The Unknown Billionaire

Chapter 58

The following morning, Vere woke up with a start. His mind was already racing, preparing for the monumental day ahead. He dressed quickly and made his way downstairs. As he entered the dining area, he saw Ronnie sitting at the table, sipping his coffee in quiet contemplation.

"Hey, morning," Ronnie greeted, a casual smile on his face.

"Coffee?" he offered with a gesture to the steaming cup in front of him.

"Yes, sure, thanks," Vere replied, a slight smile curving his lips. He walked over, took a seat, and reached for the cup. The warmth of the coffee did little to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in his head.

The silence between them was comfortable at first, but it didn’t take long before they both began discussing the meeting that awaited them the following day.

"Are you excited?" Ronnie asked, looking up from his cup, a slight gleam of curiosity in his eyes.

"Yes, I am," Vere replied, his gaze steady. "This is the biggest moment of my life. I've been waiting for this for years."

"I got ya," Ronnie nodded, his voice a mix of reassurance and intrigue. "But I have to ask, why are you so invested in that company? I mean, I thought you'd hesitate about the additional payment. It's a huge sum of money."

Vere smiled faintly at his friend, appreciating his concern. "Well, Ronnie, this deal means a lot to me. Sure, the price tag is steep, but I know what I’m getting in return. The value outweighs the cost, and I can make it back in no time. This is the kind of investment that will set everything in motion for me."

Ronnie leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. He couldn’t deny the logic in what Vere was saying, but he was still unsure about some aspects of the deal. However, he trusted his friend enough to not question him further.

"We still have a day to prepare before I meet those miserable people in the world," Vere added, his voice tinged with an edge of determination.

Ronnie said nothing but nodded, his focus on Vere unwavering. He could tell that his friend was already miles ahead, mentally preparing for the battle ahead. Ronnie simply had to stay by his side.

"Ronnie," Vere continued, his tone suddenly shifting to a more serious one. "I trust you completely. Can I count on you? I need to know that you won't disappoint me like James did with Mr. Vere."

The words lingered in the air, heavy with meaning. Ronnie's eyes widened at the mention of James, the old associate who had betrayed Mr. Vere years ago. Ronnie hadn't fully understood the depth of that betrayal, but he knew it had cut deep.

"Yeah, sure," Ronnie replied, but something in his voice faltered for a moment. "But... I’ve been meaning to ask you something. The way you talk about buying this company and all the things you’ve mentioned about Mr. Vere, it's like you know everything about them. I mean, you sound like you’ve been planning this for years. I really respect and admire Mr. Vere, but..." He trailed off, leaning forward slightly. "He’s like a hero, fighting alone on the frontlines, dodging bullets from all sides."

At that moment, the words struck a chord with Vere. His breath caught, and his eyes seemed to lose focus for a moment. He sat still, lost in thought. Was this it? Was this the right moment to reveal the truth? Should he finally unveil the secret he’d kept for so long?

Ronnie, sensing his friend’s sudden silence, looked at him with concern. "Mr. Wayne, hey, are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Vere snapped back to reality, meeting Ronnie’s gaze. "Yeah, I’m fine," he replied, shaking his head slightly as if to clear it. "I just... I’ve been thinking. What if the person you’re sitting next to right now, the one you’ve been talking about, is the very same person you admire?"

Ronnie froze. He blinked, processing what Vere had just said. His mind raced, trying to make sense of it.

Ronnie chuckled softly, but there was an air of tension in his voice. "Hahaha, no, it’s not that. You could never be him, but I’m proud of you," he said, trying to keep the moment light. "In this world, there are similarities, but every person has a different personality."

At that moment, the tension in the air was palpable. Vere stared at him, clearly trying to comprehend the cryptic statement. "Yeah, you’re right," he muttered, but the uncertainty in his voice was still there. "But, you know, I’d like to reveal the truth to you. I need to trust you, especially as my personal assistant. You’re going to be a part of my life every day, and I need to know that I can count on you."

Vere leaned forward, his eyes darkening with a sense of gravity. "Ronnie, I am the person you’ve been talking about. The person you admire... I am Mr. Vere."

The silence that followed was deafening. Ronnie’s eyes widened in disbelief. He blinked several times, his mind struggling to process the revelation. Was this some sort of joke? Had he heard wrong?

"Wait, what?" Ronnie finally managed to say, his voice shaking slightly.

Vere’s face remained serious. "I’m not kidding, Ronnie. I’m Mr. Vere, the one you’ve been talking about. All those stories you admire... they’re about me. The battles, the risks, the sacrifices... they were all mine."

Ronnie’s heart began to race. His brain couldn’t fully grasp what he was hearing. He stood up, pacing for a moment, his mind struggling to piece it all together.

Vere remained seated, his gaze unwavering. "I didn’t want to reveal this to anyone, but I’ve been planning it for a long time. You’ve earned my trust, Ronnie, and you deserve to know the truth."

Suddenly, before Vere could say another word, Ronnie moved forward with a determined look in his eyes. He placed both hands on Vere’s shoulders, his grip firm but reassuring.

"Hey, come on," Ronnie said, his voice calm yet filled with an unexpected warmth. "You don’t need to explain. I’m not blind. I’ve known it all along. I’ve seen it in you, in the way you handle everything, in the way you think, in the way you act. You’re like Vere in every way."

Vere stared at Ronnie, surprised and relieved. "You’ve known?"

"Yeah," Ronnie nodded, a slight grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "I’ve observed you for a long time and really think you should be him. But right now, I get confused about what you are saying. Shhh," Vere answered. "I had face surgery. This face is not the face we knew. I underwent surgery after an accident."

Ronnie’s face seemed flattered and speechless at that moment while staring at Vere.

"It was never a question of if you were Vere, but when you’d reveal it to me. I’m proud of you, man. I’ve got your back, no matter what."

Vere’s heart pounded in his chest. The tension he had carried for so long seemed to fade away in that moment. He had just revealed his deepest secret, and Ronnie had not only accepted it, but he had embraced it.

"I... I’m glad, Ronnie," Vere said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "You’ve always been there for me, and now, more than ever, I need you."

Ronnie smiled, his expression filled with understanding. "You can count on me. Always."

And with that, the two of them shared a moment of unspoken understanding. The battle ahead was not just about acquiring a company; it was about trust, loyalty, and the strength to face whatever came next.

As they stood together, side by side, they knew that nothing could stand in their way. They had each other, and that was all they needed.

The real fight was just beginning.

But wait... I have one question. Do you trust me, right? I want to do the same. Can I?" Ronnie asked Vere. "If you were Vere, where did we meet and how?"

Vere looked at Ronnie, puzzled by his question, and became speechless.