CHAPTER 10: BRAND NEW STACY

"Who are you? Who sent you?!" Aisha was fuming with anger as she asked the guy who's been following her since this morning. She was supposed to go and see Eli in his school but she noticed a man following her so she redirected her destination. She went to the left side of the road and waited for the man. As soon as the man turned left she grabbed him and pinned him to the wall. The man was surprised.

"For the last time, I am asking, who are you? Why are you following me?" She was impatient.

"It's better if you do not know." The man sarcastically answered. Aisha then punched his face as hard as she could. The guy spat some blood but he laughed. This annoyed Aisha even more.

"Who sent you? It couldn't be my father isn't it?" The man didn't answer but laughed hysterically. Aisha was about to punch the guy but the man held her hand and kicked her hard in the stomach. Aisha was about to fall but was able to regain her stand. She fought with the guy barehanded but the guy was definitely strong. She was able to injure his feet but the man had a knife hidden under his sleeve. He slashed her right hand but it was a shallow wound.

The guy eyed her with a murderous look before running away when he saw an exit point. Aisha quickly stood up, swiped the dust in her shirt and dialed a number.

"How's everything going on out there? Did you notice any suspicious action from them lately?" She asked the guy on the other line.

"Everything is peaceful here. Why? What happen?" The man asked.

"I was attacked by an unknown guy. I don't know if they already know my location. But that's impossible!"

"What?! You were attacked? Then are you okay? Are you hurt? Tell me where you are right now!" The man was agitated.

"Caleb! No! You can't be here. You have to stay in the mansion. I need you to watch my father and keep an eye against his enemies as well. I can only trust you with this. Don't worry, I can manage myself, okay?"

"Fine, fine. But I'm telling you, I can't promise you that your Father won't know where you are right now once your safety is compromised. Don't blame me, Aisha."

"I understand. But please update me once in a while, okay?"

"Okay. You take care."

"Thanks Caleb." Then she hung up. Caleb was her childhood friend. He was more like a brother to her. Caleb was the son of a general working for her father and she trusted Caleb so much. He was the only one who knew where Aisha was, though not the exact address, but at least Aisha told him what state she was in. Caleb was her lookout in the mansion and she received some updates once in a while.

Aisha went to the nearest clinic in the city to help bandage for her wound. The wound was not deep but she needed to hide it from Eli. She also went to the nearest clothing store to buy a jacket. She looked at her wristwatch. She still had 10 minutes before Eli's dismissal. She promised Eli that she would accompany him to the park today. Ethan had to attend a business meeting in Paris and he would be staying there for 2 weeks, so Aisha took the chance to get to know Eli further. They've been spending time with each other almost every day for the past weeks. Also, Aisha woke up every morning to prepare Eli's breakfast before going to school. She also told the driver that she would be accompanying him to pick up Eli. Eli felt the awkwardness at first but as days passed, he got used to seeing his mother picking him up and had been waiting for her every single day. Furthermore, the household workers were able to converse with her freely. She got their trust within a small span of time. Some said their madam was possessed by a good spirit and some others said she was totally reborn.

"Mom!" Eli jumped to his feet when he saw his mother. He ran towards her and embraced her.

"Eli sweetheart! How was school?" She asked as she led Eli outside the gate. She saw the car parked just opposite the school gate and ran inside. She called the driver earlier while she was in the clinic. She was afraid that she might not arrive at school on time.

"Mom, I got a hundred percent score for my math quiz today!" Eli was so proud as he relayed the news to his mother.

"I am so proud of you, sweetheart!" She kissed his forehead. Eli smiled. The driver saw how compassionate her madam was since she came back home 3 weeks ago, after running away from home, and he was also shocked to see her transformation. He smiled.

"Mr. Tanner, to Saphiro Mall please. We will be celebrating Eli's achievement for today." She said to the driver.

"Yes Madam." Tanner answered. "Yehey! I want to eat chicken, mom!" Eli cried with excitement.

"Of course, anything you want sweetheart." She cuddled her son.

Aisha and Eli walked hand in hand as they entered the Saphiro Mall. Their driver was following them carefully. Although they owned the mall they preferred to stay low. Most of their staffs haven't seen Eli yet. As for Stacy, no one had ever seen her full face yet. The media was only able to capture her side views or back views. If there was one thing that Aisha and Stacy had in common aside from their looks, they also hated exposure. There were a few people who saw Stacy completely but they were those in the upper management from the White Lotus Department.

"Mom, can we go to great grandpa's house after we eat?" Eli pleaded with his charming puppy eyes. Eli knew that his mother doesn't get along with his great grandpa but Eli still tried to persuade her.

"Oh, okay. We will go there after we eat." Eli was shocked as well as Mr. Tanner. "But can you tell me what great grandpa usually eats or drinks or anything he wants so we can buy a gift for him?'' She asked.

Eli thought thoroughly for a while. "Hmmm, I don't know, but he loves drinking tea mom!'' He smiled.

"Oh okay, we will buy him tea then…" She smiled as she taps his shoulder.

After they ate, they bought tea in the herbal store inside the mall. Then they went to the ancestral mansion. Aisha didn't know the cause of her sister and grandpa's conflict, that's why she also wanted to know more about the legendary Master Omni that everyone was talking about. As soon as they entered the huge gate, she saw the housemaids and securities outside the door waiting for them. Looks like that Legendary Old man lived his reputation very well, she thought. When they got off the car, Eli ran towards his great grandpa.

"Great paps!" Eli called happily.

"Eli, my favorite grandson!" The old man cheerfully carried Eli into his arms. Then he noticed the woman approaching him, he sneered, Aisha saw it but she chose to ignore the old man's temperament.

"Good afternoon, it's nice to see you GRAND—PA…" She smiled then kissed him on the cheeks. Everyone who was present was amazed, even Master Omni himself was shocked. Eli smiled.

"Great paps, mom bought you a gift…" The old man was puzzled then Aisha handed him the box.

"Eli told me that you love tea so I bought you one. Hope you like it." She smiled sincerely. Master Omni eyed her suspiciously then he raised his hand to touch her forehead.

"A-are you sick?" He asked. He also looked at Eli with a question mark. Eli smiled innocently but Aisha laughed at Master Omni's reaction.

"Are you not going to invite me inside, old man?" She said, still laughing. Master Omni was caught off guard. She didn't wait for the old man's answer to go inside. She went to the sofa reclining her tired body. Master Omni followed still carrying Eli with him.

"Eli, you can go and play with great grandpa, but don't tire him that much okay? He's too old to catch up." She told Eli.

"Who are you pertaining to as old man, huh? I am not that old to play with my grandkids, you woman!" Master Omni yelled. The maidservants got scared and fled from his presence. "There they go again." Some servants murmur.

Aisha looked at him and smiled sarcastically, "Okay, sorry. I got it. Just so be careful with your heart grandpa, you might not live long to see your other great grandkids." She jokingly answered.

"D-did you just say sorry a while ago?" Master Omni creased a brow. The Stacy she knew didn't recline like this. She butted in without thinking. If it was the Stacy he knew, there would have been a world war 3 inside the house for sure. But the Stacy in front of him was so casual and calm. Did she bang her head somewhere?

"Great paps, I want to ride a horse. I want a horse." Eli interrupted. His grandpa nodded.

"Wait! Did you say a horse? You have a horse here?" Aisha got excited. It's been a while that she hasn't ridden her horse. Master Omni and Eli stared at her puzzled.

"Yes." Master Omni answered.

"I want to come!" She jumped up from the sofa and ran towards the two. She happily hugged Master Omni's hand but the old man jolted. The guards and the maids were rendered speechless. Even the mansion's butler Mo didn't dare to talk. They walked together but Master Omni tried to shake her hands of her, however, she didn't take her hands off so the old man left it that way as they headed to the ranch.

"I think it is not impossible to rain in a dessert." Butler Mo smiled.

Eli dozed off to sleep after his horse-riding session with his great paps and amazingly with his mom. Butler Mo carried him and laid him in his old room while Master Omni went to the veranda. He had just finished a call when Aisha joined him and gave him a cup of tea. The Old man hesitantly accepted. Aisha laughed

"Don't worry old man; I didn't poison your tea." She jokingly said.

"Hmp! How can I be sure of that?" He sarcastically answered. They suddenly burst a crisp laugh together.

After a while, Aisha sat at the couch while sipping her tea. "Ah, this feels good. I miss this feeling." She said as she closed her eyes to savor the aroma of the green tea. She suddenly remembered her father. Master Omni looked in her direction. He saw how calm she was. She was honestly enjoying the tea. She was not pretending. Master Omni looked at the sky and then he smiled.

On the other side, a guy wearing a formal suit approached a man sitting in his table. An envelope was handed to him.

"Sir, these are the things I gathered today. Like the other day, she was with the child."

"Good job. Keep monitoring." The man said.

"By the way sir,…" The guy picked up some pictures and handed them to him. It was the woman fighting with a guy. The man raised a brow. "I'll see myself out sir." The guy went out. The man looked at the photo and examined it carefully. He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"I need you to check something for me. I'll send you the details." Then he hung up.