Chapter 8
Janelle Pierce had never seen so much luxury all in one place. Marble floors with swirls of white and gold made up the floor while marble statues decorated the corridor that led to her patient's room. It was a bit gaudy for her taste but still, it screamed rich.
"Is this for real?" she whispered to herself.
"I'm sorry...what was that?" Roger was a few steps ahead of her, leading her towards Calista's bedroom.
"N-nothing." Janelle gave a sheepish smile before lightly slapping her mouth.
"As I was saying, you'll be in charge of Ms. Dover's care. Anthony Dover, her grandfather, is a bit of an eccentric. He refuses to have a nurse assist him."
"Does he need a nurse?" Janelle asked.
"Indubitably. But he refuses to admit it. If he tries to fire you, ignore him. Sebastian Dover is your employer. You are to answer to him."
"What about Ms. Dover? What if she doesn't like me?"
Roger stopped mid-stride. "Doesn't like you? She asked for you specifically."
"She did?" Janelle couldn't help her look of disbelief. "Why?"
Roger tilted his head to the side. "I'm not sure. I thought she knew you. Are you sure you two have never met?"
"No, I think I'd remember meeting someone this rich...I mean..."
Roger smiled. "Don't worry about it."
"So, what's her full name? Other than Ms. Dover? The agency I work for was very hush hush about this assignment. You said Dover but you can't possibly mean Dover as in Dover Industries?"
Again Roger smiled. "That's the one."
Janelle bit her bottom lip.
"You'll be caring for Calista Dover."
"Calista," Janelle repeated, a wave of sadness washing over her.
"Is something wrong?" Roger asked, noting the change in her expression.
"No, not at all. I was just reminded of someone. That's all."
"Well, just remember the rules."
"Rules?"
Roger turned to face her and held up three fingers. "One, you are not to talk to reporters about Ms. Dover. Two, you are not to talk to reporters about Mr. Dover. Three, you are not to talk to anyone about what goes on in this home. Understood?"
Janelle gave a shaky nod. "Got it. This place is like Vegas. Whatever happens here stays here."
"Are you sure you've never met Ms. Dover?" Roger asked again.
"Positive."
Once they reached her room, Roger knocked twice before opening the door. Calista Dover was seated in front of her vanity, a hand on her cheek as though she were examining her face.
"Ms. Dover? Your new nurse is here. As you know, her name is Janelle Pierce. Ms. Pierce, this is Calista Dover." Roger gestured towards Calista.
"Nice to meet you," Janelle said softly, her eyes on Calista.
"Is something wrong?" Roger asked.
"N-no, not at all." Janelle gave a shaky smile.
"Then I'll leave you two alone. Call me if there are any problems," he said before leaving the room.
"Are you okay?" Calista asked. Her voice was low and scratchy.
"I'm fine. It's just that you remind me of someone. Especially your eyes."
"My eyes?"
Janelle nodded. "Yes. They're a beautiful shade of blue. Very unique."
"Thank you."
"I think...I think I'm really going to like this new assignment." Janelle smiled.
Calista smiled. "Do you know how cheesy you sound right now?"
Janelle's smile faltered and her eyes narrowed. "I'm sorry?"
"I think I'm really going to like this new assignment," Calista said, mocking Janelle's words.
"Ms. Dover, are you okay?"
"Janelle, do you seriously not recognize me? I knew you were slow but not this slow. I know I had some plastic surgery but I don't look a little familiar?"
"Recognize you? Slow? What are you—"
Calista grinned the moment Janelle caught on.
"Calista?" Janelle took a step forward. "Is that you?"
"Well, it's not Mary Poppins."
"Calista Hargrove? As in my best friend? As in the Calista who's been missing for months?" Janelle began to tear up. "Is this a joke?"
Calista quickly stood up and gathered her friend into a hug. "I've missed you so much."
"Why are you here? Where have you been? What exactly happened and why are you pretending to be Calista Dover?"
Calista sat back down. "There are so many things we have to talk about. I don't have answers to most of your questions. I don't remember what happened but somehow I ended up at St. Anthony's church and was mistaken for Calista Dover. I wasn't able to talk for months and I was in and out of consciousness for the first few weeks. As much as I wanted to tell the truth...I couldn't."
"But you can talk now," Janelle said.
"Yes, but I still can't tell the truth."
"Why not?"
"The night is a little fuzzy but I'm sure of one thing."
"What's that?"
"That the reason I ended up in St. Anthony's church was because someone was trying to kill me."
Roger watched Sebastian as he continued to look through the contents of the red file.
"Are you sure everything in here is correct?" Sebastian asked.
Roger nodded. "Yes. I'm positive. Calista seemed unaware of what was going on before she went missing."
"Be sure she signs these documents. The shares she owns will put give me an advantage at the next meeting. Did you find out who this Adam Hargrove is?"
"Apparently, he's one of the lawyers on our legal team. He was hired not too long ago."
"Is that so?"
"He's good friends with Yvonne," Roger said.
Sebastian laughed. "This just keeps getting better and better. Have him meet me in my office as soon as Calista starts working."
"You're really going to have her work? She was just released from the hospital."
"Roger, did you forget you were the one who suggested it? She had been ready to leave the hospital for weeks. I just kept her there for her own good. Did you leak the news about her donation yet?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Let Calista know she'll be reporting to work in two weeks."
"Yes, sir. She's with her nurse right now."
"The nurse she specifically requested?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes. Once Ms. Dover returns to work, her nurse will come in the evenings."
"That's fine. I'll have her close by at work so she won't get into too much trouble and the nurse can keep an eye on her at night."
"Sir, are you sure you want her to work at the company?" Roger asked again. "I didn't realize she'd go to work this soon when I suggested it."
Sebastian sighed. "No, not really but I can't have her staying at home or the public will think I'm hiding her."
"Understood." Roger turned to leave the room.
"Roger?"
"Yes, sir?"
"When someone has amnesia...do they forget everything from the past?"
"It's possible but in some cases it's just bits and pieces that's forgotten."
"Bits and pieces?" Sebastian repeated.
"Yes, sir."
"So if someone had special feelings about another person...is it possible to forget that too?"
"I would think so."
Sebastian's shoulders slumped. "I see. That'll be all Roger."
"The person might forget," Roger said, glancing at the pink journal on Sebastian's desk, "but feelings can't stay forgotten forever."
"Why not?" Sebastian asked.
"Because feelings aren't stored here," Roger said, pointing to his head. "They're stored here." He moved his hand from his head to his chest and smiled.
Sebastian looked away. "That'll be all Roger."
"Yes, sir."
After Roger left, Sebastian thought about Calista upstairs with her nurse. He left his study and made his way to her room. Her door was slightly ajar. He was about to knock when he caught the tail-end of a conversation. It was Calista speaking.
"More than anything, I want revenge."
Sebastian pushed open the door to see the two women huddled together.
"Revenge? Calista, what are you talking about? Why do you want to get revenge?"
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