Chapter 5/Pt 3

Lines of Love Chapter Five/ Part three

Dan

We discussed how I would spend the day with Travis, but it made me uncomfortable. I can't help feeling awkward with him near me but Jean needs me to do this so I have to just bear it a little longer. Jean left while I was still asleep so we didn't get a chance to speak about everything happening. All I know was that I needed to speak with investors and medical experts. Travis knew a lot about Jean's business which made me uncomfortable, how well does he know Jean I wonder. The day wasn't difficult just a lot of moving without much rest but that's expected with the clock against us currently.

" You are doing well so far, Dan. At this rate, we may have enough backing support to provide evidence. But things are never so simple, it's about to get difficult..."

I didn't know what to say I just know his words left me feeling uncertain, something wasn't being said I felt. We soon arrived at a medical research center which was our final stop for today, this should be enough for today he said. But something about this had me worried even Travis was on edge which seemed strange, I had no idea what I was getting into.

"Come in gentlemen, miss Patricia shall be here soon."

I thought this was gonna be another round table meeting but instead, it was empty, I tried asking Travis about this but she entered. I saw a man so stiff at the sound of another voice, history is here.

" Travis... Let's make this quick shall we."

" Um hi, my names-"

" Yes I have the files right here clearly, lets skip ahead hm?"

This was one of those third wheel moments and I felt so small right now so I let Travis handle this. For everything, I did today nothing prepared me for her, and yet that feeling remains. But I sat quietly letting them hash it all out everything rotated between heated and calm like a storm, but I know that she knows Jean. How I'm not sure but the history is heavy from the way she uses his name, I wish I was told what I was walking into beforehand. But luckily we don't have to spend much time here since this ended the quickest.

" Well, that went well considering, come on Dan let's get Jean and celebrate."

" She didn't sound convinced at all."

" She asked to meet Jean and that's a win. Trust me my charm worked her good. Even that total couldn't resist me."

He was so full of himself that was for sure but I felt like this wasn't gonna be over so quick. Luckily Travis was called away so I headed back to the room for Jean. I wanted to relay some of the good news at least and that meeting he now has for tomorrow. I can only hope his side went as good since it would mean going home sooner than planned. But when I came back to the room Jean was exhausted but he assured me everything was moving along as can be expected. So I told him how things went from our side and he seemed pleased with those results but he wanted to call it an early night, which I could understand. Now we just need to get that woman on board and we should be able to save the company.

We didn't get as much sleep but it was enough to get through today. Travis was already on his way over so either way, it was early morning. Jean called for some light breakfast while we waited for Travis. I tried talking to him about the wan we met but he said we should be fine, he assured me that everything would be wrapped up soon. When Travis arrived he was contagiously energetic and eager to get this last hurdle out the way so we could celebrate and party. But Jean and I just wanted to go home especially after Jean told me about reaching out to them. Something strange was happening at home after all.

We arrived a few hours at this place again and this time I was feeling a foreboding of sorts. Like we should just leave right now but how could I when he is so close to finishing this mess. Once more I was I knew, I wish so desperately that I was ready.

" Hey Patricia we are here, and this is-"

" Learn to be quiet Travis."

Her voice was calm but had a heavy bite to it and her eyes turned to daggers when she looked at Jean. My blood was running cold the more I listened.

" Finally you are here, Stephen... God, you are a spitting image of him, how many years have you pulled his name through the mud... Looking at you makes me wanna vomit.  But I shouldn't be surprised at the black sheep who never had his own identity, the coward who stole his brothers just to be someone... Do you have no damn shame."

She was a wreck no matter how hard she tried to hold back, her anger and tears mixed like a tsunami. I was spinning trying to understand everything but I didn't realize Jean left already, when did he leave.

" Whoa what's going on Patricia, this is out of line even for you. You are not even making sense-"

" That was not Jean, it was his twin. A disowned black sheep, a stain to not only his family but mine as well..."

He didn't wanna hear it as he rushed after Jean or I guess Stephen, but I stayed here partially frozen. I was so confused but I needed to understand so I sat down near her, trying to help her calm down. It took some time to get her to calm herself down and breathe, which left me with too many questions to ask. Where do I even start with this mess

"I'm sorry I thought I would control myself better than this, but we humans are just so frail... I was hoping it wasn't gonna be the truth and yet I still wasn't prepared for it..."

" Can you explain to me what's going on... I'm so confused right now."

" Ah... Sorry, I suppose I could explain this better. Jean died in a car accident with his parents, originally it was a sealed matter. It took me many years to pry that seal off and know the truth. I didn't believe it because the business was still operational, but I was young and naive to the truth. But I was desperate to know either way..."

" I'm sorry this is a lot to take in, how are you even involved or know any of this exactly.?"

" Our families formed a pact many generations ago, promising the firstborns in marriage at the age of 15. We were so close to getting married before the accident and I know arranged marriages don't carry any feelings between the two. But I did love him. He was so kind and a true genius but he was so much more than that... Stephen was his twin but he was obsessed with Jean, he copied Jean so much. But he was also a black sheep who brought shame to his family so they sent him away to a boarding school, which is our equivalent of disowning... At first, I heard whispers that someone was seen at the mansion but when I arrived I was denied entry, over the years I tried to confirm who was inside. But they wouldn't grant me access, politics are far more difficult to navigate than most think... I assumed it was not true, that Jean didn't die in the accident but he would have let me see him, I never thought Stephen was the one it didn't even occur to me... It took me years to know the truth behind all this."

" Why would he do this"

"Because like me he can't accept that his brother is gone, so to erase the pain I'm guessing he fully took on his image. Even he doesn't know who he is anymore it seems"

"That explains why we never saw him at the office, that makes sense... But God this is a lot to take in."

What can I do to calm my anger and confusion, I wish I knew.