Page 12 of France Face-Off (Brotherhood Protectors International #6)
Alex was surprised that when she woke the next morning, she’d actually slept through the night, something she hadn’t done since her parents’ deaths, and despite the fact she’d slept with a stranger.
Daniel had promised not to touch her, and though she had a natural distrust of everybody, she had inexplicably believed him. The pillows had been more of a barrier to keep her from touching him.
They hadn’t been necessary. She’d slept soundly and undisturbed. When she opened her eyes, she looked toward the other pillow beside her and found it empty. She sat up straight in bed. The sound of a shower running in the bathroom reassured her that Daniel hadn’t left.
With him occupied in the shower, she jumped out of bed, hurried to her backpack and unearthed her wrinkle-free blouse, jacket and the skirt she’d brought to wear when she was translating during the summit meetings.
In the mirror over the dresser, she quickly combed the tangles out of her hair and applied a light coat of makeup.
She was stepping into her shoes when Daniel emerged from the bathroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
All of the air left Alex’s lungs, her heart flip-flopped and her pulse sent blood on a high-speed race through her system.
“Oh, good. You’re awake,” he said. “Room service should be delivering breakfast about—” A knock at the door interrupted his sentence. He grinned. “Now.” He crossed to the door, checked through the peephole and turned to her. “It’s room service.”
Alex ducked out of sight as Striker opened the door. A member of the hotel staff wheeled in a cart and laid covered plates on the table in the corner. He wheeled the cart back out, and the door closed behind him.
“I wasn’t sure what you wanted, so I ordered coffee, tea and espresso. You choose.” He removed a stainless-steel cover from one of the plates. “And I hope you like eggs Benedict. If you don’t, they’ve also brought a variety of cold cuts and toast.”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll have the tea and toast,” she said. The scent of food made her tummy rumble.
“Good,” he said. “I prefer coffee.” He lifted the mug of coffee, took the top off, drank a long swallow and then glanced at his watch. “You only have a few minutes before you have to be down at the summit meetings…?”
She nodded, nibbled at the toast and drank the tea.
“What are you going to do about your room today?” he asked.
“I’m not exactly sure. I suppose I could check and see if they have an opening for another room.”
“You’re welcome to stay here another night. I’m almost sure I heard them say the hotel was fully booked for this event.”
“I’ve already inconvenienced you enough,” she hedged.
“We’ve been through this argument.” He held up a hand. “The offer’s open.”
“At the very least, I’d like to leave my things here until I decide what to do.” She met his gaze. “What about you? What will you be doing during the day while I’m attending the summit?”
“I want to do more research on some of the players involved in this meeting, as well as review the video again in case I’ve missed something.” He also intended to speak with Lucie to find out what she might have learned.
“The summit will have a catered lunch in one of the banquet halls,” Alex said.
“I’ll be there,” he said. “Though I’m not included in the summit meetings, I do have access to the luncheons and dinners.”
“I hope you know I won’t be sitting with you,” she said.
He nodded. “It would be better if people didn’t know where you’re staying, especially considering the attack last night.”
“I would like to come up to the room at lunch, if possible.”
“I can make that happen,” he said.
“Just watch for me when I leave the banquet hall.” She nodded, glanced at the clock on the nightstand and set her tea on the tray. “I’d better go.”
Taking the stairs, she hurried down to the large conference room where the summit would take place and took her seat beside the German Minister of Energy.
He understood a little Russian and was fairly fluent in English, but he’d requested an interpreter just in case.
That had been Alex’s means for gaining entry into the conference.
With a little help from a computer hacker, she’d made the top of the list for potential interpreters for the Energy Summit.
The summit meeting got underway with an introduction of all foreign leaders, scientists and decision makers. The representative from the European Union gave a brief history of the different types and origins of energy sources used throughout Europe.
He named the countries represented that provided those resources.
He also talked about the continuing influx of migrants from Africa and the Middle East, and how the growing population in the EU had increased the demand for energy.
The early forecast for the coming winter indicated it would be even colder than the previous one, and they were concerned about meeting their energy needs.
He then turned the meeting over to Anatoly Petrov, who segued into the need to resume the second phase of the Nord Stream pipeline to meet the increased demand for natural gas in Europe.
Even if Hans Sutter, the German delegate, didn’t need it, Alex provided a soft-spoken translation of everything said.
After Anatoly had explained how the pipeline would be laid at the bottom of the Baltic Sea alongside the original Nord Stream pipeline, he took a seat, looking pale, the injury obviously causing him pain.
As soon as Anatoly sat, Richard Wedington, the representative from the UK, stood. “Adding another pipeline only emphasizes our dependence on nonrenewable energy. What are we doing to reduce our need for nonrenewable fuel?”
Anatoly struggled to his feet again. “Part of our plan for introducing the new pipeline is to also allow sufficient funds to continue research into alternative fuel sources.”
“Assuming you put this pipeline in place,” the German spoke in Russian, “are you prepared for the possibility of someone employing ransomware that could shut down the original pipeline as well as the phase two pipeline?”
Anatoly pressed a hand to his chest and winced. “Our team has developed antivirus software to block the deployment of ransomware into our system.”
Wedington frowned. “You have software that can effectively combat ransomware? Has it been tested? Is it proven?”
Anatoly nodded.
“You have antivirus software, and you haven’t shared it with everybody else?” Richard Wedington continued, his voice rising.
“It works with our upgraded computer system. We can retrofit the existing controls to work with the phase one pipeline. The point is, if this pipeline is approved, it will be foolproof and provide the millions of additional cubic feet of natural gas needed to keep Europe warm this winter and for many winters to come.”
“How do we know you’re not working with the hackers that produce the ransomware? Everyone knows the hackers are Russian.”
Sutter pounded his fist on the table in front of him, making Alex jump. “Share the antivirus software so that we know it is viable,” he said. “Otherwise, you’re no better than the people who produce the ransomware.”
Anatoly’s face turned red, and he swayed on his feet. “How dare you accuse me of producing ransomware and blackmailing nations. We export energy. We don’t need to hold nations hostage.”
“No?” Wedington continued his attack. “How can we trust your word when your former president ravaged the Ukraine, got in bed with China and Iran and caused the EU to struggle for an entire winter?”
“We are under a new regime—” Anatoly said, his words breathy as if he couldn’t get enough air into his lungs. As quickly as his face turned red, it blanched white, and he fell back into his seat.
A security guard rushed forward and helped Anatoly to lie on the ground. He used his radio to call for help and, within seconds, the door opened and a stretcher was wheeled in. The medics lifted Anatoly onto it and wheeled him out. Some of the attendees stood, others remained seated.
Sergei Baranovsky held up his hand. “There’s no need to disband this meeting. I’m here as backup to Anatoly Petrov. We can continue this discussion.”
The moderator took control and stated that since it was near lunchtime they should adjourn until after the meal when they could continue the discussion.
The German rose from his seat so fast that his chair fell backward, slamming against the floor. His face was a ruddy red, his jaw set in a tight line. He muttered a curse in German and stormed out of the room. Others left, frowning furiously.
Alex could hear them talking angrily amongst themselves.
They were furious with Anatoly and the Russians for holding back necessary antivirus software that would keep hackers from employing their ransom software and effectively shutting down the delivery of natural gas and other energy resources to the nations that needed it to keep warm.
The other Russian interpreter stopped beside her as Alex gathered her things. “Quite the drama, don’t you think?” she asked.
Alex kept a straight face. As an interpreter she refused to show emotion or take sides. “It is an interesting discussion,” she said, trying to keep her comment neutral.
The older woman held out her hand. “I’m Natalya Zotin, the interpreter for the Russian delegates.”
“Alexa Sokolov.” Alex shook the woman’s cool, slender hand.
“Are you interpreting during lunch?” Natalya asked.
Alex shook her head. “I’m only required at the summit meetings.”
“Why don’t you sit with me?” Natalya asked. “We can compare notes on what it’s like to be an interpreter.”
With no real excuse on the tip of her tongue, Alex nodded. “That would be nice.” They followed the crowd into the banquet hall where tables were laid out beautifully with charger plates, fine China, and seven pieces of silverware at each place setting.