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Chapter 5

Charlotte's POV

“You’re the long lost heir of Anchor Freight shipping.”

My heart pounded in my chest and I felt dizzy. What the hell was she saying? My face must

have mirrored the storm brewing in my head.

“I know it’s hard for you to believe right now but just know that you’re home.” She wiped a

tear falling down her face. “You’re home my sweet, sweet, Charlie. I finally found you.”

Too much was happening. What the hell? My mind couldn’t prioritize what to focus on. “Why

do you keep calling me that? I’m Teresa.”

“Oh, sweetheart. Come with me. This isn't the place to discuss such matters.”

She led me down to a private elevator all the while holding my hands like a mother would

hold her child. It felt surreal, the whole experience. A horrid thought crossed my mind. Could

she be part of a weird organ-harvesting ring? She kept talking as we went up the elevator,

none of which was useful information. I half expected the doors to slide open and for Grace

to be there, laughing in my face, telling me how useless I was.

We finally got to the very top floor and while walking to her office, a young primly dressed

woman walked up to us, giving me a questioning glance then scrunched up her nose before

addressing her. I felt bad for spilling that gunk on her.

“Morning, Amelia. Today, you’re supposed to meet–”

“Cancel all my meetings for the day. I have pressing matters to attend to.”

“You’re the boss.” She glanced at me once more before leaving us. Amelia led us to a heavy,

wooden door that swung open with surprising ease. Her office looked and smelled

sophisticated.

A large, oak desk with a huge Apple monitor on top, a picture facing away from me, a nice,

white chair behind the desk. The contrast between her assortment of brightly colored

belongings against the black walls stood out to me. It looked really nice. And the fragrance,

citrusy and sweet. It made me miss my old life with Auden.

“Give me a moment sweetheart. Let me change out of these putrid clothes. For now, make

yourself at home… or at work, I guess.” She laughed as she vanished behind the bathroom

door.

I took my time looking at her shelf. Damn, she had so many accolades, so many awards. My

mind still couldn’t process why this monolith of a woman would even give me a second look,

why I was in her office.

All this was mine? I glanced around the office, looking for the cameras that were watching

my anticipation. The cameras that would capture my disappointment when it would all be

revealed as a prank. Every little red light drew me in until I discovered it was something else.

“Right, let's get you up to speed shall we?” I don't know how she managed it but she looked

just as prim and proper as she did before I spilled on her. She walked over to the couch near

the sidewall and patted the spot next to her. I walked over and plopped down, eager for the

explanation that would either devastate me further or change my life forever.

"Do the names Malcolm and Helena Knowles mean anything to you?"

I shook my head no. Anticipation was killing me but I didn't want to rush her and be rude. My

eyes fluttered around her face searching for a sign, a twitch of an eyelid or a lip quiver to tell

me how to feel about the situation.

"Sweetheart, those people owned this company." She paused as if that was supposed to

mean anything to me. "They were also your parents." What the– "Charlotte, that is your

realname."

The tears welling up in her eyes finally spilled over. It wouldn't stop pouring. "Oh my darling,

I've searched for you for ages, I could never find you."

My vision suddenly blurred and my face felt wet. Why was I crying? I didn't know her. I didn't

know these parents she spoke of. I vaguely remember a woman calling me Charlotte it feels

more like a long forgotten dream than a memory. "What happened to them – my parents,

what happened?"

She took a minute to compose ourselves before she spoke. "They loved you, with everything

they had. But the had just started this company at the time; they would constantly travel on

business meetings and as you know, that's no life for a toddler. So they hired me. I was your

nanny," she smiled broadly and brushed her hand over the tear rolling down my face. "You

would hide around the house and almost give me a heart attack when I couldn't find you."

We shared a hearty laugh. I couldn't remember any of it, this life I supposedly lived but I

could see little me doing that. "Your parents… they loved you, but they wanted to secure a

good future for you. They were on their way back from securing a major deal when the plane

they were on crashed."

My hands instinctively shot over my mouth.

"It was horrible. I didn't know what to do. How could this young couple on their way to being

industry titans go just like that. But I had to move quick. I knew there would be distant

relatives who would want to use you to get your parents company. I couldn't have that. Your

parents… your parents wouldn't want that." She wiped a tear from her face. "I did what I had

to do. I put you in an orphanage to hide you away from the world." She reached over to me

and grazed the scar under my collarbone. "I gave you this cut." Her voice broke and the

floodgates she'd been holding finally broke. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything you went

through – everything I put you through. I should have – have been there for you. I should

never have let you go. I'm so sorry."

I wrapped my arms around her hoping I could take away her pain. It was undeserved. She

did what she felt she had to do. I guess I was one of those people just dealt a shit hand by

life. I mean my loving ex-husband always assured me his mother would come around and

love me but he ended up divorcing me and leaving me with nothing. Now I find out all this. At

that point, I wouldn't have been surprised if a giant alien decided to land in Auckland and

destroy the Anchor Freight skyscraper.

It would be a fitting ending to a life chuck full of almost-happiness.

"Do you want to sit in your chair?" She pulled out of my embrace. "I saw you staring at it

earlier."

My head whipped in the direction of the immaculate white chair – it looked like it'd be so

comfortable.

"Go on, it won't bite."

I walked towards it, grazing my hand over the cool surface of the oak table. It felt

momentous, like I couldn't just casually plop down onto it. I eyed it, walked around it, feeling

the soft leather. I gasped when I left a little finger stain on it.

Amelie giggled at my tension. "Charlotte it's fi– oh my gosh, I never asked if you were

comfortable being called that."

I pondered for a moment. "I mean, it's my name right? Are you sure you aren't mistaken?

That I'm… Charlotte?"

She walked up to me and cupped my face in her velvety palm. "There's not a doubt in my

mind, sweetheart. You have your mother's eyes. Go on, sit."

I finally took my place at the helm of my parents company– I guess my company now.

It felt so surreal.

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