The sun had already been diligently swallowed up by the sky by the time I arrived at the Belmont grand hotel.
The hotel stood tall like a tower and shining brightly as though it had absorbed all the light from the buildings in downtown.
The building symbolized the influence and power the Gigi Belmont had slowly been building for years with their fashion empire.
The moment I stepped out of his car, the valet took the keys from me while the hotel doors opened before me.
The interior screamed of quiet luxury and I preferred it that way.
Calm, totally in control.
An hostess came in my direction.
"Mr Russo? Your table is this way."
He followed her into a private dining room which had been reserved by Gigi. The table was set for two.
His eyes landed on the simple decoration at the centre of the table with white roses.
He never imagined this, he'd never imagined that there would be a matter that'd arise that would be so out of his control.
He knew his mother had just been trying to keep his future secured. This alliance would be very strong, it would be the greatest ever know n for decades to come.
The Russo and the Belmont empire woven together, the result would be chaotic greatness.
His thoughts started to drift back to his investigation of his mother's death when a quiet movement by the door caught his attention.
He looked up. His expression calm, but unreadable.
She definitely wasn't what he had expected.
In place of the carefully composed Belmont heir he had imagined was the woman by the door way who looked rather uncertain and uncomfortable in the elegant setting.
This woman definitely wasn't the young miss Belmont.
Although she also had blonde hair and looked much like the woman he had seen in the photo Gigi had shown him he could still tell she was a fake.
The real Belmont heiress had light red hair, hazel green eyes and a rather unnoticeable mole near her upper lip.
The woman in front of him had dark red hair, forest green eyes and no mole.
"Mr Russo?"
Her voice was soft and unsteady.
I stood up.
"Yes."
With my reply she moved fully into the room shutting the door behind her.
I studied her as she walked towards the table.
There was something strangely familiar about her.
But I couldn't pull the pieces together.
She stopped right across from me and gave me a polite smile.
"I'm.... Mayelle."
Others might have not noticed but I took note of the small pause before she said her name.
"Have a seat." I gesture to the chair by her side.
She smoothed the sleeves of her dress as she sat probably buying herself time.
"You seem nervous."
She smiled slightly.
"Aren't you?"
I considered it.
"Not particularly."
For a while she kept on talking about modelling and her numerous awards.
I didn't expect her to be so full of herself, she definitely didn't look it.
"Narcism isn't a lovable trait Miss Belmont."
"I don't exactly need to be loved, do I?"
"Maybe."
"But there are several ways to love a woman Mr Russo."
"You're confident." I said, leaning forward. "But confidence can be dangerous at times."
Her lips curled into a smile as she tilted her head. "And what should you do with dangerous Mr Russo."
"It depends."
She stood from her chair and rounded the table till she was standing right at my back.
She placed her palm on my shoulder and slowly moved them downwards.
"You're braver than I thought." I played along.
"A few might call it boldness." She said. "A few might call it foolishness."
"What's running through your mind miss Belmont?" The question comes out sounding more like an encouragement.
"What would you have me do Mr Russo?"
Her hand carefully caressed my ear before she placed a daring kiss on my neck.
"Do you do this a lot?" The aim was to make her uncomfortable so she'd let go of me.
She laughed curtly.
"Maybe."
I knew what she was playing at. Two could play at this game.
"You must be experienced then."
I said this calmly before I stood from my chair and turned to lift her then place her on the table.
"Wh..what are you doing Mr Russo?"
"I must tell you I have weird s**ual cravings, I'm actually looking towards getting my own red room by the time we get married."
I could see her sly smile fall and a wary expression took up it's former position.
"Mr Russo I think we need to rethink this, things should be done step by step."
I smirk and grab her lightly by her neck
"We can do whatever we want now, after all we are going to get married."
"I think it'll be rather inappropriate."
I tightened my grip around her neck and brought her face closer to mine.
The look in her eyes was filled to the brim with horror.
Feeling satisfied with my act I finally let go of her.
She scurried back to her seat breathing heavily.
That should teach her not to pretend to be someone she wasn't next time.
But I wouldn't expose her act right now.
She reached for her glass and her sleeves pulled back a little and then I saw it.
A small scar on her wrist.
My organs went numb as a memory flashed before my eyes.
Years ago.
A boy was trapped under a branch of a fallen tree.
A girl pulled him in efforts to save his dwindling life.
The girl successfully dragged him out just before the tree came crashing down.
Said boy was me.
I stared at the mark on her wrist.
It was the same as where the girl had gotten injured saving me.
I leaned in, my features softening.
"Have we met before?"
She looked confused.
"I doubt it."
I studied her face more clearly now.
The memory was distant.
We were just kids.
But I was sure I wasn't mistaken.
She just couldn't remember. I was the one with hyperthymesia not her.
I was about to ask her how she got the scar when her phone buzzed.
Something ran through her eyes.
Panic.
She stood abruptly.
"Mr Russo I have to go now."
I frowned.
"Something wrong?"
"I- I just remembered I have somewhere to be."
My frown deepened.
"Already?"
She must have been hinted that her facade was about to get busted.
"Yes. But it was nice meeting you."
I stood and for a moment we both stared in silence before she gave me one last polite smile.
Then she hurried away before I could say anything more.
Nothing about this evening seemed to make sense anymore.
The fake identity.
The scar.
And the memory I couldn't seem to shake off.
I picked up my phone and dialed Daniel's line.
"Find out everything you can on Mayelle Belmont including any female acquaintances she might have."
There was a short pause.
"Everything sir?"
"Yes."
My voice remained calm as I added.
"Because the woman I just met wasn't the Belmont heiress."
Somewhere in the city, Scout was already realizing this.
Pretending to be the Belmont heiress and ruining the date that started as a harmless favour for her friend would probably be the death of her.
Because now she had met and probably angered Vincent Dane Russo.
Of all people on her list of must not offend Vincent probably ranked second, her boss was the first because he controlled her source of income.
But somehow she could feel that things wouldn't end just like that.