Chapters 30 - Kaléo Coleman

***The bombshell!***

Months had passed, and I was really struggling! I couldn't connect with anyone, not even for stress relief, and it was starting to frustrate me. Once again, I glanced at my desk, and there was the envelope with the complete dossier Tayson had handed me this morning. Ever since my last argument with Ayumi about her mother, we had grown apart and hardly saw each other. I really didn't know how we had gotten to this point! We used to be best friends, sharing everything with each other, and now we found ourselves in this mess.

I knew that friends argue, fight, and don't always agree on everything. But Ayumi and I had reached a point where we lived in the same house and hardly ever saw each other. Everything had gotten worse on the day I asked her if she was using the things I bought for her with the card I left at home or even the money I kept in an envelope in my office drawer for emergencies…

**Memories…**

“Ayumi, if you're using it, it's fine. There's no reason to get so upset!”

“Of course, I'm upset. You're implying that I'm stealing from you!”

“I didn't say that. I just asked if you were using it because I don't mind. Money is meant to be spent, and what I earn doesn't even come close to a fraction of what's being spent with the card or taken in cash from my office.”

“But why bring it up now? I have my money, and I don't need yours.”

“But I leave it here for you to use. I just asked because I was glad you were using it.”

“Listen, Ayumi, when you showed me the card, I left it in the same place. I haven't used a single cent from it or taken any money from your office. I think this whole living together thing isn't working out. I'll start looking for an apartment for me and my mother. I know you don't like her, and her presence bothers you. Since you don't accept her in your house, I'm not welcome either.” She grabbed her bag from the couch and headed towards the double doors, which opened right after.

I didn't even have a chance to say anything or do anything. I didn't accuse her of stealing or anything like that. I was just happy she was using the money, even though the expenses were excessive, but I wasn't going to complain about anything!

**End of memories.**

Ever since that day, we haven't properly talked. Even my family noticed her behavior towards me and questioned me about it. I simply said it was nothing and that she would be moving out in a few weeks. But before she leaves my house, I need to find out who that woman really is.

I grab the envelope, and as I'm about to open it, the door to my office swings open, and Evelyn enters, followed by my secretary.

“Madam, you can't come in like this. You need to be announced” says my secretary, trying to block your way.

“We have to talk,” she says, looking at me. “Now!” As soon as she speaks, I can tell it's a serious matter.

“It's alright, Kimberly. You can relax and reschedule my meeting that was supposed to take place in ten minutes.”

“But sir, the executives from Brazil are here for the meeting.”

“Reschedule it. I have another commitment now. You can leave,” I say, and she nods and leaves the room.

“Please have a seat, Evelyn.”

“Thank you,” she sits in the armchair across from me.

“So, what happened that's so urgent for you to be like this?”

“Ayumi is my sister!”

“Excuse me?” I look at her, not quite understanding. “What did you say? I think I didn't hear you correctly.”

“You heard me right. Ayumi is my sister, and I need your help to prove it.”

“Wait!” I nervously smile, not even sure why. “How did you find out about this?”

“Thom has a photo of Yumi and found a portrait of my grandmother in my father's basement. He started saying that Ayumi looks like our great-grandma. Actually, he's been saying that since he met her at the hospital, but we didn't pay much attention. Then I saw the photos, and they're identical. So I took the opportunity to question my father, and he told me that he had an extramarital affair but left the woman when he found out my mother was pregnant and never saw her again.”

“So he doesn't know if he has a daughter or not? I mean, in this case, Ayumi.”

“No, and that's why I need your help. I need to perform a DNA test without her knowledge. This needs to remain strictly confidential between us; nobody can know until we're certain.”

“How can I accomplish that?”

“I don't know, figure it out!”

“Did she tell you about her alleged mother?”

“Yes, but based on what she told me about how she became pregnant with Ayumi, none of it aligns with what my father said. As far as I understood, Ayumi's mother either owned or used to own a construction company. She approached my father, who is in the import-export business. Moreover, Ayumi doesn't resemble her at all. It's evident that she's simply seeking to take advantage.”

“I've already considered that, I even requested an investigation into her,” I say, picking up the envelope in front of me. “I'm going to open it, and we'll find out together if that woman is truly her mother or not,” Evelyn nods in agreement, and I open the envelope, removing a small stack of papers and begin reading.

“So, what's written there? You don't look good,” I divert my gaze from the paper and hand it to her.

“It's written and signed by each guy she hired to attack her. They even claim that she set fire to the house.”

“What a despicable woman! She fabricated everything and deceived the police, you, and Ayumi. She deceived all of us!” she exclaims, placing the paper on the table.

“I'll give you some to read, and I'll keep the rest. Let's find out who this woman truly is,” as soon as I say that, there's a knock on the door, and Tayson enters.

“Sir, the DNA test is ready,” he holds up the envelope.

“Did you manage to conduct the test?”

“Yes, I went into her room the other day and took some hair strands from her brush. As for Ayumi, she had coffee in a disposable cup that she brought from outside and threw in the trash. I took it.”

“Oh, and you were still wondering how you could help me,” Evelyn says, narrowing her eyes.

“I didn't feel comfortable doing it, but I found a way. Now, let's see the results of this test. But before we do, tell me what you found out, Tayson,” he hands me the envelope, and I resist the temptation to open it before hearing what he has to say.

“I visited the laboratory where the DNA test was conducted and discovered that she paid someone she knows to manipulate the results,” as soon as he said that, I opened the envelope, and there it was! “Zero, the probability of her being Ayumi's mother is zero,” I say, handing the test to Evelyn, who takes it and starts reading.”

“Thank God, we can finally get that woman out of her life!” she says and hands me the paper. I put it in the laboratory envelope.

“Sir, I've already sent men to the woman's house who helped her fake the DNA test. I also found out that she's the one using the money and the card you left for Miss Clark. It's all there in the dossier, but there's something very strange that I found.”

“What?” I asked, along with Evelyn.

“In our investigation, I discovered that Mrs. Lunes has a fake identity.”

“What?” Evelyn asks, her voice filled with surprise.

“Her real name is Maria Acosta. She's from San Salvador de Jujuy in Argentina. She has been here in San Diego for thirty years. She came with a businesswoman who later returned to New York, but she stayed here. I found out that she used to visit the orphanage where you and Miss Clark lived.”

“Did you find out what she wanted at the orphanage?”

“Former employees said that she would enter and take photos of Miss Ayumi.”

“So she already knew Ayumi, but why the interest in her?” I ask, trying to understand.

“Could she know Ayumi's mother?” Evelyn asks, her eyes wide with anticipation.

“That's what we're going to find out now!” I say, getting up, gathering all the evidence, and heading towards the door, with Tayson by my side.

“Hey! I'm coming with you to expose that witch. Maybe I can uncover something,” Evelyn says, getting up, and we leave my office.

•••••••• 🌺🦋🌺 ••••••••

“I'm going to give that woman a beating. Who does she think she is to deceive my sister and take advantage of her?” Evelyn says as soon as we enter the elevator, and she starts tying her hair back. “And you, big guy, don't even think about getting in the middle,” she says, pointing at Tayson, who nods in agreement.

I grab my phone. I need to call Paul. He has to come and try to calm the beast.

“Kaléo!” I look at her, and she smiles, placing her hand on my phone and lowering it, shaking her head. “Don't even think about calling my husband here. Not even he can save that woman from me today,” she finishes saying, adjusts the bag on her shoulder, and rolls up the sleeve of her blouse as if she's preparing for war.