Stolen Identity

4. The Meeting

“It must be fake” Arwyn stated looking grimly on the papers laid down on the coffee table.

Honestly I want to believe what my brother is saying but this ugly feeling in my stomach is saying otherwise. My gut feelings never led me astray before, but how could that happen? I am definitely sure that I haven’t encountered any of them before, heck I don’t even know any of them! This is the first time I knew about the name or those persons.

I was silent for a long time drowning my existence in my thoughts when my brother shook me.

“Don’t worry about it, maybe it’s just a prank or some twisted dare that they got into. You said it yourself you haven’t met any of them. This is fake” Arwyn assured me, while picking up the papers taking it with him leaving the room.

I slumped deeper on the couch, I thought too much, I closed my eyes tightly and shook my head. I’m reading too much into things I need a break from, so I got up and walked towards my room, glancing a little at my study table. Hmm I still have school work but as I said I need a break I threw my body on the bed patting my pocket for my phone, calling Han she must be free maybe I can go to her house.

After a few rings, it went to her voicemail. I thought that maybe she’s busy. I groaned and stared at my ceiling. There is nothing interesting about my ceiling but pondering for a while I grabbed my laptop, started it up and looked up to the person’s name.

It is fake anyway…what’s the worst that could happen?

My fingers suddenly got numbed, the search box is big enough to see and I just have to type a few letters on it. How hard can it be?

I let a sharp intake of breath when the information came through, now I’m sure I never met this person before! Apparently he’s a business magnate! And one of the youngest too. His father is already successful in the distillery field and he is the one who expanded it into multiple fields. Having an IQ of a genius. He is involved in various sports too including soccer and swimming and archery? The more I read about this person my jaw kept on dropping, I scrolled down and I came across his picture.

He is breathtaking.

His slicked back dark hair looks so soft, not even a single strand out of place, strong forehead, prominent nose and supple li—I’m not going there. It’s impossible how this influential and almost surreal person can be acquainted with me? It’s unbelievable! I have to stop this before I become crazier thinking about this.

I closed my laptop breathing deeply, I shouldn’t be stressed with nonsense. Those people must have nothing to do with their lives so they are trying to disturb mine. I walked towards my closet and grabbed a towel I needed to soak in a bath to try to relax after preparing my tub. I heard my phone ring so I hurriedly went to get it.

Han must be free now, maybe we can hang out, not looking at the caller’s ID. I received the call walking back to my bathroom.

“Hello, is this Mrs. Scarpa?” the voice on the other line asked.

“Pardon?” I asked furrowing my eyebrows, staring at my phone.

“I am just calling for the allotted appointment with Social Worker Menendez on Monday—

Tapping my sneaker encased foot on the tiled floor, gripping my coat tightly with my hand, the other is on my phone that I keep on checking. My eyes trained on the café’s doors, expecting a vaguely familiar face. I let my coat go and stirred the now cold tea in front of me. I can't even enjoy what I like because of my jumbled nerves. The anxiety creeped quickly on my veins. Why me?

I checked the time on my phone, Arwyn must be still not worried so I can still wait here. How did this even happen? I never go anywhere. I don't give much information. My tech has customized firewalls so does everyone in the family. So I would know if I was hacked—how and who–

*knock*knock*

A hand knocked on my table taking me out of my thoughts. I looked up and I saw a vaguely familiar face and a gentle smile painted on his lips.

“May I sit here?” he asks politely, pointing to the seat opposite mine.

“Yes please” I answered, he nodded a little and fluidly took the seat sitting comfortably.

“I don’t want any more pleasantries, if you are just making fun of me. Please stop, I don’t know who you people are nor if I did anything to you” I said directly, internally patting myself on the back for not stuttering and having a firm voice.

He chuckled, “Søt, what made you think we are making fun of you? And to this extent?” he asks amused. (Cute)

“I am extremely busy with my life too, but here I am doing another job,” he added. He took another set of papers and laid it down in front of me.

“How can I know that the papers that you keep on presenting to my face are real?” I asked not even glancing at it , my gaze piercing at him.

“If you want, I can show you the original ones, seeing that these are just copies,” he said, gesturing to the papers smiling at me. I don’t like violence but I really want to smack that smile off in his lips. It’s getting annoying how unfazed he looked while I’m internally struggling and a complete mess.

“Where are the original ones?” I asked my eyebrows furrowing.

“Where else?” a knowing look in his eyes and smirked at me.

________________________________________

“Watch your steps, Mrs. Scarpa,” a very gentle man reminded me, offering his gloved hand towards me.

I am not a Mrs yet, I silently gritted my teeth instead of frowning. I smiled at the polite man in front of me. I gently took his hand helping me to step out of the car and gently led me to the front doors of a huge—huge mansion. Seriously? How many people live here? Or families? This is so grand.

My ankle boots clicking on the cement underneath me is heard enough, I am mentally preparing myself, making myself calm and collected. I can’t believe I lied to my parents and brother AND Hanae, basically everyone who cares about me for this. Well, I think this is a bit better than going to jail for the upcoming crime I didn’t commit and supposed to doesn’t have nothing to do with me. I looked at my peripheral view on my right, the mountain of a man who is guiding me right from the start, his calm demeanor is gentle and feels safe but I wouldn’t trust it yet. The double doors in front of us were opened by the identical mountain of a man on my right. His harsh and mischievous aura basically scared me but the other assured me that if I were to trust anybody here with my safety it would be him.

“After you” Eeroh from what I remember his name was. His smirk taunting me, like a predator toying with his prey.

“Thank you” I mumbled, no matter how much I don’t want to be here. I mustn’t be rude or Mom would be disappointed besides they didn’t force me in any way, I came on my own accord.

His smile widened at my response, “I thought you said she was VERY difficult” Eeroh asked his twin.

Yes, he and the calm individual are brothers—twin brothers. They are identical too, if it wasn’t for their personality and clothes you wouldn’t pick who is who. They are so identical, to their height, muscle tone and handsome faces.

I coughed on the last thought, they know they are attractive so they are smug about that that’s why I am never complimenting them.

“Mr. Eeroh and Stellan welcome back, he is upstairs in his office waiting” out of nowhere a middle aged man came making me jump, scared out of my wits and talked beside me.

“Now, now Aldo you almost gave your signorina a heart attack” Stellan stated amused, I glared at him my hand still on my chest. (Young lady)

The new person turned his head towards me, his face void of expression, eyes cold and stoic, despite my abnormally fast paced beating heart I outstretched my hand towards him and smiled.

“Hello, I’m Lys—I mean Eirlys, nice to meet you” I introduced myself.

“It is my utmost pleasure, Donna del Capo” he politely received my hand and gently shook it. (Woman of the boss)

The last words made me furrow my eyebrows, making Eeroh chuckle and Stellan smirk, what does that mean? I looked at Aldo? His name was, he was still smiling pleasantly. I was about to question him when Stellan interrupted.

“Aldo, I believe he’s waiting for us?” he asks, making Aldo nod his head and gesturing to us to follow him. We followed him further on to the luxurious house, which is supposed to be just a house, it is very well maintained and grand, the polished marble floors and even the walls have its gloss and don’t get me started with the furniture and obviously expensive paintings and sculptures scattered around.

I can notice a handful of maids walking around being a little discreet on taking a peek at us, my anxiety is reaching its peak again. I nursed my sanity internally, so I can appear at least calm on the outside. There’s a lot of guards here, my eyebrow raising on the fact, most of them built and tall. Intimidating and strong, we ended on another set of double doors, Aldo knocked on it before opening it. He walked in first, he’s on the other side is he?

Maybe I can still talk to him. So I can go back home as early as possible, I am really an innocent civilian that got dragged unknowingly in this messed up situation.

“You know we don’t have all day” a voice asked behind me I looked behind me and I saw Stellan a condescending stare directed to me, I grimaced at him I took a deep breath and walked into the room.

________________________________________

I walked into the room, it was an office or a study. The setting is, I halted when I saw the tall figure overlooking a window phone in his hand and was talking to it in a foreign language. I saw Aldo on the side lifting his hand telling us to wait. I looked down on the unsurprisingly shiny floor. Being in this place makes me non-immaculate I snorted mentally.

I looked at the uniquely patterned tiles, I have to entertain myself to not freak out entirely. I’m wondering what Arwyn is doing right now he must be still in Geo’s, I hope he’s not being suspicious of me I sighed. Han will be mad if she finds out about this. We've always been a ride or die duo. I uttered a wishful apology. And mom and dad I can’t imagine how furious would they be, knowing that their daughter lied and hid something from them something so serious, probably ending me in jail and not only that but being married and having a neglected ki—

“Is she deaf?” I heard an authoritative voice not far from me, snapping me out from my musings and wails of woe.

“She’s a bit of an airhead?” I heard a response, looked sharply on the said response, deadly glaring at Eeroh, he’s such a jerk did he just described me as stupid?

Eeroh widened his eyes at me, making Stellan shake his head slowly before hitting his i***t brother in the back of his head.

“She’s pensive,” Stellan answered.

“Well then, seeing that you both have done your directive for now, you can withdraw. Aldo if you will” the voice directed making Aldo nod his head along with the twins. Eeroh giving me a meaningful smile and Stellan with a smirk, that two irritates me so much.

After the door clicked closed, he poured an alcohol beverage into his glass before setting himself on his seat.

“I am starting to believe Eeroh is right, are you going to just stand there all day?” he asked me before sipping on his glass.

What a condescending jerk, oh gods like goons like boss. Am I really going to be stuck with them? I’ll take Arwyn any day now than these men!

I took my seat before rolling my eyes at him.

“Attento” he uttered. (Careful)

“What?” I asked, making me furrow my eyebrows. He stared directly at me coldly, making me gulp, he’s very intimidating.

“I know that Stellan told you what the repercussions are—“ he started.

“About that I want to talk about—“ I was about to say what’s on my mind practicing on it.

“I want you to stay here and stay married to me” he finished.

“What?” I dumbly said, what does—is he serious? No! Oh my god my parents are going to kill me, eyes widening and I think my brain got a stroke.

“Excuse me? But we can’t—I can’t do that! I have my family that doesn’t know anything about this and I wanted to keep it that way. Look, I never met you or any of those men that you have. And I am deeply sure that I have no one that has a prejudice against me that will go great lengths just to ruin me. I have no enemies” I said in a firm voice and whispered the last part. I interlock my fingers together and look straight at the person in front of me.

“And maybe we’re not that deep in this situation, maybe you can get your own person out of this and maybe I can too. So it’s not too late to back down now” I continued.

I stared at this expressionless yet somewhat still professional face, I can guess the wheels on his head turning or not. When he narrowed his eyes at me, taking calm breaths.

“Are you sure Eirlys? Not that deep?” he asks meaningfully, my mind confused. I can bet that it shows so much in my face.

I looked at him as he moved his hand in the air and suddenly the door opened behind me, I craned my head towards it and I saw Aldo standing straight before I could make my words out a small figure came barreling in knocking my air out of my lungs.

“Mammina!” A shriek of joy came from the small figure that was hugging my thighs while he buried his face on it.

My hands become numb, my mouth agape, my sanity crumbling down. As I took the scene, I was looking at Aldo who was still impassive and the other one calmly sipping his drink.

My head looked down at the seemingly the only one innocent in this room. Is the boy real? What did he just call me? I stared at the shiny locks of hair stuck on his face because of sweat, his cheeks puffed out and red, his lips painted with the most blissful of smiles and eyes with innocence and he looked so happy gazing at me. Who in the world would do this to a child?