Chapter 4: Ray of Sunshine

I hastily return to Charlie's office and rush inside.

A man approaches me, and I turn to him with a sense of urgency, saying, "I need to speak with Charlie immediately. He summoned me here."

The man explains to me briefly, his expression unsettling, but I shake it off as I'm preoccupied with my meeting with Charlie. He points to the door on his left, saying, "In there." I approach the door, knock gently, and start to introduce myself, "It's Alexandra -" But before I can finish, the door swings open, making my heart skip a beat as I gaze up at a man likely in his thirties.

He gazes at me with an intense, wide-eyed stare, then steps aside, holding the door open for me to enter. I give him a curious glance, sensing something odd about his behavior.

As I step inside, I see Charlie and a woman seated on the sofa. The man joins them, sitting across from the woman, and remarks in a tone of astonishment, "They're incredibly alike in every way."

The woman's gaze shifts to me, and I sense a growing unease, feeling like something is off. She rises from her seat and approaches me, her eyes filled with wonder. She takes my hands in hers, her grasp gentle, and asks, her voice laced with disbelief, "How is this possible?"

I gently pull my hands free from the woman's grasp, unsure of what she's referring to and not ready to engage in a conversation about it. My priority remains securing my mom's release.

I approach Charlie, asking again, "What do I need to do to get my mom back?" Charlie doesn't respond immediately, too engrossed in flipping through a magazine.

He finally stops, tosses the magazine towards me, and opens it to a specific page, leaving me perplexed and wondering if he's serious.

I raise an eyebrow, curious, as Charlie instructs me to examine the image. Bending down, I pick up the magazine, and my eyes land on the caption: "Billionaire Maya is back in style." 

My gaze follows the text to a photograph of a woman adorned in sleek, high-end attire. My hands tremble as I stare at the face in the image, my mind reeling in astonishment. I drop the magazine, my eyes locking onto Charlie's, and demand, "What on earth are you scheming?" My thoughts are in disarray, struggling to comprehend the implications.

I'm stunned, wondering how a picture of me could be in a magazine, dressed in expensive clothing I could never afford. I'm curious, thinking Charlie might be playing a trick on me. 

Charlie's response is hurtful and emotionless, "Does it look like I called you here to play with you?" I'm unsure if he's being truthful or not. The other man approaches me, handing me a photo. I take it, and this time, I get a clear view of the woman's face.

I'm astonished by the uncanny resemblance, even sharing a similar smile. 

"He identifies the woman in the picture as Maya Everett and introduces the woman standing before me as her mother, Julian Everett."

My jaw drops in disbelief as I gaze at Julian, struggling to reconcile the fact that she's a member of the affluent Everett family, known for their inherited wealth, albeit not listed on the Alessio billionaire list due to their mixed heritage.

I'm still struggling to wrap my head around the uncanny resemblance between Maya Everett and me. This revelation is the most astonishing news I've ever received.

I can't help but wonder if this means I'm destined for greatness, if resembling a billionaire means I'll someday join their ranks. 

My thoughts are interrupted by a loud, deep voice, jolting me back to reality. I sigh and glance down at Charlie, still puzzled about why I'm here and why they're showing me pictures of Maya.

"You agreed to do something in exchange for your mother's release, remember?" Charlie looks up at me, his eyes serious. "I want you to impersonate Maya St. Clair for three weeks."

Time seems to freeze, and I feel like I've stopped breathing. I struggle to find my words, my gaze fixed on Julian again. "What? That doesn't make sense," I stutter, wondering if they're playing some kind of cruel joke on me.

"They want me to pretend to be Maya St. Clair for three weeks?" I laugh, thinking it's a joke. "Why would I do that? Are you guys playing some kind of prank on me?" 

Charlie's serious expression makes my laughter fade, and I'm left feeling confused and uneasy. The young man explains that Maya has run away and isn't responding to calls, which is why they need me to fill in for her until she returns.

I'm curious, thinking that rich kids like Maya are often spoiled and entitled. But then I remember my own vendetta against Petal, who wronged me, and I'm determined to make him pay for what he did.

"I need money to bail my mom out first," I think to myself, "because there's no way I'm pretending to be Maya without getting something in return."

I've always dreamed of being rich, but temporary fame and wealth for three weeks isn't worth the risk. What happens after that? I can't even consider it.If I want to be rich, I'll work hard and earn it myself, not pretend to be someone else.

"I apologize, Charlie, but I can't do that," I say firmly. "Why not?" he asks, and I respond, "Because pretending to be Maya is unthinkable, it gives me the chills."

Just then, the woman speaks up, "I'll give you a million dollars," and my heart skips a beat. My mind races as I consider the offer, my initial reluctance wavering at the prospect of such a substantial sum.

"Whoa, one million dollars? That's a game-changer! With that kind of money, I can finally live the life I've always dreamed of.

I can buy a house, a car, and set my mom up for life. I can go back to school and pursue my passion for beauty and become a successful beautician.

The possibilities are endless! I can actually become the rich girl I've always wanted to be, without having to pretend to be someone else. This could be my ticket to a brand new life, and I'm tempted to take it."

I'm lost in a daydream of all the things I could buy with a million dollars - clothes, shoes, and a life of luxury. But the man's voice snaps me back to reality, "Are you in or out?" he asks quietly and quickly

I gaze at Charlie with a beaming smile, "I'd be a fool to pass up an opportunity to help someone in need, don't you think?" I chuckle, my enthusiasm evident in my tone. I turn back

I feel a flutter in my chest, like butterflies spreading their wings. It's as if luck has finally smiled upon me, and fate has decided to shine its light on me once again.

I thought I had been abandoned by destiny, left to navigate the darkness on my own.

But now, it seems like the tide is turning in my favor, and I'm filled with a sense of hope and wonder.