The committee had decided!

There was nothing Theodore or his damn team could do to stop them from shoving the role of chairman down his throat. It was the last thing he needed for his low-profile life and the new government who were not in sync with him.

He slammed the signed document on the desk, startling the six-man crew, they were down to that number due to the death of Cecil.

The conversation had moved from appointing him as chairman to finding the killers of their late chairwoman. Strategic plans were made and accusations thrown around, fear wasn't entertained at most so they'd decided to employ five hitmen for a reprisal attack against their enemies. The government didn't have to be involved in any way.

After the tedious meeting, Jose stepped in alongside Regina worry etched on their faces.

"Madame Evana has been blaring your phone nonstop, I think something's wrong back home," Jose informed and handed over his phone to a not-so-happy Theodore.

He grumbled and snatched the phone. "Before that, I need you to look into some of these agents for me." he threw an envelope containing pictures of some agents.

"But these are Russians," Jose blurted in total shock.

"Yes, and?"

"Are you seriously suspecting our allies?"

"They're not our friends, working with them doesn't make them our brothers! They may be rogues within them. I have to protect this organization, my family, and every legacy left behind. Have you forgotten the other incident that almost had us in cuffs?" Theo advanced closer, his steps calculating as he glared at his friend. "That man almost cost me everything, every damn thing!" he spelled the words like they meant something.

"I heard he's been found," Regina chipped in, cutting the stare down between both men.

She was perched against a table with a little smile by the sides of her lips. Theodore finally noticed her and gave a nod for her to keep talking.

"Who's been found?" Jose interjected.

She shrugged, "I don't know if he's your man but there's this one making the morning rounds on every_"

"Nonsense!" Theodore cut in shuffling sheets on the desk.

"It's not nonsense Theo, my team was in charge of covering the news but suddenly got a discharge order. You know how journalism in the US is." She shrugged confidently.

He was about to say more when his phone rang, he almost forgot madame Evana.
Theodore held the phone to his ear and listened while she broke the disturbing news to him.

That the wet nurse he had employed for his son unexpectedly disappeared. Most importantly, his son had fallen ill and was rushed to the hospital.

"Puta!!!" Theo boomed amidst the silence in the room. Regina and Jose shared a confused glance.

"I'll catch the next flight, but before that, send me every detail of hers you've got." He said to the woman on the other end.

"Everything okay back home? Is there something wrong?" Jose asked.

"Some fools I've got to deal with, nothing much." Theo inhaled massively, putting up a facade for his friends who knew nothing of what went down within the Brick mansion.

"Have you chosen a date for your inauguration party? We can't wait to celebrate at your place Theo." Regina tried to lighten the mood but got a grunt response from the man who had chickened out from conversations.

On their way out Regina pulled Jose to a corner in a clenched jaw. "What is that all about?" She hissed, startling the lanky young man.

He bared his white teeth in an attempt to smile at her but came off looking like a clown. "What do you mean? I have absolutely no idea what you're asking about."

She gave a quick nod. "Something's up with your friend, something he isn't telling us, or rather you aren't telling me." She gave a poignant look his way, daring him to lie to her face.

Jose chuckled dryly. "Even if I tried, I couldn't hide anything from you mi amor, Theodore just knows how to keep us out of his private life and he does it effortlessly."

"The man he spoke about..."

"Yeah?"

"He's the US undercover right?" Regina couldn't hide her curiosity any longer, she needed to know more about Theodore Newman.

Jose bit his lip, gazing and contemplating what's on her mind. "He has a lot of enemies for such, but I don't know which is which," he said in a dismissive tone. He twirled gracefully and walked down the dainty hallway.

"You'd be surprised what I learned of your friend recently," she chided him while strolling eagerly behind. Jose paused on his track and turned halfway to meet her coy gaze. Regina Hobart loved to play games, he knew that and loved it about her but sometimes he wasn't in the mood, like today.

"Now I'm more curious than ever, pray tell," he whispered.

She stared at him thoroughly before speaking. "I don't think you're prepared enough for this, maybe when you are." She tapped his shoulder and whisked away from where he stood. Jose held in his fury, knowing how it wouldn't help their current situation.

**********

"How could you let that happen? Have you tried tracking her down?" He barked in a high octave. His anger could be sensed miles away.

Theodore was back at the mansion and reprimanded Madame for letting things get out of hand.

"Yes I have, she hasn't done anything irrational at the moment safe for wanting to return to her hometown where her lost lover was found dead."

"She has a foreboding past? How the heck wasn't that in her records? How could you employ such a troubled, unruly woman to look after my heir?!"

Madame Evana stood still, her head slightly bent in remorse as she took in her master's fury. She knew at some point she had to take the blame for not being extra careful when picking out a wet nurse. There had been several private applications, people her master trusted and had recommended but she had vouched and sworn on behalf of Jema. Nepotism was going to be the end of her.

"I apologize for my lack of duty, you may have me punished as you deem fit."

He scoffed. "Woman, you're five years older than I am and you know how foolish it would be of me to punish my older cousin. You're my only blood relative and I trusted you but I doubt if you're capable of running my home anymore. I'll have you retired and placed on constant salary_"

"No, master! Don't take that away from me. I beg of you, I will find that nitwit and I'll find the best punishment suitable for a deserter like her, not after I've made her incapable of speaking of whatever she'd learned within these walls!"

"Leave that to me," Theo spoke in a small voice. "I believe everyone has a pulse point, I need to know where hers is."

"Yes, sir."

"How...how is he?" Theo struggled to say the words that have been on his mind since. It was becoming tiresome to constantly act like he cared less about his son when all the thought was about how to protect him from the cruelty of his world. He was a mistake at first, but he didn't realize that even mistakes can shape into purpose and suddenly baby Sam's existence became the most important and purposeful thing to ever happen to him. He'd be his heir, the next Newman and he would inherit every damn thing his father owned.

"He's never been better, he'll be back home by tomorrow." Madame Evana assured.

At the thought of his son, rage filled his heart when the reminder that a common woman had dared to compromise his purpose. He picked up the phone and dialed his most trusted hitman.

After giving precise, detailed instructions to the man Theodore headed up to his room to prepare for a night event that was being hosted by a former comrade of his at the executive lounge of Club Villiena. He missed their expensive drinks there.

****

The evening wind smacked against her reddened face as she tried to sweep her hair behind for a better view. Her teeth clanged against each other in the cold, sending jittery shocks through her skin. She made another attempt at the uniformed men by the gate who had told her off at her request to be let back into the mansion.

She'd provided her ID and tried phoning Madame but her call was not received. She knew her actions were grave and must've warranted such a response from the Madame but the way she was being treated like a leper at the gates was appalling. She didn't deserve to be asked to retreat or be shot down at any other attempt.

Jema was freezing to death out in the cold and none of them cared. It was half past eight when she arrived at the mansion gates and have been waiting since. She had nowhere else to go. She knew nobody in the city and it was too late to return to Hartwood.

That was the last thing on her mind though, she came back for the sake of baby Sam. It was one thing to leave abruptly but another thing to never return and right one's wrong. Jema hoped she could repair the drift she'd caused by her absence, she needed the baby as much as he did her.

Her heart lifted with hope when she saw the familiar Volkswagen drive through the gates. The same one Ottis had driven her in on her first day to the Brick mansion.

She sped up towards the car and was almost run over by him. The screeching noise of the tire tore through the cold night eliciting gasps from both of them.

Ottis rammed on the brakes in time to have Jema splay awkwardly on the hood of the car.

"What er you doin'...?" His thick accent stood clear in the night air as he stepped out of the car.

Jema fixed her dress and walked closer to him. "Hey it's me, Jema, I work here remember?"

His bony face flared dangerously at her, Jema shivered, she didn't know Ottis had this fearful side to him. "I remember,"

And a nice accent as well, she thought.

"Thank goodness, please can you help me?" She clamped her palms together in a plea sign. "I need to get past these men by the gate, they won't let me in for some reason and I really need to speak with the master."

"I'm sorry, I can't be of any assistance at the moment, I have an errand to run." He made to leave but Jema held the door, tears filling her eyes.

"Don't leave me here alone, I don't know anyone else in the city."

"You can pay for a motel for the night ma'am, I'm already late to pick up the master."

"The master?... May I come with you then?"

His shocked expression said it all, he thought Jema was crazy, by suggesting the most unthinkable things and loitering around the vicinity at such an hour.

"I cannot do that ma'am," Ottis muttered with the last jot of respect he had for her. She wasn't doing a fine job at upholding that.

"I know you're seeing Fiona," Jema said, feeling disgusted at herself for going so low just to get her way.
His countenance changed, the look of shock, guilt, and the struggle to mask them all gave him out.

"I won't tell a soul if you agree to help me, please Ottis," she added when he didn't respond. "Just drive me to wherever it is you're headed, I'll pretend I came alone, I just need a few minutes to speak with Master Theodore."

As the car sped down the street, Jema thought of how to make her approach. How was she going to convince her fearsome boss of her true intentions towards his son?