Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 381: Star

Dawn leaned back in the car seat and let out a slow breath as the Hank family driver, drove her to HAJ studios.

She took her phone out of her handbag when noticed it was buzzing nonstop.

Her brows pulled together as she looked down at the screen.

Notifications were piling up.

You have 1,204 new subscribers.

You have 893 comments.

Your video has reached 10,000 views.

Her eyes widened. ”What?” she whispered as she tapped her Instagram app.

The first post she saw on her homepage was her video on a major blog page with the heading:

Breaking: Daughter of Late President Lawrence Hank reveals identity.

She immediately went to her own post and saw that the number had jumped again.

She had over 12,432 views now.

Her heart began to beat fast and she refreshed it

15,009 views.

She raised her hand to her lips in disbelief. She’d know her video would attract attention but she’d not it would be this much and not in such a short time.

Her fingers trembled a little as she scrolled through comments.

”You are so beautiful and brave.”

”I cried watching this.”

”Finally, we see your face!”

”I’ve been listening to your podcast for years. I’m so proud of you.”

”Welcome home, Dawn.”

”Guys!!! Guess who the love of her life, is!”

”Jamal Jonas is her boyfriend, guys! This is a fairytale story! Listen to her last podcast episode!”

She laughed silently until she saw Tom’s comment: ”Proud of you, little aunt.”

Her throat tightened and her eyes filled.

Lucinda P Hank commented: ”That’s my baby.”

She pressed her lips together and looked out the window so the driver would not see.

Her phone vibrated again.

A news outlet had reposted her clip.

Another media page shared it with the caption: ”The Lost Heiress Speaks.”

A WhatsApp message from Brenda entered:

”Dawn, you’re on fire! You are trending on all social media platforms! I’m going to be your manager, okay?”

Dawn laughed and responded. ”I’ll keep that in mind.”

She opened another app and saw that her name was climbing the explore page with various hashtags.

Her breathing grew shallow as she stared at the numbers as they climbed.

20,487 views.

Her phone rang, startling her.

She smiled a little when she saw it was Jamal. She cleared her throat before receiving the call.

”Hey,” she said softly.

”Where are you?” Jamal asked.

”Take a guess,” she said playfully.

He was quiet for one second. ”My place?”

She laughed. ”No. I’m on my way out,” she said, not wanting to let him know she was coming to see him. She wanted him to be pleasantly surprised.

”Where to? I just saw your video.”

Her stomach flipped.

”What do you think about the video?” She asked, suddenly feeling anxious now.

She didn’t realize how much his opinion mattered to her until that very moment.

He didn’t hesitate. ”I think you are a star and you’re made for this.”

She could hear the pride and smile in his voice and it made her smile. ”Really?”

”Yes. You didn’t overshare. You didn’t dramatize. You made them want more. Now everyone is talking about you and looking forward to your next episode. I think your television show is going to do really well,” he said confidently.

She leaned back slowly and smiled. ”Thank you, babe. That means a lot to me.”

”I haven’t done anything, love. It’s all you.”

”What are you up to right now?” Dawn asked, wanting to know where to meet him.

”I just stepped out of a meeting with some producers. I’m heading to the conference room to have a meeting with the media department,” he explained, unsuspecting.

”It’s almost time for lunch. Aren’t you going to have lunch? You didn’t have breakfast,” She pointed out with mock concern.

”Yeah. The meeting is going to be brief. I’ll have lunch in my office. I ordered something already,” he said, and she smiled.

”Make sure you take care of yourself, okay?” she said as the car slowed.

They were approaching the tall glass building with the HAJ logo shining in silver at the top.

”I love you,” she said quietly.

”I love you too.”

She ended the call before she could ruin the surprise.

She looked at her reflection on the camera of her phone and smiled as the driver parked in front of the entrance.

”Thank you,” Dawn said as she stepped out of the car.

The glass doors of HAJ Studios slid open the moment Dawn stepped forward.

Inside, everything moved fast. It was nothing like the empty building her and Jamal had walked into some nights ago.

The place was buzzing with activity. People walked quickly with tablets in hand. Phones rang. Screens on the walls flashed numbers and headlines. Her face appeared briefly on one of the monitors near the reception desk.

Dawn stopped walking and stared at her video on the giant screen.

Her throat went dry.

Two interns standing near the screen gasped.

”That’s her!” one whispered loudly.

The other turned slowly and looked straight at Dawn.

Their eyes widened.

”That’s her. That’s actually her...” she breathed.

The receptionist, who had been typing, lifted her eyes from the computer screen to Dawn. Then to the giant monitor. Then back to Dawn. She quickly called Jamal’s office and informed Stefan of Dawn’s presence.

More heads turned and whispers began to spread all around her.

”That’s Mr Jonas’ girlfriend!”

They’d seen their fair share of celebrities in the studio.

They had seen actors walk through those doors. Singers come in with dark glasses and loud laughter. They had seen politicians, influencers, and even athletes.

But this felt different. Dawn Hank was not just a guest. She was the daughter of the late iconic President, whose life story was presently shaking the internet and whom they’d learned was the girlfriend of their CEO.

”Ma’am... welcome to HAJ.”

Dawn smiled as she turned to the receptionist who had stepped forward, ”Thank you,” she said softly. ”I’m here to see the CEO. Mr Jamal Jonas.”

Stefan arrived before the receptionist could respond.

He frowned when he saw the crowd that had formed and immediately everyone pretended to be busy with work.

Stefan walked toward her with calm steps, ”You’re pulling quite a crowd both offline and online,” he greeted pleasantly.

She gave a small laugh. ”Hello, Stefan.”

”Jamal is in the middle of a meeting but I’ve called to inform him of your...” He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Jamal coming from the opposite direction. ”Well, here he is.”

Dawn turned, following Stefan’s gaze, and when her eyes met his, a slow smile spread across his face.

”My star,” he said as he approached her.

Dawn grinned and spread her arms. ”Surprise.”

The staff watched the exchange like it was a live drama.

Jamal walked toward her slowly, not breaking eye contact. ”You said you were stepping out,” he said.

”I am,” she replied sweetly. ”I stepped out... to your office.” She winked.

Jamal chuckled while Stefan and the onlookers smiled.

The staff pretended not to stare.

Jamal stopped in front of her, his hands resting lightly on her waist. ”Now I know why you were asking so many questions about lunch,” he said with a grin.

She grinned. ”Are you pleasantly surprised or not?”

He leaned closer. ”Very pleasantly surprised.”

Stefan watched them with a small smirk. ”You might want to take your star to your office before the entire everyone leaves their job to watch you two.”

Jamal chuckled and took her hand. ”Let’s go upstairs,” he said gently. ”Before the newsroom decides to interview you on the spot.”

Dawn laughed as he led her to the private elevator.

As they walked away, some of the staff started clapping. One lady called out to Dawn, ”We’re proud of you!”

Dawn turned and smiled at her. ”Thank you.”

The elevator doors opened and Jamal guided her inside. The noise disappeared as the doors slid shut.

Jamal looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time and patted her head gently.

She lifted her chin playfully and searched his face. ”Are you proud of your girlfriend?”

His eyes warmed. ”More than you know. Come here,” he said quietly.

He pulled her into his arms right and she melted into him, her fingers gripping his jacket.

”I didn’t think it would blow up like this,” she whispered into his chest.

”I did,” he replied simply.

She pulled back and looked up at him. ”You did?”

”You’re Dawn Hank,” he said. ”You were never going to be small.”

Her eyes shimmered slightly.

Soon, the elevator stopped and the doors opened to the executive floor.

”Welcome to HAJ Studios, my love,” Jamal said as he led her into his office. ”I have to go back to my meeting. So, maybe you can wait in here.”

She nodded. ”Maybe when you come back we can have lunch together and you can show me around. That’s if the office space offer is still open.”

Jamal smiled. ”Are you feeling more confident about the television show now?”

Dawn grinned. ”If my man believes I was made for the camera, who am I to think otherwise?”

Jamal chuckled. ”You will do great things, Dawn. I know it.” There was a small nod of respect in his tone.

”I’ll see you soon. Make yourself comfortable.” He kissed her then walked away.

Dawn watched him go with a wide smile on her face.