Hidden Identities|GRAYSON DOLAN

1

Chapter 1

Emerald's POV.

Sitting in a class full of hormonal Teenagers and one careless teacher isn't the best moment of my life. But I'd rather be here than in any other situation I've been in.

My name is Emerald Montenegro, but in the United States, I'm known as Savanah Martinez. Why I changed my name? It's a long story that I don't really want to talk about, but I guess since you are reading this to know about my life, I would have to tell you.

It all started before I was even born. My father, Zachary Montenegro, started a restaurant right after meeting my mother, Cindy Montenegro. It didn't take long until it became a sensation in my hometown, Germany. By the time it got bigger and bigger mom was already pregnant with her first child. A month after my sister, Stacy Montenegro, was born, they got an opportunity to partner up with an also rising business man named, Marcus Brooks.

Marcus Brooks was offering my father a business deal. A deal which made them best friends to this day and forward. The deal didn't just make two strangers become best friend but made them one of the wealthiest men internationally. Marcus and Zachary were known as the business duo since their business' have been working together since day one. If you make a deal to one you'll have to make a deal to the other as well, if not then they won't accept it.

'El restaurant de Cindy's' is the name of my family's business, as you can tell my father is very much in love with my mother. The restaurant became worldwide in no time. 'Brooks' Chain' is Marcus' family's business. They provide all of the restaurants ingredients, which made them pretty rich as well.

Since my father and Marcus are best friend they both had children almost in the same age range. My sister, Cindy, was close to Marcus' first child, Jake Brooks. Their second child, Vincent Brooks, was just a little older than my brother, Damien Montenegro.

The last child of the Brooks family is my best friend, Kimberly Brooks. She is almost a year younger than me. Now back to why I'm here without any parents nor relatives.

Being rich and all is not the happily ever after that everyone seems to want and think. It can sometimes be but not for us, unfortunately. Since my parents and Kimberly's parents are successful, people get jealous. They'd do anything to be as rich as them, even if it means to kidnap innocent children to get money out of them.

You're probably asking 'Were you kidnapped?'. Unfortunately, Yes. Not only me but Kimberly as well. Our fathers were known to be ruthless and cold towards clients and all, but people knew that they love their children very much, especially their youngest.

Luckily though our fathers had a lot of connections and found a way to get us back safe, without losing any money. Don't get me wrong, our fathers would have given up half of their money just to get us back, but since they had another way to save us they not only saved me and Kimberly but their wealth as well. We were saved, which I, still to this day and forward, am very grateful for, but we were not unharmed.

We were bruised physically and mentally. I don't think I'd be able to move on from this. Maybe I do move on but I am a hundred percent sure I'd never forget. We had broken ribs and bruises all over our body, knife wounds as well as burns caused by cigarettes.

Since Kimberly is like a little sister to me and I felt responsible for her I took most of the beating, telling the kidnapper to beat me instead of her, they didn't hesitate and beat me up until I passed out. Those were the worst 2 months of my life.

All of that happened just right before summer break. Our parents decided to keep Kimberly and me far away from Europe and shipped us here in California. Our parents were glad that the media haven't had the chance to know how we actually looked like, since our mothers strictly told our fathers to keep us behind the spotlight, just to have a private life.

And now here I am in St. Louis High School starting my junior year at the age of 16.

Screw school related stuff. I just—

''Savanah what's the answer?'' the teacher suddenly said.

''I-'' I started before the bell suddenly rang. Saved by the bell.

I put all of my things into my bag pack and started to head out, not before I noticed Chase looking at me. He's not an ordinary schoolmate of mine, he is actually here only because of me. My father hired him to protect me, just in case something happens in school or outside of school.

I nod his way once and walked out of the room into the busy hallway. I was told not to befriend anyone nor talk to anyone besides of Chase, not even my best friend, who by the way also goes to school here and has her own bodyguard as well. I do understand why, though. We don't wanna risk getting seen by the kidnappers.

It was lunch already, I at least get to see Kim, which gives me a feeling of familiarity and safeness. Kim's name was changed as well to Loren Frey.

People know not to talk to me nor Kimberly all they think is that I am Chase's cousin, who likes to be alone and not be disturbed. While I'm the introvert here, Kim is known as the shy one who talks to no one but her 'brother', Alec Frey, her bodyguard in real life and let me tell you she's anything but shy outside of this pretense.

At lunch, Chase was usually with the football players, which also includes Alec, just to blend in with the school atmosphere. I did the usual, I sit down under a tree and listen to music while reading a book. Sensing someone looking at me, I looked up to find Kim watching me. The feeling of relief burst in me while I nod once at her to show her that I acknowledged her presence.

I was brought out of my comfort zone when girls started rushing into the building and started squealing. I looked back at Kimberly with a confused look and she just shrugged and went back to whatever she was doing.

Taking out my headphones, I suddenly hear the girls squealing over two new boys who transferred here from another state. Girls these days. I'd rather study than get attached to some guy in high school since it won't last forever and will just take away wasted time in your life, which can't be replaced.

Looking at the watch I realized that lunch is over in 10 minutes from the corner of my eye I see Kim standing up, probably to go to the toilet. Since I still have ten minutes, I closed my eye and slowly fell asleep....

Unedited