As I was speaking with Aunt Sandra, Derak comes back with Uncle Clive, and as they both take a seat, Derak says, "Jessica, the detective just called in, he says the card Amanda used to pay Kyle's bills belongs to a Mr. James Boyd and the card is still active and has recent transactions. The last transaction was from The Antique Carriage Electronics, and she purchased a limited apple watch. We also have CCTV footage showing her giving the card to the cashier."
"Derak, I don't think I need to ask what I have in my mind right now, do I?" I asked in a confused tone mixed with curiosity.
Uncle Clive smiles and says, "Of course, you are wondering why the daughter of billionaire Joel Jiles is still using James Boyd's card."
"Yeah, shouldn't my father give her a black card, I mean even if I have a black card."
Uncle Clive smiles at my retort and says, "Jessica, do have a black card, you have to have a certain amount of income and expenditure as well. And, the Jessica we are talking about is Amanda who has a monthly income of five hundred dollars, give or take and months without any income. To get a black card, just being the billionaire's daughter is not enough. The reason you have one is, because you are a CEO of a renowned fashion house, a net worth of a hundred million every year, and spend quite a lot as well."
I smiled and said, "Well, I do earn to have a comfortable living for me and my family, well, it was Kyle till he left, but the same."
"Ah, I think we should find out more about this Boyd guy, maybe he can lead us to understand how or why she became Jessica."
"OK, then what should we do now?" I asked in a curious tone.
"Jessica, I have already told the detective to go and find out who Boyd is, and.." As Derak was speaking his phone rings so he takes the call, "Yes, got any leads?"
The person on the phone tells Derak something, then Derak smiles and says, "Jessica, OK, good news. This Boyd guy, his full name is James Boyd, and he's a casino owner. The casino is known for illegal activities and drug dealing, but till date no cop has been able to prove all this. And, Amanda works for him as a bartender and happens to be one of his favorites."
"Then let's go and check this Amanda and the casino." I suggested that I wanted to know everything about her as soon as possible.
But it looks like Derak had a different thought as he said, "No, I'll go and check out first." He continued stating his point, "Come on Jessica, how can I take you to a casino, when I myself don't know what the place is like. And, I'm not saying this cause you're my sister now, but even a girlfriend, unless the place is suitable for women, I don't take anyone. And, now you're the last person I would take to an unknown place."
I smiled at that and said, "OK, if you say so, then be careful."
Aunt Sandra also tries to cheer me up and says, "Jessica, how about go shopping with this old lady?"
I was stunned on hearing her say that, and replied, "Aunt Sandra, who said you're an old lady? And, yes, your daughter would love to go shopping with you."
As Derak took leave to check out the casino, Aunt Sandra and I went over to enjoy our shopping.
Over at Scarlet Casino
As Derak pulled over at the Scarlet Casino, he noticed it was different from the rest as only ladies were entering the casino. And, that made it hard for Derak as he was a young dashing man, so he called me and said, "Jessica, sorry to spoil your and mom's shopping spree, but you're gonna have to come over."
Sensing his worry, I asked, "Derak, what's the matter? You are at the casino as you said you were going, right?"
"Yes, but it's an all ladies bar and only companions as in husbands or brothers can tag along as per the rules in the board at the entrance claims." Derak says in a frustrated tone.
I smiled at his cuteness and said, "OK, OK, I'll come over. We were about to go back home, so I'll drop my aunt at home and then head over to you. Please share the location, I'll come in a sec."
As I saw the location, I dropped Aunt Sandra at her home and then went over to the location. Then as I arrived at the casino, I saw Derak standing beside his car, so I went over and said, "Derak, so this is the Scarlet Casino Boyd owns?"
"Yes, and the place Amanda works."
"Wait, what do you mean by works? Shouldn't you say, 'worked. I mean she is now Jiles' little baby." I said in a sarcastic tone.
"Oh no, this is going to be a surprise so behold, she still works for Boyd. OK, she may not be coming here as a bartender, but Boyd is paying her a monthly salary and it's definitely not on the basis of the good old days."
OK, that was a shock for me. Considering she is now the Jiles daughter and heiress to a billionaire business, she still was working for Boyd, "OK, then do we still go in or what?""It's no use. I had the intention of going in and asking about Amanda and Boyd, but since I can't go in then…"
I stopped him midway and said, "Hey, didn't you say husbands and brothers? Well, then wait." I quickly called the girls and told them to come over in five minutes.
As expected, Sandy and Patricia arrived in time. Seeing them, a smile spread on my face, "OK, girls we are going to enter as if we are celebrating my birthday, (Both Sandy and Patricia show the gift boxes to make the cover perfect) while Derak finds out more about them. So, let's go."
As we went inside, Derak went over to the bar to place our order, but the bartender asked him what he was doing here, so he pointed towards us and said, "That lady in the yellow dress is my cousin and those are her friends. We are here to celebrate her birthday."
The bartender smiles and says, "Oh, then your aunt and uncle must be the conservative types, no girl out after ten types."
Trying to blend in, Derak smiles and says, "Oh, you can say that again."
The bartender again says, "Then have you ordered a cake from outside or do you want to arrange it here?" Derak takes the chance to make a conversation and says, "This is our first time here so can you tell what's available?"The bartender shows Derak a menu and after choosing the order, Derak comes back and says, "OK, girls, the cake and dinner is ordered for us."
Sandy suddenly recalls and says, "Derak, you don't have a gift? Will that bother them?"
Derak smiles and says, "Don't worry, I have that arranged. And that is going to be our trump card to meet James Boyd as well. For now, let's begin our party."
As two waiters come over with two trolleys, everyone's eyes look towards us, as one trolley had a cake and the other one had food and champagne, and an expensive one. This got me thinking is this the trump card Derak was talking about, showing money so Boyd would take interest in us. But, it didn't take us long to find out what his trump card was.
As we were busy cutting the cake, a man came over and said, "Mr. Claude the file you asked for."
Derak takes the file and as he hands it over to me, he says with a bright smile and says, "Jessica, here are twenty percent shares of Claude Development Enterprise to my cousin sister and I won't hear a no for an answer."
I smiled and replied, "Derak, you know I'm the CEO and founder of Spirit Fashions. Do you think I need these?""Oh, who said you need these? It's just a little gift from a brother to his sister, that's all."
The sincerity I saw in Derak's eyes made it impossible for me to decline so I took the file and signed the papers.
As we sat back, I could hear the others whisper, "Gosh, so this is how the rich celebrate their birthday."
I smiled in content as I didn't reach my position so easily. I still remember how I used to study all day and used to work part time jobs. Then when I began Spirit Fashions, I began from scratch. A small warehouse with a small four by four cabin as my office. Yes, today I have a huge building in my name, a lavish bungalow, but the house that I grew up in, and the first car, which Aunt Debra bought for me after she sold her last jewelry for five thousand dollars. As I was recalling my times, a man comes over and says, "Hello, I'm James Boyd, the owner of this casino. I just found out I have two influential people being entertained here so, I had to come over personally and make sure everything is up to taste."
Derak smiles as he says, "Of course. Matter of fact, it's a nice place especially the only ladies part. Next time my sister can come with her friends alone."
James smiles and says, "Mr. Claude that's the exact reason I made this casino. It's actually in my sister's name, I just look after the work."
Derak takes the chance and says, "Oh, that's just great. Now we have something in common."
James takes a look at me and offers to shake hands so I do as he wishes me a birthday, and says, "The bill is on the house, a birthday gift from me. Mr. Claude, why don't we leave the ladies and have a drink back in my office?"
"Sure, why not." Derak looks at me and says, "Jessica, I'll be back in a while. Enjoy and girls go slow on the drinks OK."
As Derak enters the office, James says, "So, Mr. Claude, I do hope my casino is up to your mark."
Derak smiled and said, "Of course or else I would not have brought my sister here in the first place. So, what got you to opening this casino, and I think it's not exactly your sister."
James smiled and said, "Well, she is indirectly, but yes the real reason was my girlfriend. She was a singer here, when I was a dreaming young man. We promised to have a place like this of our own. Well, here it is, today this place is mine."
Derak takes the chance to ask, "And, your girlfriend?"James also happily shows a picture of him and Amanda and says, "She's the lost daughter of Joel Jiles, and her parents don't accept a casino owner as their son-in-law. So, she got married to that Kyle guy."
Derak again takes the chance and says, "You just said her name is Amanda, but on the TV, I heard it's Jessica."
He laughs on hearing that and says, "Yes, well according to what I heard, she was abandoned and was raised by her grandmother who named her Amanda. But now that she has found her real parents, she's taken the name they kept for her, Jessica."
Then Derak takes his leave and comes back to us and says, "OK, ladies, we can take our leave."
As we come outside and Derak makes sure we are at a safe distance, Derak says, "OK, so far he has introduced Amanda as his girlfriend who was a singer here and he was a promising young man who swore they would own a place like this. Well, today he owns this place. Now, two things that don't match. One, Amanda was a singer here, whereas she was and is a bartender here. I have her work registration to prove. Second, she was abandoned by her parents, which matches Jessica, but according to him, she was raised by her grandmother and her grandmother named her Amanda and now that she's with her parents, she's being called Jessica. Oh, Jessica, be calm on hearing this. He says her parents do not accept a casino son-in-law so she got married to, in his words, "That Kyle guy."
I was shocked on hearing this and said, "Her grandmother? If Janet Jiles hears this, she will throw Amanda out the very minute."
"What? What's so big about that?" Patricia says in a curious tone.