The Destitute Heiress

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8.

Reina and I came down from the car after what felt like a thirty minute drive. The drive had gone on for so long and we’d stopped even trying to memorize the highways we took. I liked how they respected us and themselves after causing such a fuss at the apartment, like they didn’t mean to be rude. They opened the doors for us and it made me feel like an important person.

All of that goodwill fled once I remembered how wealthy we had googled them to be. I wonder what this Forbes person wants from me.

“Is this heaven?” Reina's expression was one of intense awe.

The place was like a mansion built in the Garden of Eden. It was beautiful with flower trees that gave promise of bloom in the summer, golden sculptures, a green hill of fresh grass that seemed out of place in cold Boston, and a solarium as we walked along.

“This way ma’am.” One of the men led us to the main entrance and with his fingerprint, the doors slid open.

We followed him like lost puppies waiting to be found. “I will call for Mr Nicholas, please wait here.” He said and left us in a room filled with books.

There were lots of books on the floor to ceiling shelves and a table with small files on it. “Is this what they call a study library in a mansion?” Reina walked around the place.

It was bigger than what met our eyes at first, as Reina ventured deeper into the dark corners of the library, I walked to the side where some big framed paintings of the family were. It looked like a photo, but it was a flawlessly done painting. Everything proved how rich this person must be. I'm still trying to think of why they want to speak to poor, lonely me.

“This woman…” whispering to myself, I touched the glass that covered a young graceful lady and then I saw her older self in the next frame. At the edge, The word ‘grandma’ was written in italic with a paint brush writing, “Could this be…” It looked like I'd seen the face in a picture before, but the picture my memory held was blurry.

I heard someone come in and went back to the desk to wait. The person that must have entered was not there so I went through the walkway in between the tall bookshelves to find Reina. A book fell from Reina’s hand and someone bent down to help her pick it up as she was about to bend as well. It played out like the cliche romantic movie of love at first sight. I wished I could take a picture and show it to Reina when we get back.

There was a smile on her face when she took the book from the tall guy. I hadn’t seen his face yet because he was facing the other way, “Thank you.” She quickly put the book back on the shelf.

“What’s your name.” He asked her.

Could that be the Mr. Nicholas Forbes that the buckler talked about?

“I’m Reina.”

“Reina?” I’m guessing that was not the name he was waiting to hear. “I’m Nicholas.”

“Oh.”

“We have something very important to discuss.” He gestured for her to follow him.

“Sorry, I was not the one invited. I just accompanied my best friend here.” She stated.

I quickly walked back to the desk and acted like I was there waiting all along.

“You must be…” he waited for me to reply.

“Carina.”

“Yes, it’s Carina.” He nodded with a smile and we shook hands.

“Please.” He brought out the seats like a gentleman, “Have your seats.”

Reina sat down first and I took the seat beside it, I was slowly waiting to hear the reason for forcing us to come here.

He stared at me like I was some puzzle he was trying to solve. “You didn’t call me here to stare at me all day right?” I said, not willing to patiently wait for him to explain.

“Sorry, I’m just so amazed. There is so much resemblance between you and your mother.” He said with so much incredulity in his voice.

With the mention of my mother, my heart clenched in pain, “You knew my mum?” My voice softened and I was not hard on him anymore.

“Yeah.”

My brows slowly joined and I gave him a questioning look, I still needed to know why he called me here, and now another mystery has unfolded, how did he know my mum who had been dead since I left high school.

“I’ll answer all your questions, but first can I get you guys something to drink?”

“I’ll pass.” I was not relaxed enough to drink anything right now.

“I’ll have anything you offer, Mr. Nicholas.” Reina shrugged, she wasn’t in the same boat as I was so I wasn’t going to blame her for being so relaxed.

Mr. Nicholas called someone and they brought in a bottle of red wine and a glass. The staff performed a quick work of opening the wine bottle and handing a portion to Reina to sniff.

“I hope it’s to your liking.” Nicholas asked Reina.

She nodded and I waited for them to be done with all the pleasantries so that I could get all my questions answered already.

After the whole gesture was made he turned to me. “I’ll need a DNA sample from you.”

How can he just come down like that? Did he drink or something? “I’m not giving you my sample unless I get answers first.”

He sighed, “I’m sorry, I just need to be sure before I give you the information. But if you insist…” he took a seat and rested his elbows on the desk. “Your dad might be my uncle, that is if the genetic testing comes back positive.” He took a second to probably think about how to explain everything in the easiest way possible.

“We have our grandma on the sick bed and our wish is that she sees her granddaughter before she dies, maybe that can give her some sort of peace when she passes on. My dad died from an accident with your dad on a business trip when we were still much younger. Your mum wanted a small normal life when she lost the love of her life, she took off with you, and we never saw her again.” His voice broke, it seemed like he missed my mum as much as I did.

“She was like a mother to me because my mum was rarely around, she took care of me like her own, I was heartbroken when she left without taking me along. I grew up to know only the family business but I still thank God I experienced her love before she left us even if it was short-lived.” He concluded.

“How are you sure that my mother is the same woman you talk about?” I ask with my brows still pulled together trying to digest everything I’ve heard.

“That’s what the DNA test is for.” He replied simply.

I sat back to digest all that I’d heard, if the DNA test came out positive then I’d be his cousin, if negative I’d be back to square one, I better stay neutral without hope. Deep down I knew this would change my life, I don’t know if it will be for good but I do know it will change. “Okay, I’m in.” Not the word I was supposed to say, but I’ve said it anyway, he should know what I mean.

“Great,” he put a call through and someone came inside immediately.

“Good day, Mr. Nicholas.” The young nurse greeted. “Hello.” She smiled at us.

“You’ll take a DNA sample from Carina here.”

She walked to my side and asked me to open my mouth, then she used a small wool on a stick to brush over the walls of my mouth and put the sample in a transparent plastic bag before sealing it.

“That will be all.” She said and excused herself.

“I know you are still a bit confused but don’t worry. If it comes out positive you will get to understand everything but if not we will compensate you with the sum of a hundred thousand dollars for taking your time.”

I looked at Reina and we both smiled, “It’s a win-win.” I whispered to her and she chuckled.

“So can we leave?” I asked.

“Yes, the chauffeur will take you back to your apartment.” He stood up and buttoned his suit.

We followed suit and left the library. “Get me my car keys, I’ll be in my office waiting.” He said to a maid “and call the chauffeur to take them home.” He added as he walked towards a large door at the upper end of the hall way.

“I thought his handsome ass will be the one driving.” Reina joked.

I chuckled, “Come on, let’s get going.”

When we got to our apartment, we arranged the things that they had scattered on entering and discussed the experience in luxury.

“Gosh that place was like another world, I never knew that kind of environment existed in Boston.”

“I’m more worried about how heartbroken they would feel when they find out I’m not the person they are looking for.” I took a seat and said my thought out loud.

I understood where he was coming from, he wished to give his grandmother peace by bringing her lost granddaughter back. If they never find her, it would probably break the old lady’s heart.

“Why do you have that sad look on your face? We should be happy cause we’re gonna be rich either way. If it comes out positive even better.” Reina was growing hope, but I was scared to do that.

We arranged the house and went out to get something to eat while we waited for the news.

Eight hours later we got a call, “The result is out.”