Chapter 9

"You still haven't answered my question," Samantha said, crossing her arms as she strolled alongside Eva down the sleek, glass-paneled hallway of Wadsley's Jewels. "What happened to your phone?"

Eva stiffened under Samantha's gaze. Samantha wasn't just Ava's best friend, she was sharp, observant, and not one to buy a lie. Eva couldn't afford one misstep.

"I lost it," Eva said, trying to act as nonchalant as possible. "At the airport, while on my way to Paris. It was chaotic, and before I knew it, it was gone."

"Seriously? I've been trying to reach you for days!" Samantha exclaimed, her tone full of disbelieving incredulity.

"I got a new one in Paris," Eva said smoothly. "But you know how it is, new phone, new number. I didn't have time to update everyone."

Samantha narrowed her eyes slightly. "Hmm, okay. But you didn't think to at least call or text me once? That's not like you, Ava."

Eva's heart jumped, but she kept her face composed. "It has been a whirlwind, the wedding, the honeymoon, and now stepping back into work; I barely had time to breathe. I am sorry, Sam."

Samantha's expression softened slightly, but her curiosity did not wane. "Fair enough. But I've got another question for you."

Eva swallowed as she anticipated what would come.

“What's the deal with Shawn?" Samantha asked, forthright as usual. "The last time I checked, you couldn't stand the guy, you were only keeping him around for business connections. Then, out of nowhere, you're married to him, and I had to find out from your wedding pictures online? What was that?"

Eva's mind was running. Samantha's words showed how hurt she felt about it. Ava had been crystal clear with her feelings of disdain regarding Shawn. Now, Eva had to peddle a completely different story.

“I'm sorry, Sam. It's a long story," Eva said delicately, her tone measured. "But let's just say, I realized that I had been wrong about Shawn. He is a good guy, kind and thoughtful. I decided to give him an opportunity, and got to see a side of him that I hadn't seen before."

Samantha came to a halt, her jaw slightly dropped. "You're really pulling my leg, right? Since when do you talk about Shawn that way?”

She forced a smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "People change, Sam. Maybe it was Paris, but since the wedding, but... I think I've changed too."

Samantha didn't say a word. Her sharp eyes studied Eva's face, as though to read her mind. Before Samantha could pursue it any further, Richard Wadsley's voice cut into their huddle.

"Ladies, shall we go in," he called from behind them still with his phone in his hand.

Eva exhaled a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "We'll talk more later," she hastily said to Samantha, resuming her stride toward the boardroom.

*******

The boardroom was a shiny expanse of marble and glass, with the long table at its center surrounded by leather chairs. Quiet conversation hummed in the air as executives reviewed documents and exchanged greetings.

Mr Wadsley sat down at the head, Eva to his right, while Samantha sat down beside her, eyes darting to Eva every now and then, obviously the wheels in her mind working.

The meeting got underway with Richard outlining the agenda: quarterly performance, upcoming projects, and long-term strategies for expansion. Eva listened well, but the weight of Samantha's earlier questions still lingered on.

When it was her turn to speak, Eva's heart began to beat faster. She had never been good with speeches and never was. That was Ava's strong suit.

"As for the fall collection designs," Eva began, her voice smooth but softer than usual, "we bank on fusing classic elegance with modern minimalism. The goal is to appeal to both our traditional clients and a younger demographic."

Samantha leaned back in her chair and raised an eyebrow. "You sound nervous, Ava," she said with a faint smile. "That's not like you."

Eva colored instantly then forced herself to laugh. "Must be the jet lag."

There was a polite titter of amusement around the room, but Samantha's gaze didn't soften.

Eva forged on, expounding on her ideas, answering several board members' questions, gesturing toward specific parts of the company as she attempted to move the conversation along.

When Richard took over the center stage to present the financials, Eva exhaled for a beat and looked sideways at Samantha, who was scribbling something in her notebook.

Eva found herself thinking as anxiety seeped into her mind.

As the meeting wore on, Samantha's observations grew sharper.

“This isn't Ava,” Samantha thought, her pen tapping against her notebook. She knew Ava well, bold and confident, never second-guessing herself or nervous in any situation.

The woman sitting beside her was different, nervous, hesitant without the sharp edges that had been the hallmark of Ava so many years.

‘Is this …Samantha's mind raced with the possibility. ‘Eva?’

It had sounded ridiculous the first time her brain thought of it, but the more she observed, the more sense it made. She remembered Eva being the quiet, more laid-back twin, the complete opposite of Ava. But the woman beside her now reminded her a lot more of Eva than Ava.

"I'd like to revisit how we feel about the holiday marketing strategy," Samantha abruptly cut into Richard's presentation. "Ava, do you still feel that digital-first is the right move?"

The straightforwardness of the question took Eva aback; she blinked. "Uh. yes. Digital campaigns have shown great results these last years, especially with targeted ads.”

"Interesting," Samantha said, her tone almost too casual. "Because last quarter, you were adamant about focusing on in-store experiences instead."

Eva's stomach dropped. "Well. I've re-evaluated since then," she hastened to say. "Times change, and so should our strategies."

Richard nodded in agreement but Samantha looked unconvinced.

By the end of the meeting, Eva was exhausted. She had kept her cool, but Samantha didn't blink once.

"Great job, all," Richard said, standing. "Let's keep the momentum going."

The board members started to file out, trading courteous goodbyes. Samantha was hanging back, her notebook still in her hand.

As Eva rose, Samantha followed a small smile dancing on her lips. "You've changed, Ava."

Eva's heart pounded as she froze. "People change with experience, Sam. It's growth.”

Samantha nodded, her eyes narrowing a fraction. "You are quite right. People do grow. But they seldom change overnight."

With that, Samantha turned and walked away, leaving Eva to stand by herself, her palms sweaty and her mind racing.

‘She knows,’ Eva thought, the conscience of panic coursing through her mind.

Samantha's heels echoed down the hallway, replaying the meeting with “Ava” in her mind.

“That is not Ava, I know it.”

As she reached her office, her determination was solid. She closed the door behind her and sat at her desk, flipping open her notebook.

"I'll prove it," she whispered to herself, pen poised over the page.

“Whatever's going on, I'm going to find out.”