THE BIRTHMARK

The Next Day…

Nova pulled into the driveway, slowly she got out of her Mercedes Benz and closed the door.

She majestically made her way into the building. Dressed in a classy pink suit and a highway skirt which gripped her right and was not too tight.

She had her black designer handbag with her which matched her high heels. Her long hair was neatly brushed back and the result of her dressing was a much more sophisticated version of her. She was going to show them that she isn't someone to be messed with.

As she passed through the reception, she could feel the penetrating gaze of people on her. She walked into the elevator and pressed the button to the floor she was going to.

Getting to the floor where her office was located, she was led to her new private office by a secretary and was amazed by how beautiful her office was.

There was a group of papers, and a stack of waiter pads were arranged neatly on the huge desk and on it also lay two monitors, and a cup of pens. There was an office chair behind the table and another at the front.

The office looks luxurious and designed with glass. The wall right in front of the door there was a big painting right in the middle. The painting was an abstract art style.

Nova couldn't help but like the atmosphere in the room. This was definitely her style but she was going to make a few changes in this office. It looks like the room has been vacant for years.

As she took her seat, her mind drifted to the day before, especially to Ambrose. He looked a lot more mature and handsome. Those dark eyes of his held her captive just like it did years ago and she could even hear the pounding of her heart in her ear.

She'd admired his features even if she didn't have enough time to do so. His strong chiselled jaws, prominent chin, beautiful sharp nose and a wide forehead. Not even a strand of his dark hair was out of place but neatly combed.

Gone were his boyish look and bully attitude, everything about him now screamed at a man. A powerful rough man.

Words couldn't describe Ambrose Grey. He was a man that could hardly complete a conversation and he was a master at hiding his feelings.

She sat down and leaned her hazel head back against the chair and her eyes that looked like deep dark pools and reflected everything, including light, studied the office appreciation of the space.

The nightmare of the past few years had finally caught up with her.

So many memories, she thought with a sigh. The news of his marriage had hurt her more than anything in her life. He'd played her but he had no conscience about what he did to her and two weeks after she was buried, he'd marry her sister.

Their marriage had been unexpected, and she'd almost gone off the deep end when she'd heard. Somehow she'd always thought Ambrose cared for her but within two weeks of her death he'd married Adriana. Is that how impatient he was to wed Adriana? To have her as his!

She had mourned him bitterly. He'd been the first man in her life in all important ways. She'd shared her first intimacy with him but what did he do? He played her for a fool. A naive teenage girl. She almost laughed out loud. Ambrose had never loved her. He'd loved Adriana from the beginning but she was too foolish to have ever noticed.

Arabella had never had the measure of self-confidence and teasing sophistication that Adriana had but Nova does. Arabella is dead but Nova is alive and ready for revenge. She'll watch him fall under her spell and make him regret ever using her as a pawn in his game.

" Hey, are you busy? " A voice cut through her thoughts and she lifted her eyes up to meet Adriana's.

" No I'm not. " She forced a smile.

" I just came to welcome you again and to give you something special. " She told her as her eyes flickered with mischievous.

Nova made an effort to observe her, but she became enraged by her expression.

Adrianna smiled broadly and pulled out a black box with gold trim from her bag. When she opened it, a bright, simple gold necklace was inside.

" This necklace is made by one of New York's famous designer. I think this will be fit for you. " She added with a warm smile that didn't reach her eyes.

" Oh, that's so thoughtful of you. " She said quietly with sarcasm.

" With your permission, I want to put it on for you by myself. Can you raise your hair? " Her tone was non-committal and her face gave nothing away. " Or should I raise it myself? "

Nova tightened her lips and blinked repeatedly throughout the process, Adriana took three slow steps behind her with the necklace in her hands.

In order to allow Adriana to put the necklace on for her, Nova tightly packed her hair in her palm and pushed it all the way to the right side of her head.

Adriana's smile faded and her face went white when she was met with Nova's pale skin and there was not even a single spot on it or the ugly birthmark Arabella had when they were kids and this only means that Nova isn't Arabella. But how come? She was so certain! How could two people look so much alike but with different behaviour?

" I'm done. " She cleared her throat after putting on the necklace for Nova.

The corner of Nova's mouth turned up as she slowly turned to face Adriana and she could see that the colour had already drained out from her face.

Somehow, she'd expected that from her. She wanted to find out if she had the same birthmark as Arabella. What did she take her for? For that naive young girl of seven years ago, Nah! After seven years of planning did she think she wouldn't have covered up the birthmark before anyone saw it.

" Have what you thought happened? " She said, smiling. " Did what you thought happen around my neck? "

" You're wrong. " Adriana muttered. " Whatever you're hiding, I'm gonna make sure I find out about it. " She said, her mouth curving to a smile as she walked out of Nova's office.

How come? Why was there no birthmark on her neck? Could it be that she is not Arabella? But that's not possible, is it?

Her thoughts were indeed ravaging her and at that point, even her own skin felt as if it was suffocating her.

There was no way Nova couldn't be Arabella. And how come she knows that she was looking for something around her neck?

" Where have you been? " Elena asked Adriana as soon as she walked into her office with a pale face.

" I'm going to kill her. " Adriana cursed under her breath.

" I warned you not to do anything stupid. Nova can't be Arabella. Did you not go to the funeral of Arabella? Did we not bury her with our own hands? "

" Yes, you're right. "

" Then pull yourself together and be reasonable. That woman can not be Arabella. " Elena tried to convince Adriana that it was impossible for Nova to be Arabella, but she had no idea that Adriana wasn't going to give up on the thought.

" Maybe she's not Arabella, but I have a horrible feeling that she has bad intentions. "

To be continued...