"Hey Josh!".
"Hi Vicky!!"
"Atlas!!!"
Having discarded Ethan and his prideful words to the back of her mind, Shikera greeted everyone in her department in her usual jovial manner.
She had barely sat down when someone pulled her hair backwards. Without turning, Shikera knew it was her ever troublesome best friend who had been sticking with her since her childhood and also was the only one who knew her father's identity.
"Cyprian Leigh! Mr Anderson is going to punish you if I have hair loss."
Like a magic spell, her hair was loosened and the culprit came to sit beside her, laughing. Shikera could see Cyprian's eyes glowing mischievously and this could only mean one thing, Cyprian had the latest gossip.
"Where did you go, Cupcake?! Team Leader was so angry that she was practically breathing fire." Cyprian started.
"Just go straight to the point and don't keep me waiting!" Shikera snapped, pretending to glare at her friend.
"Okay, the new CEO is here and gurlll, he's so handsome! But that's not the news, he gave a speech."
Shikera was getting impatient at this moment. How the hell did she land herself such an infuriating friend?
Seeing that her friend was getting impatient, Cyprian had to spill the gossip. She moved her chair closer to Shikera and looked around before whispering,
"He gave the normal speech about increasing our viewership ratings and he said the department heads and he himself, are going to assist us. Then he gave a task."
"What task?" Shikera asked. She knew very well how lazy her friend was so she was surprised a task was interesting her this way.
"He said he has insider news which is that your father is out of the country now on a very private visit. But we can't announce that unless we have proof so he's planning to send two people to Anderson Corporation to work for a month or so." Cyprian declared, watching Shikera's reaction which slowly morphed from realization to shock.
"There is nothing to worry about, Princess. Everyone knows your father would not leave you even for a night." Cyprian continued.
"No Rian!" Shikera exclaimed, "We have to be the one to go to Anderson Corporation! If it was not announced before he left, then it means my father had a good reason for keeping it from the reporters."
She didn't waste any time before standing up from her seat and pulling Cyprian along with her to the CEO's office which was on the same floor as theirs.
On getting there, Shikera didn't allow the secretary to inform the CEO of their presence before she knocked twice and pushed open the door.
The man behind the desk jolted at the sudden entrance of the two ladies.
"Welcome, Mr– uhm— CEO. I am Shikera Anderson and she's Cyprian Leigh!" Shikera announced as soon as her eyes caught the new CEO's face. As her eyes registered the man's facial features, she praised him in her mind. He was truly handsome as Cyprian had said but the only thing was, he could not be compared to her new husband or even his assistant.
Cyprian nudged her crazy friend, wondering what they were doing in the CEO'S office. She knew the extent to which her friend was pampered at home and she was also aware of the reason, so she was sure Shikera's father wouldn't travel even for a day, with Shikera left behind.
The voice of the new CEO interrupted her thoughts.
"It's Andrew Lane, I presume— Miss Anderson and Miss Leigh." The man informed, a smile starting to form on his lips.
"You're right, Sir. We are too young to be MRS's anyway." Shikera confirmed, failing to notice the smile that broke out on his face at her words.
"So how can I help you, Miss Anderson?" Andrew asked, his eyes glued on Shikera. He didn't know working here would be this interesting. If he did, he would have come here many months back.
"Have your seats, please."
Cyprian walked forward, prepared to sit but Shikera pulled her backwards, declining Andrew's offer.
"It's alright, Mr Lane. I came to visit you in regards to the task you mentioned today. Miss Leigh and I are very much available." She said.
Andrew observed their faces. One looked very expectant while the other looked confused, he was sure they weren't just colleagues but were friends too. The troublesome and shy friend combo. Miss Anderson seemed to be the troublesome friend while Miss Leigh seemed more reserved.
If only he knew how wrong he was.
"Uhm…" He started, staring straight into Shikera's eyes. "Why can't we talk about this tomorrow? From the little knowledge I possess, it seems it's closing time here."
Shikera sighed, dejected. She had to protect her father in this little way as she didn't even know who would take care of the company in his stead.
Slowly, she nodded and turned towards the door.
"It seems like it's been your dream or something to work in Anderson Corporation, Miss Anderson. Shikera Anderson working in Anderson Corporation, how wonderful it sounds." He spoke up, causing Shikera to halt in her steps.
She turned to him, a pity gaze in her eyes.
"Yes, Mr Lane. It's been my childhood dream and this might be the only chance I will get."
Cyprian looked from Andrew to Shikera, a complicated look on her face. Was she the only one not understanding what was going on here?
She watched as Andrew Lane nodded to Shikera words before he finally spoke,
"Then, let's talk about this tomorrow." He said.
"Yay!" Shikera didn't bother to hide her excitement as she bade him goodbye and pulled Cyprian out of the room with her. They had to prepare extensively to work in Anderson Corporation.
When they got back to their desk, the others had left already and Cyprian had the chance to yell at Shikera, not restraining herself.
"Kera, did I tell you I want to work at Anderson Corporation?! I can't bear to wake up earlier than I do now because I want to work there!" She complained, pretending to shed tears.
"My dad is really not around, Rian. I wouldn't have done that if I know they won't find out my father left the country."
"What?!" Cyprian asked, the tone of her voice not receding.
****
"Just go on home, Rian." Shikera waved her friend off and got into her own car. She watched as Cyprian drove off and she took out her phone.
She dialed her husband's number and waited for him to pick up. Due to the anonymity of Ethan DeLoach's identity, no one has been able to find his house.
She could find The DeLoach's family house because it was in the same estate as theirs, however she was very sure he didn't live there.
The call connected and she placed the phone on speaker and started her car.
"Hey Ethan!" She greeted.
"Mr. DeLoach." Came the reply.
Shikera almost slapped him through the phone.
"Where do we meet?" She asked, ignoring his words.
"DFB."
And she hung up on the call, turning the key in the car's ignition and driving out.
An hour later, Shikera was staring up at a beautiful waterside villa. The atmosphere was serene and apart from the hooting owls and the screeching crickets, the environment was quiet.Was this Ethan DeLoach's hiding place? It didn't surprise her anymore that Ethan DeLoach's house had never been discovered by anyone. She turned to him, her eyes expressing her questions.
"I have no time to babysit! Get in there, take your bath, eat, and sleep. Ask me any other questions tomorrow."
Shikera had no choice than to obey his instructions, though not without berating him inwardly.