"What's this discussion about?" asked Steph.
Nick replied, "It's about her cousin Derek."
"Oh Mr. Derek? My benefactor." exclaimed Steph.
"Benefactor, Steph?" asked Nick.
"That's what I wanted to discuss with you both. Recently, my cousin's actions have raised my suspicion." said Madison.
"Don't get me wrong. I have no grudges against my cousin. If anything I'm happy for my cousin. I just feel that he's hiding important information from me; and both of you are indirectly confirming my theory. "
Madison continued, "If he is really hiding information from me, or from us for that matter, then all the more we need to protect him, especially from my family."
"Protect him from your family? This is getting confusing." Nick was getting more puzzled by the second.
"Yeah Madison, what happened within your family?" asked Steph, equally confused.
Madison took the time to explain to Nick and Steph the real back story of Derek, how he was adopted into the Smith family thanks to her late Uncle Edward and late Aunty Emma.
She went into great yet grave detail about how Derek's parents passed away due to a sickness when Derek was just five years old. She then recounted to Nick and Steph about how Derek was abused, mistreated and made to be worse than a housemaid.
Madison was the only person who felt sorry for Derek and wanted to help Derek whereever possible. That all changed when a month ago, Derek was kicked out of the Smith family household after getting fired from his job.
Madison shared with Steph and Nick how she took the brunt of her family's abuse because she was the only person who did not ill-treat Derek.
Steph chimed in too, saying that on Madison's first visit to the cafe where Derek met her, Steph overheard about how Derek said he was an admin officer at BDT mall.
To Steph's knowledge from her friends, that job, while decent, was not exactly a high paying job.
"So you see guys, unless something extremely incredible happened to my brother that he wants hidden, it is hard for me to believe that in a month, he could go from homeless and nearly broke to be able to afford to give thousand dollar tips and a decent suit, let alone one of your best suits, Nick." Madison concluded.
Nick and Steph listened to Madison's story intently. They too feel that not all the pieces are there to complete the Derek Smith puzzle.
"Can I ask you one thing, Madison? Let's assume your theory holds true, that Derek did have something incredible happen to him that he is now rich, why would he want to hide that?" asked Nick.
"Do you think he has some revenge plot in mind?" asked a curious Steph.
"I don't know for sure. All I can say is my family are a bunch of leeches that want to worm their way to the top brass here in Townsville. I have witnessed myself how they use people and kick them to the curb when those people are of no use to them." replied Madison.
"Ms Madison is right. We heard how heartless they were to Mr Derek. It's not too far off to assume that if they know about Mr Derek's sudden change, they will try to suck up to him and wait for the right moment to knock him back down to being a slave." concurred Steph.
"And it would be no surprise if his job is not as admin officer at BDT mall. What would he be up to?" Nick thought aloud.
"Do you all think Mr. Derek's working at Quinton Tower?" asked Steph curiously.
"Do you think Ms. Amanda knows something about Derek that we don't?" asked Madison.
"That may be a bigger possibility. In fact, he may be working there as an admin officer, compared to BDT mall." replied Nick.
"I have this nagging feeling it's more than that; but for now, let's observe my cousin discreetly whenever we can. We have to act natural around him in order not to arouse his suspicion." said Madison.
"We'll have to keep this conversation here to ourselves. We've got to protect Mr. Derek from people like the Smith family. No offence, Ms. Madison." said Steph.
"None taken, Steph. They cannot know Derek's true identity either." replied Madison.
"I guess we'll see how everyone acts at the Quinton Consortium event when the time comes. Madison and I will need to observe all parties involved discreetly." said Nick.
"I have an idea. How about you two go to that event together as a pair?" suggested Steph.
"Well, it's not like we are dating. It's a plus one type of event so... Madison will you be my plus one?" asked Nick.
"Yeah, I think that will do. I don't have a partner and my family doesn't know you. That works." replied Madison.
"Great. Then it's settled. Let's make sure we have each other's contact numbers. I'll relay any information I hear while I'm working here." said Steph.
"Likewise on my end." concurred Nick.
"Wow, we have actually become a group of spies. Haha." Steph joked.
"Let's have a group name....how about...Team MNS?" suggested Madison.
All three seemed to be on board with the name.
"Madison, Nick, Steph. Team MNS. Nice; and we just had our first meeting." said Nick.
"Well now that we know what to do, meeting adjourned then." concluded Madison.
All three exchanged contacts with each other before Steph went back to work while Madison and Nick when their separate ways.