"Who did he kill?" Ethan asked immediately.

In answer to Ethan’s question, Enoch tilted his head with a doubtful expression.

"Well if you ask me, I will say he didn’t kill anyone. You might understand better if I say her father didn’t kill the person in question, but why the judges and everyone in charge turned a blind eye to that is what I don’t know. And the family too, they didn’t even appeal," he said.

"Then who exactly was the one who died?"

"Another one of Shikera’s friend from high school, I heard her name was Reese. And...she is also a carrier of SCD," Enoch answered.

Ethan frowned, falling into deep thought on what he just heard. With how simple Shikera looked from the exterior, no one would imagine her life was this complicated.

Looking up, he asked one final question,"Is that all?"

"Yeah, apart from a minor news on how they took in a stranded woman four years ago. I ran a check on the woman too but found nothing special, so I just let it go."

"Make more findings on this Reese woman and how the other man was framed to be her murderer. I need all this as soon as possible," Ethan ordered.

"Okay but...how about what I asked?"

"Out of my office, Enoch, before I kick you out."

Enoch turned immediately and trudged out of the office, muttering beneath his breath, "What is this that you are doing if not kicking me out?"

★★★

The path from the entrance of the jet to the limousine waiting for Liam Anderson was bare of any living being, apart from his flight crew, his driver, Mrs Mason, and he himself.

"Enough of the formalities, Lu. How about what I asked you to do?" Liam asked, eagerness vividly expressed on his face.

"Done, Sir. I put a tail on her and we are currently monitoring her movement around the clock. Apart from hovering around Miss Anderson, she has not been doing much," Lu answered.

"Does Shikera know that?! That her mother is alive," Liam asked, astonished.

Lu could not help but sigh at his startled face, noting inwardly that the years had indeed not changed Liam’s affection for his wife. And that was probably why the man was still feeling heavily guilty and indebted to Shikera.

"I don’t think so. But I will suggest you tell her so when Natalia appears, she won’t be shocked."

"I should do that..." Liam trailed off. They got to the car just then and he got into the back seat, while Lu sat down beside the driver.

He continued,"Try to contact Noah too and try your best possible means to make sure he promises to come."

"Will do, Sir. How do you plan to get... Natalia though?" Lu asked thoughtfully.

"That’s the least of my problems. You said she has been loitering around Anderson Corporation, right? Then that means she wants to see me or someone who had a good relationship with her 24 years ago. I will just go to work on Monday and make sure she catches sight of me, and if my guess is right then she will contact me," Liam answered.

"Okay Sir, I will contact Miss Anderson and Young master immediately. Uh...do I need to ask Mr DeLoach not to come on Monday?"

Liam shook his head in answer,"There’s no need. It will do us no harm to work together, plus I actually have some things to ask him about."

"Alright, Sir."

Discreetly, she removed her phone and texted Shikera.

[Chairman Anderson has arrived, and he’s planning to see you and Master Noah on Monday. Will you come?]

[Of course! Could you arrange for me to meet him now?] The reply came almost immediately.

★★★

Immediately she replied the message, Shikera rose up from her seat and walked out of the conference room. Skyler who had been sitting right beside her hurriedly followed after her.

"Kera, where are you going?"

"Home. Could you help me tell Maxwell I’m sorry for leaving early?" Shikera turned and requested apologetically. Without waiting for Skyler’s answer as she was sure it would be positive, she was about to walk away when a male voice stopped her.

"Why can’t you tell Maxwell yourself?"

It was Maxwell.

Plastering a smile on her face, Shikera faced him.

"Maxwell, pardon me just this once, huh?" she pleaded.

Maxwell shook his head, "Shikera, the contract states you have to be at work for at least two days in a week—"

"That’s true but Elovien already aired for this week and there was no problem. I only have to prepare for next week so please..." Shikera refused to back down, assuming a pitiful expression.

"That’s true. It’s a Friday already and Elovien will be airing next Tuesday, do you have a guest in mind to invite?" Maxwell asked. He paced the ground in Shikera’s front with a determined gaze in his eyes.

Sighing in defeat, Shikera racked her brain for a few seconds before her eyes suddenly brightened up.

"What if I get news on the BOTOT award? Since it ended with two winners, would viewers not be elated if I invite one of the winners?" she asked.

"And how do you intend to get any of the winners? We are talking about high ranking doctors here and neither Krystal Alexander nor her co winner, have even accepted the request for an interview," Maxwell stated, before asking, "Or do you intend to request for Miss Stone’s help in persuading them?"

Behind Shikera, Skyler could not help but scoff inwardly. What power could Miss Stone exercise where Miss Anderson was?

"You don’t have to worry about that, Maxwell. How about this? Let me go today and I will make sure everything we need concerning the guest is arranged by Monday night! It’s just...there is somewhere I really need to get to urgently," Shikera replied.

"And that’s my point exactly, Shikera. You can’t go anywhere public without Skyler and you of all people know just how much wave Elovien’s Spotlight is making around the country these days. What if one of these big guns think you will become a threat to them in the future and decide to get rid of you right from now?"

"I know what I was getting myself into when I decided to submit the proposal for Elovien’s Spotlight so you don’t have to worry about me. And... Skyler can come with me if that will reassure you."

With that, Shikera turned to pull Skyler’s hand and together they rushed towards the elevator.

On getting to the lobby, Shikera turned to her and smiled earnestly.

"Thanks for helping me get out of there but I will need to ask another favour from you," she whispered.

"As long as it’s within my power—"

"That’s great then! Help me inform Cyprian that I left earlier, but I’ll be back to pick her up. And you too, you should wait behind and let us finish out discussion from last Saturday."

"I will..." Skyler replied, trailing off as she stared at Shikera’s back while the latter walked towards the exit doors as fast as she could.

"How can she believe me when I say he was framed? Doesn’t she even doubt one bit?" She asked out loud, talking to no one in particular.

On the other hand, Shikera had arrived at the underground parking lot and was now looking for her car key in her bag.

"Miss Anderson?" she stiffened when she heard the familiar voice behind her, and she wasted no time in turning to face the person.

"Raymond?! What are you doing in here?" she asked.

Raymond shook his head as if to tell her she should not be asking him that question, before gesturing with his hand to a car not far from where they were.

Shikera recognized the car immediately as one of Ethan’s. The ones he used privately of course. Her eyes widened when she realized what Raymond was trying to tell her.

"Ethan is here?! For what? Why? Did I do something wrong?" she bombarded him with multiple questions, and Raymond tilted his head with a questioning expression. He thought she was behaving suspiciously.

And Ethan probably noticed that too for he got out of the car the very next moment and asked, "You have plans with someone else? Seeing as you are out when it’s not even the set time for you to leave work, Reporter Anderson must have an urgent business to attend to."

Shaking her head vigorously, Shikera hurriedly denied it. If she explained why she was out, then she would have to tell him everything about this woman who was supposed to be her mother and she didn’t want that to happen.

"No! What urgent business? I was just shocked to see you here," she quickened her footsteps towards the car and continued, "I was actually coming to visit you at work. Why did you come?"

"You knew today was for DL Corporation, Kera, so I’m sure you weren’t coming there. Where were you really going?" Ethan probed, ignoring her earlier question.

Author’s Note: Please do not unlock the next five Chapters titled don’t read. Was writing an exam and had to pre-upload Chapters for you guys, but the app I used uploaded wrongly.

I promise to make it up to you all by mass releasing all through this week(θ‿θ)

Just jump past the next five Chapters and continue reading.

Love you guys so, so much!