Chapter Three

Chapter Three.

SIX WEEKS EARLIER

THE BEVERLY'S MANSION

~LOGAN'S POV~

I stared at the reports in front of me, frowning hard. I heard footsteps approaching and hurriedly slipped the papers inside a medical file jacket. I pulled out a bunch of paper from my bag and held it two feet away from my face and pretended to study it. My step mother, Fiona, stepped into view, wearing a pink fluffy looking house coat.

"Working while having breakfast huh?" She commented as she sat on the chair opposite mine, her mild perfume wafting to my nostrils. I looked down at my long forgotten coffee, it was now cold and the cream in it had clumped and looked sticky.

"Good morning Fiona, I've got a very busy day today, it wouldn't hurt to begin extra early."

At fifty two, Fiona pretty much looked the same as she was when I first saw her, aside from the grey that was now streaking her perfect dark hair. Her face was wrinkle-free, which I'm sure was as a result of some Botox injections.

I stood up to take my leave.

"You've barely touched your breakfast, Logan. Do my presence make you uncomfortable?"

I smiled. I wasn't fooled by Fiona's feigned kindness, and she knew that either. I didn't say anything to her as I picked up my jacket and files and left the dining room.

I glanced at the tattered wrist watch on my wrist, the time was 7:47AM. I stroked the face of the watch lovingly. It was the only thing I had left that reminded me of my mother.

I bumped into my father as he descended from the stairs, a phone pressed to his ear.

I gave him a curt nod in acknowledgement and made to go past him.

"Chad, where are you going?" My father's raspy voice stopped me. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

"Dad, it's me Logan. You invited me over for dinner, don't you remember?"

My father, Adams Beverly, had Alzheimer and it was getting worse. He couldn't even recognize me anymore.

"Well Logan, look how big you've grown. Look at all those muscles." My father poked my arm. My lips tightened in a grim line as I said nothing.

"Have you seen my garden, Logan?" My father peered into my face. I sighed quietly.

"I don't have the time for that now dad, I'll be late for work."

"I insist. Come with me."

"Dad..." He started dragging my arm.

Fiona stood up from the dining table, pulling her housecoat tighter around her body.

"Darling, don't bother Logan, he'll be late for work." She held onto my father's arm, and gave me a coy smile.

"Don't touch me you this filthy bitch!" My father roared. Fiona looked shocked, all the colors draining from her face. My father wrenched his hand from her grip. I was secretly pleased at the outburst.

My stepmother quickly regained her composure and wore a tight smile.

"Don't mind your father Logan, it's just the Alzheimer talking." Her voice was now cold and distant.

"It's alright, I don't mind. I can spare a few minutes to see his garden." I told Fiona, barely able to surpress a smile. She gave me a harsh glare and stormed off furiously.

I let my father lead me to his garden. Ever since his Alzheimer started, he developed an interest for gardening.

The garden was beautiful and smelt of wet soil and flowery scent.

My father turned to peer up into my face, because I was a good three inches taller than his 6ft frame.

"When are you going to get married Logan, It's time you settled down and have kids."

I sighed.

Since when had my father cared about me?

While we were growing up, my father had always shown his preference for Chad, my younger stepbrother. And it had made me resent my father. My father was the founder of the Company, TechSavy, and he was worth hundred billion dollars.

"Marriage is the least thing on my mind." I wasn't in the mood to entertain his Alzheimer talks.

"Logan, you are already wealthy, what is delaying you from finding a good woman to marry?"

I lost the tiny bit of patience I had left.

"In case you haven't noticed dad, I am looking for my mother. I won't marry or settle dow until I find her." I said in a cold voice.

My father kept quiet.

My mother had disappeared twenty years ago, when I was ten years old. At first, I had thought that she had abandoned me, and I loathed her. I had burned every picture of her that I had.

But two months ago, I ran into one of my mother's old friend. The woman gave me a shoe box that contained the wrist watch I was now wearing and an envelope.

The content of the envelope had made me stop hating my mother. And I had hired a private investigator to find her.

"You didn't even care when she disappeared, huh?" I asked my father in an angry voice.

Why was I even bothering? The old man had Alzheimer, and he would probably forget this conversation in the next five minutes.

"Logan, listen to me." My father said In an urgent voice. I paused to look at me.

"Fiona wants me to write my will, to transfer ninety percent of all my properties to your younger brother, and have him take over my company."

"I see." I said coldly. I wasn't surprised. After all, I was the billionaires illegitimate son.

"Logan, listen to me." My father leaned in closely to me, and brushed off imaginary dust from my suit. " I secretly did a DNA test. Chad is not my son."

I felt stunned.

"What?" I said, feeling anger explode within me.

"Logan, behave yourself. Fiona must not find out I know about the DNA test." My father said in a chiding voice. I looked into his wrinkled face incredulously.

"What are you going to do father?" I asked calmly, struggling to keep my anger in check.

"I don't know."

I clenched my fist in anger.

"What do you mean you don't know?" My voice crackled with anger.

"I don't know! I don't know what I'm doing here!" My father shouted. "Who are you?!"

I stepped back in surprised. I felt stupid that I had believed what my father had said. The old man's dementia was more serious than I thought.

Fiona ran towards us.

"Logan, what happened?" She was breathless. She pulled my father to herself. My father kept mumbling incoherently.

"What happened?" She asked again. I looked into her face.

"We were just talking and the he forgot who I was."

Two maids appeared and they led my father away.

"What were you talking about?" I looked down at her. Her large blue eyes were fixated on my face, trying to gauge whether I will lie to her, or tell her the truth.

"We were just talking about the company. I was surprised he actually remembered he has one."

"I see."She nodded. "Well, I'd advice you not to take anything he says seriously. You know his condition. He might make things up."

I smiled and nodded. "I'll have that in mind."

I walked quickly to my car, dropping my suitcase and files in the backseat.

I got into my car and drove out of the compound. I was deep in thought over the conversation I had with my dad, when my phone rang shrilly, startling me.

I swiped right at the screen.

"Hello Sir, did you get the documents I emailed to you?" A deep voice asked from the other end.

"Yes I did. I was just about to call you."

"I hope my report was comprehensible enough?"

"Yes!" I snapped, feeling irritated. " But this doesn't make sense. How could she just disappear without leaving a trace."

There was a long silence at the other end, and I thought the call had been disconnected.

"Hello?" I said.

"I can assure you that I did a very thorough job. Maybe someone doesn't want her to be found, sir."

I stiffened, my grip on the steering wheel becoming slippery.

"Are you..., What are you insinuating?" My voice comes out hoarsely, my heart beating fast and wild.

"Sir we usually see cases like this, it's either your mom doesn't want to be found, or she's dead."

"No, that can't be possible!"

I didn't even realize I was shouting. The thought of my mother dead hit me and I lost my bearing.

I was going at a speed of 45km/hr, I swerved right away from the highway into an unfamiliar, less busy street. A big MAC truck honked loudly, the sound grating my nerves. I swerved right again to avoid a fatal Head-on collision.

I swore angrily when I saw the black rickety looking Mercedes cruising towards me. I felt a tinge of annoyance as I pressed my feet on the brake pads, but the car wasn't stopping at all.

My annoyance gave way to terror. As my car crashed into the Mercedes, I had this fleeting thought before everything went black.

My car brake was tampered with.

~ALEX~

I stood in front of the mirror, clutching a shirt around my chest. Emily was still not talking to me, while my best friend Claire fussed over me.

"I still can't believe that you're actually dressing up as a man Alex." Her voice was loud and chirpy. I sighed loudly and run my hands over my hair that had now been cut low. I had almost cried when my long shiny hair was being sliced off. Emily sat in cold silence, pretending to read a book.

Claire finally came to stand in front of me, her large green eyes taking in the contour of my face. A little frown appear on her face, she caressed my cheeks lightly.

"You know, you still kinda look like...a woman to me." She bit her lips and appear to be deep in thought.

"That's because you know I'm a woman Claire." I rolled my eyes and shrugged.

"Are you sure you'll be able to pull this off Alex?" There's fear in her eyes and I felt so touched by her concern.

"I'm willing to take the risk. The pay is just to attractive for me to say No." I glance at Emily, she met my eyes for a few seconds quickly looked away.

I sighed quietly, my Mom was supposed to be discharged tomorrow, but there's no money yet to be paid for the hospital bill. I just had to get the job, now that I had prevented Emily from sleeping with the doctor in exchange for the fifty percent coverage for the bill.

The doctor had been furious when Emily had told him she was no longer going to have sex with him, but Emily told me she had given him a blowjob to ease off his anger. I felt angry and helpless at the same time when Emily had coldly recounted her experience, and she had refused to speak to me after that.

I had borrowed money from Claire, my best friend, to be able to go shopping to buy male clothes for my disguise.

Claire had almost freaked out when I told her about my plans. When I had managed to calm her down, she started feeling apprehensive, asking so many 'what if's' question.

But my mind was already made up.

I turn around in the mirror, observing my face from all angle. I was so convinced that I could pass off as a man.

Maybe a slightly effeminate man.

"So you'll tie up your boobs everyday?" Claire's voice was tinged with astonishment. I shrugged my response.

"Ouch. That sounds painful."

"It will be painful." I muttered.

"You'll be in close range with Logan Beverly." Claire is unable to keep off the excitement from her voice.

"What do you know about him?" I asked her curiously.

"He is hot, and wealthy and the best part?" She giggled and gave me a conspiratory wink.

"What?"

"He's single."

"Hmm, I thought you were going to say something scary. Like he's a no nonsense person."

"Well, I don't know if he is." She shrugged. "He doesn't appear much in public, he likes his privacy, so nobody really knows what he's like."

Now I felt so unsure of my decision. I felt like I was about to make a huge mistake.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I sighed. " I'm just afraid I would get caught."

I honestly wished I had better options. This whole idea of disguising as a man was making me weak.

"It's alright, I understand how you feel Alex. I'd feel the same way if I was In your shoes." Claire held my hands and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"What should I do Claire? I don't want to lie and deceive people." I said with a sad smile.

"Yes, but you also don't want your mother to die. I'm sure you'd still agree to disguise as a man, no matter what I tell you. I just want you to know that you have all my support. Do what you think is best."

I removed the shirt from my chest and I was wearing nothing but a silky pant. I examined the curves of my waist and the dip in my hip.

When had my hips become so...so rounded? I twisted and stuck out my ass.

Emily finally let out a loud groan and closed the book she was pretending to read. Claire and I exchanged curious stare.

"I'm tired of all this whining and 'what ifs'!" She stood in front of the mirror, preventing me from seeing my own reflection, and looked me straight in the eyes.

"If you're going to do it, then just do it. Stop whining." She bent down and picked up the woolen bandage and turned to me. I had covered my boobs protectively, but now, she pried my hands apart, a determined glint in her eyes.