Ethan walked in with together with Raymond, a plastic bag hanging from his fingers. Raymond had joined him later at the Ice Cream parlor and they had bought the quantity appropriate for Shikera's consumption.
As he stepped inside the Villa, he heard a strange sound which he had not heard for over four years now and his eyes moved to Raymond's, both of them recognizing the sound at the same time. It was the sound of a switched on Television.
Raymond shared an apprehensive glance with Ethan and hurriedly prepared to go and switch the TV off but Shikera's voice, gushing in excitement, interrupted him.
"She's so beautiful! ---- How cute!" Her voice stooped him from going any further as he stopped dead in his tracks.
He turned to Ethan, a questioning gaze in his eyes. Would Ethan allow him interrupt her or not? He wouldn't have minded Miss Anderson's excited voice if this had happened a month ago, as he would have just gone to switch the TV off.
But now, even his Boss didn't flare up like before so who was he to jump the gun without permission?! He still needed his life, job, and Ethan DeLoach's protection; especially now that he was about to venture into Cyprian's world of huge and dangerous brothers.
The door opened behind them and Ruthlyn walked in, with Enoch leaning on her. Both of them were surprised to find Ethan and Raymond at the doorway, not looking like they had any plan to step away from there.
As always, the talkative Enoch opened his mouth to ask why they were standing in the doorway but Shikera's voice answered his unspoken question.
"Beautiful reporter Shikera Anderson! OMG...You're meant to be an anchor, girl!" She screamed, still thinking she was the only one at home.
"Should we switch it off, Sir?" Ruthlyn asked. She immediately understood the situation in this place and assumed her professional mode, a blank look on her face.
" Don't bother about it, just for this night. It seems like she's enthusiastic since she will be on screen." Ethan replied, finally stepping into the living room and walking towards Shikera.
The others followed him at a safe distance, with Raymond thanking his stars that he hadn't passed his boundary earlier, and Enoch wondering to which extent his brother had changed. Ruthlyn was simply neutral as usual, like she had expected him to say that.
"Ker---" He sighed, getting to her front. He couldn't call her by her name if he wanted to stay firm in his resolve and keep everything professional between them. He continued, " Miss Anderson, I bought your Ice Cream." He extended his right hand which was holding the packet, and watched as Shikera raised her head to look at him.
Her expression was shocked as she had not noticed that they were already in the house and her right hand, which was nearer to the remote, automatically reached for the it as she switched the TV off, staring apologetically as she did.
Ethan reached down and slid the remote out of her hands, before switching the TV back on.
"Just until you're done with the Ice Cream; And only for today." He gave her a condition, so as not to appear like a nice husband to her.
Hearing his words, and still oblivious to the presence of the rest of them, she leaped up to her feet and hugged him.
"Thank you daddy!"
Everywhere fell silent immediately and it was like the News Announcer also chose that time to allow viewers digest the headline, which she has just read to them.
Suddenly realizing what she just said, her eyes widen as she pushed Ethan away, accidentally touching his abs.
"What the f**k! He's hot." She screamed inwardly, while wearing an innocent expression masked her outer face.
"What did she just..." Whispering, Enoch could feel his head reeling at what he just heard.
Shikera back stepped as she averted her eyes from Ethan's face.
"Sorry...I meant---Thank you, Mr DeLoach or Eth-- Ethan!" She stuttered, stretching her hand to collect the plastic bag which contained the Ice Cream from Ethan.
"I am just used to saying that as only my father gets me Ice Cream..." She explained further, trailing off as she noticed Ethan was not moving. Was he angry...or shocked just like she was?
The speechless Ethan simply walked away from there.
"It's the news on Alicia Brown which Ruth sent to me. Aren't you going to watch it?" She called to him.
Ethan didn't reply her or even bother to stop for a moment.
"He doesn't watch TV." Ruthlyn was the one who answered her, making Shikera know that they were present too.
"Hi Ruth!... And Raymond." Shikera greeted them, not bothering to ask why Ethan didn't watch TV.
She already deduced that it was related to the reason why he hated reporters.
"Thanks for the tip, Ruth! You basically freed me from the shackles of my crazy Team leader. Uhm... You guys can sit and watch my first presentation as a reporter, with me."
Enoch, who had wanted to ask why she didn't greet him, kept his mouth shut when he heard her words. He could as well listen to her first before starting a fight.
The trio settled down, along with Shikera, to watch their first News Presentation in a while.
Upstairs, Ethan pushed his room's door open, while still whispering under his breath,"Thank you, Daddy? Thank you daddy?"
He entered the room, resting his back against the closed door.
"You are in trouble, Ethan... " He breathed, bringing out his phone from his pocket.
He logged in to Preston TV's website and sighed,
"Just this once, Mignon. Just this once." Saying that, he stalked to his bed and sat down, raising the phone up to his line of sight.
"Reporter Anderson reporting..." A soft voice eased out from the phone's speaker.
***
The next morning was a peaceful one as no one came to wake Shikera for the house chores. She hurriedly got ready for work and rushed out of her room, trying to escape from the house before Ethan caught her.
She was at the door, slipping her legs into her heels, when the door opened and Ruthlyn came in, a rare smile on her face.
"Good morning, Miss Kera."
"Hi Ruth!" Shikera replied, not looking up from her shoes. She presumed Ruthlyn was here to call Ethan so she planned to wear her shoes as fast as possible, and leave the house.
She was not prepared for the information Ruthlyn gave her next.
"Mr DeLoach went on a business trip..."
"What?!" She looked up, her eyes widening. If not for the fact that she knew Ruthlyn was not someone who joked, she would have concluded she was joking right now. Why would he travel without telling her? Where would she stay while he travelled? How many days was he travelling for?
She voiced out all her questions with raised voice, not minding if she was talking to Ruthlyn and not Ethan, the culprit.
Ruthlyn nodded patiently, acknowledging her questions. She had anticipated the questions and she already had the answers ready for Shikera.
"Mr DeLoach had to go without telling you as there was an emergency. He has prepared for you to stay with your doctor while he's on his trip and finally, he will be traveling for three weeks at the least." She delivered, like a programmed AI machine.
Her words made Shikera scoff in disbelief.
"And he could not tell me all these himself. At the very least, couldn't he message me?" She was done strapping her heels now so she stood up to her feet, her face reflecting her displeasure.
Ruthlyn didn't have an answer to this so she only keep quiet.
"You aren't going with him?" Shikera asked, raising her brows.
"Mr DeLoach gave me an assignment instead."
"Hmph... Just goodbye!" She didn't want to direct her annoyance to the wrong person but she couldn't help herself.
"Goodbye Miss Kera. Uhm...Mr DeLoach says you should make sure to stay with your doctor and not anyone else."
Shikera sighed outwardly, "Like I'm a kid."
She walked outside to her car, while looking forward to a boring week.