"couple"
St. Moritz, Switzerland. The air was crisp and clear, like transparent crystal. Sunlight streamed unhindered onto the snow-capped peaks and the mirror-like lake, transforming the town into a fairytale wonderland. A discreet yet high-performance black sedan silently drove along the winding mountain road, eventually stopping in front of a secluded and luxurious boutique hotel nestled halfway up the mountain.
The doorman quickly stepped forward and respectfully opened the car door. Dr. Alexander Rossi (Keegan) stepped out first, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark gray cashmere coat, his posture upright, exuding the composure and understated nobility characteristic of a scholar. He did not leave immediately, but rather very naturally bent down slightly to carefully assist his "impaired" wife, Elaine, into the custom-made wheelchair that the waiter had brought.
His movements were gentle and focused, carrying an undeniable tenderness, as he smoothly adjusted the soft cashmere blanket on her lap. As he did this, his fingers inadvertently brushed against the back of her hand resting on the armrest; Elaine's fingers curled, then relaxed. She looked up at him, offering a dependent and gentle smile, before thanking the doorman, "Thank you."
Over the next two days, the Rossi couple seamlessly integrated into the tranquil yet luxurious rhythm of St. Moritz. Alexander (Keegan) visited the monastery library daily, discussing medieval manuscripts and history with the monks in charge of reception. His solid background knowledge, composed demeanor, and fluent, authentic German quickly earned him their respect and favor. In between reading, he discreetly documented every corner of the library, blind spots in the security cameras, and the routines of staff shift changes. His frameless glasses captured numerous thermal images of the interiors of areas not open to the public.
Elaine spends most of her time "resting" at the hotel or being pushed around town by Alexander. In her wheelchair, wrapped in a thick shawl, she admires the scenery like any other tourist. But her "camera's" telephoto lens precisely scans the monastery's exterior, hidden cameras, and the patterns of vehicles entering and leaving; her hearing aid filters ambient noise, recording any suspicious sources. She primarily communicates with hotel staff in English, occasionally interspersed with a few simple German greetings she's learned from her "husband."
Playing the role of a loving couple means countless intimate details. These details, however, become exceptionally natural and fluid because of the real and increasingly clear emotions between them: once by the lake, Elaine's shawl slipped off, and Alexander naturally bent down to pick it up and drape it back over her. His fingers inadvertently brushed against the skin of her nape, and both of them trembled almost imperceptibly.
He immediately knelt down and carefully tied her slightly loosened shoelaces, his movements gentle and focused. Sofia (Elaine) looked down at his focused profile and slightly lowered eyelashes, her heart inexplicably racing. Sunlight cast a soft glow on his hair. This time, her fingers curled slightly, then, with a very small, tentative movement, she touched his wrist as he tied the shoelaces. Alexander (Keegan) didn't pause for a moment. After finishing tying the shoelaces, he grasped her fingers, looked up, and a hint of confirmation appeared in his grey-blue eyes. He carefully observed Sofia's expression before calmly rising.
As dusk fell, Alexander pushed Sofia along the lakeside path for a "walk." Sofia whispered about the unusually frequent nighttime comings and goings of Foundation vehicles that she had been monitoring. Alexander bent down, his cheek almost touching her temple, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe in response. This time, perhaps because they were so close, his lips brushed against her sensitive earlobe with an extremely light, almost unconscious touch.
Elaine froze instantly, her voice trailing off, a blush spreading uncontrollably across her cheeks. To onlookers, it looked like an intimate moment of a husband kissing his wife's cheek or ear. Keegan also paused, but he didn't immediately pull away. He simply shifted his breath slightly and continued calmly in a low voice, "Understood. I'll keep an eye on it." His voice was steady, but Elaine could feel his hand on the wheelchair tighten for a moment. This discovery made her already racing heart race even faster.
On the afternoon of the third day, Elaine made a crucial discovery while analyzing the listening recordings in her suite. Interspersed within the recorded, melodious background of monastery bells was an extremely faint but rhythmic low-frequency humming sound. Voiceprint analysis determined that it did not belong to any known civilian equipment or natural environmental noise.
“There might be a hidden space beneath the monastery that consumes a huge amount of energy, such as a large server cluster or more complex equipment.” During dinner, Elaine took the opportunity of pouring water for Keegan next to her, leaned slightly closer and whispered, which from an outsider’s perspective looked like sharing an intimate little secret.
Alexander (Keegan) sliced the veal on his plate with elegant movements, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he replied in a low voice, "The Foundation?"
“There were two black vans that stopped at the entrance barrier for much longer than usual before entering or exiting the underground garage, as if they were undergoing biometrics or special scanning,” Elaine whispered, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
Just when they thought their reconnaissance was going smoothly, during an evening "stroll" by the lake, Alexander (Keegan) was triggered by his almost instinctive intuition for malicious glances, honed by years of battlefield experience. He subtly adjusted his wheelchair and, using the reflection in the gleaming window of an antique shop, caught a glimpse of a figure wearing a baseball cap and a dark jacket not far behind him; as they stopped to admire the swans, he also pretended to stop and take pictures, but his camera intentionally or unintentionally swept across them.
“It has a tail.” Alexander (Keegan) leaned down and seemingly affectionately helped Elaine rewrap her slipped scarf, his lips almost touching her earlobe as he whispered, his warm breath sending a shiver down her spine.
Elaine's body trembled almost imperceptibly, but a sweeter smile instantly spread across her face, as if she were happy about her husband's thoughtfulness. She responded softly, as if she were coquettishly asking, "Darling, is my scarf ready now?"
“Perfect.” Alexander (Keegan) straightened up and responded naturally, pushing his wheelchair forward, his tone calm and even, as if he were simply having a pleasant evening stroll with his wife.
Back in the suite, they locked the door and drew the curtains tightly. Only after a high-tech scanner confirmed the room was safe did they relax slightly. They exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes. Beneath the idyllic honeymoon facade of lakes and mountains, a cold undercurrent was already surging. Their masquerade ball had already seen its true audience quietly enter.
As night deepened, the suite fell silent. Keegan carefully inspected all the doors, windows, and vents, finally fixing his gaze on the spacious foyer connecting the bedroom and living room. His original "bed" was the long sofa in the living room, some distance from the bedroom. He pushed open the door and entered the bedroom.
Elaine had changed into comfortable pajamas and was leaning against the headboard, checking data on her tablet under the warm glow of a reading lamp, the light illuminating her serene profile. Hearing footsteps, she looked up.
Keegan walked to the bedside and casually adjusted the pillow behind her back so that her injured leg could rest more comfortably. His gaze swept over the empty space beside the bed, which was covered with a thick carpet, and his tone was calm and pragmatic, without the slightest ambiguity: "I'll sleep here tonight." This was not a question.
Elaine paused for a moment, then understood his intention. Worry and a barely perceptible embarrassment welled up within her simultaneously. Letting him sleep on the hard carpet while she… but she knew even more clearly that this was the safest arrangement. Any concerns about comfort or awkwardness were insignificant compared to safety. She nodded and whispered, “Okay.” Her voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
Keegan said nothing, took out spare bedding from the closet, and deftly spread it on the carpet beside the bed. He was silent and efficient throughout, without the slightest hesitation or awkwardness, as if it were just a perfectly normal tactical deployment.
Elaine watched his tall, upright figure bustling around the bed, feeling a pang of tenderness as he made the bed for him. She couldn't help but say, "Actually... the bed is quite wide." As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake, her cheeks flushing slightly. She quickly added, "I meant, you can sleep on the other side; the floor is too hard..."
Keegan laid out his bedding, straightened up, and looked at her in the dim light. His gaze was calm and deep, devoid of mockery or embarrassment, only a reassuring firmness. "This is for the best," he replied succinctly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. This distance allowed him to react immediately while also giving her ample psychological space. He respected her and protected her in the most professional way possible.
He walked to the bedside table, checked the emergency call button for teammates and the water glass within her reach, then leaned over and very naturally reached out to turn off her reading light, leaving only a soft nightlight in the corner. The entire space instantly fell into a hazy gloom. "Get some rest," he said softly, his voice particularly deep and gentle in the silence, "You have work tomorrow."
“Yes, you too.” Elaine lay down, pulled the blanket up, and looked at his blurry silhouette in the dim light. She could clearly hear his steady breathing not far beside her, and an unprecedented sense of security enveloped her, dispelling the unease brought by the unfamiliar environment and the tension of feeling watched during the day.
In the darkness, neither of them fell asleep immediately. Their breathing, so close together, was clearly audible, and a silent understanding and indescribable warmth flowed quietly in the air.
After a while, Elaine very gently turned over, facing him. Almost simultaneously, she heard a deep voice, tinged with barely perceptible concern: "Does your leg still hurt?"
"It's alright," she replied softly.
After a brief silence, his voice came again, carrying a reassuring strength: "Sleep, I'm here." Those simple words were like the most effective tranquilizer. Elaine softly hummed in agreement, finally relaxing completely and closing her eyes.
In the hazy state before falling asleep, she felt as if a warm hand gently tucked the blanket around her.
Outside the window, the night in St. Moritz was quiet and cold.
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