Chapter 67

She had always found the news report boring, the brand her parents preferred anyway. Watching it today gave her missed feelings. The recognition and unrecognition. She had recognition before as a star student, a prodigy, athletic and scholastic acknowledgment but the more she had the emptier she felt. She didn't understand why her mother thrived on public recognition but now she knew. So while she was watching the news of the near-fatal drowning in a renovated property, she was also rewatching her glory days. How would people react if it was placed side by side and they discovered that both were the same person? She found her sense of humor was returning, I mean she never really had one but now… Her bipolarity was becoming a source of entertainment.

She had watched the news so many times from different sources. They all termed it a minor landslide or an earthquake. Her getaway property had become a tourist attraction. It will blow away eventually. She didn't kill him but successfully scarred him. He was just an extra, she wasn't going to waste her finesse on him. However, she gave him a chance to elevate his status. What he did was up to him, however… she chuckled dryly.

She watched the news for two hours before she got up and decided to get dressed. She had kept her parents' waiting for too long. She leisurely switched on the house sound system connected to her phone and played music, sipped her wine, and generally took her time. She could afford to have them wait. She contemplated how to act…mmmm. She picked her clothes separately and noticed how much she had missed out and then not really. Fashion had moved on but she doubted she would have noticed if she had continued her normal life. She would have worn what Annabelle wanted with no questions asked. Anabelle was a fashionista but had a way of imposing her standards on others. The more she recalled the more she marveled. Her mom had enrolled her in fashion classes one summer vacation and she had come in first in the contest at the end of the training. She missed out on being a child but she wasn't sure she regretted it as people would have expected or maybe she was so so. Whatever, the past can change but she was about to change some people's future.

She wore her clothes and looked at the suitcases in the corner. She was moving in next week and that was one of the reasons she was going to see her parents, well Cynthia's parents. She was curious if they could recognize the difference or realize that she was not their daughter. She wondered what kind of parents they were to their daughter. The hypocritical ones like her parents. She didn't care, Cynthia was the perfect cover for her to experience this world in the way she wanted to before deciding if and when she would resume her original identity.

Walking down the hallway had heads turning. Cynthia was passable but Rosetta gave her elegance and presence. She was groomed by non other than 'the Annabelle Stone' the 'elite of the elite'. She knew more than a thing or two. The first question was 'Who is that Woman?' And to those who knew who had that face, they wondered what she was doing here.

Rosetta ignored them and walked with her chin high. The Coralez family has been doing well for four years now and counting so people were not surprised at the arrogance given that Cynthia herself was a naturally arrogant person. Empty but arrogant. She 'hmmed' inwardly as she noticed that she was beginning to see a lot of things through the lens of Annabelle Stone. Was that a bad thing?

She walked out of the building and saw the cars waiting for her. After this, she couldn't casually move around as Cynthia, if she was smart but she wasn't Cynthia so why should she invest in portraying her as smart? She pulled the shades she wore up and entered the car whose door was held open. She remembered how her parents had an entourage when they went out but she was forced to ride a bicycle to one of the best private schools. What was their excuse again for not getting her a car? Oh yes! Riding a bicycle stimulated the brain. She 'tsked' outwardly and the driver.

"Any problem miss Coralez? the driver asked

"Drive faster" she replied coldly and the man nodded. He was used to getting attitudes from the 'princess' but today what he saw was a certain coldness. He decided to mind his business and drove off.

This was going to be fun.

This was going to be fun. This was like the first external contact with people that knew Cynthia. She rolled her head on her neck. Would mummy and daddy Coralez notice that her daughter wasn't their daughter, she knew Annabelle no matter how much she hated her would spot an impersonator. From her research, Cynthia was a pampered pet. Would the pet owner realise that their pet has been swapped or was it only a pet and anyone would do?

The first thing Serena noticed about her daughter was her upgraded fashion sense. Her daughter was fashion crazy but there was a slight difference and an air of elegance.

"Mom! Dad!" Cynthia said enveloping her parents in hugs

Rosetta could tell at first glance that her dress raised an eyebrow from Serena. Mmmh! Mother knows best. How true is that saying?

"How could you go on a vacation without me!? Are you tired of showing me off?"

"It was not a vacation princess, it was work," her father said indulgently. Her research showed Alfred as a bipolar father. One minute he was warm and caring the other he was harsh and unreasonable. It was obvious what side was up. She didn't believe his bipolarity, he was as exploitative as the rest of the Coralez family. Annabelle kept a list, a very long list mostly mentally but…

"I could work too," she said with a pout. She gaged inwardly at that pitiful voice.

"If you had accepted my offer to work for the company, I would have taken you"

The bone of contention between her and her father. Alfred had forced his daughter to read chemistry to give her a better foothold in the grapple. This was the sweetest point in all of these. Cynthia's supposed knowledge of chemistry.

"Come on Dad, not this again"

"You are wasting your potential and you know that"

Yep, she knew! She was wasting her potential on them.

She looked to her mother for help and even though that was what she wanted too, she wouldn't let her daughter be pressured by anyone even though it was her father except for one person.

"Let her be love. She'll join the company when she is ready."

"We need to make haste. She has to establish her footing in the industry."

"You worry too much"

"For a man besieged by enemies, I worry less"

"I would hardly call your siblings enemies that warrant much worry," Serena said, adjusting herself in her seat.

Oh the Coralez family, tsk! Alfred was greedy but then again who wouldn't? They were not some self-righteous hypocrite at least she wasn't but then again he was. If there was more for the taking then why not? His company was huge but his father's was an empire. Why wouldn't he be greedy?

"Yes, but when they align with my competitors…"

Rosetta had not only heard but had witnessed the rivalry of the Coralez siblings. Annabelle had a thing for opportunities. She needed to start finding legit documentation.

Serena didn't say anything. There were truths in what he said. His siblings were no match for him but when they recruited outside forces, they became a scary bunch. The truth was Cynthia was their trump card. The decision still lay with the old man and he wasn't stupid. If Cynthia played well then they were more at an advantage.

"Cynthia dear, don't you think it's about time you let your grandfather see your shine"

They already do. That reminds me, I have two grandfathers.

Rosetta halted her inner monologue. From what she gathered before her magical disappearance, Cynthia was scared of her grandfather. Every one of them was. Her mother had found him an amusing sinister old man. Yes! She knew a lot about Annabelle down to her categorization. She wanted to please her mom so much that she knew what each breath meant at such a young age and here Cynthia was being worshipped by her parents for being passable.

"My grandfather doesn't care"

"He used to…" Alfred was cut by his wife

"Your grandfather cares about relevance and advantage, he has no special recognition for anyone who is not both, and you, my dear are more, more than those rats scurrying around for favour," Serena said.

Her daughter was a gem the old man should be proud to have in his lineage.

Rosetta held in her snort with sheer effort. Her mental self was rolling around in the hay laughing. This was so comical to both of them. In under three minutes, she could expose every one of them for the scam they were. Part of the appeal of this character is the humour. Another thing was the sinister nature of Cynthia. She wasn't the sweet innocent daughter she projected. She was a monster that kept tabs. She was like an 'octoleech'. A blood-sucking parasite with tentacles. Rosetta felt that if Grandpa Coralez really knew his granddaughter then there were more chances that the inheritance would be hers but she didn't want that. If she was able to prove her theory then the Coralez were in for a very ride or she might just let them be. She wasn't out for revenge but then again what was she out for?

"He scares me"

Alfred watched his daughter admit what most men he knew felt. If he was honest, he was a bit scared of his father. They all grew up terrified of the man. He was ruthless and devious and would put profit before anything else, even family.

"That's why you need to get closer," Serena said. She didn't know if that was a piece of good advice, she just hoped the man wouldn't hurt his family.

Rosetta was having a field day. These people were clearly intimidated by the old man and yet were pushing their daughter toward the lion's den. The only difference was that if push came to shove, they might have the decency to act as a safety net for their daughter. That wasn't her issue, she might not stick around to find out. She needed to find what she needed and then make a decision on what to do with the real Cynthia.

"I will think about it…"

Alfred didn't let her say anything more. His was the most favourable response they have gotten from her on the subject. If she was willing to consider it then they were close. His daughter was a smart girl. She knew how important the old man's grace was to their cause.

"Beautiful! Tell me when you want to start"

"But father, thinking about it carefully, wouldn't it be better to start from your company, physically I mean? It will show I am ready"

"Yes, it will also be a signal to our competitors to take you more seriously"

"You don't want them to take me seriously"

"You know what I mean. They will take you as a threat and try to nip you in the bud"

"That's what I am afraid of," Rosetta said with a dramatic sign. Cynthia was afraid of ruining her perfect life. The webs of lies she had woven to keep her position on top of the food chain. One misstep and it all comes tumbling down. Did she have a personal vendetta against Cynthia? Not really. Her work, though amateur, was amusing. Anabelle was blunt to the core and didn't waste her time on schemes if they weren't necessary but when she came out to play it was galaxy wars. Aaah! The things she learned from her mom.

"The old man only recognizes strength. If you want her to earn his approval, then she must appear strong. You underestimate my daughter." Serena said

"Keeping a leash on other kids is one thing but this is a much bigger field, a different ball game. My name can not offer the same protection as my father's. The fact that she is his granddaughter and working for him would reduce potential attacks by two-thirds and that is a welcomed advantage"

Alfred was making a point. Although A &C Pharmaceuticals was big and Alfred was a top dog, he was still nowhere near his father. However as beneficial as it was for Cynthia, it wasn't beneficial for Rosetta. There was something about A&C that wasn't adding up. She needed to find out what. She didn't go through the trouble of kidnapping Cynthia and assuming her identity just to help her live her best life. If she wanted to live the best life then she would have just assumed her own identity.

"If you say so. I have to go, been working on something" That was the bait.

"You've been working on something?" Serena's ears perked up. Alfred tried to hide his curiosity.

That was her ticket to all her shows.

"Yes. That's why I needed a different space, my space" She brought up the issue before they did.

Cynthia had been sheltered all her life. She committed all the things she did under the roof of her parents. Moving out was a bold move especially when they were not around but she had to move fast. She needed privacy. She could do what she wanted t do from their mansion but she intended to keep this charade going on as long as possible. She wanted to channel minimum energy towards this and focus on other things she wanted to do that would seem off for Cynthia.

"Yes, but the timing is a bit off. We didn't vet the property, arrange for security, and other things. You can't just move out when we are planning something like this" Alfred said

"I can't move back either, it will send the wrong message" Rosetta sounded like she didn't think this through properly which she did. If they were around they would have never let their only daughter move out of their sight.

"I think we all need to settle down and think of how to make this work," Serena said this new development didn't sit well with her. She knew her daughter and knew she would never make this decision except if it was necessary. It might not be the reason she was stating but she was always careful.

"Can you give us some details of this property?" Alfred asked and Rosetta brought out her phone and sent him the files.

"Is it the same place you came from today?" Serena asked

"Hell no! I got that place from a friend's connection. It's okay but not my style. I took the liberty of borrowing some clothes too." Serena just hummed. She looked at her phone and saw that Cynthia had forwarded something to her, probably the files she sent her father. She opened it.

Rosetta watched as they both opened the files and went through them. What was the easiest way to hack their phone? She watched as her phone showed her the setup progress. The only thing she needed to do is to find out if she could connect to the A&C database and what else she can connect to or should connect to from Serena's end.

Alfred and Serena took a look at the pictures of the property and renovations and realised she must have made a huge dent in her trust fund. No wonder she was not as rejective of the idea of working with any of the companies. Serena made a mental note to speak with her husband. Her daughter shouldn't have to work if she didn't want to.

"What about security?" Alfred asked

Rosetta scoffed inwardly. She had it covered but then again she was GMN-1, people needed protection from her, and with her recent modification…

"I decided to leave that up to you. I knew you wouldn't feel relieved if you didn't do it yourself. I would rather have high-tech stuff. I don't want a bunch of people in my space" Rosetta replied.

It could be understood that she had run out of money or she didn't want to make any other major expense, either way, Alfred still wouldn't be able to rest easy. It was at a prime location but still secluded. How did she manage to find such a property? Maybe he shouldn't underestimate her connections.

Rosetta's plan was simple. Cynthia was his only child and she had made her specifications so he would provide her with the best. Something he would use to safeguard something important, himself or his company.

"When are you moving in?" Serena asked

"This weekend"

Alfred sighed. "They will get on it then," he said as he made a phone call.

At this, Rosetta smiled and hugged him. Alfred sighed again. Sometimes he just couldn't say no to her.

Serena sighed. She didn't know if she was growing up or up to something or maybe both. She didn't like this arrangement but she didn't say anything. She liked having Cynthia where she could at least keep an eye on her.

"Since it's been decided. Let's have dinner together" Serena suggested. She expected a reaction and that was what she got.

"I have a prior engagement but since you agreed to me moving out, I will cancel. Where are we going?"

"You want to eat out?" Serena asked

"Of course! You travelled and came back so I'm guessing there is something to celebrate since I haven't heard anything negative, so yeah, why not!?"

"Where do you want to go?" Alfred, who just got off the phone, asked.

Rosetta smiled. She knew exactly where she would take them.