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Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

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~ 21

Chapter 21 ~ Kesley ~I woke up feeling like death.My eyes were puffy and swollen from crying myself to sleep. My head was pounding from too much wine. My heart felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it.I stared at my ceiling, replaying last night over and over.Amanda's perfect smile. Dan's oblivious happiness. That casual "she's like a sister to me" that had gutted me like a fish.When would it be my turn?That's what I kept thinking as I dragged myself out of bed, as I stood in the shower letting the water run cold because I deserved to feel as miserable on the outside as I did on the inside. The icy spray did nothing to numb the ache in my chest.When would I get to be someone's first choice?Everything in my life had always been delayed. Always waiting, waiting, waiting for things that came easily to everyone else. Like I was constantly running behind schedule, watching everyone else reach the finish line while I was still stuck at the starting blocks.I'd gotten my fir

~ 22

Chapter 22 ~ Niklaus ~I watched the terror drain from Kesley Bellamy's face as I spoke, watched her entire body relax incrementally, like someone had released a pressure valve.It was just a wonder why a woman as smart as she was very shy and unable to hold eye contact."Ms. Bellamy," I said, allowing myself a small smile, "I came here particularly to commend your work. I went through your submission for the Gateway project, and I must say… I'm impressed."Her eyes widened. Not with fear this time, but with genuine surprise. The change was remarkable—from pale-faced panic to cautious hope in the span of seconds."You... you are?" Her voice was still shaky, but for a different reason now."Very much so." I gestured to her cubicle. "Your analysis identified vulnerabilities that our entire senior staff missed. Your proposed solutions are both innovative and practical. It's exceptional work, especially for someone who's only been here a few days."She let out an uncomfortable laugh, her

~ 23

Chapter 23~ Kesley ~My heart was still racing even after Niklaus left.Not from fear this time. From something else entirely. Something I didn't want to name or acknowledge.Because I'd noticed things while I was talking. Things I shouldn't have noticed.The way he'd leaned in slightly when I explained my methodology, like he was genuinely interested. The way his eyes had stayed focused on my face, never wandering, never dismissive. The small nod he'd given when I mentioned the authentication protocol, like he was following my logic perfectly.The way the corner of his mouth had curved up—just barely, almost imperceptibly—when I'd gotten excited about the optimization algorithms.And God, his face.I'd noticed every angle. The sharp line of his jaw. The way his dark hair was perfectly styled but had one strand slightly out of place. The gold flecks in his blue eyes that you could only see up close. The way his suit fit him like it had been designed specifically for his body. Which i

~ 24

Chapter 24 ~ Niklaus ~I smiled at my phone as I read Taraji's text confirming our meeting.Taraji: 6 PM at Café Meridian. Near the park. I'll be there.Finally. Finally she was ready to talk properly. Ready to stop running away and actually discuss our future like rational adults.The fact that she'd initiated this meeting herself was telling. She clearly couldn't resist anymore. All her protests, all her rejections, all that chaos—it was just her way of testing me. Making sure I was serious. Making sure I wouldn't give up at the first sign of difficulty.Well, I'd proven I was serious. And now she was ready to say yes.I leaned back in my chair, already planning the conversation. I'd be calm, rational, reasonable. I'd outline the practical benefits of our marriage—the family alliance, the business advantages, the stability it would provide for both of us. But I'd also acknowledge the chemistry between us, that undeniable pull I'd felt when she'd pressed against me on the sidewalk.

~ 25

Chapter 25~ Kesley ~I was sprawled on my couch in my pajamas, a box of chicken wings balanced on my lap, watching the most dramatic scene of Crash Landing on You for probably the fifteenth time.Captain Ri was staring at Yoon Se-ri with those devastating eyes, and I was crying into my chicken wing like the emotionally compromised mess I was.But for once, these were happy tears.Well, tears caused by the drama. But also a tiny bit of relief mixed in.Because right now, at this very moment, Taraji was meeting with Niklaus. Telling him the truth. Apologizing for the deception. Ending this nightmare once and for all.By tomorrow morning, this would all be over. Niklaus would know the truth about the sabotaged dates. He'd probably be angry, maybe even furious, but at least the lying would stop. At least I could go to work as just Kesley Bellamy, data analyst, without the constant terror of being recognized as fake-Taraji.I could finally breathe. Finally stop looking over my shoulder. F

~ 26

Chapter 26 ~ Niklaus ~I couldn't breathe, comprehend or process what this woman—this real Taraji Gilbert—was telling me."The woman you met," she was saying, tears streaming down her face now, her voice breaking with every word, "I hired her to pretend to be me because I didn't want…""Stop." The word came out cold. Controlled. Absolutely lethal.She stopped talking immediately, her mouth snapping shut, her eyes widening with fear.I sat there, hands clenched on the table so tightly my knuckles had gone white, every muscle in my body rigid with the effort of containing my rage. The coffee cup in front of me sat untouched, growing cold. The gentle classical music playing in the background felt like an insult, too peaceful for the fury building inside me.The woman I'd met. The woman who'd chewed gum with her mouth open at that first dinner. Who'd told me she smoked pot while teaching children. Who'd propositioned me for sex in the middle of La Lumière, one of the most elegant restaur

~ 27

Chapter 27 ~ Niklaus ~I stared at this woman — the real Taraji Gilbert — as she sobbed and begged for forgiveness, and she was refusing to set up the meeting with the actress despite the threat I had just rendered.Something wasn't adding up.Something in her story felt off, inconsistent. I'd spent years negotiating multi-million dollar contracts, sitting across tables from people trying to hide their true intentions. I knew when someone was feeding me a carefully constructed lie."A random person from social media," I repeated slowly, my eyes narrowing. "Someone you'd never met before. Just hired to play a role.""Yes!" Taraji nodded desperately, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand. "I found her online, we met once to go over the plan, and then she went to the dates. That's all. I swear."I leaned back in my chair, studying her carefully. Years of business negotiations had taught me to spot lies, inconsistencies, tells that people didn't even know they were giving. The wa

~ 28

Chapter 28 ~ Kesley ~My landlord, Mr. Todd, stood in the hallway.Which was... weird. Mr. Todd never came to my door. Usually he just left passive-aggressive notes about late rent payments slipped under the door or sent terse text messages demanding money with multiple exclamation points and unnecessary capitalization.But tonight he was smiling. Actually smiling. A full, genuine smile that showed teeth and everything.I didn't even know his face could do that. In the eight months I'd lived here, I'd only ever seen him scowl or look vaguely disappointed in humanity."Ms. Bellamy!" he said cheerfully. "Good evening!""Uh... good evening?" I said warily, instinctively wondering what was wrong. What had I broken? What noise complaint had been filed? What rule had I unknowingly violated? "Is something wrong?""Wrong? No, no! Nothing wrong!" He pulled out a handful of papers from a folder he was carrying. "I just wanted to give you these—receipts for your rent payments. And I wanted to s

~ 29

Chapter 29~ Kesley ~"Come on, Kels! We're celebrating!"Taraji had shown up at my apartment right after work, practically bouncing with excitement. Her smile was huge, her energy infectious."Celebrating what exactly?" I asked, still wary from work’s stress."Your survival! My survival! The end of the Niklaus nightmare!" She grabbed my hands and pulled me toward the door. "He's calling off the courtship! It's over!"“Yeah yeah, you got me so many designers stuff yesterday for that, and now we are going out?”"Yes… I told you. We're going to celebrate properly. Beauty salon, new clothes, fancy dinner—my treat for putting you through all this!""Taraji, you don't have to—""I absolutely do! You saved my life multiple times. This is the least I can do."And honestly, after the week I'd had—Dan and his perfect girlfriend, the stress of hiding my double identity, the constant fear of being discovered—a celebration sounded perfect.…The beauty salon Taraji took me to was absurdly fancy.

~ 30

Chapter 30 ~ Kesley ~I scrambled to pick up the scattered contents of my purse, my hands shaking so badly I could barely grip anything.Wallet. Phone. Keys. Lipstick that had somehow rolled under the table. The stupid pork shop coupons. My rent receipt that had somehow gotten mixed in with everything else.I reached for the receipt just as Niklaus bent down and picked it up.Along with three of the coupons."I'll take those," I said quickly, extending my hand, trying to keep my voice steady.He held them up, examining them with that infuriatingly unreadable expression. His eyes scanned the garish design, the poorly photoshopped image of Mr. Todd, the aggressive all-caps text. Then, just as I reached for them, he jerked them away, holding them just out of my reach."Oops," he said, his voice dripping with cold sarcasm.The memory hit me like a slap.The first date. The business card exchange. When I'd pulled Taraji's card away from him at the last second, giggling like an idiot, play

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