The Billionaire’s Hidden Twin

Crystal

“You may lose your scholarship if you keep skipping classes and getting average grades. I don't know what's going on with you but you have to tighten up” .

Professor June’s words echoed in her head like a siren. Crystal slowed as she exited the class, nearly bumping into someone at the door. Her vision blurred, and her chest tightened.

She stumbled to the nearest bench and sat down, the tears finally spilling over.

She couldn’t afford to lose her scholarship, not when it was her only shot at a better life.

But she had no choice. Her only surviving parent had passed away six months ago, leaving behind a crushing debt that she now carried on fragile shoulders.

And now, loan sharks were after her, threatening to sell her organs if she failed to pay up.

Every day felt like a ticking clock counting down to disaster.

She closed her eyes and whispered to herself, “I need a miracle.”

But miracles were expensive. And she was broke.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her back to reality.

Work. She was late. Again.

She bolted from the bench and made a beeline for the faculty exit. She had fifteen minutes to make it to the restaurant.

She couldn’t afford to get fired as this job was the only thing keeping her from drowning completely.

She hit the elevator, punched the ground floor button, and prayed it wouldn’t stop on every floor. As soon as the doors opened, she rushed out, fumbling with her phone to order a ride on Taxify.

A cab pulled up nearby, just as a man stepped out.

Crystal didn’t hesitate.

“El-Paso Lounge!” she shouted, yanking the door open.

The driver motioned for her to enter, but just as she did, the passenger who had just stepped out, reached for his wallet.

AHMAD

Ahmad reached into his pocket to pay for the cab when someone slammed into him.

Seriously?

He was already stressed from a long day at the office and wasn’t in the mood to argue with a careless stranger.

“Could you watch where you're going, young lady?” He said, annoyed and irritated.

“No, you watch where you’re going, Mister!” she snapped, bending down to pick up her books.

She hissed and muttered something under her breath as she climbed into the cab.

He blinked, stunned. He hadn’t expected such a fiery mouth on such a stunning face.

She didn't matter anyway. His client was waiting for him and this random girl wouldn't spoil the rest of his day.

He reached into his pockets again, but something felt wrong. His face fell.

It seemed like he left his wallet in his office. His phone too. Today couldn't get any worse.

“Sir,” he leaned in through the driver’s window, trying to maintain composure. “Please be patient while I run to that ATM. I must’ve left my wallet in the office. Five minutes tops.”

The driver had started to say something in agreement when the girl cut in.

“And what about me? You won't ask me to be patient? What if I'm in a hurry?” She snapped at him

Ahmad turned, and time stopped.

Her face.

She was extraordinarily beautiful. Her soft brown eyes. Her perfect nose. Cherry pink lips. Her beauty punched the air from his lungs.

He was so lost in her eyes that he noticed that she began to cough violently.

“Miss, are you okay?” His voice softened, concern replacing irritation. “I was just asking if I could run to the ATM……”

“I don’t have that kind of time,” she interrupted, glancing at her watch. “How much does he owe?”.

“Ten dirhams,” the driver answered.

“I'll pay for it, just go” she said curtly.

He was genuinely surprised. No one had ever done that for him.

“Thank you so much miss” He shouted as the cab pulled away, smiling like a fool on the curb.

Wait! He didn't even know her name. He shook his head as he rushed towards the restaurant on the other side of the road.

But he knew one thing: he wanted to see her again.

Crystal

She ignored his thanks.

He bumped into her and didn’t even apologize. And now he wanted her patience? She didn’t have time to be polite.

She glanced back just once.

That face.

That man was the most beautiful person she had ever seen.

He had the deepest blue eyes she'd ever seen, his cheekbones looked like they could slice through metal, a jawline that looked like it had been sculpted from stone and his Jet black hair that peeked out from under his hoodie.

Her breath caught. She choked and coughed, trying to push the thought away.

“Miss, are you okay?” His voice, deep and velvety, had made her heartbeat spike.

Crystal thought back to the Man.

That beautiful face, those eyes.

She shook her head violently to get the thoughts out. She couldn't afford to be distracted.

The cab finally pulled up at El-paso restaurant and lounge located right in the heart of Dubai.

Crystal checked the time, 7:35pm.

She was twenty-five minutes late for her shift. Damn.

She tossed 20 dirhams to the driver and mumbled her thanks.

She dashed into the restaurant and almost collided with someone at the entrance. It was her co-worker, Laila.

“Girl where have you been?” Laila hissed. She looked very agitated and stressed.

“I'm so sorry, the craziest thing happened today…..” Crystal replied, panting.

“No time for stories now” Laila cut her off. “You have to change now. The manager has been breathing fire for the past twenty-five minutes and I've been covering for you. Told him you clocked in since but you've been stuck in the toilet with bad cramps”

“God bless you, girl.” Crystal exhaled in gratitude. “I owe you one. Let me go change”.

She sprinted off to the staff room to change into her uniform.

The night flew by. It was a Friday, always the busiest as customers flooded in from every corner in Dubai.

Time passed so quickly that she almost forgot she had another job upstairs, starting at 11 p.m.

Crystal wasn’t just a waitress. She was also an exotic dancer at El-Paso Lounge, located above the restaurant. One of the best. That was why the manager let her work both jobs.

At 10:45pm when Laila came around the counter.

“Girl, your act starts in 15 minutes and you're not even dressed?”

Crystal’s heart almost jumped out of her chest. She didn't need another run in with the manager tonight so she passed her tray to her other co-worker Amanda and she dashed off to the changing room.

“After your stage act, you have a VIP client waiting for you at the VIP lounge. He specifically asked for you” Laila called after her.

Crystal froze and turned back.

“But you know I don't do VIP clients. Not after what happened to Prinda.”

“He asked specifically for you , Crystal. And he's paying five hundred thousand dirhams” She stopped to look at Crystal.

Crystal blinked. “What?”.

“You know what that kind of money could do for you. You'd be a step closer to being free from those loan sharks. You could finally clear part of that 5 million dirhams debt your late father left behind”.

Laila’s voice softened.

“Just do it, Crystal. Please”

Crystal knew Laila was right.

The loan sharks had given her four months to repay what was left of her father’s debt, 2.5 million dirhams. And they had made it clear: fail to pay, and they’d start harvesting body parts.

She bit her lip contemplating if it was really worth it, but she knew it. This offer was a lifeline.

Her heart was racing real bad. The thought of the loan sharks taking out her organs flashed through her mind again. She shuddered, terrified of the thought.

“I'll do it” She whispered, not knowing what she should expect at the lounge but with a firm resolve in her mind.