Chapter 1 – Heading to the Countryside

Coming off the runway, I race into the dressing room to change. Sandy, a fellow model follows me in; “Leona; are you coming to the afterparty? I’m told the president of Peterson Properties son will be there. He is so cute.”

‘He is also a narcissistic fuckwit. Like father; like son’ Simone mentions in her mind. “I can’t Sandy. I’m heading straight to the countryside tonight to visit my dad. I’ve been so busy with photo shoots in Milan and Paris; I haven’t been to see him. That’s why I’ve taken the next two months off” Simone informs her, taking off her high heels and slipping on a pair of jeans before letting the dress she was wearing fall off her. ‘If all goes to plan; I will be busy getting reacquainted with Emmett’ she smiles inwardly to herself.

Once Simone got used to the prosthetic suit; no-one could tell the difference. It took a while to learn to swagger her walk for the catwalk. Once she did; she signed a manager and was surprised how fast her career took off.

“It won’t be the same without you” Sandy pouts, flopping herself down on the sofa in the corner.

“You’ll live. It’s not as if the party will dwindle out without me. Go have some fun” Simone states, picking up her phone and messaging Tiffany Walker to have the chauffeur bring the limo around.

After putting on her pink and white Chanel shirt and slip on shoes; Simone heads out of the dressing room to where Tiffany was waiting. She has been Simone’s best friend since she could remember and is one of three people who knows her identity. Simone’s father and Vince; Tiffany’s boyfriend are the other two people.

Tiffany and Vince knew each other during high school; as Vince went to the same school as Simone on a scholarship. They got together in college and have been that way since. The pair also double as Simone’s personal assistant and chauffer/bodyguard when she is working. She figured, ‘why not pay them to travel with her. It’s not like she needs all the money she earns.’

“Si; are you excited to see Emmett again?” Tiffany asks Simone as they both enter the back of the limousine.

“I am. At the same time; I’m not” Simone answers her, letting off a sigh. Ever since we were young, Mum and Aunty Vicki made them promise, when she turned 21, they were to get married. Both her and Emmett have put it off for four years to get established in their careers. Simone’s with fashion and Emmett had followed in his mother’s footsteps to become a journalist.

“You don’t have to go through with it” Vince states, looking through the rear-view mirror at Tiffany’s torturous glare. “The promise was made when you were 5. A lot has happened since then.”

“A lot may have happened and I may only remember the young boy with glasses who would pull my hair or pinch my barbie dolls and hide them. We both feel it’s something we need to do” Simone answers him; taking her bodysuit and blonde wig off to make herself more comfortable. “It was their wish and we feel obligated to fulfill it.”

“Obligated or not. If he doesn’t treat you right; I will break his fucking legs” Tiffany frowns, placing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “He is still a Peterson.” ‘A Petersen you happen to be in love with; but heaven forbid I should mention this point to you’ she adds in her mind.

Tiffany didn’t go to the same high school as Simone and Vince. Her parents live next door to Simone’s father and they became fast friends early in their lives. She had seen the taunts given to Simone by Richard Peterson whenever they went shopping at the mall or hang out at the local café. She wasn’t immune to his nasty words either. She was placed in the ‘poor’ category as her parents couldn’t afford to send her to the same high school as Simone, Vince or Richard.

They were far from being poor, however. Tiffany was never denied anything growing up. She still had food in her belly and clothes on her back. If she asked for something, it was given to her. Albeit, it may have taken a bit longer for her parents to get it for her.

“We’ll change cars and head out to the countryside” Vince says from the front seat, pulling into the garage of the penthouse they shared. “I already put our luggage in the SUV and you still have your spare clothes in there; as always.”

Climbing out of the limousine; the trio move to the other side of the garage and hop into the red SUV. “What does your father think about the wedding?” Tiffany finally asks the question that was on her mind.

“He thinks I’m crazy” Simone sighs, turning her face to look out the window. Phillip Fitzgibbon was proud of his only daughter. She reached her potential in the career she wanted to follow. Even with the setback of her height; he helped her to overcome the hurdle. She was always a beautiful girl and didn’t understand why she didn’t have many boyfriends. That is why he created the prosthetic bodysuit. ‘The advances in prosthetics; it’s feels and acts as though it’s your own body’ he would tell her.

Tiffany decided to leave the conversation there. She knew Simone had disagreements with her father over the wedding. Phillip would tell Simone; ‘you can have whatever man you choose.’ Simone saw it differently. Leona could have whatever man she chose; Simone could not. Even if she were to choose the many suitors chasing Leona; it was difficult to have a relationship, without them realising she was in fact; shorter. She felt the arranged marriage, however ludicrous it may be; was her only chance.

“Are you going to tell Emmett about Leona?” Vince speaks up from the driver’s seat.

“If we continue the charade of being married; I will have to. But for now; I want to keep it to myself” Simone answers, continuing to look out the window. She didn’t want to continue the conversation, so she rested her head against the window and drifted off to sleep.