A Deal With The Two Faced Ceo

LENA

"Lena, you can't seriously be considering this."

Vanessa Monroe's voice was smooth, almost pitying, as she perched on the edge of my bed, her legs crossed elegantly. She twirled a golden strand of hair between her fingers, watching me with an exasperated smile.

I gripped the invitation in my trembling hands. "You don't understand, Vanessa. This event... It's hosted by one of the most powerful families in the country. If I go, maybe-"

"Maybe what?" Vanessa cut in sharply, her tone edged with mockery. "Maybe you'll walk in, and someone will take one look at you and magically declare, 'Oh wow, you must be our long-lost daughter!'?"

My throat tightened.

"I have proof," I murmured. I reached for the delicate silver chain around my neck-the only thing I had left from my childhood before I was abandoned. The pendant on it, an intricate crest, was identical to the one printed at the bottom of the invitation.

A family crest. A connection.

Vanessa's gaze flickered to the chain. Something unreadable passed over her expression, but her smile stayed in place. "Lena, sweetie, you're too naive. You can't make a proof with just this pendant, this is nothing" She sighed dramatically. "And what if you're wrong? What if you go there and embarrass yourself? Worse, what if they see you as a fraud and have you arrested?"

I flinched.

Vanessa leaned closer, her voice softer now, more coaxing. "I'm saying this because I care about you. You can't stand against the rich. You're nobody, Lena. They'll eat you alive."

Doubt crept in. Vanessa was right... wasn't she?

But something inside me refused to let go. "I just want to know the truth."

Vanessa sighed heavily, like I was exhausting her patience. "Then tell me more about what you remember. Maybe we can figure this out together, huh?"

I hesitated, then nodded. Vanessa had always been there for me. She wouldn't lie to me.

"I don't remember much," I admitted. "Just flashes. A big house, lots of people. And... a woman. She smelled like roses."

Vanessa hummed thoughtfully. "And your chain...? You said your parents left it for you?"

I nodded, my fingers brushing over the pendant. "Yes. It's the only thing I have from them."

Vanessa's smile widened. "That's beautiful, Lena. But listen to me-don't go searching for people who abandoned you. If they wanted you, they would have found you by now."

The words hit like a slap.

She patted my knee. "Just forget about the invitation, okay? Trust me on this. You'll only get hurt."

I looked down at the invitation, my chest tightening. Maybe she was right... Maybe I was being foolish.

"...Okay,you are right," I whispered.

Vanessa's smile was triumphant. "Good girl."

That night, I tucked the invitation safely into the drawer by my bed, placing my chain beside it.

Maybe it was better to let it go.

"I should keep the invitation card or better still burn it." I said my voice barely above a whisper.

"No, no, you don't have to burn the card," Vanessa said, and I paused, "Hand it over to me, let me see, it's such a treasure you can't burn that." She said with a smile, grabbing the card from my hand.

"You really wanna keep it? Since I don't need it, it's best if I burn it, I can't go to the party." I said.

Vanessa smiled, "No, you don't have to waste it, it's tonight right?" She asked again.

I froze. "Vanessa."

She chuckled, "I am only asking, tonight right? And what's the dress code?."

"I don't know since I am not going, why are you asking me the dress code?" I asked.

"I have to ask to know the rich tastes you know." Vanessa laughed.

"It's white," I said.

"Oh that reminds me, I have a date tonight with my boyfriend, I think I should just wear white, white would be great right?" Vanessa asked.

"No, just put on red, a red dress will look perfect on you." I said.

"No, Lena, you have a white dress right? Let me have it." Vanessa said, her gaze on my closet.

"Okay..." I said and handed her the dress placed gently in my wardrobe, "My boyfriend got me this dress but I am going to borrow you so you can look beautiful for your boyfriend tonight."

She grabbed the dress and sighed dramatically, then perched on the chair across from me. "I just remembered something Lena, there's something you need to know."

My stomach twisted at the way her tone changed-gentle, almost hesitant.

"I've been looking into your past," she said softly. "I know how much finding your family means to you."

My breath caught. "You... have?"

She nodded. "And I found something."

My heart slammed against my ribs. "What?"

Vanessa reached for my hands, squeezing them gently. "Your family, Lena. I found them."

The world tilted.

I yanked my hands back, my chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. "You... You did?"

She nodded, her expression filled with something close to pity. "But... Lena, I need you to prepare yourself. They're not what you're expecting."

My stomach churned. "What do you mean?"

Vanessa exhaled, like this was difficult for her. "They're not wealthy, Lena. They're struggling. A small, poor family in a remote village. It's why they never came for you. They couldn't."

I gripped the edge of the table, my mind spinning. That didn't make sense. The crest-the invitation-

"But the chain," I whispered. "The invitation. How could-"

Vanessa bit her lip. "It's possible... Maybe one of their ancestors worked for a rich family? Maybe the crest belonged to their employer?" She hesitated. "Maybe that's why you were abandoned. Because they couldn't afford to raise you."

A cold wave of nausea crashed over me.

"No," I breathed. "That can't be right."

Vanessa gave me a sad smile. "I didn't want to believe it either. But I have proof."

She pulled out her phone and scrolled through it before turning the screen toward me.

A blurry photo of a run-down house. A middle-aged woman in worn-out clothes.

"This is your mother," Vanessa said gently.

I stared at the screen, my hands shaking.

I swallowed hard. "Where... where are they?"

Vanessa reached into her purse and handed me a slip of paper. "Here. The address."

My fingers curled around it.

"Lena, I know this isn't what you were hoping for," she said softly. "But at least you have closure now."

I nodded numbly. "Thank you, Vanessa."

She hugged me very tight. "Of course. You deserve to know the truth."

"Oh shit," I muttered, quickly turning off the fire and pulling the pan off the heat. Smoke curled toward the ceiling.

"Lena," Vanessa called softly behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at her.

"Just give me a minute-I really need to fix this," I said, already reaching for a spoon.

She hesitated. "I've got to run. I've got a date tonight, I will be wearing your dress tonight, and I can't be late."

I gave a quick nod, barely meeting her eyes as I waved her off. "Yeah, go on. Good luck with whatever you are planning to do tonight."