The Heiress Impostor

CHAPTER 5: Wow, a valid reason?

“Hello, you're welcome sir,” she said, welcoming him with a practiced smile.

“May I help you today sir?”

“Hello, Good day young lady.,” Ethan said, trying to keep his voice steady. “I don't want to take much of your precious time, I’m looking for a young lady, I suppose she works here.” He paused, he wasn't sure of how to describe Thrina without seeming strange. “I’ve met her once. She looks like uhm…” He paused again, realizing how stupid he sounded.

The receptionist’s smile slightly flipped for a moment. “Excuse me sir, I’m not sure I understand what you mean. Could you please tell me what you need, I can attend to you sir.”

“No, no, not that” Ethan insisted. “I need to meet this lady in person. It’s very important.” He taxed his brain, trying to recall her name. He remembered seeing a name tag pinned to her shirt, but he didn't pay much attention to it the day they met. He intuitively recalled the name Jerkins, then he remembered the hand shake as her voice echoed to his ear, Thrina. Just then he recalled her name. “It’s…Thrina,” he blurted out. “Thrina Jerkins.”

The receptionist raised an eyebrow. “Miss Thrina Jerkins? Sir, the lady you seek is one of our housekeepers. She just resumed work here a couple of weeks ago. Kindly tell me what you want sir, I can attend to you or ask someone else to assist you much better.”

Ethan’s patience was worned out. “Goodness gracious! I do not need your assistance, young woman!” he said, his voice rising. “Okay, maybe I do. Look, I need to see Thrina Jerkins and it's a matter of urgency, can you at least assist me with that?”

The receptionist’s smile disappeared completely. “Well, I regret to inform you that this is not possible sir. Our policy doesn't permit staff to meet with guests in this manner sir.”

“Interesting, I see you have a difficult policy here.”Ethan said with disappointment in his face.

“Sir, did she steal something? The lady asked curiously

Ethan's eyes widened “Is that it? Is that what you think about your colleague? Well, she did not steal from me. I just need to see her and speak with her.”

The receptionist was still curious but she dared not ask another stupid question. “I’m very sorry sir, I was just trying to be sure. I'm sure you know how these things are these days. No one can be trusted. I apologize for the assumption sir. You know, I… ”

“That's enough!” Ethan cut her, I'd just sit here and wait for her. Sorry to bother you, miss.

The receptionist, perceiving she ran out of her depth, withdrawn. “I'm sorry, waiting here may not help Sir,” she said. “Thrina Jerkins had finished her shift. She’s already left for the day about twenty five minutes before you arrive sir.”

Ethan was consumed by anger. He’d wasted his precious time with this unreasonable talkative of a receptionist. “Please would you be kind enough to give me her house address?” he asked calmly

The receptionist made a negating gesture. “I'm afraid, I can't do that sir, it's against our company policy to disclose staff information without a valid reason.” She opened her personal computer and pretended to be busy.

Ethan gazed at her angrily with his eyes filled with disdain. Wow, a valid reason? Well My daughter is dead. Isn’t that a valid enough reason to be looking for a Doppelganger? He thought to himself.

He slowly turned and walked away, leaving the hallway disappointed. He knew he was walking but he couldn't feel his legs. He got into his car and slammed the door shut. As he started his car and drove out of the Belvedere’s gate, he stopped to speak to the security officer.

“Excuse me sir,” he said, “did a young lady named Thrina Jerkins leave this premises thirty minutes ago?”

The guard nodded. “Yes, but she Just left fifteen minutes ago, sir.”

What? Fifteen minutes ago, did I hear him well? Did that receptionist deliberately lie to me and delay me? Ethan thought to himself.

Is there any problem sir? The security asked reading the expression on Ethan's face

“Please, do you happen to have her address?” Ethan asked, ”It's a matter of urgency!” he added

“I’m sorry, I do not have her address sir,” the security guard replied. “But I did overhear her mention while she was on the phone that she was going to the Walgreens Pharmacy along the estate sir.”

“Walgreen Pharmacy?” Ethan echoed back. “along the estate? Could you kindly give a proper description of the pharmacy?” he asked politely

“Ehmm…” the guard stuttered. “Well, it's a pharmacy along the estate, big windows and big shelves full of drugs and first aid boxes I think” He trailed off struggling to get a proper description.

Ethan sighed heavily. He has been through a whole lot today. I hope this is worth it, he thought to himself. “Never mind,” he said to the security guard. He pulled out his phone, opened the map and typed in the name of the pharmacy. He'll find this pharmacy and he'll definitely find Thrina today. He had to.

*****

Thrina stood by the counter at the pharmacy with the list of Maya's prescribed drugs in her hand. She opened the list to see the ones she can afford as she waited for the pharmacist to attend to her. Thrina has been thinking of Maya all day. Edmir had sent her some money for their weekly upkeep. a support that had enabled her to get Maya some of her prescribed medications, but she hadn't informed him about the severity of Maya's illness. She hesitated to lay further burden on him. He'd already done so much for them.

“Edmir is a good man. He has been extremely good to us. His kindness is out of the world and what more can we ask for, after everything this man has already done for my sister and I” thrina thought to herself.

She reflected on her life journey, a cycle of losses, hardships and struggles. She was just five years old when her father died in a ghastly car accident and Maya was only three years old. Their mother, Helena, a teacher in a middle tier school, the courageous mother took on the challenge of raising them single-handedly, laboring relentlessly to provide for them. They needed to reduce their living expenses so they moved to a smaller, budget-friendly apartment when their finances became strained and things were becoming difficult, but Helena always made sure she provided their necessary needs. She went to great lengths to ensure their high school education was completed. Thrina had dreamed of going to university but the expenses were too great for them to afford. She had worked multiple jobs after high school education and saved every penny she got with her mother's help. But then, tragedy struck the family again. Their mother was diagnosed with blood cancer, leukemia and she passed away leaving little 19 years old Thrina to cater for Maya.