The next day, the girls were having a coffee break and gossiping about each other. They were excited to see who would be selected for the next date. The results from last time made everyone very curious. Was somebody else controlling the competition? It didn't seem possible because everyone met at the competition hall, and Shane didn't know anyone. Is someone from their midst a traitor, a real Saboteur?
The girls were much more cautious about each other since suspicions were created among them. Katya was watching Paula because she thought she was the most suspicious of them all. From the first day they met, she acted as the most ambitious one in the interview, revealing her big plan. Although Charlotte, the youngest one, was also suspicious because she still didn't tell her intentions--even among the group.
In the kitchen, Charlotte came by with a coffee mug in her hand.
"Hey, girls, whom do you think will be chosen next?"
''I hope it will be me. I want to enjoy a nice ride with Shane,'' said Tamara.
"What about you, Katya? Don't you want to have some fun?'' Charlotte looked at Katya very suspiciously with a little grin on her face.
''Maybe, but I would like to be the Saboteur first. I like doing dangerous stuff and being sneaky." She looked back at Charlotte to see if she could tell whether she spoke the truth or told a lie.
''Well, it's an interesting choice. So, you are a woman of action. I think you will excite Shane with this characteristic of yours.'' She started to laugh after that.
''We will see.'' Katya started to laugh also to see if she was masking her real intentions.
As the girls discussed further, someone rang the bell and delivered a letter. Everyone was excited about who will be chosen next. So, Paula took the initiative and opened the envelope.
She was astonished at what was written, so she read it aloud.
''The next girl that I would like to meet is Leah Hao. Please come to the garden and have a little chat. P.S. I like Chinese food, mostly because it's spicy.''
Leah started to blush and feel excited. The girls knew what Shane meant by saying spicy.
Everyone started to congratulate her.
''Congrats, Leah! I hope you will have some fun,'' said Tamara.
''I wish I were the one chosen,'' said Katya. I hope it will be me next time.
Leah went to the bathroom to freshen up and chose a cute dress to wear, but not something very tight because she knew something beautiful would happen to her. After 5 minutes, she left the hotel and entered the limousine at the Garden location.
The girls were now discussing how the date would go. ''So, how do you think he will approach her? She is not very tall, and Shane's height is about 1.8 meters."
''Yeah, I think she will take advantage of her size and spice things up--if you know what I mean,'' said Paula, very confident in her explanation.
Charlotte was dressing in her room when she got a text message to go to the laundry room of the Hotel. She had some idea of this, but she wondered how they got her number. ''Oh right, from the registration form. Yeah, I am a klutz,'' murmured Charlotte.
In just 5 minutes, she was already in the laundry room, but nothing was there. She waited two more minutes when someone from the hotel staff brought her a strange package and a written message. So, it was confirmed that she would be the next Saboteur for this date. The address she was about to go to was written on the box. This time, a motorcycle was waiting outside for her. She asked herself again, ''How do they know I like motorcycles and can ride them? That's strange.'' She hopped on the bike with the package and went to the appointed destination.
Shane waited for Leah at the Garden and was confident that today would be more memorable. The limousine arrived, and Leah went directly to Shane after getting dropped off.
''Hi Leah, how are you doing today?"
"Good, thanks. Surprised that this time it was my turn. I would have preferred if I had been chosen as the last candidate.'' Leah had a sad grin on her face.
''The last one? Why would you want that?" asked Shane, curious about the answer.
''Well, I don't feel very confident in myself. I am small and not as pretty as the others. And I shouldn't have signed up for the competition.''
''Don't say that. I am happy you did. You are special on your own. I know that.''
''You mean it?'' Leah asked out of curiosity.
''Of course. And I hoped someone exotic would sign up. I have never been to China before, but one of my friends went there on a trip and told me it was amazing. The cities are also bright, full of technology and very green.''
''Green? It's hard to say now with the new technological advancement. But I am happy to hear this. If I could win this competition-though skeptical about it-I would gladly invite you to my hometown.''
''Seriously?" Shane was surprised by her response.
''Yeah, I mean it.''
''Wow! I don't know what to say, but thank you for the invitation. I gladly accept it. But let's move on with the competition. So, where would you like to make our date official?''
''Well, I always wanted to see the sea up close. My hometown is positioned in a mountain region, so I went just once to a nearby lake in the neighborhood.''
''Ok, so let's ride along the sea with our small yacht.'' Shane grabbed her hand and headed to the boat.
The two went into the speedy Ferrari and drove off to the city pier. After half an hour, they arrived. On the other side of the camp, Charlotte had arrived 10 minutes earlier. She opened the box as the instruction said on the billboard. There was a sailor staff suit and a dart gun in the box. 'For what would I need the dart gun?' she asked herself. According to the instruction, she should embark on the yacht at pier Seven. Disguised as a staff member, she infiltrated quickly. But she had some work to do. The second-in-command assigns each one of the staff members to prepare for the awaited guests, which turned out to be two couples.
'Two couples? What is happening here? Shouldn't there be only Shane and Leah? Interesting development,' said Charlotte to herself.
Charlotte was assigned to the cleaning duty on the first deck. She was given the mop and broom to make it look shiny and clean. As she had previously been informed, two cars arrived at the yacht, and two couples were boarding it.
Leah was surprised by the second couple. ''Shane, I thought we were alone. Who are these people?''
''Let's say they are a diversion or some additional entertainment.'' Shane was acting mysteriously.
'What plan did he conceive?' Leah was a little unsettled now. The boat started to sea as they came up on the deck. The staff member showed them to their rooms and brought them some fresh fruits.
Leah asked Shane, ''So, are you going to stay only in the room and have fun?"
"Only if you want, but you said you wanted to see the sea, so I will show it to you."
"Great! Oh, no! I didn't bring my swimsuit," said Leah, a little concerned.
"No worries. I have a backup for it."
Shane talked with one of the staff members and brought Leah a swimsuit.
"When you are ready, come by the front deck," said Shane and then left.
Meanwhile, Charlotte was still cleaning the deck, but she checked her surroundings. She was also confused about why there were two couples instead of one. She had to act, but the real question was when. She checked the boat to make herself more familiar with the environment.
Shane was sitting by the rails on the front deck of the yacht. Suddenly he heard footsteps. Seeing Leah, he peered over his sunglasses to check her better. "Wow, you look amazing. I knew it would fit you," said Shane as he complimented her golden swimsuit made of two parts.
She blushed and felt ashamed, but she had to act like a woman, not a child.
"Thank you. I like it, too. I think this suit is expensive, according to the material it is made of."
"Don't worry about that. The company will pay for it. In the meantime, I have another surprise. Do you know how to swim?"
"A little, but I still have some problems." Leah was a little bit shy about her swimming skills.
"Okay, I understand. Put this mask on and come with me."
Shane took her hand and dragged her with him. He put a small oxygen mask on and asked, "Are you ready?"
"Wait, what? Are we jumping over?" Leah became scared.
"Yeah."
He plunged over the rails backward, taking Leah with him. In the deep water, Shane assured her that everything was fine and under control and that she could open her eyes. What she saw took her breath away. The reef was full of fish, and the splendor of colors was like a painting--just more accurate, more direct. Shane took her by the waist and instructed her how to move underwater. She got the hang of it in just a couple of minutes and went farther away from the boat.
At the deck, Charlotte investigated the staff members and saw the other couple. They looked similar to Shane and Leah, but this time the girl was blonde and also Caucasian. She eavesdropped on them.
"Hope we will get the promised money by playing this role," said the blonde woman.
'Roles? Are they actors?' Charlotte was asking herself these questions.
"Let's enjoy ourselves now that we get this free trip with the yacht," said the blonde girl.
Charlotte knew something was off but still didn't see the plan. Were they acting as doppelgangers? They look alike, but they are distinguishable. They had a role in this game, but she had to wait. She went to the kitchen to check the candy and prepare the concoction.
After 10 minutes, Shane and Leah returned to the surface and looked at each other.
"That was amazing. This experience changed my life.'' Leah smiled at him.
"I am happy that you liked it. Let's return to the boat and eat something."
"Ok," replied Leah.
Leah went up the ladder and back to the boat. They returned to the ship and were soon being served two martinis, and the one helping them was Charlotte. But they ignored her face, so they missed it. Leah got up from the couch and wanted to straighten her wet air, but then Shane looked at her and spoke.
"You look beautiful."
