10 Is Ava really Laura?

"Where did you hear that from?" Maxwell asked Eric. Seeing that he was picked interest in it, he moved forward and showed him the files.

"Here are the information that I could gather about her. Her real name is not Ava Smith but Laura King. She got adopted by the Smith's family after the massacre of her family by a man known as Sebastian Debanka. 

She got adopted at age eleven and is not aware of her past life. She works at a coffee shop known as Brooklyn's fast-food restaurant as a waitress there. She had past failed relationship with a man known as Jasper Edwards. She is…" 

"Wait. Did you say Jasper Edwards?" Maxwell asked as he interrupted Eric.

"Yes sir." 

"Do you have a photo of him?" Maxwell asked Eric.

"Yes I do. Here it is. I printed them all in this document." Eric said as he pulled out a paper from the file and showed it to Maxwell. It was exactly who he thought it was. Maxwell was shocked.

"do you know him?" Eric asked Maxwell after seeing the reaction on her face.

"Yes. He was the one I met with instead of the client." Maxwell unconsciously replied.

"Wow…but…what do you have to do with this lady?" Eric asked Maxwell.

"Continue reading the details. Who is she getting married to and when? Where is it taking place?" Maxwell asked Eric.

"She is getting married to Me. Sebastian Debanka. Seven days from now at the old hall down the street in Sherbrooke." Eric reported.

"Isn't this the same man that was responsible for the death of her family?" Maxwell asked in surprise.

"Yes sir. He is still the same person."

"Are you sure this isn't a coincidence?"

"No. I'm very sure and I have the photos of him. Here." Eric showed Maxwell the photos of Sebastian before and after. His eyes widened in shock.

"Wait…what is going on? Why is he getting married to her after being responsible for the deaths of her family? Is she aware of this?" Maxwell asked Eric.

"Like I said, she wasn't aware of the death of her parents. Not even get foster family is aware." Eric reported.

"And the marriage? Is she aware about it?" Maxwell asked in confusion.

"That I don't know. I heard about it yesterday during the weekend from the man. I've been tracking his movements down and I overheard him on the phone making some preparations. It seems to be an arranged marriage to clear off their debts." Eric explained.

"What debts?" Maxwell asked.

"Her family for indebted to him fir a very long time. This man Sebastian is their loan shark. Ava was given to the Smith's family by the social workers and they got paid for it. They fed on the money even though they loved her and took her as their own."

"Then what link Sebastian to them?" Maxwell asked.

"He is their landlord and as I stated earlier, he is a loan shark. Ava has to work extra hard to pay off the debts."

"Does she have any siblings? Foster siblings?"

"Yes she does. The elder girl is taking care of their sick mum while the younger ones are living with a relative in another town."

"Does Ava has any qualification? Is she through with school?" 

"No sir. She dropped out of college when they couldn't offer to send them all to school. She got a part time job to run but it wasn't enough to fort her bills so she quit school or rather, got expelled for not paying her fees." Eric reported.

"How old is she?" Maxwell asked again.

"She is twenty three years old." Eric replied.

"Keep me posted about everything that is happening. Keep an eye on Sebastian too. I smell something fishy here. Until then, let no one know about this." Maxwell ordered.

"Yes sir." Eric replied as he left his office but left the files with Maxwell.

Maxwell thought for a while. His anger towards Ava seemed to reduce. Different thoughts played in his mind.

Maxwell took the files and locked them in his drawer. He got up and went to the chairman's office.

"Yes, I was about sending for you." The chairman said on seeing Maxwell in his office.

"The contract is slipping off our hands gradually."

"Yes uncle, I'm aware of that and that's why I'm here." Maxwell replied to his uncle.

"Oh wow! Tell me about it, who is she?" Henry, the chairman asked Maxwell.

"I can't disclose that for now. I came to ask something instead. Do you know of my childhood friend, Laura?" Maxwell asked his uncle.

"Laura? Who is Laura?" The chairman asked Maxwell.

"She was my dad's friend's daughter. She often comes over to play with me whenever her parents are out of town. She was seven when she lost her parents…can you remember?" Maxwell tired to make his uncle to recall past moments.

"Oh oh yes of course I do. That poor child. What happened to her?" Henry asked Maxwell.

"Where is she?" Maxwell asked a disbelieving question to his uncle's hearing.

"Wat are you talking about? Aren't you aware that she is dead? She was killed alongside her parents in cold blood." Henry told Maxwell but it wasn't convincing to him.

"Are you sure she is dead? Did they see her body?" Maxwell asked.

"Hey…you were at the funeral weren't you? Three corpses were buried…hers, her mum and her dad. Her mum as even pregnant as of then." His uncle elaborated.

"Okay. Thanks."

"Why? Why did you bring her topic up? Did you take your drugs last night?" Henry asked Maxwell.

"I forgot to. I went to bed early." Maxwell replied.

"That's why. Please always take your drugs on time to avoid seeing the dead and all these." Henry said to him and with that, Maxwell got up to leave.

"I will. Thanks."

"Are you alright leaving?" Henry asked Maxwell as he got up.

"Yes. I have work to do."

"But I thought you wanted to talk to me about you getting married?" Henry asked him.

"Oh right. Incase they call, tell them the wedding is fixed in the next seven days. Make preparations for that. I don't care who I'm marrying, I just want to get her signature and mine down on that contract." Maxwell said unreasonably.

"Sure. You don't have to worry, I'll make arrangements for the wedding." The chairman said and with that, Maxwell left his office.

The chairman's face changed after Maxwell left his office. He sat down on the sofa as he thought aloud.

"Did he find Laura?"