Billionaire’s Twin Deception

Chapter 8

EDEN'S POV

Richard closes Jack's notebook and slides it back across the desk. "You're not seriously thinking what I think you're thinking."

I stare at the notebook cover covered in dinosaurs, crayon marks, and messy childish handwriting, and I don't answer because he's right.

Richard leans back in his chair and folds his arms. "This is ridiculous."

"Maybe."

"You found a kid's notebook."

"I know." Richard exhales slowly. "Children draw imaginary families every day."

I look away toward the city beyond the office windows. Traffic moves below, people hurry across sidewalks and everything keeps moving

My thoughts don't because every explanation sounds reasonable until I remember the drawings of the same man again and again.

Richard studies me for a second then asks quietly, "I'll ask you this again, is this about the kid or the chef?"

I don't answer and Richard mutters something under his breath then stands. "You're heading toward trouble."

"I'm reviewing information."

"You're looking for her." I don't deny it because denying it would be a lie. Richard shakes his head. "You need a hobby." Then he leaves.

The office falls silent, I open my laptop again and find myself pulling up Janice Soto's employee file.

Nothing unusual appears at first, employment history, emergency contacts, performance records and training certifications.

Completely normal yet certain details refuse to leave me alone.

*Why is Jack's father missing from every emergency form?* *Why doesn't Janice list family contacts?* *Why did she move to New York exactly five years ago?* *Why does nobody know anything about her life before then?*

Every answer creates another question and every question leads back to the same place, Jack.

The next morning the kitchen sounds louder than usual as metal crashes, orders fly across the line, and steam curls through the air while everyone moves faster and works harder simply because I'm standing there again.

Celine notices me first, she immediately groans. "Oh good." Several cooks glance over. "What?"

"Our favorite billionaire is back." A few laughs follow, Janice doesn't even look up. "Focus."

"Tell him to stop haunting the kitchen."

"I'm not haunting anything." Celine points a knife toward me. "See? He's talking now."

Janice finally lifts her head, her eyes meet mine for one second then she turns away again. "Back to work."

Celine ignores her completely. "Should we reserve Chef Soto her own billionaire parking spot?"

Laughter explodes around the line and Janice grabs a spoon. "Celine."

"Yes, Chef?"

"Keep talking." The spoon lifts slightly, Celine immediately raises both hands.

The kitchen laughs harder and before Janice can stop it, she smiles. Something catches painfully inside my chest because for one second she looks different.

Younger, softer and familiar then the expression disappears. Control slides back into place and Chef Soto returns.

The rest of the morning passes without incident. I step out of a meeting and round a corner near the administrative offices.

A voice stops me, Janice. The office door isn't fully closed and I wasn't trying to listen then I hear the strain in her voice and stop.

"Tell me exactly what the doctor said." Silence a she listens. "No." Another pause, her fingers grip the phone harder.

"No, don't tell him I'm panicking." The words hit strangely then. "I'm leaving now." The call ends and Janice lowers the phone.

For a second she simply stands there breathing, trying to pull herself together then she grabs her bag and rushes out fast.

She never notices me, I watch her disappear down the hallway. Something uncomfortable settles in my stomach because whatever that call was wasn't routine or work and it terrified her.

The rest of the afternoon drags, meetings blur together, reports become meaningless, numbers stop making sense and I find myself passing the administrative offices again.

Janice's office door remains open, the lights still on. I should keep walking, instead I glance inside.

A folder sits on her desk partially open, one page exposed under fluorescent light. I stop as the hospital logo catches my eye, Pediatric Cardiology Department.

My stomach tightens, I step closer before I can stop myself. The patient name sits near the top is Jack Soto.

Everything inside me stills, the room suddenly feels too quiet. I tell myself to leave, close the door and mind my own business.

Instead my eyes drop lower and only one line is visible. *Ongoing cardiac treatment.*

That's all, no details or diagnosis, enough to explain the fear in her voice, enough to explain the hospital calls, enough to explain why every mention of Jack changes her completely and to explain why she looks exhausted even when she pretends she isn't.

I stare at the page trying to make sense of it, to understand how she's carrying all of this alone then the office door opens behind me.

The sound cuts through the silence like glass breaking and I turn. Janice stands frozen in the doorway, a forgotten set of keys hangs from her fingers.

Her eyes immediately find the folder in my hand, every trace of color disappears from her face.

Neither of us moves or speaks. The air tightens painfully between us because for the first time I've seen a piece of the secret she's been fighting so hard to protect.