The Hated Millionaire Heir

Her Mirror Self

“She is four months pregnant and the scan reviles she has twins, here have a look.” The doctor muttered excitedly handing the couple the ultrasound results. Its now five months since Salma was engaged to her deal and things were looking good for both parties, her daughters lived in the same house with her, a new house with a good roof, good ceiling, nice garden, a school where they boarded the bus to, so far so good. Months passed and the hump in her belly matured to its ripening, Salma conscious to the signs of childbirth hired a maiden to stay with her in the house, she would cook for her, massage her pregnancy, tell her stories of her experience in her venture till that sharp pain began. “The tea is poisoned.” She would taunt herself; the pain was escalating making her limbs weak and eventually she couldn’t move, her maiden aware of the situation called the couple and alerted them of the expected childbirth and twelve hours later Salma was holding her two beautiful girls. “You know the deal Salma give me my daughter.” She reprimanded her, after her painful experience she realized the value of a child, why she never allowed her husband mistreat her daughters, a mother bonds with her child from the pregnancy period till birth and the bond strengthened after the child’s first breath, after her first step, after her first words are, “Mama”, all this she was letting go, exchanging them with freedom, a tit for tat deal. Kissing the daughter on the right she whispered, “I love you my child.”, a teardrop fell signifying her motherly love and how painful it felt letting her go, Salma however needed one favor, from a mother to a mother. “Promise me you will tell her when she’s older, they are twins they will feel something empty without the other but we shall try and fill that as mothers. So, I need your word she will know of her sister?” she begged whizzing her nose. “My word you have Salma when the time is right she will know.” The wife promised, nearing Salma on her bed she held her hand and looked at the child, “She is beautiful you are blessed.” She praised her child, eyes shut on her arm. “Thank you Salma I will make the arrangements you will be sorted as we promised.” She assured her of her end of the deal. Nearing Salma she pitied her, the little girl with so hope for the city and it devoured her ripping her of her soft skin and gorgeous eyes, “Goodbye Salma.” She finished letting go of her hand. She gazed outside the window and saw the car’s taillights fade into the dark as it zoomed away, there her daughter went and she turned to the one remained, her eyes were still shut yet she had a firm grip of her thumb she had cupped her with. As she thought of the name she will give her daughter the couple had landed at the airport, their flight out of the country was on schedule, settled on their seat the mother and her child beside her husband on the window seat, they viewed outside. They could see the hospital as the plane began rising and was feet off the ground, at that moment she was named, Angel, she called her and she opened her eyes, Abigail, she called and she too opened her eyes.

Years passed since the twins were separated, one lived her whole life out of the country, rode her first bike out of the country, her first kiss out of the country, her first days, every teenage experience was on the foreign land, but her motherland had her ways of calling her back. “I am going on an exchange program with my colleagues to Gruem.” She announced over dinner. Abigail, the only daughter in her family was raised and brought up by her parents, taught the ways of man on every aspect and within her teachings she found her passion, journalism. Making the passion her career she was a renowned journalist in the news industry, robotics and mechanics were her favorite mostly because she was a fan of coding an object to do as its told, she studied and eventually graduated with a degree in journalism. She was hired and worked as an employee in the VERDAD NEWS CHANNEL, she worked tirelessly and fueled with rookie ambition she made hit stories like robots who could fly or unveiling scandals like the government’s secret robot project that was banned by the world union, fame or not for fame she made a name for herself. Seven years in the job and now she was given the opportunity, the chance to be among the employee exchange colleagues who will go to THE NATIONAL NEWS INDUSTRY in Gruem and have some new experiences on new grounds. Excited by the opportunity and golden chance, she broke the news over dinner and then she noticed, her mother was more shocked than surprised, her father was speechless, mostly they would congratulate her if she donated her lunch to a street boy but silence to this big news, something was up.

“There is something I have to tell you.” Her mother began, she new this day was bound to come, she was aware that someday fate will pull her back, that eventually they would meet. She remembered the promise they made, that promise years old, “Tell her the truth she is old enough.” Her voice confronted her, it was time and she couldn’t lie to her it was time the truth set her free. “Darling you have a sister.” She remarked pushing her plate from herself, her husband aware she would be turned to for confirmation paused his eating as well, he nodded the immediate moment Abigail turned to him in shock. “What do you mean I have a sister?” she asked, all her life she grew up alone, the family pictures nailed on the wall, the one where she graduated, her first medal, her first award, every arrow pointed the opposite direction, she was alone in all of them so what did her mother mean. “You have a sister, a twin sister.” She affirmed, Abigail recalled at that instant, the sudden pain she felt in her wrist like something was ripping it off yet she was fine, the sudden sadness like she was being scolded yet she was alone in the house, she felt emotions that weren’t hers and the revelation that she had a twin somewhere made sense, it all made sense.

“Angel dear please bring me some coffee.” Randy asked, her colleague in the same sector, Angel had just uncovered a new story, a local celebrity was handed a luxurious contract in exchange she aborts her pregnancy for a famous movie star, rumors had it she agreed but she was still seen with a pregnant like belly, so whether she double crossed or otherwise Angel was getting the juice of the month. In the cafeteria she greeted her friend a fellow staff member Abel, a cook in the company’s food sector, he served her the usual coffee with muffins and an extra for her friend, walking back to the elevator her goods in hand she felt her phone vibrate and soon the ringtone. Placing her stuff on the receptionist’s desk, she reached for her phone, on the screen was the name of the caller saved as Boss, sliding the call icon to green she received and placed the phone on her ear, “Hallo boss.” She greeted.

“I need you in my office Angel.” The boss remarked briefly before ending the call. Tucking her phone in her pocket, she took her stuff and rushed for the steps, foot after the other she leaped a step extra till she was on the second floor. “Hold this will you?” she demanded, handing the goods to her colleague before tucking in her shirt and walking into the elevator to the third floor. On the third floor she walked past the reception booths and knocked on the blue door, “Come in.” the inside voice echoed, unwinding the knob she pushed the door, walked in and closed it afterwards. Her boss sat there in his formal expensive navy suit, his coat tucked behind his seat, the usual office accessories were in place and underneath the table drawer he pulled out a document in an envelope.

“We have guests, exchange colleagues from VERDAD.” He imitated the Spanish accent, “I need you to go to the airport and receive our guests and bring them here.” He retorted unveiling the document’s message to her. “They are five, landing an hour from now. You will take the news van it is big enough for the five guests and the camera man too incase any drama unfold.” He remarked, “You leave now to avoid traffic delays.” He finished, tucking the document in the envelope he squeezed it inside a closed drawer. “Thank you sir.” Angel appreciated, taking her leave she exited the room leaving her superior to his grunts forcing a document in when he can open the drawer and place it in. In the middle of his blog posting, the title, “IS ABORTION THE SCRIPT”, his fingers clicked on keys as he typed in his ideas in software form, “Lets go.” Angel muttered grabbing her coffee and muffin. Interrupted his flow, Randy was pissed by her intervention ruining the consistent supply of ideas into a yarn of hypothetical ideas like why hasn’t anyone shave a lion’s mane. Obedient and fond of Agel he grabbed his pocket-sized camera, his coat, his coffee and followed his colleague.

In the eight-sitter van, Randy took the wheel while Angel sat beside her both with their work ID tags incase the officers missed the big label on their van saying NEWS CREW. Randy coughed the engine as Angel prepared herself on the words to welcome her guests with, doing practices with Randy while he drove she was aware she was breaking various road rules but she was the kind to not be intimidated by laws implemented by men who broke them often.

On her flight, she glared outside viewing the green carpets of tea plantations, above the clouds she pictured the candy cotton puffs and how she would devour it, she saw the dots, one bigger than others, some running chased by another, the herders hastened their herds to avoid the oncoming storm, “Aby you okay?” she asked. Her colleague, Becky, was like her sister, she grew up with her from childhood as neighbors, went to the same school, same college and now worked in the same company in the same sector, “Yes just not used to flying.” She smiled. Becky wrapped her arms around Abigail’s as she fell asleep, Abigail viewed her reflection, she was still in disbelief by the superstitious theory her parents unveiled, that her reflection was real, she had a blood alike with the same look, same smile, same skin complexion, she had doubts but in an hour she would affirm the theory. “Wake up sweetie.” Abigail murmured, tapping Becky’s cheeks childishly she stretched herself roughly groaning before glaring at Abigail for a moment, “That was fast.” She commented on the plane’s timeliness, “We have to get off.” Abigail urged grabbing her coat. The plane had just landed and passengers were alighting, the first class was done it was their turn and being at the front seat the air hostess in a white attire full of makeup and a blonde wig whispered, “Have a nice time.” Guiding Abigail, Becky and three other journalists at the end of the coach. First time in Gruem for all of them, the air was fresh, green trees were planted around the fountain, they went down the lobby to grab their luggage and ten minutes later the five journalists had their travel bags and made a walk to exit the airport.

“Hello welcome to Gruem.” Angel welcomed the four guests, with a sign written news guests Becky and her crew were signaled and changed their walk to their direction. Midway Abigail felt a sudden rush down her bowels and urgently she urged them to go on without her as she rushed for the nearest bathroom. “I am Becky and these are…” Becky paused as the rest journalists introduced themselves, “I am Angel and this is Randy.” Angel introduced herself in turn. “Can we go?” Angel asked doubting the journalists were enough though, “We have one more she is… there she is.” Becky sighed at the site of Abigail at the end of the luggage reception. Excusing herself to receive a call, Angel stepped back as her boss called and conversed steps from the group, Abigail caught up and pinched Becky playfully greeting Randy afterwards. Ending her call Angel turned and returned to the crew, something was off, she was viewing her self but in a black skirt, confusion was evident when for a brief moment the two twins were speechless.

“I’m Abigail.” She reached out, “I’m Angel.” She reached back. Randy pulled out his camera and unfolding it he pointed the lens at the twins and even he was shocked, the two were completely identical, were they actual twins or just coincidental look alike, “So this was the drama.” She whispered quoting her boss’s emphasis. She just met the drama but even better she was the drama, they both were.