THĒ JÃILBĪRD
Thē Jãilbīrd - Episode 91&92
(Female•In•Disguise)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
#UNEDITED
ONE YEAR LATER, COLORADO~ APEX SYNDICATE EMPIRE*
The estate is an aggressively large one, and the empire owns all buildings on the property.
Several wings and annexes for the guards, suites for higher ups, then the penthouse for the Douglas family.
In the penthouse, Baron is sitting magnificently inside the expensively massive living room, decked with treasuries and chic furnishings.
He's in front of the fireplace, allowing the heat to warm him up since it's that time of the year.
It's December 24, Christmas eve, and both the streets and house are so cold as it should be.
He's smoking pipe as he did some paperwork, but he was distracted when the door opened, and Dominic came in.
"I thought you were going out for Christmas eve feast with your sister" Baron asked.
"Christmas feast is for kids, and besides... Christmas is still tomorrow and I have no plans to even go out. I'm gonna stay with my wife" Dominic replied, and Baron grunted.
Dominic sighed and took his seat in front of the old man.
"Are you still itchy about it? It's been a year and nothing happened. Stop worrying" he said.
"Nothing happened only because she's not awake yet. You know how dangerous Madden is. We might not be in Russia, but the news of his killings fly around this place too. You can't take his woman as yours and expect him to keep quiet" Baron replied, dropping his pipe.
"His woman as mine? Bull crap! Tessa's face is on her face now so she's literally Tessa! My wife. And also, Madden has disappeared since last year and no one has seen traces of him. There's no way they're meeting, and even if they meet, tell me how he'd know it's her." Dominic argued, manspreading on his chair.
"You can't keep it forever, Dominic" Baron said simply.
"Not to worry... if it eventually gets out and he tries to take her away, I'd kill him...end of story" Dominic stood.
"You don't understand, do you?" Baron stood too.
"Understand what?" Dominic glared.
"I've been keeping this empire away from outside war since it's establishment, which is why it's still striving up till now. Getting involved with The Bratva is the last thing on my list right now, so immediately she wakes, just send her away with her sister" Baron replied.
"Send her away with my wife's face on her? Scratch that, father. She's mine! Ok?" Dominic argued again.
"This Christmas eve should better not start with a father and son fight" a female voice said as she stepped into the room.
Both men turned around to see Fatima entering with a red and white cake in her hands.
Fatima is Dominic's junior sister.
She dropped the cake on the desk and lightened the only one candle on top of it.
"Happy Christmas eve!" She beamed, expecting the men to blow the candle with her, but Dominic was the first to leave the room furiously.
"Dom!" She shouted after him, but he didn't turn.
"Happy Christmas eve, Fatima" Baron said, and she sighed.
"Is this still about our new wife? Just leave Dominic, he won't listen. He's obsessed with Tessa too much. Isn't that why he beat her to death?" she said.
Baron took his seat and finally blew out the cake candle, making her smile.
"Did you find the anonymous potter yet?" Baron asked, resting back.
Fatima got her phone and went to the Instagram page, but it's still private so she can't even message.
The potter only posts his work on his page, and the likes and comments are crazy!
The least of his likes is 20M, and his comments are always nothing less than 5M, but no one knows him, no one has seen his face, no one has been able to message him.
All they know is his username... Vernon__Petrova.
"I really need him to mould me a statue of myself before my birthday. Why would he make his account private? I love his works too much" Baron replied, taking Fatima's phone to started scrolling through the page.
"Maybe he's a secret billionaire who only does pottery for fun... Who knows?" Fatima shrugged, and Baron sighed.
"I want to meet him, badly. I'd pay any amount" he muttered.
*
WEST WING OF THE PENTHOUSE*
Trixie is inside the biggest luxurious room in the wing, and she's with a white towel and warm water which she's cleaning Adeline's skin with.
Adeline is in bed, still unconscious.
She hasn't woken up since the surgery last year, but at least she's still breathing, and there's still hope that she's gonna wake up one day.
Her new face is really as pretty as Dominic said, and she's got freckles too, but they're just not as much as before.
Trixie has been living in isolation since then. Her only company is Fatima, but Fatima is a party freak who can't do without it, so most of the times, she's always left alone in the big penthouse, watching over Adeline.
Their operations in this empire are so quiet that sometimes she even wonders if they're really a syndicate.
The only time she witnessed a killing was when Dominic himself killed a spy last month at the arena, and that was it.
Talking about Dominic, he always makes sure Adeline's doctors never miss a checkup, and he spends much time with her too, but the problem is Adeline.
Because she's sure that everything would change the moment she wakes.
She finished wiping and dropped the bowl and towel before sitting back beside Adeline.
"Happy Christmas eve, big sis" she smiled, stroking her hair.
"Tomorrow is Christmas, it's a pity I'll celebrate it alone for the first time in my life. Fatima has plans to party throughout so I'm definitely alone. No one to share chicken with" she muttered.
"Hey, Trixie" Dominic came in, and she stood.
"Dominic"
"You can go have some fun with Fatima. You barely step foot out of this estate... I'll stay with Tessa" he said, taking her place.
"But...
"It's an order...go out with Fatima" he interrupted gruffly.
"Finally!!!" Fatima screamed, rushing into the room.
"Fatima!" Dominic scolded.
"Can't I be happy today again? Trixie is finally coming out with me" she grabbed Trixie's arm, and Trixie gasped.
"She's... She's...
She was panting as she pointed at the bed angle.
"Her eyes!" She gasped again.
Dominic and Fatima faced the bed that instant, and their eyes widened when they saw Adeline's eyes open.
Adeline removed the oxygen mask on her nose slowly, opening her eyes wider.
"F+ck! Tessa you're awake!" Dominic gushed excitedly.
Adeline squinted with a scowl.
"Tessa? My name is Adeline, and who're you?" She whispered.
*
RUSSIA, THE BAYOU*
"Happy Christmas eve!!" The voices of everyone in the mini manor came in a chorus.
The living room was decorated to give the vibes of Christmas.
Several Christmas trees with lights, ornaments, tinsel, garlands and tree toppers.
Several Christmas lights and confetti. The naturally red light of the manor complimented everything, and the celebration is mad.
There's more than enough food and drinks especially vodka, and the Christmas tune is playing slowly.
Malik and Sin took it personal cos they're wearing the father Christmas costume, and they had to force Loud to wear one too.
"More chicken here!" Jinx shouted from the middle table.
"Coming!" One of the nurses shouted.
The nurses are the greatest multitaskers ever. They don't only take care of Madden, they cook too.
Before they could even get the chicken to Jinx, Malik already got a full plate to her table where's she's sitting with Ksenia and Maya.
"It's still so strange to see a guy named Malik wearing the Christmas costume" Maya said, and Ksenia started laughing.
"I know, right?" Jinx grinned as she took the plate from him.
"Don't judge me" Malik chuckled, and Jinx gave him a secret wink which made him hold his chest as he left the table.
"You like him" Ksenia said.
"Me? Malik? C'mon" Jinx denied.
"Liers are bound to be unfortunate" Maya said.
"Sis!" Jinx shouted.
"You like him" Maya rolled eyes, and Ksenia started laughing again.
She stood from the table and went in search of Igor, then Andrei joined Maya immediately.
"Happy Christmas eve" he said, picking a cup of wine
Maya did the same, and they clinked glasses before drinking at once.
"Happy eve" she smiled.
He dropped his cup and took her hands, then he began checking out her sleeves, looking for any sign of a knife...
"I don't have a knife with me" she said in defence, but he didn't stop looking.
"I swear, Andrei" she said, and he looked up.
She blinked cutely, then she placed her head gently on Andrei's shoulder.
"I wish Madd woke up already" she muttered.
"We wish" he replied, and she smiled as he played with her fingers.
...
Ksenia got to Igor's room and met him sitting pretty by his desk with glasses on.
He's busy reading some medical journals, his eyes unblinking, even till she got to him.
She dropped a plate of cake in front of him, and he looked up slowly.
"I hate cakes" he said.
"But you cry like a baby always. Babies love Cake, you should do too" she replied.
"Get out...I'm not ready for you today" he said seriously, and she chuckled, sitting beside him.
"Get out, Ksenia" he bluntly said.
"Seriously? We're never gonna become friends?" She said, hiding the hurt in her voice.
"I said leave me alone!" He snapped, and she immediately stood.
She took the plate of cake and threw the cake at him then threw the plate at the wall before storming out of the room.
Igor shook the cake crumbs away from his body nonchalantly.
"Now that's cruel" Sin said, coming in and looking so goofy in his father Christmas costume.
"Tell me about it. Ksenia is cool" Loud replied, coming in behind Sin.
"I feel for her" Malik said, coming in behind Loud.
Igor dropped the journal he's reading in frustration.
"Get out, all three of you" he said, holding his temples.
"Big bro!" Sin blinked funnily under his costume, and Igor almost laughed.
"Leave!" He started pushing the three of them out of the room, and their laughter rented the air as he pushed, till they got to the door, then something else occured.
The curtain of the improvised theater suddenly went up, and a pair of barefoot stepped out.
Everyone froze, realizing what's going on as Madden stepped out of the theater, holding his head with his right hand while holding the wall with his left hand.
His jet-black hair is benevolently covering his face as he struggled to find his way.
Andrei and Maya spranged up together, and Maya was the first to move forward shockingly.
"Madd" she muttered, unable to control her emotions.
"No, it's Vernon now. Call him Vernon" Jinx replied, crying already. She literally threw the chicken in her hand away.
"You're finally back" Sin said, taking off the cap of his costume.
"Death" Andrei mumbled.
"Damn" Loud and Malik chorused.
"I can't believe this" Ksenia muttered.
Madden finally looked up, bringing his hand to his face to push the scattered hair back.
"Mayashenka" he said, his eyes still so red and lifeless.
"Yes!!!" Maya cried loudly, rushing into his arms so fast.
"Thanks for not leaving me alone!!"
"Master!!!" Jinx cried to him too, hugging him together with Maya.
He didn't even hug them back, he's just looking around like he's the most confused person on earth right now.
He's not understanding anything.
He recognizes this place as his mini manor at the bayou, but what are they all doing here? Why are they so many?
And is it Christmas? What's with the costume and celebrations?
Why is...
His thoughts stopped when he saw his own reflection in one of the small mirrors attached to the Christmas tree.
He pushed them all away and went closer to the mirror, picking it and viewing his face closely.
"We had to change your face to protect you cos we knew you'd never agree to it if you wake up. The cops are still on the lookout for Madden Smirnov, but for now, you're Vernon Petrova with this new face" Sin explained carefully, and the mirror fell from Madden to the ground, hurting his barefoot.
The redness in his eyes even intensified as he turned around to look at everyone...
"The compound was burnt down by cops, and The Bratva scattered...
Before Loud could finish talking, Madden was already rushing out of the building.
"Madd!" Maya made to rush after him, but Igor stopped her.
"I'll handle him, and stop calling him Madden" he said.
With that, he walked out of the house too.
*
SERGEI'S MANSION*
The Bratva might be in turbulence, but the top 5 still mert secretly at Sergei's mansion, like they're doing right now.
The five are seated at Sergei's office, and Sergei is standing in their middle.
"I'm not sure when, but I'm sure we're still coming back whenever Madden wakes up" he said.
"Madden who's wanted globally? Do you know how many politicians he killed?" The second man said.
"Of course I know! We all saw the bodies on the news so stop talking like I don't know what I'm doing! And besides, his face is different now with a different name" Sergei replied.
"That doesn't matter, cos the moment we get back, Igor takes over. Aren't they brothers? Let Igor run it, and we all know you're only trying to make Madden The Pakhan because you want your daughter Zoya as the godmother" another one said.
"Does Zoya look like she's interested in godmotherism right now? Her kids have been missing since last year and no one knows where Nazeera took them to, so any marriage plan between her and Madden is over. I even shredded the papers already! I'm not doing this for my daughter. I'm doing it for us!" Sergei argued.
His phone rang, interrupting the argument.
He fished it out and showed them the screen.
It's Zoya calling.
He left the office and went out to pick.
"Do you know how thin I've gotten since the past one year? I lost my curves and everything and can't even focus during trainings here in the camp! I almost got demoted father! Where are my kids!!" She cried.
Sergei sighed out, shutting his eyes.
"I'm trying my best, Zoya. Trust me, but Nazeera will surely not get caught unless she shows up by herself" he said.
*
HONG KONG~EAST ASIA*
The lively streets of Hong Kong felt the festivities too.
Christmas is blooming in the air with different feasts and scenes in the red-decor streets.
Snow is falling massively that cold evening, and a white Lamborghini drove to a stop in front of a private restaurant.
The driver came down and opened the backdoor.
Nazeera stepped out, wearing a black long wide gown which gave her the look of a pretty rich aunt, and her hair is covered with a designer scarf too.
Her heels are loboutins, and her bag is hot Hermes. She looks so sophisticated and rich with a wide smile on her face.
The driver opened the other door, and the twins came out, wearing matching outfits which depicts the Christmas theme so much.
"Let's go, sweethearts" she pulled their hands with her two hands, taking them into the restaurant with her.
They were served in a private room, and immediately the twins started eating, she got a call which took her out.
Aleksandr is eating with a great appetite, but Angelika is only stabbing her plate of food.
"Are you happy with grandma? Don't you miss mum?" She suddenly asked.
"Why do you ask?" Aleksandr replied.
"You heard the story grandma told at the cathedral before taking us. Madden and Maya don't deserve what she's doing" she said.
"But what can we do? Not like we can fly from here in Hong Kong to Russia" Aleksandr replied, drinking some water.
Angelika got down from her chair and walked to the door.
She could see Nazeera receiving the call in front of it, and she could hear her conversation.
"I said Madden is still alive! You think that devil can die that easily? He's probably hiding somewhere, and as for Adeline, I won't believe she's actually dead without seeing her corpse!" She ranted on phone.
She's obviously speaking with her evil hitmen.
"Is she gonna strike soon again?" Angelika muttered worriedly.
"We can actually help Madden and Adeline" Aleksandr said behind her, and she turned.
"If you cooperate" he said.
"What do I have to do?" She asked.
Aleksandr smiled.
*
RUSSIA, CLAN*
Madden drove straight to the compound, and when he came out of the car in front of the broken fence, his mind sank.
The compound is really in ashes, nothing left to look at.
He literally ran in, his head freezing as the falling snow became much.
A minute after he ran in, Igor drove to an halt too, running in with him.
Madden went straight to his manor, pushing the door open like a madman.
The dinner... The last dinner he gave her that she didn't eat. It's still on the lamp table by the door.
The house is full of cobwebs already, and it's fuçking dusty, but he doesn't even give a shit as he walked slowly through the memories.
He could see Adeline everywhere... He could feel her, he could smell her too, so fuçking much.
His self-hate was boundless as he walked.
He hates himself for allowing her to die. He should have protected her more. He should have done a better job
It's his fault... He loathes himself like mad, right now.
He entered the bedroom, and he saw her balm container beside his pillow.
He picked the container and brought it to his nose. It smells like her luckily, so he inhaled hard, remembering what she said while applying it on him....
"MASTER, ARE YOU GAY?"
His legs shook on the ground as he walked into the bathroom, and her scent is everywhere too.
It was ruining his head as he walked around, inhaling madly like he could die if he doesn't.
He entered the closet, squatting in front of the wardrobe she entered the other time.
He could imagine her inside, holding the vodka bottle and calling him a WICKED BASTARD.
Then they kissed insanely, and it was so sick...
He went on his knees in front of the wardrobe, his heart tearing to pieces as he reminisced about everything.
Igor entered slowly, hovering above him.
"You should leave Russia for sometime. All your memories of her were made here so leave for a while" he said.
Madden couldn't even talk back.
"When you were in coma, I created an IG account with your new name, and I posted most of your works from your Archive room. They're all receiving lots of love, and billionaires are willing to pay anything to book you. You can choose one of the countries" Igor continued, getting his phone to read the list.
"China, Dubai, Japan, India, Italy, Colorado in America...
"Colorado" Madden finally spoke up, standing to his feet.
He needs to go there and see her body for himself. Even if it means uprooting it from the ground... He just has to see her for one last time.
"Cool, I'll tell Baron Douglas that you're coming over" Igor replied.
Madden shut his eyes.
*
COLORADO, APEX SYNDICATE EMPIRE~ BARON'S OFFICE*
"My goodness!" Baron squealed immediately he received the mail from Vernon.
He removed his glasses, reading the mail again to be sure.
To think that he has been queuing on his comments section since last year, and now he got chosen as the first person he'd work for?
"Fatima!" He stood, rushing out of the office with the intention of breaking the news to her, but then he saw a commotion happening at the west wing.
"Miss Tessa is awake" the guards broke the news to him, and he slowly blinked his grey lashes as he was led to the room where Adeline is standing in front of a mirror, looking at her face in utter shock.
"So... You're telling me that a contract was signed with this family to save my face?" She said, turning to face everyone.
"Yes. Calm down and hear everything" Trixie replied cautiously.
"Calm down? I don't wanna do that! Get married to another man? I'm not doing that" Adeline shook her head.
"You're already married to me, actually" Dominic said.
"You're delusional. Your wife married you, not me, and I only have her face. I'm not her, I'm not Tessa! I'm Adeline! I didn't even ask for a change of face in the first place cos what the hell is this face? Where are my thirty friggin fade freckles? What's with the caterpillar eyebrows!!" She yelled.
"You don't expect a normal eyebrow after being in coma for a year. Of course it grew, and you still have freckles, they're just not much" Fatima said.
"And stop saying you didn't ask for the face. Do you know what your face looked like after the bombing?" Dominic said, showing Adeline a picture of her before the surgery.
Shock crossed Adeline's face for a minute, but then it disappeared.
"Still... I didn't ask for it, so let me and my sister go! I have my parents investment money and I'll pay you that in advance, then I can work hard and pay the rest bit by bit" she said, pulling Trixie to her side.
"You're going nowhere, Tessa. You're my wife!" Dominic gnarled.
"And I said I'm not Tessa! I'm Adeline!" Adeline snarled back, and the next thing she felt was a daze in her face.
He slapped her!
"Dom!" Fatima gasped.
"Dominic!" Baron finally came in.
"How dare you!!!" Trixie yelled and almost attacked Dominic, but he stepped back.
"You dared to raise your hands on me? Is that how you treated your wife? Is that how she died? Huh? Are you a woman beater? Huh!!" Adeline yelled, and it seems that statement touched him cos he slapped her again.
"Dominic stop!!!" Baron got between them.
"Tell her to stop being an uncultured, ungrateful swine! The moment I open my mouth and tell the whole world that she's actually Adeline, do you know how many people will come for her? She's a big part of why The Bratva scattered so she'd be dead!" Dominic shouted.
"What did you just say? The Bratva scattered?" Adeline's eyes widened.
"Not only that, but your precious Madden has been missing since then" Dominic scoffed, and tears fell out of Adeline's eyes.
"It's not true... Right Trixie?" She faced her, but Trixie couldn't even speak.
"Tell me it's a lie!!!" She cried.
Trixie just started crying too.
"If you know what's good for you, just lay back down and rest then follow me to my personal suite where you belong as my wife!" Dominic ordered.
Adeline suddenly removed the hairpin in Fatima's hair, bringing it to her own neck and choking everyone with the move.
"Adeline!" Trixie's eyes widened.
"You dare not kill yourself!" Dominic shouted.
"Young lady, please calm down" Baron said carefully.
"Don't do it... Your sister worked so hard till this stage" Fatima muttered.
"Adeline... Please " Trixie begged.
Adeline was even powerless as she held the pin to her neck.
She really really needs the rest cos her eyes are turning, but how would she rest with the news she just received.
So she just left Russia for nothing? She broke Madden's trust for nothing?
"Drop that, Tessa!" Dominic ordered, coming closer.
"I said stop calling me Tessa! I'm not your wife and I don't want you! You don't have the snowy scent and you don't even wear a cross necklace, your tattoos are not fine and you don't have a faded scar on your chin... Your voice is not even deep and you're not as tall as him! You're wearing suit but he hates it! You're nothing like him!!!" She yelled, tears rushing out of her eyes as she spoke with the pin pressed to her neck.
"I can generate every quality you mentioned within a day" Dominic scoffed arrogantly.
"Can you generate 9 inches too?" Adeline muttered.
TBC.
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