'Come on in'. The little beautiful girl said to us.
I hesitated but when I looked at Debby, she gave me a nod and I felt a little bit relived. The whole place was beautiful. I was upset and curious at the same time. But when I stepped in, the whole anger disappeared and I was left alone with curiosity. But it was later joined by a feeling that said 'this guy has taste. He sure knows how to soften an angry woman's heart'.
Maybe I should describe what I saw. A candle light dinner for two, a bottle of my favorite wine, my favorite song playing and what was my favorite color doing here. (I have a thing for pink. I know most ladies do).
'I thought this was suppose to be dinner? No one mentioned the 'two' part'. I said to Jack as he came out to receive us.
'I'm sorry I didn't tell you', He tried explaining.
'And you think doing that now will make any difference? Or was it just a scheme to bring me here?'
'I'm sorry Laly, I . . .'
'Please! It's Lara', I cut him. I didn't stop him because I was angry but I didn't want him calling me that name. It was the way he called me. It had an effect on me that made my knees stutter, as if they wanted to say something.
'I'm sorry about that', he apologized.
And for some seconds we stood there, waiting. For what exactly? I had no clue. But we felt we were waiting for something. Maybe for someone to say or do something I guess.
'Could you grown ups excuse me. I have stuff to do', the little girl said and left.
'And I have something to do in the kitchen. Do excuse me'. Adora said and left.
Then Debby looked at me and then at Jack.
'Don't worry, I'll just go', She said and went into the kitchen.
Then Jack looked at me and smiled. I avoided his gaze like it was going to bore a hole right through my skull.
'Please come to the table', he gestured. I followed.
He drew my chair for me to sit and placed the napkin on my laps. 'This is awkward', I thought. Suddenly my anger began to build up. I suddenly felt used.
'Lara, I . . . ',
'Jack please! What really are you trying to do here? Tell me', I bursted out.
'Lara I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my family before now but I . . . '
'You what Jack?! You what?! I can't believe I actually did feel something for you. But you lied to me. Why would you do that Jack? I felt you were different. Flaunting your charms and making me feel like I was actually loved. But no! You had other plans. Maybe you wanted a rich girl. And I was the perfect specimen'.
'Lara . . . '
'Don't Lara me'. By this time I was already on my feet. 'You have a wife and daughter for crying out loud Jack. You expect me to be ok with that. How is that even possible? I may be a fool but I'm not your fool Jack'.
'Lara, I know you're angry but . . . '
'You think?!'
'But please hear me out first'
'Give me one good reason why I should'
'Because you came. And if I know you the way I do, you wouldn't want to go without hearing the truth'.
He was right about that one.
'Please just sit down and let me explain. If you're not satisfied with what I'm about to say, you can leave and I promise I'll not even look in your direction ever again. Please!'
I don't like it when he begs but I had no choice. But somehow I wanted to hear him out. So I quietly sat down.
'Lara, I'm sorry again for everything I've made you go through. None of it was my intension. But allow me explain everything. If by the time I do and you still don't like what I say, you can leave and I won't stop you. Please'.
I was beginning to melt but I tried as much as possible not to show it. 'Lara, if you really want to be clarified on this issue, sit down and listen'. I had to speak to myself.
'Ok Jack. Talk to me'.
'Thank you Lara. Two years ago, my twin brother Tim, was working on a project.
'You have a twin brother?', I was shocked'
'Yes I do and he was the head scientist at a large corporation in Italy. He was actually working on an antidote for a deadly disease they just discovered and he was really making progress with the work. The company is owned by a popular billionaire. This disease defiled every medicine ever made by humans. Doctors were called from around the world to help eradicate the disease.
My brother is a very smart person. He studied medicine and was always tops in the class. He graduated with distinctions in Harvard. All he ever wanted was to build hospitals where the less privileged would be taken care of. That was his dreams. That was why we agreed for him to lead the project in the first place.
The victims were contained and my brother and his team worked hard to make sure they found a cure. The disease was airborne and it could kill within four to five days. No one knew how it came about. No one knew its origin but my brother was determined to fight it. He told me everything he did and every progress they made.
Last year they broke through and created a cure. I never saw my twin brother so happy all my life. A week to the day the antidote was suppose to be administered on the victims on national television, he suddenly disappeared. His teammates were also nowhere to be found. Every link from him disappeared like they never even existed. His phones, pager, email addresses. Everything gone'.
'Why didn't you report to the authorities'. I asked him.
'I tried everything. Local police, international detectives and even private investigators. But no one seamed to have a trace of his whereabouts. I even traveled to Italy myself but I found nothing. It was like my brother never exited. That was when I knew it was worse than I thought. So I decided to do the investigations myself.
From my investigations, I found out that a certain organization has been sending cheques to the families of the scientists that were working with my brother. And we've also been receiving such cheques too. It comes every week. I must say it is quit huge. My guess is that someone somewhere is planning something and my brother and his team are helping him against their will. I may be wrong but I think whosoever is keeping them is planing to reproduce the virus and the antidote and sell them in the black market. You know how dangerous that can be. The virus can be created and replicated but it's very difficult. My brother is the only person that can make that happen. And that's why our cheques are five times larger than the other ones. The transfers are always encrypted with the latest technology. Softwares and codes I've never heard or seen before.
'Lara, these people are not just playing around. They mean business. They kidnapped my brother and those scientists.'
'But if they were kidnapped, why would they still be sending the scientists' families money every week?
'I know my brother, he must have agreed to do whatever they asked if only they took care of their families. We thought they kept to their words until one day I caught a man trying to kidnap Adora. I was able to overpower him, took his gun and shot him in the leg. He then confessed that he was asked to do it. He said he never met the person and that he only got his payment via a secure channel and their communications were always on hark-proof lines. When I checked his account, I found out that they were the same codes they used in transferring the money to the scientists' families and to us as well. So I had to move my family here. And I know my brother, he must be planning something because I know he would never agree to do anything that would endanger human lives.
'When I thought all hope was lost of ever finding my brother and the scientists, I was able to decipher a particular set of codes that was used in sending money to one of the families. I've been monitoring their accounts as well. They use different codes in sending these money to these families every week. And guess what, I found he works for you'.
'What?!', I couldn't believe I was hearing this. 'Are you saying I have something to do with any of this?'
'Not at all Lara. Your family members are good people and they wouldn't do such a thing. I did a thorough research on your company. But someone from your company is working for these people and they're using your company as a cover'.
'This is too much to take in. How come? I have a mole in my company? How is that even possible?'
'It's true Lara. That was why I had to take the job in your company in the first place. Your company has the best gadgets in the world. So I came here for solely that purpose. But so many things changed when I met you. But family comes first. I know you of all people can understand that'.
I felt really bad about this. The whole anger disappeared almost immediately. I really wanted to hold him, hug him and tell him everything was going to be alright.
'I'm sorry to hear about your brother's disappearance. I truly am. If there's anything I can do to help please let me know'.
'I should be the one apologizing. Sorry I wasn't being truthful about the whole me'.
'It's ok. I understand. If I were to be in your shoes, I would probably do the same'.
We hugged.
'So what's next? You're just going to continue your investigation as if noting happened between us? Maybe you would probably leave town with your wife Adora and daughter. Is that it?' I felt like crying n it must have showed on my face.
'About that', he said standing up and smiling. 'Adora! Bella!' He called out to his wife and daughter. They came out from the kitchen, holding hands. Debby was with them. 'Lara, meet my brother's wife, Bella. And her daughter, my niece, Adora'.
'What?!'
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