Chapter 518 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“First cousin once removed from what?” Benne asked in confusion, and Celsie giggled.

“It means we are separated by one generation,” Celsie explained, and when it looked like Benne was going to ask more questions she shook her head.

“Let’s not worry about any titles or tags yet. That’s the least of the problem we have on our plate right now,” Celsie said, and immediately Benne remembered his conversation with Barry.

“Yeah. You are right. Remember I spoke with Barry earlier?” Benne asked, and Celsie gave him a nod when she recalled that he had told her Barry was calling during their conversation earlier in the day.

Benne told her what Barry had said about Anita having recorded their conversation to make her look like the bad person who had snatched her friend’s boyfriend, and Celsie shook her head.

“Too bad for her that I also recorded my conversation with her at the bar. She has nothing on me,” Celsie assured Benne as he drove through his gate.

“Even if she has something on you, I doubt any major news agency would want to publish it. After the last incident, Harry sent out a circular to the CEOs of all the major news agencies, informing them that anyone who dares to carry any unverified news about you or our relationship again would have OmniGlobal to contend with. They know better than to do something like that again,” Benne said confidently.

“I’m relieved to know I don’t have to be on the media for the wrong reason again. I don’t want to add that to everything else I have to worry about right now,” Celsie said with a sigh as Benne parked the car in front of the house and she gazed at the building in front of them.

“I feel anxious about the coming weekend and the week to come,” Celsie murmured, and Benne took her hand and raised it to his lips.

“One day at a time, Jewel. Today has enough problems already. Let’s leave tomorrow’s worries for tomorrow. Now let’s leave all the craziness of the day in the car before going inside. I need to have a normal evening with you to be able to face tomorrow,” Benne said, and they both smiled when the door opened and they watched as Jamal stepped out of the house and ran in the direction of the car.

“Yeah. Let’s do that,” Celsie said. And putting on her most cheerful smile, she got out of the car to embrace the kid, who she was beginning to believe that her meeting with him wasn’t a coincidence.

Away from there, at the restaurant section of the hotel where she was lodged, Jade sipped from her glass of wine as she watched her boss who was seated opposite her while waiting for him to tell her about the case and what he wanted from her.

Although, Amos was aware that he was taking a major risk by involving Jade in this case considering her brother’s relationship with Sara’s son, but he planned to use her as his and Sara’s lifeline.

He would involve her in the case to the extent that if Harry and his father decided to expose Sara or him, it would also affect Jade, and for her sake, they wouldn’t want to go too far.

“I believe I don’t need to tell you how sensitive this case is, or how important it is that you keep whatever we discuss to yourself. You can’t tell anyone else about it. Not even your family,” Amos said, and Jade rolled her eyes.

“Why do you sound like I’m the one who asked you to involve me in this when you called me to do you a favor?” Jade asked, feeling slightly offended.

Amos cleared his throat, “I’m sorry, that is not what I meant. All I was trying to say is that you have to keep this between us. No one must know she has a daughter. You will be signing a confidentiality agreement before we begin. And you don’t have to worry, you will be well rewarded,” Amos assured her as he leaned forward in his seat and placed a cheque note in front of her.

Jade frowned at him without looking at the cheque, “Does that mean that she is going to keep hiding the fact that she has a daughter from the public even after she finds her? Why is she searching for her daughter if it has to be done so secretly?” Jade asked in confusion.

“It’s a long story. She was married before going into modeling. She had twin children but lost the girl during childbirth. Devastated by the loss she abandoned her husband and son, and moved to another country. That was where she became a model. After all these years, she just recently learned that her daughter is alive, so she is doing all she can to find her. What do you expect her to do? Announce it to the world? What if she doesn’t find her after everything?” Amos asked, and Jade’s brows pulled together in a slight frown.

The story didn’t make sense to her. “Didn’t she see her daughter’s body? How can you say she lost the girl during childbirth, and now you’re saying she just found out the girl is alive?” Jade asked in confusion. How could a mother abandon one baby because she lost the other?

“The doctor gave her a dead baby,” Amos explained, but Jade still wasn’t convinced.

“So how did she learn that her daughter is alive? Shouldn’t the same source lead her to her daughter?” Jade asked, and even though Amos wanted to swear at her for asking so many questions, he forced a smile.

“That is what we are doing. Our source informed me that the man who stole her baby abandoned the baby at an orphanage home. I need you to go there and find out what you can about the child. Here is a picture of the child and some information about her and the orphanage home,” Amos said as he slid an envelope toward Jade, and she opened it and took out a picture of a four-year-old brown-eyed girl, dressed in a red dungaree and white turtleneck top, smiling at the camera.

“What about her father and brother? Are they aware…”

“Jade, take the cheque and quit asking so many unnecessary questions! Your business is with me and Sara, not the child’s father,” Amos snapped at her, and Jade raised a brow.

“Unnecessary questions? I’m sorry, Amos, but I don’t think I want to get involved in something like this. We are lawyers for crying out loud! How can you come to me with such a half-baked story and expect me to buy it? Is this what she told you? And you believed her without questions because she paid you handsomely?” Jade asked, disappointment ringing clearly in her tone.

“You won’t speak to me in that manner. I’m still your boss…”

“Have you forgotten that my resignation letter is ready?” Jade cut in angrily.

“You are still my employee until your current case is over and I can as well fire you if you disrespect me any further,” Amos threatened.

“Then do so,” Jade hissed as she stood up.

Realizing that he had gone too far and was about to lose his lifeline he quickly stopped her, “I’m sorry,” Amos said before she could walk away.

“Please, Jade. I really need your help on this. You see how smart you are and how you asked questions I failed to ask Sara? That’s why I need you on this case. Please help me,” Amos pleaded, and Jade reluctantly returned to her seat.

She pushed the cheque back to him, “This is a favor to you, so I don’t need any money. Also, I’m not signing any confidentiality agreement. It’s either you need my help or not,” Jade said, and even though Amos did not like that, he gave her a nod.

“Fine. Help me whichever way you can,” Amos said, and Jade held his gaze for a moment before giving him a nod.

“I will let you know what I find,” Jade said as she stood from her seat, picked up the envelope, and walked out of the restaurant.

She wasn’t going to do it just because she wanted to do him a favor. Something smelt fishy about both his request and the whole story, and she intended to find out what it was.

“Is something wrong?” Lucas asked when he could no longer ignore the way Miley was watching him with a wide smile on her face as he ate.

Both her elbows were resting on the table, and her chin was resting in the cup of both hands as she smiled at him, “No.”

“So why do you keep staring at me?”

“Is it a crime to stare at you?” She asked with an innocent smile as she blinked at him prettily.

“It might not be a crime, but it’s awkward and uncomfortable. Instead of watching me you should focus on your food too,” Lucas said, but Miley shook her head.

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