Bab 4: CHAPTER 4: Becoming Ava Lincoln
"And what happens if I don't agree to this?" I asked Nicola, my voice shaky as I struggled to understand what I was about to get myself into. This wasn't just something out of one of the novels that I was used to reading and writing, it was real and I was one step away from my entire life changing.
Nicola, who had risen to her feet and headed for the door, paused and turned to look at me.
"Then you'll be throwing away the opportunity to secure this job and an offer to earn three times the pay."
My eyes widened to saucers as I mentally calculated the amount and she knew she had my attention almost immediately.
"You will give me the job?"
"Yes."
My stomach churned as I stared at the non-disclosure agreement Nicola shoved across the sleek office desk. Each word blurred into a dizzying mess as the weight of my decision settled in. Dinner with Alexander Westcott, CEO of Westcott Enterprises, as Ava, his missing friend? It was the craziest thing I'd ever agreed to, and the fear gnawed at my insides because according to what was written here, if I did accept the job, I would have to keep pretending to be Ava for as long as possible. How long would that even be for and to what end?
"Just sign it," Nicola said, her voice clipped and devoid of the warmth it had held earlier, in Alexander's presence. I didn't know why I was surprised, when I was just going to be a means to an end. "Standard procedure, you understand. Confidentiality is paramount. This will also ensure that we keep our promises to each other."
I bit my lip, guilt twisting like a vine around my heart. This wasn't just secrecy; it was deception. But the image of my meager savings account flashed in my mind, and the promise of a job with a salary that could finally pull me out of my financial hole whispered a seductive counterpoint.
With a shaky hand, I scrawled my signature on the dotted line after reading the document one more time.
"Good girl," Nicola said, her voice softening a fraction. "Now, let's get you out of those travel-ravaged clothes."
Travel-ravaged? My blouse and pants had seen me through countless adventures, but under Nicola's scrutiny, they suddenly felt embarrassingly out-of-place.
The next few hours were a whirlwind. Nicola whisked me away to a trendy boutique, worlds apart from my usual thrift-store haunts. Clothes, shoes, and a bag later, I stood in a mirrored changing room, a stranger looking back at me. The woman in the elegant dress and designer heels bore an uncanny resemblance to the picture Nicola had shown me of Ava. We shared the same blonde hair, emerald eyes, and sharp cheekbones, but beneath the polished exterior, I still felt like Evie, the girl caught in a web of lies. I was just a desperate girl going to deceive a billionaire.
Back at the office, Nicola tossed an iPad at me. "Everything you need to know about Ava," she said, her voice devoid of warmth. "Memorize it. Tonight's dinner is crucial. If it goes well, you start as Alexander's assistant on Monday."
My fingers trembled as I unlocked the iPad, wondering how it was even possible for someone to have a file on another person. Would Nicola ask that a file be made about me too? When Nicola had said everything I needed to know was on this device, I had expected a vivid image of Ava's life story unfolding on the screen – her childhood spent globe-trotting with her wealthy parents, her education at prestigious schools, her passion for photography. But there was nothing of the sort. In fact, this just told me things like her parents' names, their last name being Lincoln and that they both worked for the Westcott family for years, which clued me in to the fact that Ava and Alex most likely grew up together as well as things she enjoyed doing, like playing the piano which I had zero idea or skill on and worked as a waitress, which I did have a lot of experience in. The more I read, the deeper the mystery became. Why did Ava disappear? Why did she look so much like me? Most importantly, why did Alexander mistake me for her?
Nicola seemed to sense my confusion. "Don't worry about the specifics," she said curtly. "Just focus on the basics. Favorite restaurants, hobbies, inside jokes – all things Ava and Alexander would share. And for the love of God, Evie, stay away from anything personal."
As the information overloaded my brain, a spark of defiance ignited within me. This wasn't just about the job anymore. I wanted answers, and maybe, just maybe, this elaborate charade could be my ticket to uncovering the truth about Ava and the Westcotts. I just knew that the instant I got home, I would search to find any possible information I could about Ava Lincoln.
"What about you?" I blurted out, surprising myself. "What's your role in all this?"
Nicola's eyes narrowed. "That's not your concern, Evie. Focus on tonight and getting through the next couple of weeks. It'll all be worth it, trust me."
Her evasiveness only deepened my suspicions. Trust was a luxury I couldn't afford right now, but I could not even afford anything to be honest so why was I trying to be morally upright all of a sudden? That question stayed with me even when we entered the car and headed for dinner.
The rest of the trip to our destination where we would be meeting Alexander was a blur of studying information on Ava and trying to calm the churning in my stomach. By the time we arrived, I was a nervous wreck.
Nicola dropped me off at a secluded beachfront restaurant, a place that screamed exclusivity and wealth. My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs as I walked through the ornate entrance, a million questions swirling in my head.
The hostess, a woman with a practiced smile and a discerning eye, scanned my outfit with approval. "A reservation for Ms. Westcott?" she inquired, her voice smooth as silk.
"Yes, that's me," I said, trying to sound confident. My voice, however, seemed to come out in a barely audible squeak.
The hostess led me through a maze of plush booths and candlelit tables, finally stopping at a corner window seat bathed in the soft glow of the rising moon. There, sitting by the window overlooking the sparkling ocean, was Alexander. He looked even more handsome now, his broad shoulders filling out his tailored suit effortlessly and when he turned, the little frown on his face morphing into a smile at the sight of me, I felt a hint of sadness that tugged at my heart. Was I really going to do this?
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