"What do you mean you want to go back to your family? After all they did to you? Do you really want to return?" She asked incredulously, and he just smiled.
"I'm not returning to become a part of them again. I want nothing to do with them, same as you want nothing to do with your family. You're my only family now. But I need to return to start the first phase of my investigation. Information that I won't be able to get when I finally announce my identity to the world."
"You mean you want to go undercover?" She asked and he chuckled.
"Something like that. I will return, and pretend to be retarded to see what secrets I can expose. Just for a few days, I promise, then I will come back home to you. I've already made necessary arrangements to have my inner circle over for dinner tomorrow. You'll meet them all, the people I trust the most. They will assist you in my absence and also keep you safe."
"But who will keep you safe then? What if something happens and your family tries to harm you again?" She asked and held his hand.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I'll be going there with a tracking device displaying my location at every minute to my security team, who will be stationed five minutes away from the house to avoid suspicion. I'll also have hidden cameras and microphones discreetly placed so there will be evidence of any misdeed, or attempt to harm me."
"I still don't feel at ease."
"You've trusted me so far, and that you keep doing so. I wouldn't be going if I didn't think it was a hundred percent needed. And I promise you that if I sense even the slightest hint of danger, I will leave immediately and abort that mission. Now that I have you back, I'm not willing to risk losing you again." He said and she sighed.
"Fine. I won't stop you." She responded and he smiled.
"Thank you for understanding. I was really hoping you would, because if you truly wanted me to stay back, I would do so no matter how important I think the mission is."
"I know. But you're helping me handle my own family, so this is the least I could do to help you handle yours. Just a few days right? Can we still communicate?"
"Only when I'm sure I'm alone, which will most likely be late at night, or during the wee hours of the morning."
"Okay then. I'll miss sleeping beside you, but at least I'll get to hear your voice." She yawned while she was still speaking so he picked her up.
"Time for bed, sleepy head. Before you swallow the whole estate." He chuckled as he lifted her into his arms, and she lightly smacked his chest.
"Don't mock me. I'm sleepy because I feel so relaxed." She yawned again, and wrapped her arms around his neck and he carried her to their bedroom.
Early the next morning, she was dressed for work before him, and decided to prepare breakfast for him by herself. The kitchen staff were appalled when she stepped in, and announced she would be making breakfast, but stepped aside respectfully. She made pancakes, and Alrik stepped into the dining room just as she was serving it up with syrup.
"I made breakfast."
"You don't have to…"
"I know. But I wanted to." She interrupted with a smile.
They ate and were driven to her office right after. Now that everyone was aware of her new position, they stepped aside while she walked across the lobby, bowing slightly, or greeting politely. She was no longer being ignored, or stared at.
As she stepped out of the elevator, Grant moved forward with her schedule for the day, with June, one of the secretaries that hadn't been on duty the previous day. It was Michaela's day off.
"Good day Ma'am, I'm …"
"June. It's clearly written on your employee ID card. No need to introduce yourself. I only care about your work quality for now. When I'm done fixing all the leaks in this company, then I'll have time for pleasantries. I'm sure Grant has filled you in on every necessary information?"
"Y.yes Ma'am." She replied, and gestured towards her desk.
"I have the documents for your first three meetings ready. The others will be finished before their respective meeting times."
"Good. I'm expecting a preliminary report from the forensic accountant. Has it arrived?" She asked as she stepped into her office.
"Yes Ma'am. It's on your d…"
"Why do you need a forensic accountant? Are you trying to cause more problems for the company? Or do you just not know your new duties as CEO?" Gregrory Pratt interrupted June as he stepped into Eliza's office without knocking.
Eliza sighed, and nearly rolled her eyes. "Whatever I choose to do concerns no one, except those who have things to hide. In order to make the company better, I must first identify its faults. Finances being one of them. Next time, knock before barging into my office." She replied to her father, and he scoffed at being called out on his rude behaviour.
"Why do you keep bringing your husband to work when he isn't employed here? Don't tell me you want to give him a position here? I won't allow that, and neither will the board."
"First of all, the board will do what I want, because you have more to lose without me. And secondly, I don't need to employ him, he has his own company. If that's all, leave my office, so I can attend my important meetings." She didn't give her father a chance to ask how Alrik owns his own company, or hurl any more insults.
He was dismissed, and he left to avoid making a bigger fool of himself. Meeting after meeting, paperwork, and filing. That was how she spent her day. Alrik helped her out where he could, rubbed her shoulders when they ached, ordered food and made sure she ate, watched her sleep when she decided to power nap for forty five minutes. Soon, it was time to return home to prepare for their guests. They took the elevator to the underground parking lot. As soon as they stepped out, Alrik immediately sensed danger, and grabbed Eliza, pulling her down and shielding her with his body.
She gasped in shock as she turned and noticed a hole where their heads had just been.
"What on earth?