gabriella chuckled to herself, as she nodded to the man. As they waited for the car to arrive, Gabriella watched Alex cautiously. "So you work with Ivan. What do you know about the animals and I?"

Alex looked at her finally having adopted a more wary expression on his face but answered, "I understand that you have a blood disorder, and that the animals are protection for the children that you have."

She looked out at the city, "So, do you get along with kids? Do you have military or agent training? Can you live on site or do you have family that you have to bring over."

He stared at Gabriella, "Well, now that's one I have never heard before. I have military training and I specialized with hand guns and some hand-to-hand combat if necessary. I prefer hand guns myself, I would prefer if you and the kids took some hand-to-hand training. I am amazed Benjamin has not already suggested that to you. I know that you have your own style of hand-to-hand, but it's easy to forget the training you had from Ivan and the others if you don't keep in practice."

The red head turned back towards him and said, "What makes you think I have forgotten anything Mr. Christopher? If someone gets close enough to touch me they are with-in death's reach. That is all I will need to take them out. I mean that in every sense of the word." she said coldly. "I have not decided yet if I will take Benjamin as a bodyguard. But I do need a bodyguard and a liaison with me and my family at all times now."

The car pulled up and Liu Zhang jumped out to open the door for her bowing deeply with great respect. After she got in Liu Zhang stopped Alex, and whispered, "Don't upset her and you may survive to tell the tale of what she is to others. Do you have any idea what she can do to you and I with a thought, a whisper on the wind, a hand gesture? Tread softly around her, or if you're not here to truly serve her leave right now." Liu Zhang knew the legend about her; he would serve her himself if he had the training. Alex nodded and slid into the back.

As they drove to the garden and Zoo, Gabriella explained to Alex what his duties would be, his hours would need to be flexible around the families and her schedules. She worked in the cabana in the backyard, where she could keep her eyes on the kids during the summer without being truly disturbed by them. The doors would normally be left open just in case they needed something. The kids were everything to her and Clara her sister.

"What does Clara do? I mean what is her role in the household?" He asked.

Gabriella told him about the house and that Clara runs the house. She also told him that her sister had a small apothecary business she ran out of the house. Internet and mail orders, were filled from the home office. That was the home office that was used by Clara for the business and to take care of regular household business, unlike the work office in the cabana that only Gabriella used.

He seemed genuinely interested in the apothecary shop; Gabriella informed him that they grew all the herbs onsite so no expenses from out of state or extra revenue leaving the community. He seemed impressed by their ingenuity of doing everything onsite.

"Clara is legally blind, so she had to give up nursing, when she did that her husband divorced her stating irreconcilable differences." Gabriella didn't tell him that they found out later that he was being unfaithful with one of the neighbors' wives at the time and she wasn't the first. The fickle bastard had been told to be careful what you wish for you'll have to pay for it sooner or later. Less than two years later he lost control of his car and hit a tree head on, he didn't survive it, and they hadn't had anything to do with his death. Instead she told him, "Now Clara does what she can, she has tunnel vision, basically no peripheral vision at all. She gets by thanks to Fenris, her wolf. What is it you need from me if you get the job?"

"Please, be honest with me." he replied.
"I will be handing over the reins to scheduling, running interference; household and business finances, logistics."

"How can I help with that?"

The conversation lasted up until they reached the botanical gardens and the zoo. The garden is the part the kids are visiting, with Ivan and Benjamin, Alex follows Gabriella into the gardens as Taz leads the way to the children. Gabriella watches as Ivan and Benjamin play with Yodie and Irena still in the Butterfly Garden. It was priceless to see the older man enjoy the kids. As Gabriella, Alex, and Taz entered the cage with the butterflies, the kids screamed their high-pitched voices were out of this world. Something mommies get used to over time she hoped, seeing how Yodie just started talking again. Alex stay back as the kids come running to her with all their joy on their shining faces. That was all she needed to make her day. She squeezed them and swung them around.

Then she set about explaining to them that Benjamin was to be their chauffer, pilot, and mom's bodyguard and that there was going to be some changes in the house. She knew she would have to repeat the explanation to the other kids and Clara soon enough.

She also explained that not only was Benjamin going to be moving into the house, so was Alex. He was going to be mom's Liaison Officer in charge of Mommy's schedule at work and a little at home.

It was Irena who asked, "What's a lazyon officer, does it mean they get to be lazy about the house then Jason should get the job.

Gabriella shushed the kids and laughed at their attempted to play on words. She looked at Alex and Benjamin and introduced Yodie and Irena to Alex.

"Do you think you will be able to put up with 10 of these in steps going up to 18 years in age? Either you can deal with it or don't bother following us out of the garden," she said sternly, "Come along everyone."

Alex and Benjamin looked at each other and followed, right after Ivan gave them a look of 'What are you waiting for.' They started asking questions about the rest of the children.

Gabriella informed them that she had 4 other girls and they were to be treated with kid gloves. "Kailie is 17 years old, Bobbie is 15 years old, Tamara and Tamarina both are 12, and Irena here is 5 years old and thinks sometimes that she is 25." As she slid into the backseat with Yodie going in before her, Irena squealed with delight as Ivan threw her up in the air and caught her carrying her into the car.

Ivan had suggested that they all ride in his larger limo, "You're going to be around a lot of noise when we all get back to Georgia." Gabriella explained.

"Besides the girls I also have five boys, Anthony who is eighteen and has a lead foot and a job. Jason who is sixteen and going trough his rebellious stage right now. Chris is our computer wizard and he's fourteen. Then there's Russ, he's ten, my water baby and Jason's shadow. Of course you've already met Yodie. He and Irena are my covert spy unit." She giggled at her own joke as she added, "Who occasionally forget the covert part and go directly to shock and awe."

As they arrived back at the hotel, the little family got ready to go back to Georgia and to their home. As they were leaving, both the Chinese and Russian Ambassadors were down in the lobby to wish them well, and safe journey home, and handing an envelope to each of the children and Gabriella a larger envelope. She and the kids bowed to the Chinese and Russian Ambassadors as they left. The children were both given a small amount of money as a gift. While in the larger envelope were two envelopes for each child. In one was 10,000 dollars to be applied to their education. As well as another ten thousand dollars to be applied to each child for their support. It was what the countries did for her as a token of appreciation for keeping the world safe.