Young miss, there's a letter for you. The housekeeper handed her the mail.
"For me?" She was confused, she barely received any letters while at home.
She tore the envelope open revealing a golden pass with black writing.
"Dear esteemed guest
…. Audrey Stoner….
We warmly welcome you to join the Hale family banquet on Friday, September 15, 2036.
Please kindly send back a mail in two days if you'll be able to make it".
Audrey's jaw dropped. "There's no way I'm missing the Hale banquet I have to attend. Mom and Dad are not in town, after all, they wouldn't mind. It's the first time I've been officially invited to a gathering on my own. What do I wear?". She panicked rising up from her seat where she had been working on her computer.
More passes like this had been distributed to people all around to attend the Hale family banquet. Just the colours of the passes varied because some were there for a reason, while others weren't.
Friday night, the mansion was beautifully lit and decorated, the chandeliers shimmering and the tablecloth sparkly and neat white with name tags to identify each person's seating positions, and scented candles lined up beautifully on the table. The house was well decorated and prepared to receive guests. All the house maids ran around in neat white uniforms trying so hard to make sure everything was in place before people arrived.
In time, people started arriving, and the whole room was filled with nobles and high-class citizens. Everyone socialized and mingled with themselves until the couple stepped out walking down the stairs with elegance. All eyes turned in their direction, Admiration on every face, except a few who wore envy on their faces.
Zyra's Champagne gold cocktail gown nicely complemented her husband's white suit. They walked graciously down the stairs with Zyra's arms intertwined in Victor's. Victor sat at the head of the table and Zyra sat at his right hand side.
Victor rose to his feet with a glass of champagne in his right hand and his fork in his left. He hit lightly on the glass to gain the attention of the guests and his mission was achieved. Complete silence fell upon the room.
"Good evening everyone.
First, let me thank you all for being here today - it's an honor.
This evening isn't just about celebration, it's about honoring someone truly extraordinary - Mrs Zyra Hale, my wife.
The melody in my silence, the calm in my storms, and the light that has guided me through both triumph and trial. Her love isn't loud, yet it echoes in every corner of my life. Her presence is not forceful, yet it anchors me more firmly than the strongest root.
To me, she is not just my wife. She's my confidant, my muse, my compass, and the most beautiful chapter in my life. I celebrate her - not just for what she has done but for all that she is a woman of grace, strength, and endless love, and I count myself the luckiest man to walk beside her.
So let's raise a glass to my wife: my partner, my best friend, and the love of my life. May we continue to celebrate not just tonight but every day and every hour that we are blessed with her presence.
Cheers". He gave his speech staring into his wife's eyes the entire time admiration and love shun bright from his smile.
Zyra looked up to her husband with the same expression of admiration, love, and fulfillment in her eyes as she smiled brightly.
Victor took his wife's hand in his helping her stand to her feet. He placed a gentle kiss on the back of her palm, and they clicked glasses while the rest of the guests clapped and smiled, clicking their own glasses. The room fell silent after a while, and Zyra grabbed the opportunity to speak, still standing by her husband, his arm wrapped around her waist like they were about to waltz.
"I can't find many words to describe this, but I don't know what I did to deserve you, your love, your protection, and your gentle care.
Victor, I know I couldn't have made it this far strong if it weren't for you. And for you, I thank the Almighty every day and pray he continues to bless this union.
I raise a glass to the king of my kingdom and to the best part of my story".
Zyra spoke every word with deep stress and meaning, staring deep into her husband's soul. The smile on the couple's faces was irreplaceable. They clicked glasses and he gave her a light kiss on her forehead. The sort that always states "I'm here for you always and I'll always protect you".
The guests clapped again as the couple took their seats. Everyone dug into their dinner, chattering and whispering. After dinner, the banquet table was rolled off by the house maids, and the guests were made to occupy little cocktail tables that had been arranged around the house, but this time by invite card rank.
Audrey, Steven, Marcus, and Brenda were set on one cocktail table; they all had the golden passes. They chatted among themselves until Zyra stopped by their table.
"I believe everyone's having a good time?".
Audrey's jaw dropped. "The Mrs Hale is speaking to me right now?". Her eyes shun wide.
Zyra wasn't expecting someone of Audrey's rank to look up to her this much but of course she wasn't below her either so she had keep her position in Audrey's eyes permanent.
"I see you're a fan". Zyra replied her focus on Audrey.
"Of course I am. I was so joyed when I got the invite to The Hale Banquet". She smiled putting emphasis on the last three words.
"I'm glad. Anyways you weren't simply invited to the Hale banquet for it's sake. I called you all here for a purpose".
"Mrs Hale what do you mean?". Audrey seemed to be the only one speaking. She moved her eyes to meet the puzzled looks of the others.
"I did a little research into your pasts and you all seemed to have interesting stories. Audrey I'll start with you. You hacked into your schools system to embarrass your principal on all screens, you hacked into the security system in your father's house to get out to attend a concert with a friend. Hacking into the security of the presidents house isn't little".
She darted her eyes around the table everyone staring at her.
"Well in my defence the principal humiliated my friend first and I had to attend the concert I'm 19 for Christs sake and I can't step out of my father's house freely without guards lurking around me anyways, it's been a long time ago".
"I don't see any gaurds around here seems pretty recent to me". Zyra commented and Audrey fell unexpectedly quiet as she darted her eyes.
"Alright over to the next. Marcus, 19 heist in total 18 successful and 1 unsuccessful and only because you let the cops get you cause you needed to pay a distant uncle a visit at the cell after that you cleared all history of that life and decided to start a fresh as a business man. Smooth".
Marcus smirked his eyes evident that he lives for the adrenaline. He was one who loved risks the way other men loved breath.
"You sure know how to do your homework, clean and detailed". He smile deep.
"Thanks.Brenda. An acrobatics queen who knows locks like she knows the back of her palms. Skilled in breaking all and any code lock made. Your first code break was in high school to revenge a bully. Impressive".
"That was years ago I don't do that anymore". Maya spoke coldly.
"Well I'm not a criminal why am I here?". Steven asked stunned by all the things he was hearing.
"Who said anyone was a criminal, son of mother Mary?". Audrey sneered provoked.
"I'm sorry". He quickly apologized.
"You should be".
"Steven, F1 racer youngest best I know so far. Fortunately your service is also needed here".
"Ok so you told us all about our past what does all of this have to do with you or your purpose for us ?". Brenda asked straight to the point.
Zyra looked at her calm and composed as ever.
"I want to carry out the biggest heist in the city and for that you all are needed". She spoke with a straight face.
Marcus smirked, his eyes shun of longing, Audrey's interest seemed to have picked. Steven on the other hand was still confused while Brenda wasn't buying the idea.
"What makes you think it would work?". Brenda asked.
"It will because I'm in. I've longed for a final heist and if Mrs Hale is going to fulfill my longing then I'm in". Marcus spoke confidently, a spark in his eyes.
"I'm in too. I want to feel the work of my hand on a broader scale. A heist doesn't seem that bad". Audrey agreed, again placing emphasis on the 'that bad' cause she was going to rob in one of her father's city, his capital territory even and if she got caught it definitely wouldn't make a nice headline as the presidents daughter.
"Steven what's it gonna be". Zyra asked relaxed.
"Ummm. I-I dont think….". He stuttered shivering.
"Oh come of it mummy's boy. It isn't gonna be that bad besides you're going to do less of the work". Audrey convinced him stepping closer to him and rubbing her fingers against his looking into his eyes flirtatiously. He was already stealing glances at her during the whole event so Audrey knew what to do to convince him.
He breath down before speaking.
"Ok I'm in".
Everyone turned to look at Brenda.
"I'm out, I'm not going back to a life I abandoned years ago".
"You run an organization against fraudulent activities right?, the place in question has a lot of skeletons in their cupboard and those skeletons have to get out besides stealing from a thief doesn't really count". Zyra spoke still calm and relaxed as she he had been with the others.
Brenda took a while in silence and breath down before looking up at each of them.
"Fine one last code". She murmured.
"Great, where are we robbing and when?". Marcus asked eagerly. His drive for law-breaking was crazy.
"M&B bank. Meet me at this location tomorrow at 6pm. It was nice having a conversation with you". She smirked and walked off leaving 4 small cards on the table.
As she walked further, her eyes locked with her husband's. She nodded confidently, and he returned it slightly since he didn't want to alert Noel Castillo, with whom he was currently having a conversation.