Chapter 80

I shifted restlessly under the sheets, hearing Mr. Cesar's voice on the phone. The room was dimly lit by the desk lamp on my bedside table. When I sat up, trembling, I looked at the clock"it was 4:00 a.m. I rubbed my eyes and saw Mr. Cesar was speaking on the phone while glancing at my laptop.
“I want you to call a meeting with all the company’s employees, including the shareholders. No one should miss it. We’re about to have a fine witch hunt,” he said before hanging up. Then, I saw him reviewing my investigative document in the glow of the computer screen.
“Is there going to be a meeting now?” I asked, quickly getting up. I grabbed my robe and put it on to cover my nudity. As my feet hit the ground, a sharp pain shot through me. The exhaustion from last night was catching up.
“Did you write this document?” he asked. I walked over to him hesitantly and answered, unsure, “Yes… For the past few weeks, I’ve been investigating all the employees involved with the fruit suppliers we’ve contracted. It seems two of them are doing the same thing—hiring cheap labor and charging us more, while the quality has dropped as demand has risen. I suspect the person embezzling the money is the head manager of the finance department. Today, I was planning to gather evidence to confirm if his accomplice was Cobalsky, the investor who denied the problem in the last assembly. I verified it when he was seen with the manager of The Valley distributor, who told me they were making a profit.”
“Well, you’ve done good work.”
“Really, Mr. Cesar?” I asked, hopefully. His gaze inspected me before he replied, “What did you just call me?” He tilted my chin up, and I bit my lip shyly, noticing his eyes drift to my lips. His chest rose as he cupped my face with his hands.
“Mr. Cesar…” I murmured.
“And how did I tell you to address me?”
“I… I can’t call you that in front of anyone.”
“Not in front of anyone, not even me… Stop calling me ‘Mr.’”
“Cesar…” I whispered as I leaned closer to his lips. A small smile spread across his face as his fingers brushed my lips. Then, pulling back, he said, “That’s better… Remember it well, or next time, I won’t forgive you.”
“But I can’t call you that in front of others. Sometimes, I get confused.”
“Then learn—when to call me and when not to.” Thoughtfully, I nodded, then quickly spoke as I saw him heading for the door.
“Wait, can I come with you?” He glanced me over from head to toe and replied, “No, the meeting is in two hours. I have other matters to attend to. Take a bath, relax, and come to the office later.”
“But… I want to help you.”
“You already have.” I expected a kiss from him, but he walked past me with little acknowledgment. I quickly asked, “And us… what will happen from now on?” My voice wavered as I spoke. He paused and looked back at me, then stepped closer until he was a breath away. The scent of his expensive cologne filled my senses. His piercing gaze locked with mine, and he said, “What do you think, Belle? Whatever you decide, that’s what will be, because I know exactly what I want.”
“Can I know what it is you want?”
“No. You’ll have to figure that out yourself.” Without another word, he walked out, leaving me with countless questions.
۩
Belladonna
“Good morning, Miss Belladonna. I’m here to update you on your agenda for today,” Maria said as I practiced ballet.
“Speak.”
“At 1:00, you have lunch with your father for his birthday. Should I arrange something for him?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. At 3:00, you have brunch with your volleyball team.”
“Don’t cancel it. By the way, has Caesar called?”
“No, miss. But you do have a meeting with the board of shareholders at F.F.” I sighed, stopping the music to drink from my water bottle.
“Alright. Anything else?”
“The detective said he has something very important to discuss with you.”
“Is he here?”
“Yes, he’s waiting in the lounge.”
“Tell him I’ll meet him in my father’s study,” I instructed, grabbing a towel to dry my face.
۩
“Good morning, Miss Belladonna,” the detective said, standing on the sofa as I entered. Without greeting him, I demanded, “Give me good news. Do you have what I asked for?”
“I’ve just received the DNA results from the hair sample you provided of the girl.”
“And?” I asked nervously. “Who the hell is that girl? Speak quickly.”
“She’s the daughter of the same mother, but… the strangest thing I’ve seen in years is that they have different fathers. It’s a very rare phenomenon, but it can happen.”
“What?”
“That’s likely why you’re twins" so similar. Both were conceived in the mother’s womb, but each by a different father.” My breath caught, unable to process what I was hearing.