Chapter 32 Mission

• “Hahaha…Nicole!” Laughter rolled out from Sia’s lips when she felt the snowballs hit her face. She and her brother have been running around, playing in the snow, and also building their snowman.
• The little boy laughs too, jumping around as he tries to avoid Sia’s shots to his face. They both are giddy with excitement waiting for their mum to come outside and meet with them.
• “You can’t catch meee…” Nicole wheezed, giggling when he dodged another round of snow Sia threw at him.
• “That’s cheating!” Sia pushed her lower lip out in a pout, annoyed that none of her snowballs have hit her brother. “You should let me hit you too.” She pleaded.
• Immediately Nicole stopped to hear what Sia was saying, she clutched her ball again and threw it at him, taking him by surprise.
• “Woah!” Nicole exclaimed, staring at Sia with ajar lips as she giggled, running around.
• “Bingo!!” Little Sia sputtered, running in circles with her hands raised. Her cap fell off and snow began pouring into her hair.
• “You cheated Sia…you cheated. Mommy said cheating is bad. But you cheated…”Nicole lamented but Sia cut him off.
• “No, I didn’t cheat…I won bingo!!” She said again, smiles splitting her lips apart.
• “Now, what are you two kids bickering about?”
• Sia and Nicole paused and looked in the direction the voice streamed.
• “Mommy…it’s Sia. She cheated in the game. She did.” Nicole pouted, pointing at Sia who stood straight, eyes blinking rapidly.
• “It’s too cold here. We should go.” Their mother spouted.
• “Mama…did you see your sister? Did she give you money like you said?” Sia asked when their mother began to drag them across the street to enter a cab.
• However, she paused and tightened her grip on Sia and Nicole. A tear slipped from her eyes and fell on her cheeks. She tried to conceal it but the kids already saw it and began to probe.
• “You’re crying mama…you cried.” They both asked, surprised.
• “No…not at all. I didn’t cry. You, kids, are thinking too much.” She shook her head and pulled them further.
• “But…I saw tears from your…”
• “No Sia. It wasn't tears. You’re wrong. I’m fine. Mama is fine.” Their mother’s soft tone blared, being a little girl, Sia instantly believed their mother and kept her cool.
• “But. Did you get the money?” Nicole asked when they entered the cab.
• Their mum ran her hands through their hair, smooching the sides of their heads.
• “No, my boy.” She said with laden breath.
• “But why?” He asked again and their mother smiled.
• “Because Sister is not around. Don’t worry, I’ll raise the money for your fees okay?” She told them and they both giggled, inclining their heads in a nod.
• “Mother!!” Sia called and rose from her bed instantly. Brushing the hair that fell over her face backward, she leaned her chin on the palm of her hand as her mind recollected back to the dream she had.
• This is what happened when they were kids but it resurfaces in her dreams, plaguing her mind every minute of the day.
• Sia knows begging for funds to support them in school back then was really hard for their mom but because she had no other option hence she did it all.
• Sia grinned when her brother flashed her mind. Nicole was her best friend and playmate then. It happened that other kids in their vicinity avoided them like plagues because of how wretched they were.
• Some people's childhood was filled with fun but to Sia, it was brimmed with cries, hunger, pains, and whatnot.
• Their father left them entirely when they were kids, though it didn’t matter whether he was around or not because he contributes little to their lives as a father. Sia so much hated him and wishes he never comes back.
• “Now I’ve everything we’ve ever prayed for but I don’t have you all to share it with. I miss you, mother, and poor Nicole. Death took you from me so early. I miss you.” Sia said.
• She looked at the time and found out it was already ten in the morning. When her eyes traveled to the window, she saw birds flying around, chirping.
• Sia felt too exhausted to go to the company although she has a lot to do since she couldn’t cover much up after hearing the news about the meeting from Silas.
• An idea popped into her mind and she clutched her phone and dialed Liam’s number.
• “Hello, ma’am, good morning.” Liam’s baritone voice blared.
• Sia cleared her throat and stood up from the bed. She spoke up while strutting to the window.
• “Are you at the company now?”
• “Yes, ma’am.” Came Liam’s voice.
• “Very good. I'll send my driver to pick you up.” She told Liam and he gagged a tad before whispering ‘yes' to her.
• For some reason, Sia believes Liam can handle her thought-out plans for her. She knows he’s intelligent and a part of her trusts him. Sia wants to begin executing her plans on Lucas, to make him pay and Liam will help her do this best.
• She called another number and the person picked up.
• “Mark, I need you to rush to the company and bring my assistant home this minute .” She rambled not giving the person from the other end a chance to speak up before hanging down the call.
• She sat on the couch close to the window, looking at the sky and its beauty. Thinking about how her plans will affect Lucas makes her smile and she can’t wait to hear the news or see him go on his knees pleading and asking for help.
• A knock sounded on the door and Sia got up to answer it.
• “Yes?” She asked when she fluttered the door open. A servant was carrying a tray with a mug in her hands as she greeted her.
• “Good morning ma’am. Michelle asked me to bring this to your room.” She said gesturing to the steaming mug in her hand.
• “A coffee?” she asked as her eyes drop down to the mug.
• “A chocolate, ma’am.”
• Sia took the tray from her and gestured for her to leave. She stepped back inside with the mug in her hand. Blowing some air on it, she took a sip as she sank into her couch, looking out the window.
• Minutes crawled by before Sia decided to head downstairs. She took her bath and donned a sundress.
• However, Liam already arrived at the Monson villa. He sat on one of the burgundy sofas in the living room. When he heard the clacking sound of Sia’s shoes, he stood up and glided his eyes to the stairs.
• When Sia crawled down the last few stairs, Liam scanned her body, from her lower thighs down to her legs and her exposed arms. Everything about Sia marvels him and just like always, he locked his eyes on her face.
• Sia stood on the last staircase and crossed her arm against her chest, looking back at Liam.
• For what seemed like hours, Liam couldn’t tear his eyes off her until Sia cleared her throat.
• “Ahem!” She coughed and Liam shuddered.
• “G…good morning ma’am.” He stammered, ashamed that he was staring too much.
• Sia squinted her eyes at him and scowled.
• “Eye feast, I see.” She blurted, tearing her eyes off Liam as she strolled to the dining.
• When her back faced Liam, his eyes traveled to the mole beneath the skin of her right ear.
• Liam felt a sense of déjà vu seeing that birthmark but he can’t tell where he has seen such before.
• He trailed behind Sia to the dining where different dishes were served on the table.
• Sia sank into her favorite position which is the head chair on the table and gestured for Liam to have a sit too.
• “Where is this? Can you tell?” She broke the silence between them while clamping on her utensils.
• Liam looked up immediately, afraid that Sia must have found out he followed her home yesterday.
• “It’s…it’s the Monson villa.” His voice wavered and he swallowed hard, dreading what Sia might do.
• “Correct. It’s Monson's house. Now, can you presume who I am?” She asked with a cocked brow.
• “You’re…the widow.” He said, hesitantly.
• Sia chuckled. “Bet you’ve heard a lot about the widow. Well, I need you to do one thing for me. And that’s to seal your lips about my real identity.”
• “Okay, ma’am.”
• “However, that’s not the reason I called you.” Sia dropped the utensil in her hand, clasped her hands together, and supported her chin with it. “ Can you drive?”
• “Yes, sure I can.”
• “Beautiful. I’m piling up your work. You'll be my driver too. You'll drive on days I want you to. And again., I’ve an assignment I want you to carry out for me. Can I trust you with it?”
• “Yes, ma’am. You can.” Liam nodded.
• Sia looked him in the face and her eyes landed on the scar on the corner of his lips. Her eyes flickered feeling the familiarity of the scar.
• “What happened to your lips?” She asked him.
• Liam hoisted his finger and touched the corner of his mouth, feeling the scar.
• “I wounded myself back in San Francisco.” He answered and that made Sia not to probe further.
• “Oh.” She sighed. “Back to what I was saying, have you heard about the Evangelista Group?”
• Liam nodded, meeting Sia’s gaze.
• “I want you to buy their shares anonymously. It won’t be a one-time purchase but you'll do it in batches. I want the company to fold. To go broke. And you'll do this conscientiously. Understand?”
• “Yes, ma’am.” Liam spat.
• ‘Why does she want the company broke?’ He asked inside him.
• As they continued with food, Michelle came out of the kitchen heading to the living room, when Sia called her.
• Michelle scooted closer with a smile on her face.
• “Michelle meet Liam. My personal assistant and you Liam meet Michelle, my head servant.” She made an introduction.
• “Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Liam said, shaking hands with Michelle.
• “Please my dear, always ensure Mrs. Monson doesn’t stress herself at work.” Was Michelle’s words after shaking hands with Liam. The latter nodded and giggled.
• They continued eating when Michelle left and Liam couldn’t help thinking about this assignment she gave him and her reason for asking about the scar on his lips.
• “Mrs. Monson!” Sia heard someone call her. She raised her head and saw Estrella standing a few meters away with her bag held in front of her groin.
• “Estrella!?” Sia narrowed her eyes and called out.
• She stood from her seat and crossed the distance between them, clamping Estrella in a hug.