Reid's POV

Her body went completely still.

“Who are you really? Are you her twin sister?” I asked, studying her reaction.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” she snapped, avoiding my eyes.

My grip on the balcony railing tightened. I doubted she would admit she was Maven's sister even if I confronted her directly.

It wasn't like I knew her twin sister personally. I only knew she had a twin sister but after searching for more than four years, I couldn't find even the slightest clue about the sister.

“Mr. Vaughn, I'm grateful for your help. You don't get to make baseless accusations against me.” She spat, turning to face me fully.

“Baseless accusations?” I snickered, meeting her eyes. There was something familiar about her, but the first thing that gave her away was her eyes.

The Maven I knew always had warm, soft eyes no matter the situation. But the woman standing before me had the same stern, sharp eyes as Novacore’s hidden president, my biggest rival.

I shook my head, running my fingers through my hair. I had to be completely insane to even consider it.

But I was certain the woman standing before me wasn't Maven, even though they shared the same face. There were too many contradictions for me to ignore.

Maven always dressed elegantly and drew attention wherever she went, but this woman's style was on another level. She dressed with little or no care about what anyone would think.

She also carried herself with an air of confidence, as though the world belonged to her.

Even her voice was slightly different. She didn't stutter and her tone was sharper.

Maven wouldn't gulp down whiskey. In fact, she hated it and always preferred champagne.

She wouldn't also talk to Adrian the way this woman did. I hated how much she loved him. But even when he treated her badly, she remained patient with him and always did as he wanted.

Besides, Maven was four months pregnant. I knew she'd had an accident and lost the baby last night, but the woman in front of me neither looked pregnant nor behaved like someone who had just lost a baby.

I had only gone on a business trip three months ago and the change in her character was too drastic. There was no way I could believe such a drastic change was possible.

“Mr. Vaughn, I'll take my leave then.” She said, already walking out of the balcony.

I turned towards her receding figure. “Congratulations, Maven.”

Even though she might not be the Maven I had loved and admired for more than four years, she still had everything about her that I remembered except her personality and voice.

She halted in her tracks but didn't turn. “Thank you, Mr. Vaughn.”

I waited till I couldn't hear her receding footsteps before bringing out my phone. I dialed a number and the person on the other end answered immediately.

“I want to know everything Maven Sanders has done in the last three months.” I instructed, taking in a sharp breath. “Also monitor her every move carefully from now on.”

I didn't wait for his response before hanging up the call.

I tucked my phone back into my pocket and headed back to the hall. “Whoever you are, I just hope my Maven is safe.”

***

“Even in your wildest imaginations, I'm not going to hand this award over.” Maven's sharp voice stopped me in my tracks.

I turned towards her voice without thinking twice and found her a few seconds later.

She had her back on me while facing Adrian and Bianca.

My fingers slowly curled into fists. The only thing saving Adrian was the fact that she loved him. He should pray it stayed that way, because if her love for him ever faded, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

Adrian slapped her across the face. “How dare you raise your voice on me?”

I clenched my fist tight, resisting the urge to go over there and return the slap to Adrian. The last time I had done that, she had sternly warned me to stay out of her business.

Bianca's voice followed suit as she cuddled up to Adrian. “Please don't be angry, Adrian. She just lost a baby and her emotions are a mess.”

“Even if she—”

Maven slapped him twice, cutting him off sharply.

My mind went blank for a second. That was a badass move, something I had desperately wanted to see her do for years.”

For a moment, I forgot all my suspicions and for once, she had finally fought back.

“And who told you you can lay your filthy hands on me?” She snapped, iciness dripping from her voice.

“Maven, are you insane?” Bianca shrieked, her voice shaking.

“Insane?” Maven repeated, nodding her head. “I'll show you just how insane I can be.”

Before Bianca could react, she slapped her twice before grabbing her hair and yanking her head back.

“Adrian, help me.” Bianca cried out in pain.

Adrian tried to push Maven's hand away, but she dodged him and grabbed his head, slamming it against the wall.

Adrian screamed out in pain as blood trickled down his head.

“This is just the beginning.” Maven spat, striding out of the hallway.

She pulled a towel from her bag and began wiping the blood from her hands. “Holy hell! I thought I could hold back a little longer.”

I slipped into the nearest room before she could reach me. It wasn't until she disappeared into the hall that I began wondering why I had done that.

***

I found her later on the same balcony after searching the hall twice.

She had her hands stretched sideways, letting the night air brush her face as she stared at the sky.

She looked nothing like a woman who had just beaten someone up.

“Mind if I join you?” I asked, stopping next to her.

She turned sharply, her face twisting into disgust at first before it turned neutral.

“I'm afraid I really mind.” She said, turning to face the sky again.

Her reaction stung for reasons I couldn't explain.

“Then accept my little congratulatory gift.” I said, extending a lily bouquet towards her.

She shifted her gaze toward me again, something hollow flashing in her eyes the moment she saw the flowers.

“Get that out of here!” she yelled, sneezing heavily.