Rebirth: Flirting with a Dangerous Billionaire

I Think I Like Him

They began to flicker the regular forms and outlines and the shapes that make up the world. Then, finally, I can hear the distant sound of someone running and muffled cries. Only, that name they are calling is not mine. When I woke up, I was back in the hospital, and once again, I'm unsure how I got here. They say I fainted. Eva and Emmerson are beside themselves with worry. Luckily, they haven't been around much since they returned to work. I'm not lonely, though. Cain visits me every day.

On the first day, I was angry. I hadn't forgotten about Sam, but my anger evaporated when I saw his expression. Eyebrows lowered and pulled together, lips tight and dropped slightly at the sides. He looked so lonely, morose even. He sat down beside me in the heavy atmosphere, and I recognised the desperation in his eyes. He was seeking the comfort and security of another person. Like I had my entire life.

The conversation started small, awkward greetings discussion about the weather. He brought school work and made an effort to teach me what I needed to answer the questions. It was our third day of discussing psychology research data. He showed me a programme on his laptop called SPSS. "So you enter your data like this. It will generate the graphs for you, but it's up to you to interpret what these results mean and whether you can reject your null hypothesis."

"I don't understand what psychology this has to do with graphic design?"

"It's only one small unit because you expressed interest in communications and marketing. You need to learn about how to communicate with audiences. Did you not read about this when you transferred courses?"

"No, I just like creating things."

"You really he changed." He sighed and put the computer to one side "Mara-"

"Tell me about yourself, everything I have forgotten." I had interrupted, and my voice was shaking. I didn't want to hear about how I wasn't his perfect Mara. If I could control the conversation, though, I might learn something. He looked hesitant. "Everything?"

I was expecting some pushback, he was the secretive type, but he started from childhood. Like me, he had lost his mother. I realise now how lucky I was to have grandma, even if for a short time. While I enjoyed a few idyllic years, Cain had to watch his father fall to pieces with no one to support him. He had warped under pressure, and when his father met Eva, he had felt abandoned all over again. Luckily, Mara was the perfect shape to fill the void within him. Unfortunately, the need had made him obsessed, and he seemed blind to how she must have felt. For the most part, Cain seemed oblivious to all these inferences as well as his own flaws. His spun narrative was vapid and, at times, even romantic, but completely lacking in introspection. Yet, for me, the pieces were coming together. He was narcissistic, willfully blind and manipulative, but a product of his upbringing all the same. I could understand him. When I first woke up, I was drowning in greed. I was bitter, and I feel inferior and envious of Mara even now. But, these are the lessons life has taught me. I was foolish, believing money would solve all my problems. The wealthy also have battles to fight. Perhaps the universe brought Cain and me together because we are kindred spirits, or I was just finding excuses. Mental gymnastics to justify and accept my death.

I felt closer to Cain, and as he left that day, I had to accept my feelings for him had grown beyond mere attraction. It hurt that I would never be the woman he adored. However, if Mara was wronged by Sam, I could avenge her. For Cain, the woman he had treasured and myself. It was with this resolve that I greeted Sloane.

I was surprised that he knew I was in the hospital, but how could he not? I'm sure an immediate absence following what happened with Zack had everyone gabbing. Still, it felt good that he cared. Unlike Cain, Sloane seemed interested in the person I am, not who I once was. He was apologetic, blaming himself for divulging so much that day. I assured him it was unrelated to his revelations. He was candid, the key to this alien world. I needed him to see me as reliable understand I was not as fragile as Mara had been. So, I got straight to business.

"If we are going to see each other like this, I need to trust you. Since I woke up, you're the only one who has been honest about who I was, but that's not enough. I need to know who you are and that you won't abandon me when s**t gets real." My words made his face fall, but he recovered quickly.

"It's not like I didn't expect this, but what your asking, it's not my story to tell." I waited in silence; eventually, he broke. He told me about his sister and her current state and how he had failed to protect her. But, unfortunately, he could offer little else in the way of assurance, only that he had been waiting for an opportunity for revenge. He didn't even have a solid plan, just a vague hope that I could help him. But, he could offer skills and access and information that no one else could. Ultimately, we both knew I had little choice but to trust him.

"I need to understand more about Sam's world. If we are going to bring him down, I need to get closer to him." He looked apprehensive but pulled out his phone all the same. "You, Kendis, countless others. To Sam, you meant nothing, playthings." He paused for a second, but I hurried him on. "So, I know he's your brother, but Cain, his personality-"

"I know better than anyone how Cain is. So how is it relevant?"

"Well, they used to be close. Cain and Sam are similar. Only, Cain does very little to hide who he is once you get closer to him. Unless your, well you. He's relatively harmless.

Nevertheless, Sam is different. He's sadistic evil. Everyone is fair game to him, and standard rules don't apply." It sounded farfetched. Indeed, no one has that level of influence. I looked at him in disbelief, and he held out his phone defensively. "See, it's all there." I looked down at the screen and read through a group chat dating back years. Sloane no longer had access to it, but he still had access to the messages sent before being kicked out. There was a lively discussion about a club, a club without rules and beyond the reach of the law. There were a few familiar names in the chat, one of which was Cain.

I handed the phone back to him. Such a place was unimaginable, and I said so. He remained silent and simply gave me an invite card dated a few years ago. It was blank except for a gold logo, a three-headed dog and a QR code. "Cerberus guards the door to hell. Unfortunately, I'm no longer welcome there.", he explained. I vaguely recall the three-headed dog from a cartoon I watched as a kid. It's a familiar figure that has even cropped up in one film about wizards. "If you scan the code, it takes you to a website to verify your identity. Once you have done that, you get the address. Though the invite is not enough on its own, you have to go through an initiation, a sort of proving to be admitted."

"What sort of initiation?"

"I'm not sure. I never accepted the invite. But I hear that the inside is lawless. Sam has used his wealth, connections, and father's political influence to establish a setting to play his sadistic games. No one of authority really seems to mind, so long as it's contained within the club. They have politicians and police on the payroll."

"So, is this the only way in?" He looked down at his shoes. This was not the time to clam up. "Sloane, is this the only way in?" He stared at me for a while, again massaging the back of his neck. He looked like he was toiling with something. "There's another way in, but it's irrelevant. I only told you about the club so you will understand how dangerous Sam truly is. I figure there is a way to hack into the site and-"

"Online traces won't be enough. I have no credibility as a witness, and your sister... she's not in a state to help out right now. Besides, if that's where Sam hides all his dirty secrets, the hard drive will be in there, if it still exists at all."

"Oh, he has it. He will be keeping it as a trophy. Look what I drove Mara too." My face twisted, and he shrugged. "I told you he was sick; it won't just be you. They probably have a cinema in there. I guess...I guess a tape of Kendis too." He looked grave, and his knuckles turned white in his lap. "The only other way in is to catch Sam's interest or serve a purpose. Working girls are taken in to service the members. Before you get too excited, they have no information. They are a select group of high-class escorts who are either paid off or too scared to reveal anything decent. They blindfold them too, on their way in and out. They have no idea where the club's located, I've asked."

"So, if I attract Sam's interest, I'll be invited?"

"This is why I didn't want to tell you. It's not an invite. More of a... abduction. I'm not sure you understand the gravity of this."

"Sloane, people have died. I'm not taking this lightly."

"What?"

"I've been doing my own research, a woman called...it doesn't matter, you don't know her, and to be honest, I don't know anything myself other than someone has died and was last seen with Sam." Why couldn't I say my own name? Sloane placed his hand on my knee and leaned over, wiping tears from my face. I wasn't even aware I was crying. I felt my skin tingle where he made contact, and we were lost in each other for a moment. When he pulled back, we were both blushing and unable to make eye contact. He dove into his bag again, and when he came back up, he had flowers. "Um...I got these for you." He looked awkwardly at the table beside me as he handed them over. I attempted to accept them gracefully. I'm not one for flowers. I can't seem to ever keep them alive. We had fallen into an awkward silence, so once again, I fell back on our common goal. "The way I see it, we need to get close to him, find a way to strip his armour, so to speak." It also wouldn't hurt to break his heart either, but I kept that part to myself.

"Removing generations of wealth, power, and connections isn't an easy task", he stated bluntly. I thought back to the celebrity magazines my grandma used to read. The media can make or destroy you, she used to mutter to herself. I also know the media isn't the only destructive force in the world. Just look what became of my mother. "Well, I have a few ideas where to begin. We also need his DNA for a personal project." Sloane looked alarmed, but I rubbed the back of his hand to distract him. It worked, and my heart raced as the traces of a smile danced around his lips. "So, how do I get Sam's attention? The Mara in front of you is not accustomed to flirting with a dangerous billionaire."

"He likes uh...he's a predator. You're going to have to seduce him. He will get tired of you if you go easily. He had no interest in your past behaviour. Based on Akari's antics of late, I think you already have his attention; he probably sees your memory loss as a unique challenge. Also, it wouldn't hurt to change your style." I looked down at my comfy T-shirt

"I really hate those girly dresses" he turned crimson.

"Don't get me wrong, I really like your new style. It suits you uh...Sam likes his women...s-seductive." His stammering was cute, and at least someone seemed to like the changes I had implemented. The duality that exists within Sloane is mesmerising. He can be strong, manly and protective. However, when it comes to flirting, romance and s*x, he melts into a stammering mess. It was a shame he was flirting with me, someone equally awkward. "I guess we should go clothes shopping then?" His face lit up, and I have to admit, with his strong jaw muscles and eternally tousled hair, he was quite the vision to behold. Alas, my inner voice gave me a reality check, commanding my complete focus. I keep getting lost in my attraction to both him and Cain. There are a lot of players here, and I don't even know who I can trust. Still, spending time with Sloane would be nice. Would it kind of be like a date? Plus, Sloane responds to me, unlike Cain. He only affords me attention due to what he can see. If he knew I was an imposter, he could quickly turn on me. Sloane was never close to Mara until I came along. Unless I've misread the situation entirely, he likes the Lena inside, even if I have a different face. Throwing caution to the wind, I allow myself to get excited when he seems to confirm my inner thoughts with the words, "So, should we call it a date?"