A million thoughts flooded my mind as we drove down to Mr Orchard's home. I wasn't feeling sad as I used to but I just felt calm.

Drake suggested that we pay Mr Orchard's family a visit before we head home because he wanted to extend his condolences to the family.

"You okay ? We could go another time if you're not comfortable." Drake said as he rubbed the back of my hands.

"No I'm okay,we can go today." I assured him with a smile.

"You have a nice smile." He smirked at me as he leaned back into his seat.

"Okay what got into you, you've been giving me cheesy remarks since we....you know??" I gestured my hands to and fro in the air trying to remind him of our kiss.

"Well if you like something,you go for it." He chuckled as he closed his eyes and rested his head backwards like when was about to take a nap.

"Are you going....." He put his hands out in front of me to stop me from talking.

"Enough, I'm tired."He ended the discussion as he shifted towards me and rested his heads on my laps and stretched his one of his leg on the car seats.

"Get your heavy head up." I flicked his forehead as he looked up at me from where he laid.

He smirked at me before closing his eyes and folding his arms above his torso. I rolled my eyes at his stubbornness as I relaxed myself into the seat and I spotted James smiling at me from the rear view mirror,and I returned him the gesture.

#########

We arrived at Mr Orchard's mansion after some hours,I looked at Drake who was still sleeping peacefully on my laps.

I was about to tap him awake when he opened his eyes and gave me an awkward smile.

"How was your sleep ?" I asked him as I gave him a sassy look.

"I never slept,I just wanted to relax myself." He said as he got up from where he laid and sat upright in his seat.

I gave him a scowl as I hurried down from the car, he's so unbelievable, he just laid on my laps for 3 hours just to relax,what an excuse.

He also got out of the car and we walked towards the doorstep where a maid stood with her hands flooded behind her.

"Mr Johnson ?" She inquired as she have a slight bow.

"Yeah." Drake answered her and immediately she gestured for us to come into the house.

We walked into the house and the familiar scent of Mr Orchard's home filled my nose as I took a seat in one of the cushion in the living room.

"Hello Skai." Jason greeted me as he came down the stairs wearing a beret with paint stains over the black apron that was strapped to his body.

"Hi Jason." I got up to hug him but I stopped myself as soon as I spot the paint stains on his body.

"Oh,sorry about that. I was painting before you came in." He said as he removed the apron from his body and handed it to the maid that welcomed us.

"Oh Good Evening Mr Johnson." Jason walked towards Drake with his hands stretched out for a handshake.

Drake got up from here he sat and gave Jason a hug as he pat his back,he didn't shake his hand.

"Drop the formality, I'm not here on the basis of business." He said as he smiled at Jason who was still shocked by his action.

"I appreciate that." Jason said as he walked away from Drake and took a seat in one of the cushion adjacent to where we sat.

"Where's your mom ?" I asked him as I took my seat beside Drake.

"Oh I think she's in the study, Lisa could you tell mom Skai and Drake are here." He told Lisa who immediately turned around and went up the stairs.

"So you're into painting uhn ?" Drake asked him as soon as Lisa was out of sight.

"Yeah,I love painting, it's the only way I could express myself." Jason had spark in his eyes as he spoke.

"Oh wow, that's great! Can I see any of your works ?" Drake asked as he relaxed back into his seat.

"You're looking at them." Jason chuckled as he gestured around the living room. Drake looked around as he let out a gasp with his mouth slightly opened.

"You're really talented! Where did you learn to paint like this ?!" He exclaimed as he eyes wandered over the portraits hung in the walls.

"I wasn't taught,it just my bottled up feelings and emotions expressed with paint and drawings."He chuckled as he shrugged at us.

"So what were you painting before we came ?" I asked him as I have him a proud smile.

"A portrait of my dad, I intend to display it in the burial ceremony." He pursed his lips as he looked down at his fingers that were stains with paint.

"Oh that's really nice, your father would be proud of you." I said as I nodded at Jason.

"I see you all are catching up quickly." Sarah chuckled as she trailed down the stairs with Lisa supporting her by the hands. Drake paced towards her as soon as she climbed down from the last step while I stood up from my seat.

"I'm so sorry about what happened." He said as he kissed Sarah on both cheeks quickly before hugging her.

"Oh thanks Johnson,I suppose you're one of my husband's business partner ?" She asked as she broke the hug while giving him a warm smile.

"Yeah,I really loved doing business with him." He smiled back at her and he helped her towards where we stood.

"Oh hello Skai." She greeted me as I put my arms around her, pulling her into a warm hug.

"How are you doing Sarah ?" I asked her as I stroked her back.

"I'm still breathing, ain't I ?" She chuckled as she broke the hug, I ushered her to seat beside me as I held her hands.

"I should be the one asking you that question,you were so broken by his death,you cried profusely that day." I looked over at Drake who was by my side because he didn't know half of how I reacted to Mr Orchard's death.

His eyes grew larger than they were as he gripped me by the shoulder and rubbed it back and forth trying to calm me.

"Oh I'm doing fine now but it still hurts." I pursed my lips as I looked at my hands that were holding Sarah's hand.

"It'd surely hurt,with time it'd heal." She smiled as me as she pushed my chin up to make me look at her. I really admire her, my suppose to be the one comforting her but it's the other way round.

"And you're in good hands." She said as she gestured he hands towards Drake.

"Sure." He said with his hands still on my shoulder,I smiled at her then looked over at Drake who was having a grin on his face.

"So when is the ceremony ?" Drake asked Sarah, who narrowed her eyes as she looked up trying to remember the date.

"Two days are coming up in my mind and I'm not sure about it, Jason could please remind me ?" She asked Jason who sat upright in his seat while smiling at Sarah.

"On Friday,mom don't forget it again." He chuckled as he shook his head at him mom,it wasn't her fault she's getting old and she's prone to forget things easily.

"Oh yes! Thanks son, it's by Friday. I'd really love for you two to be there." She said as she gave me a pleading look.

"Oh we wouldn't dare to miss it, Drake and I would be there." I assured her as I squeezed her hands firmly.

"Yes and where is the venue ?" Drake asked her as he leaves closer to hear Sarah's response.

"Oh I don't really know the name by heart or do your know it Jason ?" She had her brows furrowed as she asked Jason.

"It's in the town's cemetery, I'd send the exact address to your phone." He said as he took out his phone to forward the address to my phone.

"Okay, that'd be fine." I said as I smiled at him.

"Mrs Orchard, I'm really glad I could meet you in person,please accept my condolences." Drake said as he looked at Sarah over my shoulder.

"Thanks a lot,I really appreciate you two coming over." She smiled warmly at us as she stood up from where she sat.

"We just made dinner,why don't you join us." She urged us to the dining while Drake and I shared a look before we nodded in agreement.

"Okay, Lisa come help me get the table ready." She said as we tried behind her, walking towards the dining.

After a while we were all seated and prepared to have dinner,the food were properly dished in our plates. After a quick prayer we all dug into our food.

"Wow this is nice !" Drake exclaimed as he complimented the food.

"Oh my mom's the best cook ." Jason chuckled as he chewed a portion of food in his mouth.

"I'm flattered. I can't take all the credit,Lisa helped too." She said as she looked up at Lisa who stood by her side pouring out wine for her.

"Welldone." Drake commended her as began pouring wine into his glass cup.

"That reminds me Skai,I learnt you are staying with Drake,why are you staying there ?" I froze at her question because the answer wouldn't be palatable to her especially now that she just lost her husband.

I would eventually tell her but not now, besides the investigation and the whole drama is done under discreet measures. I couldn't think of anything else to say that was when Drake spoke up.

"Her apartment was infested with termites so she had to stay with me for a while." I felt relived as I nodded at Sarah in agreement.

"Oh sorry about that Skai but you could stay with us now." She said with a concerned look on her face while I quickly taught of what to say.

"Drake's place is just fine, I'd be moving in soon." I quickly said as I rubbed her hands to assure her not to worry.

"Skai, I'd like you to to come over to the office tomorrow so you could get acquainted with the people again." My eyes widened as I dropped the fork on the plate,I haven't told Drake that I would be taking over Mr Orchard's company.

"Oh sorry to bulge but Skai is still under her contract with me." Drake politely told her as he smiled warmly at her. Guilt filled my chest as I knew he was about to find out something big that I haven't told him yet.

"Didn't she tell you ?" She asked Drake with an awkward look but she later put her hands over her mouth realizing I haven't told Drake.

"What's going on Skai ?" He asked me as he focused his attention on me.

"Uhm, I'm going to be taking over the company." I said as I looked down at my plate and I couldn't look at his face.

He was silent for a while and I hoped he didn't throw an outburst in front of Sarah and Jason,I bit my lip as I shut my eyes.

"Wow ! That's awesome and really really surprising." He exclaimed as he blinked his eyes repeatedly like he couldn't believe what he just heard.

"I know right ?! Dad picked her before he died." Jason said with much excitement as he put a hand on my shoulder.

"He made a good choice." I looked up at him still with a shock expression that he wasn't mad and I was relieved he didn't cause a dramatic scene.

We all ate and conversed but Drake was quiet afterwards which made me uncomfortable but I tried to act normal till the dinner ended.

It was getting late so Drake and I decided to head home,we were both seated quietly as James drove.

Drake was awfully quiet and I wasn't comfortable with it, I was about to say something when I got a call from Becky.

"You didn't call me back." She said immediately as I put the phone to my ears.

"I'm so sorry, I totally forgot." I pleased as I tried to lower my voice.

"You forgot ?! Oh wow." I pinned the tip of my fingers into my closed eyes realizing she was still mad at me and I made it worse by saying that.

"Becky, I'm really sorry about everything that has happened these few days. I know I should have calmed you and not ignore you that night but...." I tried explaining everything to her but she abruptly ended the call which made my eyesight widen.

Relief flushed through my body as I saw a face time request from her,I quickly accepted it.

She was wearing a night robe with her long hair packed in a messy bun. She was smiling widely but she was squinting her eyes to see me because it was dark in the car.

"Becky I've missed you."I said as I put on the light at the back seat.

"Me too ! It's hard staying mad at you." She chuckled as she itched the back of her hair.

"I'm so sorry." I apologized as I tried to position the phone in a way she'd see me clearly.

"Yeah yeah, where are you?!" She asked me as she tried to look around.

"I'm in car, driving home with Drake." I said coldly as I looked over at Drake who had his gaze outside the window.

"Oh in that case, I'd call you later. Hit me up when you get home." She waved at me before ending the call.

I was smiling widely that I finally got my friend back but it slowly vanished as I looked over at Drake.

"Drake are you okay ?" I asked him as I tried to take his hand in mine but he removed his hands and trailed it through his hair.

"I'm fine,just tired." He said with his attention still focused outside the window.

"No you're not,I know when Drake's tired and this doesn't look like it." I said as I tilted my head forward to look into his face.

He didn't respond and he still kept his gaze outside the window, I wanted to pester him to know what's wrong but we cane to an halt at the gate leading to Drake's house.

There was no need pestering him here when we could talk about it fully in the house so I relaxed back into my seat as we drove into the compound.

He rushed out of the car immediately the cat stopped in front of the door step, I hurried down from the car to rush after him.

"Take it easy on him." James advised as he held my arms to stop me.

"Oh yeah,sure." I said as I nodded my head slowly at him. I paced into the living room to meet up with Drake but he wasn't there.

I missed this house. I was taking in the familiar scent of the house as I walked around the living room before I heard movements in the kitchen.

I paced into the kitchen and opened the kitchen door,my gaze fell upon Drake who taking out a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Drake ,I know you're angry that I didn't tell you about me being the new boss at Mr Orchard's company." I explained myself in a rush as I paced towards where he stood.

"I'm not mad and it's fine Skai, I'm really happy for you." He said as he tried to walk away from me but I stood in front of him to stop him.

"No it's not fine,look at you. You're looking numb and down, what's the issue ?" I furrowed my brows as I looked deep into his eyes that were now peering into mine.

He tried to say something but he let out a huge sigh and walked away from me and rested his hands on the kitchen sink and he had his face down, looking down into the sink.

"When do you intend leaving to run the company ?" I had a confused look on my face because I didn't expect that question nor do I know why he was asking me that.

"Well, it was suppose to be the week after Mr Orchard's burial but I still have a month to work for you,so till after the contract expires." I said as I walked towards where he stood.

"Don't worry about it." He said before he turned around and rested his back against the kitchen counter.

"What ?!" I was confused, I didn't understand his mood and what he's trying to tell me.

"Don't worry about the contract, you've worked a lot and your work is done. You could start right away." He said as he tried to walk away from me but I held his arm.

"Drake where's all this coming from ?" I asked with annoyance not understanding the sudden change of mood.

"Skai, don't stress it ! I'd get the papers from work tomorrow so we could both sign them then you'd be able to run the company as soon as possible." He removed my hands from his arms and paced out of the kitchen while removing his suit jacket.

I let out an unamused laugh as I sat on one of the high stools by the kitchen counter. I rested my head in my palms as I brainstormed.

One minute he's the world's most cheerful person, laughing and showering love on everyone around him then the next minute he's cold and stiff as a rock maybe I should just sign the papers and forget about this psycho.