Fake identity

The phone rang in the quiet room. Once. Twice. Three times. Each ring felt like a heavy drumbeat in Liana’s chest, stretching the silence until it finally cut off into a flat, mechanical voicemail tone.

​Liana dropped her hand, staring at the dark screen. She let out a long breath, a mix of disappointment and sudden relief washing over her. Maybe it was too late. Maybe Sarah had changed her number years ago and didn't even use this line anymore.

​She set the phone down on the nightstand, rubbing her face with both hands. But just as she was about to pull the covers up, her phone vibrated, buzzing noisily against the wooden surface. The caller ID flashed: Sarah.

​Liana’s heart took a sharp dip. She swiped the screen and brought the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

​"Liana?" A voice came through the speaker, crisp, sharp, but carrying a heavy, exhausted sigh. "Is that really you? Do you have any idea what time it is?"

​"Sarah! I—I'm so sorry, I know it's late," Liana said quickly, sitting up straight. "I didn't mean to wake you."

​"You didn't wake me, I just stepped out of a grueling six-hour board meeting," Sarah replied, the rustle of papers audible in the background. "My head is pounding. But... wow. It's been a while, Liana. How are you? How's little Ava?"

​Hearing Sarah mention Ava brought a small, real smile to Liana’s face. "She’s good. She’s sleeping right now. We actually just moved back into town today. That’s... kind of why I called."

​Sarah went quiet for a moment, the sound of her sipping something—probably cold coffee—filling the line. "Moved back, huh? So, the break is over?"

​"It had to be," Liana admitted softly, looking out the window at the night sky. "Leaving was something I needed to do for Ava and myself back then, but now... I need to build something stable for us. I want to get back to work, Sarah."

​Another heavy sigh came over the line. Sarah’s voice wasn't cold—there was a deep, underlying warmth that showed she still cared—but she was realistic. "Liana, I'm going to be completely honest with you because I respect you too much to lie. The modeling world moves at light speed. You’ve been out of the loop for years. Bringing you back onto the runway or getting you high-end brand deals right now? It’s not going to be easy. In fact, it’s an uphill battle."

​Liana’s heart sank slightly. "I know. I figured as much."

​"However," Sarah continued, pausing as if thinking through a massive rubik's cube, "you always had an incredible eye for the actual clothes. Remember how you used to tweak the fits on set? You were always fussing with the stitching and the drapes."

​"Yeah..." Liana blinked. "I loved that part."

​"Well, modeling might be a tough door to breach immediately, but design? That's a different story," Sarah said, her tone perking up just a bit. "I have a few very solid connections at a major luxury design house—Vance & Co. They’re expanding their team. It’s still fashion, Liana. The only difference is, instead of wearing the dresses, you’ll be the one making them."

​Liana sat in silence for a second, letting the idea settle in her mind. Design. It was different, but it wasn't foreign. It was creative, it was stable, and honestly, the thought of it made something inside her spark with genuine excitement.

​"I... I think I'd really love that, Sarah."

​"Good," Sarah said, her usual sharp business energy finally returning. "Let’s meet for coffee tomorrow morning. We’ll discuss the details then. 9 AM at Café Lumière?"

​"I’ll be there. Thank you, Sarah. Seriously."

♤ ♤ ♤ ♤ ♤ ♤ ♤ ♤

​The morning sun beamed brightly through the windows of the café. Liana spotted Sarah sitting at a corner table near the window, looking as sleek and poised as ever in a tailored blazer, despite her tiredness from the night before.

​As Liana walked over, Sarah stood up, and the two immediately wrapped each other in a warm, tight hug.

​

"Look at you!" Sarah laughed, stepping back to take Liana in. "Motherhood suits you, even if you look like you haven't slept in a week."

​"Hey! Play nice," Liana giggled, taking a seat across from her. "It was a long drive yesterday."

​They ordered their coffees and spent the first twenty minutes catching up on everything—Ava’s milestone moments, Sarah’s chaotic agency life, and how much the city had changed. But soon enough, Sarah set her coffee cup down with a sharp clink and got down to business.

​

"Alright, so here's the reality of the Vance & Co. situation," Sarah began, leaning in over the table. "I can't just set up a formal job interview for you with the head director. He's guarded by a wall of gatekeepers. But... I know a way in."

​Liana tilted her head. "What kind of way?"

​

"The CEO’s executive assistant—the guy who basically holds the keys to the entire company—is going to be at the Crestview Country Club today," Sarah said, lowering her voice slightly. "It’s that high-end golf club where all the ultra-wealthy gather to pretend they're working while hitting small white balls."

​"Right... the place where a glass of water probably costs fifty dollars," Liana joked dryly.

​

"At least," Sarah smiled. "He’s attending an exclusive afternoon mixer there. If you can get close to him, strike up a conversation, and make a great impression, you can pitch yourself directly or get his personal contact. It cuts out months of corporate red tape."

​Liana stared at her, wide-eyed. "Sarah, I'm not a member of a rich golf club! How am I even supposed to walk through the front gate?"

​"That's where I come in," Sarah said, sliding a sleek, gold-trimmed guest pass across the table. "A friend of mine lent me her guest pass. It gets you onto the grounds. But there’s a catch—you'll be entering under her name. Claire Sterling."

​Liana picked up the heavy card, feeling a sudden surge of nervousness. "A fake identity? Sarah, if security catches me—"

​

"They won't," Sarah interrupted smoothly. "Just dress sharp, walk like you own the entire greens, and hope nobody who actually knows Claire shows up. Keep your head high, find the assistant, befriend him, and get that opportunity."

​

Liana looked at the card, her thumb tracing the gold lettering. It was risky. It was completely outside her comfort zone. But then she thought of Ava, sleeping peacefully back at Nina's house, and the future she wanted to build for them.

​She took a deep breath and looked up at Sarah. "Alright. Claire Sterling it is."

​An hour later, Liana stood at the massive, grand entrance of Crestview Country Club.

​She was wearing one of her absolute best outfits—a sharp, high-waisted beige trouser set paired with an elegant silk blouse and dark sunglasses. She forced her shoulders back, put on a cool, effortless expression, and glided right past the security checkpoint, flashing the gold card.

​The security guard barely glanced up, simply nodding and waving her through.

​Step one complete, Liana thought, taking a subtle breath of relief.

​The interior of the clubhouse was stunning. Polished marble floors, soaring arched ceilings, and massive glass walls that offered a panoramic view of the rolling green golf courses outside. Wealthy members in pristine white polo shirts and expensive sun visors walked around, sipping champagne and chatting quietly.

​Liana kept moving, keeping her gaze casual while her eyes darted around, carefully dodging the patrolling venue staff and security guards. She tried to blend in, pretending to admire the abstract art hanging on the mahogany walls while secretly scanning every group of men for someone who looked like an executive assistant holding a tablet or a briefcase.

​She moved further down the grand hallway, away from the loud main lounge and toward the quieter VIP veranda. The marble corridor curved gracefully around a sharp bend. Liana smoothed her shirt, taking another step forward as she turned the corner—

​CRASH.

​Liana collided hard with a solid, broad chest.

​The impact sent her stepping back, her sunglasses slipping right down her nose. A cold splash of iced coffee hit the front of her silk blouse, but before she could even process the stain, she caught herself and reflexively looked up to apologize.

​Standing right in front of her was a man she had never seen before in her life. He was tall, impeccably dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, with sharp, striking eyes that were looking straight down at her in absolute shock.

​Liana’s breath hitched in her throat as their eyes locked, the quiet hallway suddenly falling dead silent.