Unmasking

Andrew was astounded seeing his boss's mother dropping by. "Miss Anastasia?"

"Why do I get this feeling that you are shocked seeing me here, Andrew? Last time I checked, I do not need an appointment to see my son." She stopped by his desk to give him her usual icy cold stare that bores to the soul. "Or, it's on the new memo?"

The efficient secretary hung his head low in embarassment. "No, that is not what I mean, Miss."

Anastasia proceeded without caution, not waiting for Andrew and his neverending protests as to why she can't barge right in. To Anastasia, his son's office is no different than his primary school days. Women with her stature----someone from old money and pedigree who married the city's self-made millionaire and together, they built and empire and was soon deemed billionaires had all access pass written all over their names.

Old habits die hard for her and her barging in without prior notice is hers and Conrad's source of disagreements. Not that they run short of it. His office was empty and there are no signs that he was even there. Like his father, Conrad hangs his coat in a concealed closet space. Of course, Anastasia knew of this and to be certain of his imminent absence, it was the first place she checked. Nothing was in there except his emergency tuxedo and shoes still in a dustbag.

She hurried back to Andrew's desk who busied himself in the computer, his spectacles on and was typing away too fast. He already knew what was coming next. Years of experience working with Conrad Knight and associating with his mother thrice of four times a week gives you the edge of learning their next move and when she could not find him, she'd ask for her schedule.

Before she could even say it, a leather bound notebook touched her outstretched hand. The Knight matriach frowned instead of thanking or praising the man for knowing what she needed long before she could point it out. She leafed through it and paused on some pages until she reached the last page.

With a smirk, she turned to Edward again. "He cleared his entire schedule today and moved meetings with important clients?"

"I believe so, Miss."

"Tell me you have an idea why." Her eyes never left the pages.

"I don't, Miss."

"Do you think I'd buy it? You are his secretary, that's your job."

"Miss, yes, I am his secretary but Sir Conrad handles his life outside work himself. He asked me to clear today's appointment and move meetings. I do it but I don't ask him questions. I am paid to obey." Andrew gave the same speech whenever Anastasia oversteps boundaries. There is no way he's going to admit that his boss asked him to do all that and he doesn't know why.

Conrad Knight is dependent on Andrew when it comes to handling his schedule and even his petty cash for office and emergency use. But they never disclosed any of that arrangement with her because she doesn't like the idea of relying on other people, especially with finances. Anastasia Knight is not a very trusting individual.

If looks could kill, Edward is now in the state of risking comatose. Her eyes pierced him even more despite the fact that it was an ongoing conversation that sees no end in the future. "You talk so much." She shoved the notebook back and left.

Satisfied that she's gone, Andrew keys in a brief text message for his boss to read. Somewhat a sort of a warning text. A coworker pats him on the back for standing up from Anastasia. She's the least favorite visitor so far in the office and that's not going to change even if Conrad marries. They all hope that whoever he ends up is a kind soul and had no invisible horns like the woman who used to come over.

Apparently, Andrew and his peers share the same question.

"What happened to that chick who used to eye-fuck boss?"

"Beats me, I hope she's gone for good. Boss is dating a keeper and she's not going to like it."

**N**ot because she could not find her son in his office; she's going to give up. Giving up is not in her vocabulary. Her expert eye caught something in his schedule notebook. Like his father, Conrad is a stickler for rules and follows his schedule as if it ruled his life. Tough she knows there will always be a first time-----and this is the first time that he has been this way----she will nor have any of it. None of his shenanigans were aforementioned during lunches and she believes that as the person who gave birth to him, she has all the right to know.

His schedules have a lot of discrepancies the past weeks and she wants to know why. Her next stop?

"Where to, ma'am?" Her driver asked her as soon as she is inside the car.

"To my son's flat."

The car revved it's engine and the black BMW joined the New York traffic. Anastasia leaned back to enjoy the comfort of the soft leather chairs she had installed for additional comfort and it was the frenzy among her friends---she got hers custom made before anyone could grab the first to brag status in their circle.

She can't seem to point her fingers at it, but she had a gut feeling so strong that Conrad was doing something behind her back and she's not going anywhere until she learns what it was. If she had to use emotional blackmail, she's not going to have second thoughts about it in order to get through the secrecy wall he carefully built all these years.

Sure, she desperately approves of Meredith Gomez, her back ground check came back and she's clean. Personally, she likes the woman and she could already see her in her vision, heavily pregnant with her first grandchild. Ah, what a beautiful family they would make but she's going to be a part of it. One of these days, Meredith and her needs to have 'the talk'.

"Mom." Conrad met her questioning eyes with curiousity as he opened the door to his flat for her to enter, "I was in the..."

"Yes, you were in the shower. I hope there's no one with you there?"

"What?" He replied, "no."

"Hmm, good. I do not want to see her off."

"Hang on, I am going to get a robe." Conrad rushed to his bedroom because Anastasia was glaring at him for only having a towel that might fall any minute if he moves carelessly. "Mom? Do we have something planned for today?" He yelled from his bedroom.

Conrad's flat is one of the many things that the two of them used to fight about but Conrad was persistent and demanded to have his own privacy. It has also come to her attention that he had purchased houses from other states. One in particular was in Monte Carlo. It's a spacious man-cave in her opinion, with minimal furnitures but impressive TV which he uses for games.

She ran her hawk-like eyes around to see traces of women but saw none and was impressed. It's either her son has adapted her knack for cleanliness or he simply did no bring his women there. Both in favor for her.

"No, nothing."

"Oh, okay. Because I kind of have something planned for the day."

"Like?" She started pacing around, eager to see anything. Her guts tell her that she will find something that will help her get to know her son more.

"I am going with Meredith. It's a school thing for her brother."

"Oh," she's surprised at this.

Conrad resurfaced, dressed casually and his mother's heart melted seeing that her baby boy is no longer a baby and is finally taking steps of his own to win the woman she recommended. Her plan is on the move. Anastasia could feel that her moment as a glamorous grandmother is underway.

"If we have anything planned, can we---um---move it some other day?" Conrad asked her.

Which was a new thing. A rare occurence if she's going to be honest. But she'a already there. What kind of son would drive her mother away? An idea formed in her head. No man can resist if a woman offers to cook for them. The trick worked on his late husband and Conrad is still the little boy who adored his gastronomical talent.

"Actually, I was planning to cook lasagna for you."

"Yum. I miss your food!"

"Wow, you are in a good mood." She stated as she watched him choose what watch to use to match his casual ensemble. "Is this like a date?"

"I am, Meredith is special." Conrad said without batting an eyelash. "If you want, you can cook here, but I can't help you with the grocery. I don't think I have ingredients for it too in the fridge."

"No worries, Oscar can handle the grocery. Are you sure it's okay if I stay here alone without you?"

As an answer, Conrad hurried to kiss her cheek and warmly hug her. "Mom, of course, as long as you clean up. I have to go."

And just like that, he was gone. Anastasia was all alone. She began her search. And what she found out was enough to shake her to the core. She found bank statement in the pile of letters and was shocked how much Conrad was making. These were not from PharmaKnight for sure. In a span of a week, a milion dollars was wired to his account. Added to that was the prior statements. Her mouth went dry.

Her son's worth is not just millions. He is worth billions on one bank alone.

With trembling hands, her next stop was the closet but found nothing. She sat on his bed and opened the bedside drawer. Aside from the usual contents of several hundred dollars, was a gun.

"Son, what is going on?" Anastasia asked loudly.