Chapter 1. The Contract.

Rose’s POV

"Hi, Marie," I greeted immediately as I walked into the single room that my best friend and I shared. As I walked to the wardrobe and began packing my clothes, Marie stared at me in surprise.

"What are you doing?" Marie asked as she stood up from the bed where she had been lying, watching me with a worried look.

"Some people are after me, and I need to leave," I said as I zipped up my suitcase and turned my attention to Marie.

"Oh no," she shook her head. "Who did you scam this time?"

"Some person," I shrugged as I picked up the bag.

"I can't believe this. How long are you going to keep conning people and running away, ugh? Why can't you just find a legitimate business, Rose."

"I am not doing this with you, Marie. I need to leave right now. They know I stay here. If they come for me, you will be in trouble," I said to her as she watched me with a worried expression.

I sighed and started again. "Come on," I said calmly. "It's fine, Marie. I'll be fine."

"Just return their money, please. I can't stand you living like this," she said as I sighed in frustration at her whining.

"It's not my fault that people are quite greedy to fall into the hands of scammers and con artists," I said defensively.

"Money isn't everything, Rosa," Marie said calmly.

"It is to me," I replied without remorse, the sharp memory of me getting sold by my father as a child in order for him to get enough money to gamble.

"Don't try to change me, Marie. I'm sick of your whining," I said with a note of finality and turned to leave when my phone rang.

I hissed and removed it from my cross bag and answered the unknown caller.

"Hi, sister," the voice from the phone said as I frowned. "Renata?" I asked.

"How have you been? I'm in the country right now. Can we meet?" She asked as I turned to look at Marie's curious face.

"Sure," I replied, wondering why my sister, who I haven't seen for more than twenty years, wanted to suddenly meet up.

"I'll send you the address of the hotel I am in. Please let's meet up today," she said and hung up.

"Was that Renata?" Marie asked the moment I got off the phone.

"Yeah. She asked to meet. I wonder why," I said, the thought of meeting my sister, who has become one of the top psychologists in the country, filling my head. How was I going to face her? I am just a greedy con artist living in the slums, running around whenever I'm on the verge of getting caught.

"Anyway, it's a good thing. I would be able to get some money from her since she's now a big shot. Do you have presentable clothing? I can't look like crap in front of her," I smiled sheepishly at Marie, who sighed and walked up to the wardrobe to get something for me.

"Thank you, Marie."

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"Hi," I said to the receptionist at the counter when I arrived at the supposed hotel.

"Hi, Mrs. Arturo, right?" She asked with a bright smile.

Wow, she already informed them I was coming, nice. I thought inwardly and nodded as she told me the room number and made my way majestically to the room.

One knock, and the door opened for me to find a man in the room. What the hell?!

"Good day, Mrs. Arturo, thank you for accepting to meet us," the man said as he led me in, and I wondered what was going on. I was supposed to meet Renata in this room. Not some man.

"Who are you?" I asked nervously as I stared at the gentleman offering me a seat in the expansive penthouse.

"Marco. The chief secretary of Sabatini International," he replied with a polite smile. "We contacted you regarding your service, remember? For the in-house psychologist position," he said as I raised a brow.

"In-house Psychologist? Me?" I asked in surprise as my mind still spiraled around what was happening.

"Yes," the man replied as if scared of my reaction.

I stood up abruptly as I realized this person was supposed to meet my sister instead of me. Renata was the psychologist, and I was only her identical twin.

"You've got the wrong person. Besides, I'm—"

Marco immediately held my hand, interrupting me. "I know you don't take more than one case in a year, but this is urgent. I beg you, Miss Renata. You are our only hope. We need you."

"We?" I asked, still confused.

"I knew when I reached out to you through your email, I didn't give you full information about who your patients will be. But we are ready to pay you any amount you ask for, just make an exception and offer us your service," he said as I watched him in awe, momentarily forgetting that the man was talking to the wrong Arturo sister.

"Any amount?" I asked as a small voice berated me to tell this man that I was the identical twin of the woman he was supposed to meet.

"We will offer 50 million dollars for a deposit payment," he said quickly.

"Holy shit!" I blinked my eyes. Does Renata make this much as a doctor?

No! I shook my head. I need to call her and tell her what's happening before my greed for money takes over me.

"I'll be right back," I smiled as I walked out of the room and dialed Renata.

"Where the hell are you?!" I asked immediately Renata picked up. "You asked me to meet you at the hotel. And I am here, and it seems like I missed your—"

"Something came up that made me leave the country urgently. I'm out of the country," Renata interrupted.

"What?!" I shouted and lowered my voice so Marco or whatever doesn't catch me. "How can you do that? You asked me to see you and—"

I stopped abruptly as a thought suddenly popped into my head. If Renata is unavailable and this man thinks I am her, then why don't I play along and take his bloody money? I grinned sheepishly as the thought crossed my mind, and my lips curved into a cunning smile. Pretending to be a psychologist shouldn't be that hard. I thought sinisterly.

"Rose?" My sister's voice cut into my thoughts.

"Bye, sister. Don't think about coming back," I said and hung up.

"This is going to be interesting," I chuckled as I walked back into the room, and Marco quickly stood up and rushed to me. It seemed like the man was on his toes, praying my sister, whom he thinks is me, would agree to his deal.

"Who is my patient, Mr. Marco?" I asked with a professional tone as his eyes lit up in excitement.

"Ughm…" He started slowly. "They are three actually. They are the Sabatini Brothers."