10 "A Blissful Marriage"

“Anntonia Porsild.… baby.”

“…Your future Laó Pò…” ............

My eyes almost popped out of my head with my jaw hanging from my mouth upon hearing those words come out of her mouth. It took me a good minute before I was able to answer her. “Come again, My  What !!&%₹%???”

Anntonia, as how she introduced herself to me just laughed hysterically while holding unto her stomach.

Before speaking again, another enticing looking woman entered the room, that’s when I realized that there was a connecting room adjacent to my unit, and said, “Babe will you please stop poking fun at Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming’s love child!”, said the other woman amusedly.  Then I just stared at them with my mouth agape, taking in the presence of these two supermodel like women in front of me. She slowly proceeded towards Anntonia and bent a little just to give her a peck on the lips. But Anntonia had other things in mind and as Michelle was raising her head, the former grabbed Michelle’s neck and gave her a  hot, sweltering, sultry kiss. I was stunned of what’s unfolding before my very eyes, so I just gulped loudly and pretended to make a coughing sound.

Finally when Anntonia let go of Michelle, the latter straightened herself up and reached out her hand to me for acknowledgement and told me, “Michelle Dee, I’m the fiancée…”

Faye: “You’re my fiancé?”, I asked her in a high pitched voice.

Michelle: “What!?! No, I’m her (while pointing to Anntonia) fiancé…” I sighed in relief and took a really deep breath upon learning the truth.

“Allow me to formally introduce myself, Anntonia Porsild, a business partner and also operations analyst to Aashna’s billion dollar empire. I just stared at her for another minute or so before I could compose another phrase in my head. “Where’s my sister?”, I asked, “I thought I came here to finally see my long lost twin sister.”, I mumbled to myself.

Both Anntonia and Michelle gave me a knowing look and a sad smile. They were blubbering something that I could not understand.

Anntonia stood up and walked towards me and scoffed down to my eye level and that’s when she disclosed to me that my twin sister is not in a very good state. Aashna has a Juvenile Huntington’s Disease. It is an incurable neurodegenerative disease. Sadly there’s no cure nor can the experts slow down its progression. She is under a hospital care for most of  adult life, suffering from significant weight loss, difficulty swallowing and breathing, recurrent aspiration pneumonia and uncontrolled pain. Sadly, the health care providers can only offer medications to help with certain symptoms.

Both Anntonia and Michelle explained to me that they had to get away from my family in India because someone from the inner circle of the family is sabotaging the business and is using the family connection for bad business practices and dirty works.

Anntonia met my sister in one of the latter’s charity events and they hit it off as friends from then on. At that time, my sister despite the diagnosis, was still able to perform her duties as an intellectual businesswoman and philanthropist. Though as time went on and their friendship deepens, the progression of her disease worsens. It’s only a matter of time before her body gives up. Aashna also confided in Anntonia that her life was in danger from some family members who will do everything to get their hands to the vast family fortune that was left by our father, who also perished of unforeseen circumstances.

My mom, conceived us at a very young age. She was one of the administrative team at our father’s enterprise. Aashna believed that our father did love our mother, but due to their stature in life and the responsibilities that comes with my father’s family legacy, both of them decided to part ways. Living one child for each of them. Our mother had completely cut ties with our father and refused to accept any financial support from him.

Here I am 30, years later, standing in front of my sister’s death bed, looking at my twibling and  staring at her frail body carrying with me her son and promising her that I will treat her young boy as my own. It’s only a day to day basis for her. There’s only a blank expression displayed on her face, she just  glance at me once in a while then proceed to have that deadpan, empty and straight-faced expression.

Anntonia explained to me that I must learn by heart everything Aashna. From the way she talks, her mannerisms, the way she deals with people up to her own signature. Anntonia being the most trusted ally of my sister explained to me that I must dissemble myself as my sister in order for us to catch the culprit within the inner family business circle. Since the passing of our biological father, all the assets and family corporations had been transferred to Aashna as the only nearest of kin. When Aashna found out about me and about her incurable disease, she immediately began the manhunt for me and at same time transferred all the fortune to her son and me, Anntonia was assigned as the executor and at the same time my sister’s trusted confidante.

At first, I was hesitant about the idea of me steeping in the shoes of my sister, but I agreed later on for the sake of all the Adani employees and the safety of my nephew.

Anntonia also added that Aashna’s boyfriend, the father of my nephew mysteriously disappeared without leaving any trace or whatsoever. Both Aashna and Anntonia suspected that Rafa’s father was abducted by the same people who were planning bad things towards my sister. As of now, there is a full blown investigation regarding the matter at hand. For the time being,  Aashna was kept hidden from the public eye, away from India for her and her son’s safety. That’s why they have a business headquarter in Spain to manage the company at a safe distance.

Of course they also have very trustworthy people working in India. I eventually agreed to their plan and underwent rigorous training until my brain, body and soul couldn’t take it anymore.

Anntonia, Michelle together with Carlo and Mario guided me every step of the way.

Anntonia acted as my right wing woman, wherever I go, her shadow is always behind me. Overlooking everything and steering the wheel to the right direction. We developed a very close sisterly bond, together with her very understanding fiancé Michelle. Anntonia and I often joked about it that we were like a married couple in an open relationship. That’s why our pet name for each other is “wifey”, with Michelle’s permission of course.

A year after my arrival in Spain, my sister finally succumb to her illness. Press people were paid a hefty amount of cash to carry on with announcement of my passing. They made it seem that Faye Peraya Malisorn died of atherosclerotic heart disease with intoxication as a contributing factor, whatever the heck that means…

Right now I’m busy preparing for the upcoming Silver Wedding Anniversary of Orm Kornnapath parents. Anntonia told me that we received an invite to such event because Orm’s parents will be introducing our company, The ASI Holding’s Incorporated (yes, the name of the company has been changed), as one of the top investors and business partners of Orm's parents company, one of the many business undertakings between the two companies.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Here we go guys, are you ready for "Aashni and Yoko's .....

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