Chapter 144

***ANTRA***

I gazed at Jaxon, my eyes narrowing at the sadness displayed on his face. He had barely touched his milkshake and here I was sipping my third. I sucked at consoling but still, the silence was becoming unbearable.

“Are you okay? How did it go?” I probed, placing a leg on the table. “You haven't said a word since we arrived,” I glanced at my watch, “It's been three hours.”

Jaxon sighed before meeting my eyes. He placed the picture he was holding on the table. It was the picture of his family that he carried about. “He said he doesn't know where she is.”

I almost choked on my drink, “What? He doesn't know? How's that possible? My sister said they lived together. If Kara had moved, Annika would have told me.”

He shrugged. “A part of me felt he was lying but I didn't want to push. If Kara had left, they would be in touch, right? I mean, it's just absurd. Him saying he doesn't know.”

I pondered on his statement. It was fishy. Everything about it. Something just wasn't right.

“So he didn't give you any hint? Anything at all that can help you find Kara?”

“The only thing he did was tell me he would let me know if he has any information about her and I left my contact with him,” Jaxon muttered.

I sat up,” This is wrong. Something is going on. And whatever it is, it's not nice. I can feel it. He's her brother. There's no way on earth he doesn't know her location, except maybe she asked him not to disclose to anyone. Did you tell him who you were?”

“I told him but he said Kara has no husband. And she's not a mother either. He said if she did have a family somewhere he would be aware due to the bond they share,” Jaxon said.

“Now this is complicated. Jaxon, are you sure it's the right person? Because he's her brother and he's right. If Kara has a family he would know. I told you the woman in the picture is different and she doesn't have a past life. Kara is a celebrity. Her life isn't private. She's the big thing in this industry and bloggers are always looking for ways to make her name appear in every article.”

He gave a small smile, “I don't know of Kara Lee but the woman on the billboard is her. I know her too well. Listen, Antra, I feel like he's not Kara’s brother.”

I raised a brow at him, “Mateo?”

“Yes,” he said and clasped his hands on the table, “There were no pictures of them together and there's no resemblance.”

“Not all siblings look alike,” I pointed out.

Jaxon nodded. “My wife is not a twin. That I know of. But if she's somehow related to this celebrity then I'm very confident that Mateo isn't the celebrity’s brother. It's a facade. When I told him my name was Jaxon, his demeanor changed.”

“Are you sure you're not mixing things up?” I queried.

He stared at me, his eyes piercing into mine. “I know what I saw.”

I sipped my milkshake, “Okay. I feel he doesn't trust you. Here's the thing. We would work together. Mateo would trust me enough to talk about Kara since I'm his girlfriend’s sister. Either way, the truth must come out.”

***

When I got home, I found my sister in the kitchen making a meal. My favorite meal. But tonight, I had no appetite to stomach it down.

“Hi,” I said and went to the fridge to grab a drink.

“Beanie, what's with the cold shoulder you've been giving me?” she asked.

I dumped my bag on the chair and looked at her warily. “I have? That's not even anything.”

She sighed, “Well you're late.”

“And?” I asked. “You’re going to scold me because you made it home in time?”

“What does that even mean?” Annika asked, locking her eyes with mine.

I shrugged. Lately, she has been staying out late. Not because of work or her boyfriend but because of the stranger. They had been going someplace I didn't know of frequently and it bothered me. It bothered me to know that she trusted someone this much to not disclose her location to me whenever she was with him.

And the stranger wasn't ready to leave the house yet. He seemed comfortable and my sister wasn't complaining. I wanted to ask where she always went but she was an adult and such a question would be inappropriate. She didn't want me to know. If she did, she would've told me.

I sipped my Dr Pepper and eyed my sister. “I need my room back. I'm tired of spending the night in the parlor.”

She looked at me, a slight frown creasing her forehead. “I told you to use mine, Antra.”

“That's it! I don't want yours. I want mine,” I countered, “Ask your guest to leave. Has he forgotten what the word guest means? Does he need to be schooled?”

She nodded, “So this is what it's about. He's the problem.”

“You both are the problem, Annika,” I corrected,” You just warmed up to him like he's some long-lost love of yours.”

She slumped her shoulders and walked up to me. She pulled me close to her and stared at me with soft and affectionate eyes. “I'm sorry I couldn't make time for us again.”

I swatted her hands away and withdrew from her. “This isn't about us. This is about you. You're losing yourself.”

“Don't tell me that!” she snapped, “I know what I'm doing. I want him out of here too. He's just comfortable staying here and I don't think it would hurt if he stays for a few more days.”

“How long is a few more days, Annika? You said this two weeks back. It seems a few more days never come,” I grumbled.

She sighed, “He has no money—”

“Then he should work,” I interjected.

“Annika? Beanie he's going to leave I promise. But please don't get mad at me. I know I said—”

“I'm done hearing this every time,” I said and shook my head.

She gave me a small smile, “I'm making your favorite.”

“I'm not eating tonight. I ate out already.”

She nodded, “Well I understand you're still grumpy. I'll give you time and space.”

I shrugged, grabbed another can of Dr Pepper and headed for the door.

“Antra,” she called, halting my footsteps.

“Yeah?” I said without turning back.

“Mateo wants us all to have dinner sometime with his sister. Then, you'll get to meet with your idol again. But I can tell him you're not interested,”

I turned around, my heart thumping in excitement, “You're not making this up to get me to talk to you, are you?”

She giggled, “I'm past that.”

“Great!” I beamed at her, my heart swelling with joy. “I'm in.”

I got my answer already. Kara was around but Mateo didn't want to give out information about her to Jaxon for a reason I was yet to discover.