chapter 59

The twins sat in their rooms, miles apart, yet connected by their secret mission. Alex held the phone close to his ear as Justin whispered urgently."We have to make them meet, Alex. If my—if our uncle sees Mum, he might remember everything. Maybe she’ll recognize him too.""I know, but how? Nicolo is sharp, and if he catches even a hint of our plan, we’re done for.""Simple," Justin grinned. "We make it seem like an accident."That night, they executed the plan. Justin, using Amaira’s phone, sent a message to Dilip, pretending to be Elisa (Justin had an application created by himself which could be used to change the name of the sender to the recipient):"Dilip, meet me at Café Verona at 5 PM. It’s important."Justin and Alex had a plan. It was simple—get Amaira and Dilip to the same place at the same time. If they met, memories would flood back, and eventually, the pieces would fall into place.***The next day Justin executed the other part of the plan.Amaira sighed as she walked into Café Verona, adjusting her scarf. She wasn’t in the mood to sit at a café, but her son—Alex—had insisted."Mom, you’ll love their cake. It’s the best in town!" he had said, practically dragging her here.And now? He had disappeared into the washroom the moment they arrived. Typical.She shook her head and took a seat near the window, unaware that just outside, someone else was approaching the café.Dilip stepped out of his cab, checking the message he had received from Elisa earlier:"Dilip, meet me at Café Verona at 5 PM. It’s important."But as he entered, his eyes didn’t land on Elisa.For a brief moment, something inside him stirred—something familiar. But before he could process it, before he could take another step forward—"Dilip!"His head snapped to the side as Nicolo walked up to him. His expression was calm, unreadable, but his presence was commanding."Come with me," Nicolo said.Dilip frowned. "But—""Now."The tone left no room for argument. Before Dilip could even glance back at the woman by the window, Nicolo had a firm grip on his shoulder, guiding him outside.Inside the café, Amaira checked her watch."Justin, what’s taking you so long?" she muttered, tapping her fingers against the table.Hidden behind a nearby pillar, Alex—who was supposed to be Justin—peeked at the scene. His eyes followed as Nicolo effortlessly whisked Dilip away before he even got the chance to see Amaira.Across from him, the real Justin groaned. "I can’t believe this. He ruined it again."Alex sighed, watching as his father led Dilip away. "Yeah… Plan failed."Justin leaned back against the wall. "We need a better one."Alex smirked. "Or… we need to be faster than Dad."One thing was certain—their dad wasn’t going to let this reunion happen so easily.Justin slumped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "I can't believe he stopped it again. I was so sure this would work!"On the other end of the call, Alex sighed. "Yeah… but I guess we should’ve known. Dad always finds a way to mess things up for us."Justin rolled onto his side. "What now?""We go back to our places and act normal." Alex’s voice was resigned. "We failed today, but we'll think of something else. For now, we just have to wait."With a reluctant sigh, Justin agreed. They ended the call, defeated. At least he got to taste a delicious cake today.Neither of them knew that fate had already planned the next move for them.*Later That Evening*Nicolo adjusted his cufflinks, checking the time.He wasn’t one for social outings, but tonight, he had a meeting—one he couldn’t refuse.Amaira, on the other hand, stepped into the elegant venue, her eyes scanning the place. She was here because of an invitation she couldn’t ignore.Two different paths. Two different reasons.Yet, tonight, they would cross again.And this time… there would be no interruptions.*** Nicolo sat in the private dining room of the luxurious restaurant, his fingers drumming lightly against the polished table. His heart raced—a rare occurrence for a man who had once ruled the underworld with an iron fist. But tonight wasn’t about power. Tonight was about winning back the only woman he had ever truly loved.As the door opened, his breath hitched.Amaira stepped in with the grace of a queen, her presence commanding the room. She was stunning, dressed in an elegant yet understated outfit, her hair cascading in soft waves. But there was no warmth in her eyes as she looked at him.Nicolo stood, forcing a charming smile. "You look beautiful.""I’m not here for compliments." Amaira took her seat without waiting for him to pull it out. "I came for information about my son. Where is he?"Nicolo had anticipated this. He had planned every detail of this meeting, yet under her piercing gaze, he felt slightly off balance."Let’s order first," he said smoothly, signaling the waiter.Amaira’s expression hardened. "Don’t stall. If you know where my son is, tell me. If you don’t, then this conversation is over."She made a move to stand, but Nicolo’s mind raced. He couldn’t let her go—not yet. He had to buy time."You’re searching for him alone, aren’t you?" His voice was calm, confident. "A woman like you, famous in Italy’s fashion world, trying to track someone across the globe? It’s difficult."Amaira narrowed her eyes. "What are you trying to say?""That I can find him faster than you ever could."That made her pause. Nicolo leaned forward, his tone persuasive. "I own businesses in every country in the world. I have resources, connections—people who can track down anyone. If you work with me, I can find your son in no time."Amaira crossed her arms. "And what do you get in return?"A slow smile spread across his face. "I want you to work for me."She blinked. "Excuse me?""You’re a world-famous designer, Amaira or should I call you Lilyt. I need someone like you in my company—to design for my models, to work on interior aesthetics for my projects. In exchange, I’ll use all my resources to find your son."Amaira scoffed. "You want me to work for you? Do you think I have time for that?""You will if it means finding your son faster." Nicolo’s tone was smooth, unwavering.Amaira tapped her nails on the table, considering. She hated feeling manipulated, but he wasn’t wrong. His power and reach could help her more than anything else.Finally, she exhaled sharply. "Fine. But only for three months. If you don’t find my son by then, I’m done."Nicolo grinned, victorious. "Three months it is."They shook hands, sealing the deal.