Chapter 32: Chapter 32

—I know who you are!

Argus POV

I think something is not right about the two of them. They both acted strangely different. To see how Jerick reacted when Helena eat a lot of seafood while we were having a meal. Jerick said that she was allergic to prawns but I saw no trace of red rashes on Anika's body. I was also surprised when Jerick suddenly walked out like there was been a misunderstanding. I just realized how Helena acts so comfortable at me. I remember when I came to visit her in her room, she doesn't know me like she saw a ghost. She looks so vulnerable and distant the time I saw her and she keeps strolling her eyes around us while we were having dinner about my meeting with Miss Kim.

"Can we talk?" I said while she was still standing outside.

She looked back and set a bright smile on her face.

"Yeah" she replied.

I waited for her at the table where we haven't finish our food yet. Finally, she came and sat in front of me. She looks pale and anxious.

"Yes, what do you want to tell me? After this, I think I better go back to the office. I have a lot of work to do." She told me.

She dared to talk like her. I wonder where is the real Anika Perez. She doesn't smell like her. Should I tell her or not?

"Mr. Mateo, if you had nothing to say, in better go," she said and stood up from her seat when I hold her arms to stop her.

"Wait, if you will tell me the truth, I won't tell them," I said and she quickly turned around to look at me. She looks confused.

"What are you talking about?" She asked me.

I took a deep breath trying to be a gentleman at her. I know it's not her and I have to ask her myself so that I can help her.

"Who are you?" I said.

Her eyes suddenly blink twice and I saw her lips quivered.

She sat back to defend herself.

" What do you mean by that? Of course, I am Anika Perez," she answered so proudly.

I sneered at her. I shrunk my back against the chair and crossed my arms on my chest.

"Really? I thought Anika is allergic to prawns but why you look so fine?" I asked trying to catch her.

I don't want to believe it at first but she's very different and even the way her eyes spark. The Anika I know is hard-headed, cold-hearted, and not easy to please.

"Please, don't lie to me! You're not Anika, aren't you?" I decided to tell her the truth.

Her eyes widened like she was surprised by what I said. I want her to turn her true identity to me.

"How, how do you know? How can you tell that I am not Anika?" She asked me.

"I just know because she never been good to any guys in the office and your character, the way you talk to me was like you're forced," I said and she seems ready to tell me the truth.

"Okay, if I tell you, would you believe me?" Now her eyes look sincere.

I shifted my body from the chair to listen to her.

"I'm not Anika but I was inside her body. We switch souls and she is now in my era." She explained.

This is getting interesting.

"What do you mean by that?" I said while focusing on her face.

"I don't know what happened. The last thing I remember is I was running from wolves and I fall on the cliff. When I woke up, I saw myself inside a big room and that's the day you came in." She narrated everything.

My eyes furrowed. At first, it's hard to believe but I think she was saying the truth. But she means the real Anika is somewhere back in history? I wonder who is this girl I'm talking to.

"May I know who you are and what year did you last left in your time?" I asked her.

She became serious. She keeps biting her lips and fidgeting her fingers.

"I, I am a wanderer and my parents sold me to a King to be his concubines assistant. My life is nothing compare here!" She told me.

Meaning, Anika Perez went through hardships and no place to live there?

"I left from the year 1970" she added.

I almost drop the spoon I had in my fingers. So the mean and rude Ms. Perez is like a beggar here. She has no place to stay, no food to eat, and nothing left even her parents. I wonder how this thing happened to them.

"I'm just thinking how it happened? I mean, magic?" I want this girl to explain to me if she did something that's why she came here.

She shook her head. The tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"I don't know but the last thing I did was someone gave me a small bottle with a liquid inside and I drink it. That's all." She said while letting out soft sobs.

I will begin to act smart. This girl is inside Anika's body and she was trapped by just a magic drink I guess. What will happen to Anika if she stays here? I think they have a reason why is she here and how the soul of real Anika was still inside her body.

I clamp my hands together and place them under my chin. I narrowed my eyes on her. I need to know their agenda first.

"May I know your real name?" I asked her.

"Ariana, my name is Ariana Ferrer in my time" she mumbled.

Ariana Ferrer? If she was from the past of the year 1970, we can search her name on Google. Maybe she can be part of history. Or maybe in science because she was also a shapeshifter person just like the real Anika. Wait, I never ask her why she was here? How Anika Perez got involved and why their souls switch like they just sleep and woke up in different eras? There must be the main reason. I needed to find out what it is. I had to ask her.

This is the last question to her.

"Did someone did this why both of you switch places? I know you have a reason. " I said.

She nodded her head quickly.

"Yes, a genie. His name was Ergo and he was the one who showed up in our dreams and offered us tasks what to do to get back in our original life!" She answered.

A genie? I had an idea. This seems to be a hard assignment but I want to help her. But wait, why should I? She looks like Anika Perez and she can be her forever! Why I bother helping her since Anika is a cold-hearted woman without conscience to her people.

She should be punished and not her!

"What if I don't help you? Are you going to follow the genie or not?" I wanted to know her decision first.

She looks confused.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked me.

"Easy, you can stay here to be the new Anika Perez as a good and loving CEO of her company!" I said and set a smirk on my face.