Masked

Chapter Thirteen

Sorry it's been so long since I posted but between my other stories and school it's kinda hard. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please let me know what you think. Also Tori this is for you.

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“Well I think I’m gonna have to give up,” Micah said after several hours. “I can’t move my arms anymore and I’m exhausted.”

“I agrees.” Elena sank down into the chair. Last week they had bought a building to start the clothing line and had been moving in. “You can head home. I’m just gonna take care of a few things and then I’ll go.” She smiled. “Thanks for helping.”

“Hey I am part of this so of course I’ll help though I think you should get whoever ‘James’ is to help.” He used air quotes.

“I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you now I don’t know who he is.” She ran a hand through her hair.

            “And like I said before I don’t believe you.” He stood and stretched his arms. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

            “Alright bye.”

            Once Micah was gone Elena set to cleaning up. She picked up her phone and dialed Russell. “Hey have you heard anything yet?” she asked when he answered.

            “No sadly we can’t find anything on Nicole. It’s like she doesn’t exist,” he replied. “Elena I think we might have to give up. We’ve been looking for weeks and we haven’t found anything. No papers, no pictures, no records. I hate to ask this but could Mr. Vandus lied about her name?”

            The thought had been worrying her for the past week. But why would her father have told her about her real mother but lied about her name. “Alright well let’s look for one more week and if after that we can’t find anything we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” She hung up the phone and closed her eyes. She had thought finding her mother would have been easy but they ran into dead end after another and after a month she really started to think they would never find her.

            There was a knock on the door and Elena glanced up to see a woman standing in the doorway. “Can I help you?” she asked with a heavy French accent.

            The woman gave her a sad smile. She had long brown hair that was pulled up in pins. Her blue eyes searched Elena’s. “I think I should be asking you that since you’ve been looking for me.”

            “Nicole?” Elena felt her jaw drop. “You’re Nicole Cater?”

            She nodded. “I heard you’ve been looking for me. Why?”

            “You’re my mother,” Elena replied. “What other reason would there be?” She stood for the seat.

            Nicole frowned. “Look I understand why you would want to meet me but I am not your mother. Yes I gave birth to you but I am not your mother, Elizabeth Vandus is.” She turned and started to leave.

            “That bitch can go die in a whole for all I care.” Her words made Nicole stop. “Look I’m not expecting much. I just wanted to meet you. My father told me…”

            “Henry told you about me?” Nicole turned back to look at Elena. “What did he say?”

            She smiled. “That once he had been in love and fell for an amazing woman. You know he still loves you.” Elena stepped toward Nicole. “And by the look in your eyes I have the feeling you still have feelings for him too.”