THE DEVIL HERSELF

Scarlet lay on her bed, scrolling aimlessly through her phone. The soft hum of the air conditioning and the distant sounds of the city outside her window created a peaceful cocoon around her. She was deep in thought, her mind wandering through the myriad responsibilities of her day when a gentle knock at her door interrupted her reverie. She looked up to see Chance, entering the room. He moved with his usual grace and efficiency, his presence as familiar and reassuring as the furniture around her.

"Boss," Chance began, bowing slightly as he always did, "a man known as Elias Keys wants to book an appointment with you."

Scarlet froze. The name sent a shockwave through her, shattering the tranquility of the moment. Elias Keys. Her heart raced as memories of a time she had long tried to bury began to surface. Elias Keys was the name of her twin brother, a brother she had mourned for years, believing him dead. How was it possible that he was alive? Her mind reeled with questions and emotions, a flood of memories crashing over her.

She remembered their childhood vividly. They had been inseparable, two halves of the same whole. They shared everything, from their secrets to their dreams. Their bond was something unique, something magical. Scarlet's thoughts drifted back to their favorite spot under the old oak tree in their backyard. She could almost hear their laughter echoing through the years.

She remembered the summer days they spent playing in the fields, the way Elias would protect her from bullies, and the nights they spent whispering about their future. Scarlet could almost feel the warmth of the sun on her face and hear the rustle of the leaves as they sat under the tree, making plans for a future that was abruptly torn apart.

One particular memory stood out. It was their vacation a day filled with joy and laughter. Their mom had thrown a small party, inviting all their friends and family. Scarlet and Elias had worn matching outfits, as they always did. She recalled the look of pure happiness on Elias's face when he unwrapped his gift-a beautiful wooden model ship. They had spent hours playing with it, imagining grand adventures on the high seas.

But that was before the accident, before everything changed. The memory of the day they were separated was still a painful scar on her heart. She remembered the chaos, the fear, and the devastating news that Elias had died. Her world had shattered that day, and she had been forced to grow up too quickly, to become stronger and colder to survive.

And now, the name Elias Keys brought all those memories rushing back. Could it really be him? Scarlet's mind was a whirlwind of emotions-hope, fear, disbelief. She needed to see him, to know if it was truly her brother. But she couldn't let herself get carried away by hope. She needed evidence, something to confirm his identity.

"Set up the appointment, Chance," Scarlet said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I need to meet him."

Chance nodded and left the room, leaving Scarlet alone with her thoughts. She sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, and took a deep breath. She needed to prepare herself for this meeting, to be ready for whatever she might find.

The next few days passed in a blur. Scarlet threw herself into her work, trying to distract herself from the impending meeting. But no matter how busy she kept herself, her thoughts always returned to Elias. She found herself sifting through old photographs, reliving the happy moments of their childhood. She even pulled out the old model ship, now a cherished keepsake, and ran her fingers over its smooth wooden surface.

Finally, the day of the meeting arrived. Scarlet dressed carefully, choosing a professional yet elegant outfit that conveyed authority and confidence. She needed to be in control, no matter what happened. As she made her way to her office, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She couldn't help but wonder what Elias would be like now. Would he recognize her? Did he remember their childhood?

# All though she's a known Mafia Lord, everyone in the underworld calls her DVV but she runs a company, which deals with the production and manufacturing of cooking oil. KEYS COOKING OIL#

When she entered the office, Chance was waiting for her. "He's here," he said simply.

Scarlet nodded, taking a moment to steady herself before opening the door to her private meeting room. She stepped inside, and her breath caught in her throat. There he was, sitting at the table. Elias. Her heart pounded as she took in the sight of him. He was older, of course, and there were new lines on his face, but there was no mistaking those familiar eyes.

"Elias," she said softly, her voice trembling despite her efforts to stay composed.

The man looked up, and for a moment, their eyes met. There was a flicker of recognition, a spark of something familiar, but then it was gone. He stood and extended his hand. "Ms. Decula," he said, his voice polite but formal. "Thank you for seeing me."

Scarlet took his hand, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Please, have a seat," she said, gesturing to the chair opposite hers. She sat down, her mind racing. He didn't recognize her. She needed to find a way to uncover the truth without scaring him off.

They began discussing business, the reason Elias had given for wanting to meet with her. He spoke confidently, outlining a proposal for a potential partnership. But Scarlet's mind was elsewhere, analyzing every word, every gesture, looking for clues. As the meeting went on, she realized there were small details, subtle hints that pointed to his true identity. The way he tapped his fingers on the table, a habit Elias had always had. The scar on his left hand, a remnant of a childhood accident.

Scarlet decided to take a chance. She needed to know for sure. "Elias," she said, interrupting him mid-sentence. "I need to ask you something personal."

He looked at her, surprised. "Of course," he said slowly.

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"Do you have any siblings?" she asked, her heart pounding.

He hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly. "No I don't have" he admitted. "There was a fire accident years ago, and I lost all of my family members from before then. Why do you ask?"

Elias said that purposely just to get to his point.

"Keys family from Asia?" She asked again just to be sure.

"Yeah but there's something else I want to ask you too" Scarlet nodded as tears wale up in her eyes but she blinked it back." Why did you become a bodyguard for Lady Mia Osteen when you already have a company of your own?" "For revenge, in fact I killed her. Because of what she did to my family years ago too. She was among the people that killed my family years ago" she stated while staring at him.

"Okay, I was just asking because I also wanted the same thing about her too. She was among the people who killed my sister, father and mother" he muttered bitterly. Scarlet's heart ached at his words. He doesn't know her. But she couldn't give up. She needed to find a way to make him realize that she's he's sister. "I think you might be my brother," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elias's eyes widened, shock and confusion playing across his face. "Your brother?" he repeated, as if trying to process the idea.

Scarlet nodded, reaching into her bag and pulling out the old photograph of them under the oak tree. She handed it to him, her hands trembling. "This is us," she said. "You and me, when we were kids." Elias took the photograph, staring at it for a long moment. His expression softened, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "I remember this," he said slowly. "This tree... it feels familiar."

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Tears welled up in Scarlet's eyes. "Yes," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "That's our tree. We used to sit there for hours, talking about everything and nothing."

Elias looked up at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and hope. "Ariana?" he whispered, as if testing the name.

"Yes," she said, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I'm Ariana. Your sister."

For a moment, there was silence. Then Elias stood up, crossing the room in a few quick strides. He pulled her into a tight embrace, and she clung to him, sobbing with relief and joy. It was him. Her brother. They stood there for what felt like an eternity, holding each other as the years of separation and pain melted away.

As they finally pulled apart, Scarlet wiped her tears and smiled at Elias. "We have so much to catch up on," she said, her heart full of hope and happiness.

Elias nodded, his own eyes moist. "Yes, we do," he agreed. "But first, tell me everything. I want to know how you survived"

And so, Scarlet began to recount their childhood, sharing the stories and memories that had shaped their bond. As she spoke, she could see the light of recognition in Elias's eyes growing stronger. They laughed and cried together, rediscovering the connection that had never truly been broken. Scarlet told him how she survived, while he did same too with tears.

In the weeks that followed, Scarlet and Elias spent countless hours together, rebuilding their relationship and creating new memories. They visited their old haunts, relived their favorite childhood activities, and even sat under the oak tree once more, just like they used to. With each passing day, their bond grew stronger.

Scarlet knew that life would never be the same again, but she welcomed the change with open arms. She had her brother back, and that was all that mattered. Together, they will faced the future with hope and determination, ready to take on whatever challenges came their way.

And as they lay together in the garden of the Clan, the sun setting behind them, Scarlet knew that no matter what happened, they would always have each other. The past was behind them, and the future was theirs to create. And with Elias by her side, she knew that anything was possible.