Chapter 9

Crystal POV 

After the meeting, I never forgot how he praised me and felt very impressed by my words and actions. 

“You saved two people on your first day, and I’m sure those evil people would be beheaded for doing that to their leader,” I muttered his words as the elevator's door opened. 

“Walk with me because of the press.” He held my hand, and in that moment, I felt protected and wouldn’t shake off the smile on his face when I wrapped both hands around his large arm and followed his footsteps. 

He was stopped by someone whom he knew, and that made me perplexed. His guards surrounded him, and in that light,e we were separated. I slipped out of the crowd and left the scene, boarded a taxi, and went to Olivia’s house. 

“Are you the one here? I’m doubting the fact that only one camera caught a picture of a woman wrapping her hands around Kieran. The man of the hour, the beast amongst alphas. Just tell me that this picture is fabricated because you’re both wearing the same outfit.”

“That’s not me, I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? These are your glasses, and I can’t mistake colors because you know I’m good with making dresses, and I’ve seen different colors of fabrics. This coat is mine, remember.” She roared, trying to get me to confess. 

The evidence was there, but only the people who are at the office know that I’m the one in the picture with Kieran. 

Olivia knows that I’m the one in the picture, but she wants me to admit to it. 

“Yes, I’m the one in that picture.”

“You were supposed to go into an interview and get a job, not this. This is way out of your league, you’ve got no social media experience to be on the news.” She chuckled loudly, looking at me with excitement in her eyes. 

“Yes, I went to the office as you said, and then I got there, and it turns out that the new boss is a man who mistook me for someone called Lyra.”

“Can’t you see that the lady’s name on the news is Lyra?”

“That was my next question.” She said calmly as she collected my handbag and removed my coat for me. She motioned me to sit on the couch and then dashed into the kitchen and came out with two glasses and a jar of juice. 

“You need this.” She chuckled and filled two glasses hastily so she could hear my little fairytale. 

I gulped down the whole glass of juice and dropped the glass, cleared my throat, and started the tale,

“So I went there and met Kieran, he’s a nice guy, and he has his ways with words. He’s mistaking me for someone who signed a million-dollar contract, and this supposed lady looks like me. She’s my lookalike, but I don’t think so; this is fate turning its hands finally and wishing me good things in life…” I stopped because she tapped me profusely. 

“You’re running too fast.” 

“Okay, Olivia, this man has supposed feelings for the lady Lyra, and he’s showing that same affection towards me, and I don’t know why I can’t resist him as much as I try,” I explained to her and watched her stand up to her feet like she saw something behind me. 

“You just got yourself out of a divorce, and you’re crawling into another man’s arms. This is pure desperation.” She was speaking at the top of her voice when she knew that we’re the only ones in the house, so I’d hear every word she was saying, even if she tried whispering. 

“What’s wrong, Olivia? I’m not even done telling you everything that happened,d and you want to cast the blame on me.” I stood up to look at her even though she was taller than me. We're the same age mates so she shouldn’t see me as her junior sister just because I’m staying in her house. 

“Alright, I’m listening.” She conceded to my words, picking up her glass of juice. 

“What’s wrong? Did someone upset you?” I tried to touch her arm, rm but she pushed my hand back and smiled. 

“I don’t need that now, Crystal. I need to hear your story. How did you end up in the newspapers?” 

“Alright, we closed for the day at work, and he told me to hold his hand while he walked me through the press, but when we went outside, someone was blocking him, and the pictures were taken while I slipped away from the crowd and got into that taxi cab that dropped me at the door.” I watched her breathing return to normal as she assimilated my words. 

“Alright, that means he thinks that you’re Lyra when you’re crystal. Your real name is Crystal, right?” She started pacing around, trying to figure out the whole event. 

“Don’t me ask, my name’s Crystal, and no one has ever called me Lyra.”

“Alright, that means Lyra is your look-alike.” 

“If he’s a million-dollar contract with your look-alike, that means it’s a marriage contract.” Olivia guessed the right contract without even knowing a thing about it. 

“Yes, it is.”

“For how long?”

“One year,r and the Lyra in question ran away with half of the money, so I have to be married to him for a while, and get half a million dollars and go on my way. Do you know what that would do for me?” I tapped her shoulder, holding her hand because of the thoughts of the things I’d do when I win that money,

“I’m going to find a way to get Talia from that monster and finalize the divorce,” I added, giggling with my hand behind her neck. 

“You’re in this for the money. What about the sexual part of the marriage contract? Are you down for it too?” She asked a question that threw me off my feet at that moment. 

“Your question isn’t hard to answer, but the problem is your reaction to the answer. Telling the truth would make it easier for both of us because I need this to finalize that divorce with that lying ingrate called Ethan, get Talia, and find a path for myself and my future. We can leave the pack together…” She placed her index finger on my upper lip. 

“Tell me what I need to know, Crystal. Don’t bite around the bush, just say the word.” 

What would be her reaction if I told her that Kieran and I have already sealed that part of the deal?