The Heiress They Ignored

Chapter Nine

Jeremy

It’s a good thing Amera was sleeping by the time we got in. I wouldn’t know what to say to her, or even how to look at her.

I’m definitely making that call first thing in the morning.

For now, I’ll just try to sleep and hope I sleep well.

I tossed and turned for what felt like forever before I finally fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up later than usual.

I reached for my phone and stared at the screen for a few seconds.

8:03 a.m.

I’m sure eight a.m. is not too early to make this call. He’s a businessman, after all.

This should be fine.

I sat up and rubbed my face.

Here goes nothing…

First ring.

Second ring.

“Hello?”

He actually answered.

“Hello, I’m Jeremy Kinston. Is this Mr. Dominic Roosevelt?”

“Yes, this is he. How can I help you?”

I paused for a second.

How exactly does one tell a man that the daughter he lost twenty-two years ago is currently sleeping in his house?

“Mr. Roosevelt, I know this might sound strange, but I think I may have some information about your daughter.”

He fell silent for a brief moment.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Jeremy Kinston. I’m a photographer and I live in New York. I know this sounds completely random, but I recently came across some information that led me to you.”

“What information do you have?”

“Mr. Roosevelt, I believe I may have found your daughter.”

“What did you just say?”

“Your daughter. The one who went missing twenty-two years ago.”

“Where did you get this information?”

“From my grandparents. They lived in the area where the Paul family used to reside.”

His voice changed immediately.

“What do you know about her?”

I looked down at my free hand.

“I met a young woman recently. She was raised by a family named Paul. She confirmed that she lived in the same house where your daughter was last seen in 2008.”

Another silence.

“What’s her name?”

I hesitated.

“Amera Paul.”

He didn’t respond immediately.

“Amera…” he repeated quietly.

“That’s the name she’s been known by all her life. I don’t know what name you gave your daughter.”

The line went completely silent.

“How certain are you?”

“I’m not completely certain yet. But everything I’ve found points in that direction.”

“Everything?”

“Yes, sir. I spoke with my grandparents yesterday. They lived near the Paul family when they were on Halston Avenue. They remember what happened back then, including the family that came looking for a missing child.”

Dominic was silent for a few seconds.

“And you’re certain she’s my daughter because?”

“Because I met her.”

“You met her?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“She’s currently staying with me.”

There was another long silence.

“You have my daughter in your house?”

“I don’t know for certain that she’s your daughter yet, Mr. Roosevelt. That’s why I’m calling you.”

“Alright, young man. What part of New York do you live in?”

“Manhattan.”

“My family and I are in our country home right now. I’ll send a private jet to pick you up in forty-five minutes from the airport in Manhattan.”

I blinked.

A private jet?

I had expected questions. Maybe a meeting somewhere public. I definitely wasn’t expecting him to send a jet.

“Sir, I—”

“You better not be falsifying information, because I assure you, you’ll be going straight to prison from here if this is a lie.”

His voice was calm, but there was something behind it that made me know he wasn't joking.

“I understand.”

“Good. Bring whatever evidence you have. Photographs, documents, anything that led you to this conclusion.”

“I will.”

“And Jeremy?”

“Yes, sir?”

“If this is true…”

He stopped.

I waited.

“If you really found my daughter after all these years, you have no idea what this means to my family.”

I swallowed.

“I can only imagine, sir.”

“Forty-five minutes. Don’t keep my family waiting.”

The call ended.

I stared at my phone.

What just happened?

I had expected a conversation. Maybe days of investigation and several meetings before anything serious happened.

Instead, I had forty-five minutes to get ready, gather every piece of information I had, and board a private jet to meet the family whose daughter I might have just found.

I looked at the time.

8:12 a.m.

“Well…” I muttered to myself. “That escalated quickly.”

I got out of bed.

There was no time to waste.

I needed to speak to Rob, gather the photographsand everything I got from my grandparents' house, and most importantly, make sure Amera was okay before I left.

Because if I was right…

Everything was about to change.

Amera

Jeremy seems to be really busy these days. It’s just eight a.m., and they’re driving out already.

“I hope he’s okay.”

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.

“Please, come in.”

“How are you, dear? Sleep well?”

It was Mrs. Violet.

“Good morning, ma’am. Yes, I slept well, thank you.”

She smiled.

Wow, her children must be so lovely.

Her nurturing aura was very thick. You could feel it in her smile and see it in her eyes.

“What about you, ma’am? Did you sleep well?”

“Mrs. V is fine, dear. Call me Mrs. V. And I slept well. Thank you for asking.”

I smiled.

“I was wondering…” she continued, “if you wanted to do something fun today.”

“Fun? Like what?”

I smiled.

“Well…” She sat beside me. “We could go shopping, eat out. I heard there’s a new restaurant opening somewhere in town. Anything you want to do, generally. You’ve been indoors the entire time. You need sunlight, Amera.”

She’s right.

I haven’t left my room since I got here.

Maybe it will help get my mind off things and hasten my recovery.

I looked down at the pajamas I was still wearing.

“I don’t even have anything to wear.”

“Oh, honey, don’t worry about that.”

She waved her hand.

“We’ll get you something.”

“Mrs. V, you really don’t have to. You’ve already done so much for me.”

“And?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“And I don’t want to be a bother.”

“You’re not a bother.”

She said it so casually, almost like the thought had never even crossed her mind.

I looked at her.

“Okay.”

“It’s okay if you’re not feeling up to it. We can go some other—”

“No, I’m okay. We can definitely go today.”

She smiled.

“Alright. I’ll see you downstairs in an hour.”

“An hour? That’s a bit much.”

She laughed.

“Take your time. This is a bit short notice,” she said as she walked away.

I stared at the door for a few seconds.

It felt strange.

A woman I’d met barely two days ago was already worried about whether I’d eaten, whether I had clothes to wear, and whether I’d gotten enough sunlight.

Meanwhile, the people I’d known all my life couldn’t wait to get rid of me.

I shook my head.

Nope.

I’m not doing this today.

Today was going to be about getting out of this room, getting some fresh air, and maybe eating something nice.

I got off the bed and walked towards the bathroom.

Maybe a little shopping wouldn’t hurt after all.