Perfect Disguise?

“Twin?” I blinked.

My fingers trembled and ended the call unintentionally.

The man in front of me was a carbon copy of Federick in terms of facial comparison. Brown hair, blue eyes, bulky arms and legs, tattooed chest.

The only difference was his slightly larger build, but if you didn’t look closely, you would never tell the difference.

The little time I had spent with Federick, I could tell he was principled, emotionally closed off—not that I cared, and way too serious.

This dude right here looked like the complete opposite, he carried a chaotic air, totally blunt tone and somehow managed to be intimidating.

His hands flew to his face, a finger tapping gently on his lips, taking slow, deliberate steps towards me. He stopped right in front of me, invading my space. His gaze was intense, his presence felt bigger, like he’d literally sucked all the oxygen around us.

“I have seen you before,” he eyed me.

I swallowed, clutching the file against my chest. Then I tilted my head upwards to meet his gaze.

“That’s not possible,” A chuckle escaped me.

His eyebrows arched in a questioning manner. “What’s impossible? Knowing you or the fact that someone like me claimed to have seen you somewhere?” He smirked.

Someone like him? I bet he didn’t even know who I was. Tch. I bit my lower lip, simultaneously fighting the urge to tell him to move out of my way and an eye roll.

“I see, he didn’t mention me as usual,” he said, his eyes searching for something in mine.

“No, he didn’t,” I said, firmly.

“Right.” His eyebrows narrowed on me. “Are you his new mistress? The one he brought to the triple date the other day?”

“What?” I choked out. “How dare—”

“Good,” he cut in. “Come with me.”

The words had barely left his lips, when his fingers wrapped gently around my wrist, pulling me along with him.

So Frederick went on that date without me? I thought he said he was going to ditch it?

Well it doesn’t matter. He kept his end of the bargain, my business deals tripled over the week. It’s time for me to do mine and get this over with.

“What the hell? Stop!” I snapped.

“Oh come on,” he rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic, I’m barely doing anything.”

He stopped in front of the receptionist and I pried my hand away. My finger wrapped around where he had gripped.

What the hell is wrong with him?

The receptionist glanced between us awkwardly, until her gaze finally settled on him.

“Good morning sir,” she greeted, her voice pitched to an octave. She straightened her back and smiled sheepishly. “Welcome back, how may I help you?”

“Process her application letter immediately,” he said and her eyes widened.

“Sir?” she blurted, her head snapping in my direction. “But the CEO—”

“I’m in charge till my father recovers, so do as I say,” he said and she nodded.

I handed her my CV and she started typing on the computer immediately.

“When you’re done, you know where to find me,” he began, then turned in my direction. “Come with me.”

With that, he moved swiftly, heading towards the elevator. I walked hastily behind him as he took long strides and stopped in front of the elevator, his fingers pressing the button. A mechanic noise escaped it and the door chimed open, slowly.

He glanced at me through his shoulders and stepped in.

I hesitated, then he reached out and pulled me inside. The elevator door closed and began to move upwards to the very top floor.

Thick, awkward silence stretched between us for a moment before he opened his mouth to speak.

“So, what’s your deal with my brother?” he eyed me slowly.

I didn’t respond.

“In case you didn’t hear me, I said what’s your—”

“I heard you,” I started. “And I chose to ignore.”

He laughed maniacally. “You’ve got some balls. I will give you that.” He began, “What’s your name?”

“Janet.”

He exploded into loud laughter, his baritone voice echoing inside the elevator, one hand clutching his stomach gently while the other rested on the elevator wall for support.

His muscles contracted and retracted as he did so and he kept at it for something close to a minute.

My teeth gritted in annoyance.

It hasn’t been up to an hour since I met this so-called “hotter twin” and he was already a pain in my ass. A sore sight for sure. Now I understand why Frederick never referred to him as his twin brother.

When he stopped, he straightened himself and glanced at me, a look of doubt on his face. “You’re serious?” he began and I just stared at him. “Janet? That’s your name?”

I rolled my eyes and turned my face away from him. “Do you have a problem with it?”

“Yeah, it seems a little old fashioned,” he started. “Let’s call you Vi.”

I flinched and my breath hitched, his eyebrows narrowing on me.

Fuck! I’m screwed.

Does he know who I am?

What should I do? What should I say?

That the CEO of a famous brand wanted to work as an assistant?

Omg! I thought my make-up skills were unmatched. I turned to the side and looked at myself in the reflective wall of the elevator.

My face was carefully composed beneath layers of contour and a darker shade of lipstick. Different hair. Different posture. A different woman.

At least that was what I thought.

So how did he recognize me? The makeup totally transformed my face to a different person.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like Violet?” he said and I exhaled quietly.

My head turned in his direction and I forced a smile at him. “I think I will stick with Janet for now.”

He raised his hand in a mocking surrender. “Whatever you want, Jay.”

Jeez. Thank God.

The elevator bell dinged, opened slowly and I stepped out beside Kendrick. And then I saw her. Brianna. Of course it would be her, because the universe hates me.

For a second, my lungs forgot how to work. She stepped in as we stepped out. Our shoulders nearly brushed.

I kept my gaze forward, praying the makeup, the hair, the new name—everything—was enough. The doors began to close.

Please leave. Please don’t look at me. I prayed inwardly.

A hand shot out, stopping them and the doors slid back open.

My stomach dropped as she stepped out instead of riding up. Her heels clicked toward me. Before I could move, her fingers landed lightly on my shoulder and spun me around.

Kendrick glanced at us, confusion written all over his face.

“You,” she said slowly, eyes narrowing as they searched mine. “I know you.”