THE SIDE PIECE (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER 1

TAMARA

“What’s the latest on Tamiko’s social media? Has she posted anything yet?” I asked Nyx again.

As the day drew closer for Attorney Revamonte to come to our house, I did nothing but keep tabs on my twin through social media.

Knowing her, there was no way Tamiko could live without posting. For her, not updating her accounts was like losing a piece of her identity. That’s why I’d been waiting there for signs of life. The problem was, Mama had confiscated my phone and barely let me leave the house. She probably thought I was planning to run away, just like I had dared to defy her before.

“Nothing. Are you sure your twin really ran away, Tam?” Nyx asked, her tone probing.

I blinked at her. “What do you mean?”

“Well, maybe something bad happened to Tamiko. Just because she didn’t come home doesn’t automatically mean she ran away. Don’t you think so?” she said, words spilling out quickly.

I shot up from the bed, staring at her in alarm. The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind—that Tamiko might not be home because something had happened to her. All along I’d believed she left simply because Mama could no longer fund their extravagant lifestyle.

“B-but if something bad did happen, wouldn’t someone have told us by now? No one’s said anything to Mama, so maybe… maybe she’s fine,” I said, though I wasn’t convinced.

Still, Nyx’s words left me cold. I would rather believe Tamiko had left us willingly than imagine something terrible keeping her away.

After our conversation, I stood up. Last night, I tried making a résumé and sent out online job applications. Since I wasn’t allowed to go out and look for a job, it was my only option.

It had been months since I’d graduated with a degree in Office Administration, but I still had no work experience. After graduation, Tamiko and I spent our days attending endless events, as Mama wanted us to focus on socializing with her wealthy friends and acquaintances.

Week after week, we partied. We even flew out of the country regularly, wasting money on leisure trips. Thankfully, I never trained myself to depend on that lifestyle. Now that Papa had cut us off, there was no chance we’d return to the world Mama raised us in. If I regretted anything, it was that she never taught us even the simplest household chores. She’d raised us to always be served, never to serve ourselves. That was going to be my biggest struggle now.

“What do you think, Nyx? What kind of person is Attorney Revamonte?”

The day of his visit was approaching fast, and I couldn’t help but grow nervous and curious.

“Do you know the name of the company your mother mortgaged this house to?” she asked.

I nodded at once. Of course I knew. I’d seen the notices they sent.

“Romualdez and Co. Estates,” I answered.

She pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, then asked, “And the name of the lawyer your mom wants you to seduce?”

“Attorney Priam Revamonte,” I said.

Nyx froze. I frowned. “What? You’ve heard his name before?”

She shook her head. “Not sure. There are still things about my past I can’t remember, so I don’t know if that name’s familiar or not.”

Before Nyx and I became close, she had admitted that she remembered nothing about her past—nothing except her name. She didn’t know how long she’d been in the asylum, nor why her family had abandoned her. Whenever I asked what might have driven her to madness, she’d joke it must have been love. She said she must’ve been weak for men, and maybe that’s what had broken her.

I sighed and tried to get some sleep, but Nyx wasn’t done chatting.

“Got it. I found the lawyer on social media,” she said suddenly.

I bolted upright. “Really? What does he look like? Does he seem kind?”

She showed me the photo. Honestly, I’d never even seen the man. In my head, I pictured someone older, dignified, someone who looked the part of a lawyer.

“He doesn’t look kind, Tam. But he does look delicious,” she remarked, smirking.

I gawked at her. “What do you mean ‘delicious’? He’s a person, Nyx, not food!”

She grinned wickedly. “When I say a guy looks delicious, I mean he looks like he’d be good at everything.”

“Everything like…?” I asked cautiously.

“Kissing. In bed. Making a woman moan. The whole package,” she replied matter-of-factly.

My frown deepened. I barely understood half of what she was implying—aside from the kissing part.

“There you go again, Nyx! For all we know, it really was a man that landed you in that asylum. Maybe you should steer clear of them altogether!” I scolded, shaking my head.

“You don’t get it, Tam. Even if I avoid them, what if men are the ones who come after me? And honestly… I kind of miss having sèx. The funny thing is, I don’t remember ever doing it—but I just know I’m not a virgin. And the moment I saw that lawyer’s picture? Little Nyx twitched and got wet. Like she suddenly remembered what she was missing,” she confessed, pointing shamelessly between her legs.

I grimaced, then snatched the phone to see the lawyer’s picture myself.

I gasped. Nyx was right—he was handsome. But instead of feeling excited, dread coiled in my chest. My heart raced, and I pressed a hand against it before returning her phone.

“What’s wrong?” Nyx asked, sitting up as well.

“Nyx… I don’t think I can seduce him,” I admitted. Just one picture of him, and I was already trembling. How was I supposed to face him in person?

“You can do it, Tam. Want me to teach you?” she offered.

I shook my head frantically, gripping her hands. “No, I can’t! I really can’t. What should I do? Mama’s going to kìll me!”

My mind kept replaying the lawyer’s face—those sharp, serious eyes. I knew I wasn’t strong enough for this.

“So what now?” Nyx asked quietly.

“I don’t know. Help me, Nyx. I can’t seduce Attorney Revamonte. I just… I can’t,” I said desperately.

“Want me to do it instead?” she suggested.

I froze. “What? How would you—”

“The lawyer doesn’t know what you look like, right?”

I nodded hesitantly. I had never once seen him before, so he couldn’t possibly recognize me.

“Then I’ll take your place. I’ll pretend to be you,” Nyx said with conviction.

I stared at her nervously. “Would that even work? What if Mama finds out—”

“She won’t. Leave it to me,” Nyx assured me.

I took a deep breath and nodded. “You’re sure Mama won’t notice?”

“Of course not! Trust me,” she said, beaming confidently. She looked back at her phone. “Just give me a heads-up when the hot lawyer’s about to arrive so I can shave.”

“Shave?” I frowned.

“Yeah.”

“What are you shaving?” I asked, confused.

“My little Nyx,” she replied casually.

I scowled harder. Of course she meant what was between her thighs.

“Why would you need to shave that?”

“In case Attorney Revamonte fingers me. I wouldn’t want him struggling his fingers through a jungle,” she said with a cheeky grin.

“Fingers you? What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, utterly lost.

“For fùck’s sake, Tam…” Nyx groaned, staring at me. “This is the first time I’ve ever been stressed talking to another woman. Back in the asylum, we all understood each other just fine. Maybe you should check yourself in sometime—you might actually learn something.”

She spread her legs wide, holding the phone toward her lap as if addressing the lawyer directly.

“See this, Atty? It’s even plumper in person. Let’s see if you can resist the charms of me and little Nyx,” she teased.

I grimaced and turned away.

So this was what it was like having a friend fresh out of an asylum, huh?!