“Technically yes, but that’s taken care of. There’s a whole thing about profit share and earnings that I don’t understand, but your accountant will extract taxes before you even see the money hit your account.”
Wait. What? “I have an accountant?”
“Wehave an accountant, Tiger. You’re one of us now.”
“Holy shit.”
“Sorry. Too much? I just wanted you to have your bank card before we went shopping.”
“I uhhh…” I stare at the envelope. I have questions. How can I access it? How is it paid in? How long does it need to last? How much do I have? In the end, I don’t ask, Aiden just reads me as always.
“In there. The banking app has a personal QR code. Scan it with your phone and follow the details on the screen.”
I do as he says, creating a secure login. When I’m finally set up, I see two accounts. The first has eight hundred pounds, and the second, the one namedMaxwellGirardLLP,has six thousand. I point at it and show Aiden.
“Is this correct?”
“Must be. It’s a little low, but Dax was saying Carlo had slacked in recent months with all the secret meetings between him and…uh.”
“My mother. You don’t have to shy away from the fact.” I smile gently, appreciating that he cared enough to protect me. “So that’s…I mean…there’s a chance it’ll be more next quarter?”
“Absolutely. Though I can’t give you an estimate now that the business pays rent to Trevainne and stuff. Just think of that as your minimum, and everything else as a bonus.”
Six thousand minimum every three months. Two thousand per month to live on, not including the money from the scholarship, which I can’t include if I plan on finishing early. That’s…that’s really good. No food, no bills, no diapers, no rent. Yeah, I’ll need to take some responsibility while staying at the compound, though I doubt they’ll let me, I’d at least like to offer to pay my way now that I can.
“Thank you. I’d like to have a chat with you and Dax about it when we get back to the compound, but for now, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Just promise me you’ll christen that card today.”
“Done.”
“Well, damn, you made that easy. I have a handful of bribes ready for you.”
“Did they involve christening this apartment?”
“Maybe.”
“Then they’re not bribes, they’re promises. Let’s go. The sooner we get done, the sooner we get back.”
“Eager, Tiger? Sign that. Memorise your PIN. I’ll grab our bags.”
I pull out the relevant paperwork and read up on how to activate the card. I check out my PIN and then change it to something more memorable via the app, filtering a security call that comes in the second I make the request. While the bank representative is giving me the welcome speech, I absentmindedly jot my details onto the envelope in front of me, but Aiden darts over and scribbles them out, replacing them with my alternative identity. Myrealidentity. I stare down at the envelope and Aiden’s scruffy scrawl.
Juliet Marie FeelanJoslyn Elanor Girard
August 30thNovember 28th
120 Olive TowerTrevainne Estate
The ValeThe Heights
HarrisonHV3 19OTH01 001
I feel unprepared for questions, but how many people can’t answer questions about who they are? It hadn’t been a problem until now.
Though why does it have to be a problem?A smile is just a frown upside down, right, Nana?
I’m looking at this in the wrong way. This isn’t a crisis of identity; it’s the clean start I’ve always wanted. No longer a reminder of the lies I was told, it’s now a declaration of my truth. All I have to do is embrace it.
