Identical

Chapter One: Identical

Vilonia Corp stood tall and unforgiving, glass walls reflecting a world Anna Hale had never belonged to.

She was barely inside the building when raised voices pulled her attention.

A man stood in front of a trembling female employee, his voice sharp, cutting, merciless.

“Do you think mistakes are tolerated here?” he snapped. “Clean it. Now.”

Coffee stained the desk. The girl’s hands shook.

Anna didn’t think. She never did when she saw cruelty.

“Is this how you treat your colleagues?” she said, stepping forward.

“Yelling and humiliating someone over an accident?”

The room froze.

The man turned slowly. His black hair was perfectly styled, his eyes dark and dangerous.

Eden Vilonia.

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” he asked coldly.

Anna ignored the question. She took the crying girl by the arm and led her outside.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “You didn’t deserve that.”

When she returned, a woman grabbed her wrist in panic.

“Are you insane?” she whispered. “That’s Mr. Vilonia. One of the owners.”

Anna’s heart dropped.

Eden now stood by the window, hands in his pockets, staring at the city like it belonged to him.

“I’m sorry,” Anna said carefully. “I didn’t mean to disrespect you. I just—”

“Get out,” Eden said without turning around.

“I only spoke up because—”

“Get. Out.”

There was no anger in his voice. Just finality.

Anna walked out knowing she had lost the job before the interview even began.

---

Ethan Vilonia sat in his car in the underground parking lot, hands gripping the steering wheel as memories flooded his mind.

High school hallways.

Laughter.

Cruel hands shoving him back.

He remembered standing helpless while voices mocked him — rich boy, quiet boy, weak boy.

Then she had appeared.

Small. Brave. Furious.

She had stood between him and the bullies like she wasn’t afraid of anything.

He remembered the necklace in his trembling hand.

“If we ever meet again,” he had said, “I’ll know it’s you.”

Years had passed.

He had searched endlessly.

Still nothing.

Ethan exhaled sharply and stepped out of his car.

That was when someone collided with him.

Anna gasped as she lost her balance, falling forward. Strong arms caught her instinctively.

Their lips brushed.

Time froze.

She pulled back immediately, eyes wide.

“I—I’m so sorry,” she said breathlessly.

Ethan stared at her, irritated.

“Watch where you’re going,” he snapped.

Anna froze.

His face.

He looked exactly like the man from the office.

Same sharp features. Same presence.

The only difference—

His hair was blonde.

Her heart raced.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated softly, stepping back.

Her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen and swallowed hard.

“I need to take this,” she murmured, already walking away.

Ethan didn’t know why, but he followed — just far enough to hear.

“Daddy…” her voice broke.

“I didn’t get the job.”

She turned away, wiping her face as tears slipped free.

“I tried. I really did.”

Something twisted painfully in Ethan’s chest.

Anger flared — not at her.

At Eden.

He stepped forward.

“You,” he said casually.

Anna turned, startled.

“Yes, sir?”

“Be here tomorrow,” Ethan said coolly. “Eight a.m.”

Her eyes widened.

“But I was told—”

“You weren’t,” he interrupted. “You’re hired.”

She stood frozen as he walked away.

Ethan didn’t understand why he had done it.

All he knew was this—

That girl felt disturbingly familiar.

And for the first time in years, the past felt closer than ever.