CHAPTER 4: PREPARATION

I still can’t believe how I ended up agreeing with my father and grandpa’s plan on pretending to be the missing wife of that mafia boss. Well, it’s all because of the company. I’d rather lose my dignity than our company.

“Alright, so we have to start first with Charlotte Greene’s background. She was born in New York City in December 1997. She actually has an older brother named Luke Greene who is a doctor. Her mom died from cancer and her dad left them when she was just ten for another woman.”

I was listening intently to the woman who my dad and grandpa assigned to help me be Charlotte Greene in one month. I need to know everything about her to pass the stupid plan.

“She met Sylus at a club one time when she was having fun with her friends. As you can see, Charlotte is a jolly and playful woman. Based on what we have researched, she actually had ten boyfriends but none of them lasted three months aside from Sylus which became her husband later on.”

Ten boyfriends? How can she even afford to deal with so many men when I can’t even stand dealing with one?

“If you want to be Charlotte Greene, then you have to act like her. I will let you watch a few videos of her where you would be able to see the way he smiles, laughs, and even the way he mingles with people. You need to take note of those things since those are the first ones that the people who really knows her might notice.”

She turned on the projector and a video of Charlotte Greene with her friends, probably in high school suddenly flashed. They were laughing while eating a sandwich. Just from watching the video, I can already say that she really is a jolly woman. She seems to be so close with her friends and she laughs easily. Something that I am not.

In the next video was her and her family. It looks like they were celebrating her birthday and she was smiling hugely then hugged her brother who seemed to not really liking the skinship.

My eyes widened when the camera focused on her brother’s face.

Shit.

That man.

H-He is my first love.

“Now, are you familiar with Charlotte Greene already? Do you think you would be able to play her role as a sibling, wife, and as a mom?”

“W-Well, it would be challenging for me, but nothing is impossible. If you help me enough, then I would be able to accomplish the task without sweating a lot.’

“Of course, we are going to help you no matter what happens.”

I nodded my head, “Alright. This is all for the company, anyway. Is this all for today?”

“Yes. Tomorrow, you need to know how to dress and look exactly like Charlotte. As you can see, you resemble each other so much, but the only difference is the way you dress and the mole on your right cheek. Charlotte’s mole is on the left side of her cheek.”

“Okay.”

As soon as the woman finally left, I let out a deep sigh and leaned on the couch where I was sitting.

Am I even doing this right? Is it a right decision for me to agree on pretending as someone else’s wife?

Then I suddenly remembered about Luke Greene. I used to attend the same school with him back when I was in middle school. He was quite smart and popular back then that is why even though we never got to talk to each other, I still liked him.

Since he is the brother of Charlotte Greene, for sure he would notice if something changed about his sister. I really need to study every single detail about Charlotte, so none of them would notice.

“Are you sure about that, Carmine? What if that mafia boss finds out that you are not his wife? He will definitely kill you, Carmine!” Mom said to me upon finding out about our plan.

“Mom that is why we hired someone to train me. In one month, I will be a different person.”

“I still don’t agree with that. You’re going to put your life at stake for the sake of the company?”

“Of course, I will. You know how important the company is for me. I’d rather lose everything than losing the company. Just believe me, mom. I can do this and I will be able to save the company.”

Mom shook her head, “You can think of any other solution, Carmine. Don’t do that. Don’t put your life in danger. I know Sylus Crivello and his father is known as the infamous mafia boss before. He killed a lot of people already. That is not impossible for him to do to you, too.”

“I’m so sorry mom, but I already made my mind. I’m going to do this for us, for the company, and for myself.”

In the end, mom left my apartment without saying a word. I know she got mad at what I told her, but I still won’t change my mind.

I am sure she will understand me eventually.

Before going to sleep, I have decided to read the files that Sarah sent me. Those files include every pieces of information about Charlotte Greene. There were even photos of her back when she was just a kid and I almost mistaken her as me again because of how much we look alike.

When I finally read most of the information in the file, it felt like I already met Charlotte in real life. She is the exact opposite of me. According to the pieces of information that I have read, she is willing to do everything for love. While me, I will do everything for my dreams.

But of course, I have to set aside my personal choices and beliefs because starting next month, I will be living as a completely different person.

I am no longer Carmine Clarke, but Charlotte Greene.