Mekhi, who was engrossed in some documents, suddenly saw their distress and was bewildered.
âWhat happened? Where is Sally?â
âSir, she has chosen to stay at the Paynesâ house for a few days.
She didnât return with us,â one of the bodyguards explained.
Setting aside his pen, Mekhi arched an eyebrow and remarked, âThatâs funny.
I tasked you with safeguarding her.
Why then have you returned?â
The bodyguard appeared flustered as he confessed, âMrs.
Payne compelled us to leave.
She even instructed Abel to beat us up.
â
Crack!
A teacup shattered at the feet of the two men, startling them.
Water splashed across the floor and Mekhiâs anger flared.
âLeave this instant! Youâre utterly worthless!â he thundered.
Wearing a grim expression, he massaged his temples as he grappled with a throbbing headache.
Noelle was very secure, and Sally seemed incapable of achieving much of anything.
The situation was tricky.
Frustrated, he reached into a drawer and retrieved a piece of transparent, colorless crystal.
He inhaled deeply, using it to regain his composure, and found himself feeling considerably better
afterward.
ALL of a sudden, another knock resounded at the door.
Swiftly, Mekhi discreetly returned it to the drawer.
Shiloh then walked into the study.
He approached the desk with an air of respect and placed an item upon it.
As Mekhi looked down, he recognized it as the key to the top floor, now marred with a layer of mud.
It was the very key he had entrusted to Shiloh.
âWhere did you find it?â
âIn the garden, sir.
It was hidden beneath the grass, with only a small portion visible.
Thatâs why I couldnât find it last night,â
Shiloh explained.
Mekhi picked up the key and as he did so, his fingers became stained with mud.