4 Candice Moore

"It's great that you were beside my cousin today." Candice said as she tucked Jane in her bed.

Mia nodded and moved silently to turn off the lights. Both went out of the room and headed back to a table in the kitchen.

Remembering what happened, Jane clinging on to her, afraid of everything else but didn't cry nor utter a single word, it made Mia's heart tremble in fear for her boss. She was her secretary ever since the boss started working and she saw how everyone treated her like she was dirt. It was probably worse when she was younger and was living in the Smith mansion.

Just the thought of Jane living with all those wolves, she felt tempted to kill every single one of them but she knows she's not in the position to do that.

How she wished she could see her boss live happily while she would remain to help her on the side but she knows that's something difficult to achieve. In the worse case scenario, the boss would probably end up hating her too but she wouldn't hesitate to act if it happens. Right now, she could only hope that her boss gets better and listen to them before the raging storm happens.

Mia led Dr. Moore to the dining area were they sat across each other as the kitchen helpers brought them chocolate pastries and coffee. After that, the helpers immediately went out of the house.

Mia waited until they got out before looking back at Candice. "Thanks for rushing over Dr. Moore. I wouldn't know what to do if you weren't here. We were really scared back then."

Candice reached for a cookie. "I'm her psychiatrist and she's also my cousin. Aunt Gemma has been a great help to our family so taking care of her is a given. Please make sure she takes her medicine on time." She took a sip of the coffee.

"Don't worry about that, the President is very responsible. She always takes them."

There was a slight pause before Mia pursed her lips and said, "In all the 8 years I've worked for her, that was the first time I saw her shaking like that."

Candice held her chin with her right hand, the other tracing the rim of her cup. She nodded slightly and looked at Mia. "Even when Aunt Gemma died, she didn't react like this. Did something bad happened to her lately? Problems with work, her family or perhaps a lover?"

Mia shook her head. "Everything's been going smoothly at work but it gets too hectic for her these days. And Mr. President's about to get back in a month and she'll soon get back to being VP."

She paused for a bit before she continued, "The past few months, the President stays most of the time here in her villa, if not here she's just inside her office. She mostly only sees me, Andrew and Lucy. She hasn't met with anyone apart from some business partners. Other than that, nothing happened."

Sensing the other getting apprehensive, Candice imposingly asked, "You're hiding something from me aren't you?"

"No." Mia immediately blurted out and suddenly drank from her cup of coffee.

Candice glanced at her and looked around a bit. "There ought to be more people in the house. It's not good to leave her alone most of the time."

Mia slightly rubbed her hands together. "I think so too but she still insists to not let anyone stay, even I can't stay here in the main house for that long but at least I could sleepover some time now. I've been staying here the past month as you requested."

Candice massaged her temple and closed her eyes. 'Ughh dear cousin, this is why you get kidnapped easily', she thought.

"Does she still kick up a fuss when she gets to a hospital?"

Mia nodded slightly.

"The frequency of her getting harassed or kidnapped by the family?"

"None for the past few months though the attempts before that doubled but she's getting more and more indifferent about it."

Candice smiled coldly and snorted. "... and they call themselves a respected family."

"It really would be best if she didn't get involved in this family anymore. No matter what our opinion is we really couldn't do anything about it. It's better to not get involved and just try to protect her as much as we could." Mia mumbled.

Candice narrowed her eyes at her, her lips drawing a thin line. "If she wants to keep working just let her do it but her workload needs to be lower. Working like that for a longer period of time is not helping her get better. She's avoiding the issue and you're not helping her face it. I'm telling all this to you now because you are the only one left she listens to and the one she trusts the most."

Mia avoided her gaze and continued drinking her coffee.

Candice lightly tapped her finger on the table. "In my opinion, it's safer for her to stop working for now, I already told you two years ago that Jane's not really stable. It's not like you can't see her getting worse."

Mia thought for a while before staring right back at her. "You're right to assume that she trusts me but contrary to what you say, the President doesn't listen to what I say. The one she really listens to isn't around anymore. No matter what I say to her she just wouldn't stop so I think it's better to help her in the sidelines. You know your cousin is also really stubborn." 'Plus she gets suspicious to anyone who tries to convince her to stop working at the company, why would I add to the pressure she's in with the succession fight' she thought.

Candice stared blankly at her as she thought of something else and sighed deeply. "In any case, I'll stay here 'til she wakes up. I'll wait for her in the usual room."

Candice stood up, turned on her heels and headed straight to the room she usually stays in when coming to Jane's house for their sessions.

Mia stayed seated for a while. A moment later she got two messages from Dr. Moore.

[ The tides are changing. The waves are getting more impactful and you need to decide now. We need the boat so everyone can go safely to the shore. ]

[ If you keep being indecisive the captain and the boat will sink. Do not trust anyone. ]

Mia furrowed her brows and had a bad premonition in her heart.