Billionaire Twin Secret

Chapter Three: Money; The Root Of It All

“What did you just say?” I shot at Daniel, my blood boiling already.

“That’s right Daniel! Since they are almost identical, and no one knows of Gwen’s existence, deceiving the Jordan family won’t be hard right?” Clara asked Daniel nervously, a glint of hope in her eyes.

“You people are sick.” I pointed at them and started walking towards the door.

“Five hundred thousand dollars.” Clara said as she ran after me.

I stopped on my track, paused for a moment and did the calculation in my head. “I want a million dollars.” I tried to negotiate as I turned to face them.

“You are asking for too much. Alex may be poor, but his family are okay, even though they are barely in contact. Marrying him would give you a poor husband, but a rich family.” Bridget chirped in, her face bare of tears.

“Then why don’t you marry him yourself, since his family is a complete package.” I replied to her, eyeing her down.

I stepped forward, “For how long do I need to stay married to him?” I asked, directing my question to Daniel.

“A year. You can do what you like with him after a year.” He frowned, as if he’s reconsidering his suggestion.

“Pay me five hundred upfront, I’ll take the rest after a year.” I held my hands akimbo, hoping they’d accept my terms.

“Deal. But you’ll have to attend a dinner date with Alex tomorrow night, if he doesn’t recognize you, then we’ll pay you five hundred grand after the dinner.” Bridget smiled, happiness written all over her face.

“I’ll be back tomorrow, prepare the contract before then.” without waiting for whatever they had left to say, I left.

I went back to the hospital during visitation hours to see my mom. I told her about everything that went down at Cole's house, wondering if she’d be mad at me when she woke up and found out what I did. I know how much she hated them.

Andrew kept calling until I had to block his number. I already have too much on my plate, I didn't think I had the courage to face him after what he did and said. I sent him a message that we should break up before I blocked him though.

I left the hospital and headed straight to bed. It was a long day for me, and honestly I felt like I was digging a pit for myself. I didn’t sleep well because I kept thinking about what would happen if my cover was blown when I met Alex, given the fact that he saw me in a club before. I didn’t know why I withheld that information while negotiating with them.

*******

After signing the paper, and wearing the skimpy dress Bridget gave to me, I was sent to a hotel in a range rover to meet Alex. I was so nervous that I didn’t realize my hands were shaking. Brridget gave Alex my number, claiming it’s her second number. He sent me a text to meet him at the restaurant on the third floor of the hotel.

I got to the third floor and started searching for table 7, until my eyes landed on him.

Honestly, Alex is so good looking, that you’d take him for a greek god, but the fact the media said he’s useless, because of his failed business and how his family turned their backs on him—made him to be an unwanted bachelor.

“Hi,” I greeted him before taking my seat.

He didn’t say anything but kept looking at me like I had something on my face.

I cleared my throat, too nervous to say anything. Has my cover been blown—that was all I could think about.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” I finally managed to say.

He adjusted in his chair, and rested his hands on the table. “You’ve been pulling down your gown since you came in through the door, why are you wearing what you are not comfortable in, because you want to seduce me?” He asked, and I could swear I saw a glint of amusement in his eyes, like he was waiting to see the comeback I’d make.

I was already filled with embarrassment before he threw the question at me, and the fact that I had to even wear the dress against my wish made me angry at myself and at him.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I wanted to talk but knowing Bridget, I felt she might have indeed wanted to seduce him, so I remained quiet.

“Well ... .Let's order something.” He said, looking a bit disappointed.

“Do you have a lot to spend, you had to pick such a fancy hotel to have dinner?” I asked him, taking a sip from my drink.

“No, I don’t. But it’s our first dinner together and I don’t want to leave a bad impression since I’m paying.” He rubbed his palms together while speaking.

“That’s actually nice of you.” I tried to compliment him, ending my statement with a smile.

“Is it? My mother is afraid she’ll see my name on every tabloid before the end of the night if I take you to a regular restaurant, so she’s footing the bill.” He looked me in the eye, waiting for how I would react again.

And honestly, I was dumbfounded. I had no idea Brdiget was that loose, even though all her information was on the media, including the time ‘she scheduled’ for taking her ‘beauty bath and sleep’. But wait! His mother? I thought he was ousted by his family.

I gave him a confusing look, and I think he picked my question from looking at my face.

“The fact that I’m not wanted by family doesn’t mean they’ll let me go around dragging their name in the mud, especially not over a dinner a chump change from their pocket could prevent.”

We both ordered something and we ate in silence until I noticed my meal contained eggs.

I started feeling uncomfortable, and having this weird pain I do get whenever I take an egg.

“This food…” I rubbed my nape with my left hand, cleaning off the sweat gathered there.

“Yes?” He raised his eyebrows.

“Does it contain eggs?” I asked, already predicting his answers. I’ve always been allergic to eggs.

“Spaghetti caribona?” I nodded my head, since that was the name I saw on the menu.

“Of course. What’s a caribona without eggs?’’ He grimaced.

With his response, I knew I shouldn’t stay longer than thirty minutes there.

“Can we wrap up the dinner?” I asked politely.

“Sure. I have better things to do too.” He said, cleaning his mouth with the napkin. And as much as I found his statement to be rude, I figured it wasn’t my cup of tea at that moment.

He paid the bills and we proceeded to the entrance.

After waiting for a while, a taxi came into sight and I stopped it.

“You won’t wait for your dad’s car to pick you up?” He asked, taking out a candy from a little box he removed from his pocket,

“No, I have an appointment so I can’t afford to wait for my driver.” I smiled at him.

“Oh..”

I was about to enter the car when he said, “The rashes on your face and skin…’’ he proceeded, and I touched my face to confirm his words.

“You are allergic to eggs, but I’ve seen videos of you online eating eggs and talking about how their nutritional value contributes to your beauty. Isn’t that very hypocritical of you?” I literally froze at his words. How can she not be allergic too, we shared the same genes.

I chose not to reply, but entered the taxi instead.

Before I could tell the driver to move, Alex was by the window already, resting his arms on it.

“Are you really Bridget?”