Chapter 4 [ Doppelgänger? ]

I scampered into the bathroom pronto, as Belinda made it out of the shower, not wanting to put myself in an awkward position where I would be tempted to steal a glance at her wet skin. Although, she had on a white bath robe to elude her bare skin.

"Honey! I hope you haven't forgotten that the Japanese guests would be arriving at 12:00 noon today!?!" She hollered audibly from the bedroom where she was obviously getting dressed.

As I howled my reply from the bathroom, I got hit aggressively by the echo of my own voice, "I remember mio amore!!"

Even though I knew in verity, how clueless I was regarding such detail. But oh well! It must be the real Gustavo's dealings. I would need to get proper details about it, by and by.

Her shrill voice broke in my thoughts, "Don't worry my love! I will fix a meeting in your stead, with the staff about the preparation so that they can see to it that the requested suite is specially secured awaiting the Japanese' arrival. I will be waiting for you in the hall!"

"Thank you mio amore! You are truly a gift from heaven!!" I called out my response although, it was most unlikely that she heard the last words I said because hurried movements which was probably hers, and the slamming of the door were the notable sounds my brain could make sense of.

"She sure dresses up pretty fast for a lady." I muttered to myself as I let the waterfall rain down on me, washing away the lather from off my slippery skin — and of course my worries.

**

I walked out of my exquisite suite putting on a neatly pressed expensive black suit. Little wonder Gustavo's clothes fit me so perfectly. Who knows? I might really be his doppelgänger!

As I slid out my entry card to shut the door of my suite, I got barged in on, by my right-hand man, Humberto; who by the way, wasn't so pleased to see me the first day I arrived in the grand Hotel Magnífico.

Anyway, that is a matter for another day.

"Gustavo! How are you feeling today?"

"I am optimistic Humberto. What about you?"

I could see Gustavo's ghost just two steps from where Humberto stood talking to me. But he stayed evidently absent.

Humberto cleared his throat before speaking, "Ahem! Well, you have said it all. Hahaha. It is quite a bright morning. Optimism is not far from what I feel myself."

Smart answer! Cunny bastard!

Hey! Readers, don't judge me alright! He did not particularly give me the brightest first impressions on my arrival here. It is only normal that I have my reservations about him.

Humberto has lived with the Rodríguez for the most of his life. Old pa Rodríguez took him into the family as a young boy. He grew up as his foster son also tutoring him, alongside his real heir, late Gustavo in the business of hotel management.

That is right! The management of the hotel Magnífico fell on the shoulders of nineteen-year-old Gustavo Rodríguez after his dad passed on in his sleep at a ripe old age.

I have a bad feeling about Humberto. I can't seem to place it yet.

"I hope you had a lovely sleep last night?"

I discerned him with a brittle countenance because is that the kind of question you ask everyone in the fucking morning?

"Hahaha. I am just teasing you Gus! Of course, you must have had an eventful night with your beautiful wife."

Woah! Where did that come from?

I wore a frail smile on my face before speaking, "Thank you brother! That question was very thoughtful of you."

I had both hands in my trouser pockets as I walked on with him. A bad habit? I know! But no one is watching. It's just me and Humberto —and of course the real Gustavo's ghost.

"Have you had breakfast yet?" I quizzed him a bit too hurriedly before realizing that the time was still damn early for a true businessman to think of breakfast.

"Mm! That is strange. You normally would not ask me if I had eaten for a whole day?"

For real though? I mean what kind of brother was the real Gustavo to Humberto and vice versa?

Some secret brother feud maybe? Well, it doesn't concern me yet.

**

I brushed my hair with my hands for a bit pondering on how best to remedy the situation.

"Hahaha. Well maybe I care so much about you all of a sudden. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Well by all means!" He laughed briefly, "You've been a bit of an asshole in the past. I'm glad that you are becoming a changed man, but I think I prefer you being all mean to me."

"Me? Mean to you? Come off it Humberto!"

"But of course! You have always been, Gus! Even you know this."

"When will you bring to me the love of your life?" I might have matched a line by bringing this up.

"Hahaha. How can that be? When you stole Belinda away from me!"

I did? Just how mean was the real Gustavo to those around him? First his wife now his foster brother?

"You make me laugh. There are so many beautiful women in Italy and beyond. You have a variety of choices. Why not pick one?"

"None of them can be like Belinda!"

I was right about the secret brother feud after all and to think that Belinda was the cause?

Okay! The back and forth conversation is making me grow tiresome. I really should put an end to it.

"Humberto! I would appreciate it if we dropped the subject."

He smirked curtly snubbing me outrightly.

How rude! No wonder Gustavo didn't quite get along with him.

"What if I don't want to? What are you going to do about it?"

Now I am pretty furious. Look! Humberto! I am Santo Martini not Gustavo, you don't want to be the reason for my fury. Trust me!

"I am sure you don't need me to answer that, Berto!" He raises both hands in total surrender.

Good! That response should put him in his place.

Shameless brute!