“You can’t mean that,” Kyuhyun said, making Sora feel guilty over her deliberate teasing that afternoon. “You are so beautiful, hundreds of men must have asked to marry you.”

“No, they most certainly have not, and you, my charming your man, are going to devastate the ladies someday.” Sora smiled to Kyuhyun. “I am not beautiful. I’m really very ordinary. When I was your age, I was tall and chubby. The only thing I was good for was playing point guard on the basketball team and sweeping the floor of my father’s shop.

“But you are lovely. You aren’t fat at all.” Kyuhyun insisted.

“You missed my point Kyuhyun. I learned to value myself for my accomplishments – not for my appearance. I’m the same person whether I’m working on a computer, overhauling an engine or solving a complex design problems mathematically. A good education does that.”

“Which brings us back to computers.” Kyuhyun suddenly to speaking Arabic. “I told you she was smart enough to know computers. That’s how she has us looked out. It’s a password lockout. Of course finding it in random search will take time unless one of us can get her to tell us what the word is. Can you not be more helpful Sungmin?”

Sora smiled, puzzled. The switch to Arabic was so blunt and intentional that she seriously wondered if they thought her stupid. Kyuhyun sounded so quarrelsome. Sungmin regarded him with what could only be termed elder-sibling long-suffering.

She looked pointedly at the quiet man who sat with his fingers curved across his chin, listening. She decided to test a theory. “You know, I’ve always thought it important that every family have at least one hacker. You are very fortunate to have two, Leeteuk, but it will take twenty hackers to break my codes. And you will still won’t get the Vixen airborne. The Vixen 2016-2 will not respond to force entry.”

All three heads swivelled towards her. Bingo! Leeteuk’s broad shoulders inclined toward her and the hint of a haunting smile curve each corners of his wonderful mouth.

“I am more than satisfied with the response I have been given up to now,” he said. “I am certain my satisfaction will improve each time I apply my most persuasive hand on the Vixens stubborn and wilful disposition.”

He wasn’t talking jets, and his brothers were smart enough to know that. Sora’s smile felt permanently glued to her face. His innuendo sunk so deep inside her, her stomach quivered. She deliberately played out a small yawn and laid her napkin on the table.

“I can’t say it hasn’t been lovely, gentlemen, but before the conversation degenerates further, I shall retire. Good night.”

They each stood as she rose and departed. After the sound of Sora’s heels had faded from the hall, Kyuhyun help himself to another piece of katayif. Returning to Arabic, he said, “I don’t see what is so important about her plane.”

“It isn’t her plane that is so important,” Leeteuk told him quietly. “It is the Vixen One. That plane may be the only way to get our father and sisters out of Kuwait alive.”