Episode 7-The offer

Andrea had never felt so mortified of someone in her life, she felt like her entire life flashed through her eyes after the president suddenly proposed her a deal and even asked for Rio to take a seat next to her.

“As you already noticed, my son is suffering from a mental illness called double personality disorder” Andrea's throat runs dry, double personality disorder? There are actually people who had that disorder, she’d only ever heard of it in movies and read about it in books, seeing a victim of the mental disorder in real life was an eye opener for, yeah…she definitely thought his behaviour was rather strange, one moment he was nice and calm, but another second, he was rude and indifferent, had her wondering how someone could be so different on two different occasions. “This piece of information is something I expect you to guard with your life, a lot of people want to see him fall after all” Andrea flinched. Yeah, Boris enterprises is such a big company, they aren’t actors or anything and yet they are always trending because of the public attention towards their group of companies.

“If it’s such confidential information…why are you telling me this?”  Andrea narrowed her face suspiciously at the man. They won’t be killing her and dumping her body somewhere now that he holds such information, will they? She worried and the man as if reading her mind burst into heavy laughter.

“I think I’m beginning to see why Rio was immediately attracted to you,” The old man said whilst laughing, how could he be so nonchalant in this situation? Andrea wondered and when she met Rio’s face he realised, he also looked quite creeped out like for real.

“Why exactly are you making her sit here to listen to this?” Rio finally said something since he was asked to sit beside her.

“Rio, I might have tried to deny it all of this time but you’re my son, you’re a part of my son I kept denying, maybe locking you up  in a cage wasn’t the best choice I could make as a parent, but you can’t blame me for being scared of what I don’t know about can you?” Andrea unconsciously scoffed out loud but raised her hand to cover her mouth almost immediately after realising what she’d done.

“Miss Morgan, it’s okay you can talk…honestly” Andrea wasn’t expecting to be given an opportunity to say anything but she doesn’t look like she’ll miss out on the chance either.

“I can’t believe you would lock your son up in a cage because he had a personality shift, scared? That’s bullshit! If you really love your son the moment you figure out his disorder you were supposed to research on it and find a way to make him better not lock him in a goddamn cage, do you seriously think doing that will be any help to him, he’s human and have emotions too, you said he was like your second son, aren’t you favouring the other one too much, why don’t you try locking his counterpart up for a change and see if he won’t turn into a beast you actually fear?, you said he causes trouble for you but I don’t blame him really, anyone in his situation would do the same. What I don’t understand is why Rio had to stay in the cage when it’s that other one that had such a terrible attitude” The president flinched, he felt like he was just scolded and it made him smile for some reason and Rio, his face and ear had turned red watching the young girl rambles on about his prejudice and bias treatment.

“You’ve met Oliver?” The president grinned seeing how brave and confident the girl turned the moment he asked for her to be honest and how fast Rio’s expression changed with her every action, it was like she’s his button or something, I guess I won’t be needing the cage anymore then, he thought while he waited for Andrea’s response.

“Yeah, I’ve met him and Rio seems a lot better than him, I don’t get why he’s the favoured one really?” Andrea realised a moment too late that she had lost herself, she ended up spilling everything on her mind, she wanted to give the president a piece of her mind. Locking someone up with an excuse as flimsy as a mental disorder, isn’t that supposed to be illegal, but then, this is President Harrison, Andrea guessed he might even get away with murdering someone if he truly wanted to.

“So, you really think Rio is better than Oliver?” The president arched a brow at her while he lean his head to the side as his gaze lingers intently on her like he was studying a spectacle, Andrea suddenly felt self-aware with his piercing gaze on her.

“Yeah, I think so” Andrea answered bluntly and Rio gulped in his seat, turning his flaming face away. Seeing the girl he had only met for a couple of days regards her so strongly had his heart pounding fiercely in his chest. It’s the first time someone has ever told him he was better than Oliver, Oliver being the original had always been praised for it while he, a deviation was being criticised for it, honestly, it didn’t matter to Rio because it was a way to protect Oliver.

“Okay, here’s the deal, I want you to be Rio’s caretaker anytime he switches and I’ll pay you monthly, or you could receive the money all at once, you just have to tell me your price-

“You want me to keep an eye on him, let me guess, you removed him from a cage only to put a leash on him, it’s not any different. Let him live like a human, once you allow that, I’m sure he’ll be fine, so…please, I wanna go back home. If I’m even allowed to do that” Andrea mumbled the last part, she didn’t mean to sound rude but she couldn’t help it, yeah he’s one of the richest people in New Orleans but that doesn’t give him the right to abduct her, she thought, how could he have people barge into her home and kidnap her, only for him to propose her deal? Who in their right mind would agree to something like that? Andrea thought wanting to leave as fast as she could but then, she couldn’t help but worry about Rio.

They wouldn’t throw him back in the cage, would they? Andrea fretted and Owen could sense that worry.

“Don’t worry, we won’t put him back in a cage as long as he keeps a low profile of course” Owen smiled but Andrea doesn’t know whether or not to believe the old man, she just can’t seem to read him, he exudes a strange dominance that would make anyone cower in front of him and yet when he smiles he looked like the most harmless person in the world. Andrea knew she shouldn’t let her guard down, after all, they barged into her home and abducted her. She also tried not to feel too guilty for Rio who was now looking away from her, not sure if it was out of guilt or shame but she hope he’ll be okay.

“You can go then” Andrea flinched at that sudden declaration. She can go…just like that, they’ll let her leave? For real?

“Why do you look so surprised? I understand your journey here was a little bit rocky, I didn’t think you’ll come willingly so we ended up taking extra caution, I apologise for that” This man is really something, if they properly explain the situation I would have left with them, Andrea thought but then she recalled how Rio had reacted at the thought of them bringing her with them, it might be the reason why he was sedated.

“I’ll have the driver drive you back home, I enjoyed our little talk Miss Morgan and remember my offer is still available” And with that Andrea stood to leave, but then she turned to glance at Rio one last time. Andrea felt strange seeing the anxiousness in his eyes, it was like asking her to stay but not verbally conversing about it, staring at those hazel orbs had her feeling rather funny. She quickly turn away heading towards the door where the driver who was instructed to take her back home stood waiting for her. Maybe they didn’t mean her harm after all, Andrea decided. “But what was that? Why was he looking at me like that? He can’t possibly like me right? We’ve only just met and…I have a fiance too?”Andrea mumbled to herself, but she knew she was only trying to rid herself of the guilt she felt of abandoning him and also, she felt a strange guilt towards Danny her Fiance for some reason she couldn’t place her hand on.

“Andrea!” A familiar voice called behind her as she walked absentmindedly down the hallway that led away from Mr Harrison’s study. She halted and took a slow turn to see Rio taking long hasty strides towards her.

“I…can…can I come find you…sometime?” His voice quivered nervously, he looked so innocent asking that, it made her feel warm but this is strange, I have a Fiance, I shouldn’t be doing this. Andrea didn’t know how to reply.

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