Too good to be true

For Olivia Noah's words seemed like a dream coming true. She had been waiting for words like this from Noah for such a long time that she could hardly believe it. But fortunately for Noah and Laila Olivia did not overthink the matter. She didn't realize that when things SEEM too good to be true, they usually ARE too good to be true. Instead she assumed that she had gotten away with her little cooking trick and that because of today she had managed to make a good impression on Noah. That after all this time she had made Noah see that she was a better match for him than Laila. Telling herself that her little bomb at dinner had sealed the deal for Noah and had opened his eyes to what she considered to be Laila's true colours. And just like that, in a matter of seconds, Olivia happily convinced herself that this evening had allowed her to finally defeat Laila and gain Noah's favour, brining her that much closer to her rightful place as his wife.

This could only happen because Olivia already considered herself the better match for Noah and had used all this time and all her efforts to make him see that as well. So, to her this was the most logical outcome. Something undeniable which had finally become the truth. Noah was grateful for Olivia's never disappointing arrogance as it was causing her to do what most overly arrogant people do, which was underestimating her opponents. At this moment this very same arrogance was allowing Laila to finish what Noah couldn't start.

As the two of them were were making their way upstairs, Laila was frantically trying to following Noah's short instructions. She was rushing herself as much as she could in order to finish this up before Olivia returned or anyone else walked in and caught her in the act. At this point, so close to the finish, any small mistake could ruin all the things they had already accomplished. So, she had to work smart and work fast as there is no room for error.

As soon as Olivia and Noah stepped out of the room, she quickly grabbed what seemed like an oddly shaped USB-drive from under her thigh and jumped over to the other side of the room to the couch where Olivia had been sitting. Once she was in front of Olivia's phone, while doing her best to not move the phone from an inch of its location, she plugged the device into Olivia's phone before looking at the next step in Noah's brief but fairly detailed instructions. She read the text and pressed the numbers of Olivia's locked screen to type in the given combination. Once she typed in the last number from the text, different words and images started flashing on the screen. Anxiously Laila waited and stared at the screen, only interrupting this to glance over her shoulder at the door for fear that Olivia and Noah might suddenly come in or anyone else for that matter.

While all her senses seemed to be on high alert, seconds felt like minutes to Laila and minutes like hours. She kept staring and suddenly she heard a 'Pling!' sound and saw a green check mark on Olivia's screen. Laila thought she was done and was ready to pull the device out but suddenly she remembered reading something about a circled check mark in Noah's message. She quickly grabbed her phone again and reread the final steps. That is when she read that the check mark only means that the first step has been successful. Only when the check mark is encircled, that is when the phone has been both fully copied and fully hacked, allowing them to listen in on her conversations outside of the house as well.

With this piece of information Laila fought back the urge to pull the device out but she did get prepare her excuse and planned out her escape. For this she returned to her seat and loosened one of her earrings as she pretended to be browsing on her phone. After that she bent down as if something had fallen and then she returned to the other side of the table. Once there she crouched down as she pretended to have lost something underneath the table and slid her hand from side to side in search of it. If Olivia and Noah should walk in she could claim that the back of her earring had fallen and that was why she wasn't in her seat. It would also give her a plausible explanation should any staff enter the room and see her there by Olivia's phone.

With her earlier acts Steve would have plenty to edit together and create the evidence for her alibi. For this same reason, Laila remained on the floor as she waited for the device to be done with Olivia's phone. Fortunately this time she had something to give her an indication as to how much longer things would take because the circle that had to appear around the check mark, was appearing one piece at a time. Much like when you are charging your phone.

Without breaking eye contact Laila kept watching the gradually building circle on Olivia's phone screen and after some patient waiting it was close to being finished. It was at about 95% and Laila was nervously counting down the seconds in wait of it turning 100% while hoping that Noah would be able to stall Olivia for a little bit longer.