2: Darker Than It Seems

"What happens when Analiese comes back? Won't it be a problem since I will show my face and everyone will know me as her?" I asked Peter while we are in the plane. The day after I accepted the job, we fled to London with my mother. She was unconscious, though. She's in comatose state.

"Mr. Racini has a solution to that, so don't worry about it."

Right. I should just deal with my own business. When she comes back, it will be their problem and I will be out of the picture. But then, maybe Mr. Racini has no plans of exposing his daughter's face. Once he does that, he will also expose that the one who married the groom is not the real bride. On the other hand, if Analiese will stay behind her veil, won't it be too weird and suspicious since I already showed my face as Analiese?

But like Peter said, Mr. Racini has a solution to that, so I guess it's better if I will not involve myself.

When we landed in the airport, there was already a car waiting for us. We first went to the hospital where Mom will be admitted. I was really surprised because we were treated like VIP, far from how we were treated in the small hospital where Mom was first admitted.

"Like I said, she will receive the best treatment here, so you have nothing to worry about," Peter assured me. We were both standing at the door of Mom's private room.

I glanced at Mom. A small smile formed in my lips as I brought my gaze to Peter.

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me. I'm just doing my job," he said politely.

I smiled. "So, what are we gonna do next?"

"You need to know everything you need to because you will meet Mr. Beaumont tomorrow night."

So the groom is this Mr. Beaumont, huh?

But wait. Tomorrow night?!

"Why is it so sudden? I thought I have a week?"

"Not a week anymore. You have six days before the wedding, but you have less than two days before you meet Mr. Beaumont. You have a dinner scheduled tomorrow and there is no way to move it."

I bit my lower lip. Even though I don't have the slighest idea who this Mr. Beaumont is, based on Peter's vague description, he must be super rich and very influential. His way of living intimidates me. But thinking about his appearance... I wish I could imagine someone very manly like those hollywood stars or the lead men in Spanish soap operas.

But what could make a lady from a decent family run from a filthy rich man, anyway? It's either of the two reasons. One, she has a lover whom she really wants to marry. Second, this Mr. Beaumont might be too ugly for her or has a bad personality. The first sounds too romantic, but not very likely to happen. Like Peter said, Analiese had a burnt face, so if Mr. Beaumont passed her standards, why would she run? So the latter sounds more sensible. I can imagine the face of this Mr. Beaumont... an ugly face with a devilish smile who looks like he will enslave whoever his wife will be.

The thought made me swallowed hard.

"Where are we?" I asked while staring at the grand manor in front.

"It is one of Mr. Racini's properties. It's not his main house, but Miss Analiese was staying here while preparing for the wedding."

"So you mean I will be staying here?" I glanced at Peter.

"For the meantime, yes. But if after the wedding and Miss Analiese is not back yet, you will need to stay at Mr. Beaumont's place."

Am I required to sleep with him too?

I've never slept with a man before. Not that I never dated. My mom is an old soul and my way of viewing things is mostly influenced by her. She had always told me to value virtue and to give it only to my husband.

But then... if I really marry this Mr. Beaumont, doesn't that make him my husband?

Your husband, really, Katherine? You fool, you are marrying him as Analiese Racini!

I wanted to frown when the ugly face I imagined to be Mr. Beaumont flashed in my mind again. Yes, I'm willing to do everything for my mother, but can I really do that when the situation will call for it?

"Let's go, Katherine," Peter disturbed my deep thoughts.

I sighed and stayed silent as he led me to the grand double doors. It was opened my servants, revealing the huge hall of the manor.

I gasped in amazement when I saw it. The huge golden chandeliers, the shiny marbled floor, the furnitures that surely cost a fortune. There is no doubt that Mr. Racini is a very rich hotelier. I wonder why he has to force his daughter into a pragmatic marriage. They already have everything, so why not just let Analiese choose the right man for her?

"So, she's here."

My eyes drifted right away to the direction where the voice came from. It was from the grand staircase.

"Mr. Racini," Peter acknowledge with obvious respect.

My eyes widened a fraction. So this old man is Mr. Racini. That makes him my boss!

I don't know what to do. Should I bow first before greeting him? And how should I greet him?

Good morning, sir! I'm pleased to meet you!

Hello, Mr. Racini! I'm the hired impostor!

Damn. I think I should get hold of myself. Maybe I should just stand straight and greet him politely, professionally as much as possible. Right. That is better. I should do that.

Mr. Racini looked really old. His hair was mostly white, and he had white mustache too. He was lean, tall and very corporate. Obviously because he is the chief executive of the leading chain of hotels in Italy and around some parts in Europe. He didn't look strict. In fact, his features were soft and his expression was gentle. He looked as if he could never bring himself to hurt his daughter, but I wonder why he had to force her into something she doesn't want?

"She is Katherine Sullivan, sir," Peter introduced me to Mr. Racini who was standing two steps before us.

The old man smiled warmly. "Hello, Katherine. I'm Edward Racini."

"I-I'm pleased to meet you, sir." Damn. I sounded lame.

"Let's go to the study room so we can talk about our business properly. Shall we?"

"After you, sir," I said and managed to crook a small awkward smile.

Peter went with us so I was kind of relieved. Not that I'm afraid of Mr. Racini, but I guess I'm just not used to talking with super rich people that it intimidates me to the bones.

"Take your seat, Katherine."

I sat on the long sofa across where Mr. Racini was sitting. Peter sat beside me.

"You know, I really don't like the idea of someone else playing the role as my daughter, but I have to do it regardless. You must be thinking that I'm insane for hiring someone to pretend as her, but honestly, I think the same too." He chuckled. "But the truth is, I know I'm getting older and I just want to make sure that she will end up in good hands."

How sure are you that she will end up in good hands with Mr. Beaumont? She ran away and hid herself. That is obviously a hint that she didn't like something about him.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from saying those words aloud. Money is more important to me now, so better shut my mouth and just do my job well like a very good employee.

"I know this is a difficult job, but I promise to give you anything you need. Analiese is very kind, so you won't have a problem in portraying her personality. Don't worry, Peter will guide you."

I really hope so. Thanks to those theater plays back in highschool, I got some idea on how to play roles.

We stayed in the study room for about half an hour with Mr. Racini telling me some important things about Analiese's personality. Like mannerisms, the way she talks, the way she laughs. And with all the information I've got, I can say that Analiese is a very prim and proper lady. She is also timid, shy and very feminine, that's why I got a little worried because I know she is so different from me. I'm not timid, shy nor prim. And how will I even learn her elegance in less than two days, anyway?

"Don't worry. Mr. Beaumont has little to no knowledge about Miss Analiese, so if you would make a mistake, he will most likely not notice it," Peter assured me when I expressed my concern later that day while he was training me.

"You really think he won't? What if I will make a wrong move when it comes to etiquette? He will wonder for sure!"

"That's why I'm training you to do proper etiquette."

Right. But how can I memorize all those little actions I should do? I've never lived a rich lady's life before. I didn't think that even how they hold a glass, spoon or how they eat is very critical in proper etiquette.

"You should remember to not be too stiff."

I sighed and just did my best to memorize all the things I should bear in mind.

After practicing etiquettes, Peter gave me information about the people around Analiese. He showed a compilation of their pictures and details.

"Miss Analiese has no friends, so aside from Mr. Racini and her Aunt Rose, she is not close to anyone else."

I figure that Analiese must have insecurities because of her burnt face that's why she doesn't like socializing with people. It's an advantage for me since I don't have to memorize many names, but I can't help but feel bad for her. I can't imagine how she had lived her life that way even though she is rich and has all the material things one can ask for.

"Does her Aunt Rose knows about this?"

"She does. You will not meet her often, though. She has a family in California, but she will surely be around in the wedding."

I flipped the page to another person.

Adam Beaumont.

My lips parted. From the face I imagined, I can say that... this is quite far from what I expected.

The picture was just showing the side view of his face, but it was enough for me to conclude that he had adequate features. His hair was short and black, his lashes thick and long, his nose straight and pointed, and his jaw was stark and angular. He definitely didn't look like someone as old as I imagined. He seemed to be a man in his late twenties.

My gaze then drifted to the details provided.

So he's twenty eight years old, huh? Analiese is twenty three while I'm twenty one. He is not too old for Analiese, after all.

My curiosity wasn't answered. It only grew. If Mr. Beaumont is not an old man and has adequate looks, then why Analiese ran away?

"He is Mr. Beaumont, the groom. He is the owner of the largest conglomerate here in Great Britain. Very rich and influential."

I gulped. I looked at the picture again. Never in my wildest dreams I had imagined myself meeting such a handsome and powerful man, worse, getting married to him!

For other girls, this might be a dream come true. I also want to think that way but... looking at this man's picture, why do I feel like he is way darker than he looks like?