Chapter 2 - Offer
1686 Words
Is it really possible for someone to have the exact same face as you?
The question kept looping in my head on the bus ride home. The moment I got back to my tiny apartment, I pulled out my phone and searched for answers. According to the internet, there is a one-in-a-trillion chance that two people will share the exact same facial measurements.
I stared at the screen. Well, has the human population even reached a trillion yet?
I rubbed my temples and threw my phone onto the mattress.
Ugh. What kind of stupid logic is that, Alexia? But still, a cold shiver ran down my arms. It was terrifying how identical we were. My thoughts were cut short by the sharp buzz of a text message.
Trixie: Don't forget the casino thing! Just tell me when you're ready, okay?
I rolled my eyes and text back a quick thumbs-up emoji.
I lay back on my bed and logged into my banking app. Staring at the low balance made my chest ache. I still needed so much money for tuition. Working as a fashion and cosmetics consultant and a part-time waitress barely covered my rent and food, let alone my education.
Should I just be practical and drop out?
I thought, staring at the peeling paint on my ceiling.
My life would be so much easier if I just gave up on the degree and worked to survive.
But then my eyes drifted to the small frame on my nightstand. I looked at my mom’s portrait and felt a familiar lump form in my throat.
The next morning, I pulled my uniform polo back on. Even though it was Sunday, I couldn't afford a day off. I needed every single hour of overtime I could get.
When Mom was in the hospital, the medical bills completely wiped out everything we had, including the savings meant for my college fund. I remembered the absolute desperation of those final weeks. I had begged the people who were supposed to be our family for help. I had called, cried, and pleaded, but none of them ever answered. They left us completely on our own until the very end.
I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and forced myself out the door. This degree wasn't just for me anymore. It was for her.
I arrived at the store early, unlocked the heavy glass doors, and walked inside. The shop was completely dark and quiet. I turned on the light switches, instantly illuminating the glass perfume counters and the designer clothing racks.
Before I could even put my bag away, the wind chimes above the door jingled loudly.
I turned around, surprised to have a customer before opening hours. A familiar figure stepped quickly inside, closing the door behind her. Today, she was wearing a yellow sundress and large designer sunglasses.
She took off her sunglasses, revealing those familiar eyes. My breath caught in my throat. Seeing her in the daylight was even more shocking than the day before.
“Hi! Welcome to Ellery & Co—” I began, pulling out my customer service voice by instinct.
“I’m sorry for coming so early," she interrupted quickly, her voice tight. "I know the store isn't actually open yet.”
“No, it’s fine," I said, smoothing down my skirt. "I can assist you if you're looking for a specific brand or outfit.”
“Actually… I came here to talk to you,” she said.
My brows furrowed. “About what?”
Instead of answering, she walked over to the velvet couch in the waiting area, sat down, and gestured to the empty seat across from her. I hesitated, looking toward the manager's locked office, but the intense look in her eyes made me sit down.
“My name is Beatrice Kensington,” she said softly.
The name felt heavy, but it didn't mean anything to me yet. I just kept staring at her nose, her lips, her chin—all identical to mine.
“I want to propose an arrangement to you,” she continued, leaning forward.
My defenses immediately went up. “Why me? Look, if this is something illegal, I don't want any part in it.”
“No, it’s nothing like that, I promise," Beatrice said, her hands trembling slightly in her lap. "I am just in a desperate situation, and I really need your help.”
“What kind of help?”
“I need you to act as me.”
I stared at her, wondering if this was some kind of sick joke. “What?”
“Act as me. Just for a little while. Please, I will pay you whatever you want—”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested,” I said quickly, pushing myself up from the couch. My heart was starting to race. This was insane.
“Please,” she pleaded. Before I could step away, she reached out and grabbed my hand. Her grip was tight and desperate. Her eyes dropped to the plastic nameplate pinned to my chest. “Alexia, right? I am begging you. You're the only person who can do this.”
I pulled my hand out of her grip, my face growing cold. “I’m sorry, ma’am. But if you aren't here to buy clothes or makeup, I think it’s best if you leave. We shouldn't be talking about this.”
Beatrice closed her mouth, the desperation on her face turning into a quiet defeat. She let out a long sigh and nodded. Without another word, she picked up her designer purse and walked out into the morning streets, leaving me alone in the quiet store.
Act as her? The whole interaction felt ridiculous!
The wind chimes jingled again, making me jump. Trixie walked through the door, clutching a plastic cup of iced coffee and a brown paper bag. She stopped in her tracks, looking at the door, then back at me.
“Was that... the girl from yesterday?” Trixie asked, her eyes wide as she set her coffee on the glass counter. “The lookalike? What was she doing here so early? We don't even open for another twenty minutes.”
I forced my posture to relax. “Yeah. It was her.”
“And? What did she want?” Trixie leaned over the counter, completely invested. “Don't tell me she wanted to complain about yesterday. Did Allen see her?”
“No, Allen isn't here yet,” I said, adjusting the nameplate pinned to my chest. I kept my voice flat, trying to sound as unbothered as possible. I couldn't tell Trixie the truth.
If I told her a rich girl just offered to pay me to steal her identity, she would think I was losing my mind. Or worse, she would tell me to take it.
“She didn't want to complain. She just... thought she dropped an earring near the display counters yesterday after she left the VIP room.”
Trixie’s shoulders dropped, looking visibly disappointed. “An earring? That’s it? Did she find it?”
“No. I checked around the couch, but there was nothing there. So she just left,” I lied smoothly, walking over to the rack of designer dresses to start straightening the hangers.
“Man, what a letdown,” Trixie grumbled, pulling a pastry out of her bag. “I thought it was going to be some crazy secret twin story. But seriously, seeing her in the daylight like that... it’s insane how much she looks like you. It gave me the chills.”
“It’s just a coincidence, Trix. The internet says it happens,” I said, keeping my back turned so she couldn't see the tension in my face.
We spent the next few hours working through the morning rush. Customers came in to try on the new summer collection, and I spent my time fetching different sizes and restocking the liquid lipsticks. Every time I looked in the mirror behind the cosmetics counter, I didn't see myself anymore. I just saw Beatrice Kensington’s desperate face looking back at me.
By mid-afternoon, the store finally quieted down. My feet were throbbing inside my cheap flats, and my throat was dry from talking to customers all day. I took my phone out of my pocket to check the time, but the screen suddenly lit up with an incoming call.
Aunt Layla.
My stomach instantly tightened. My mind raced back to the hospital, the emergency room, and the fear in Layla's voice from the day before. I pressed the phone to my ear.
“Layla? Is everything okay?” I asked, keeping my voice low so Allen wouldn't hear me from his office.
“Alexia, sweetie,” Layla’s voice came through the speaker. She sounded completely exhausted, but the heavy panic from yesterday was gone. I could hear the faint, steady beep of a hospital monitor in the background.
“How is Leslie?” I asked, holding my breath.
“She’s doing much better,” Layla let out a long, relieved sigh. “The doctors put her on an IV and managed to get the fever down this morning. She’s finally sleeping soundly. They said we can probably take her home tomorrow afternoon if her stats stay stable.”
A massive wave of relief washed over me, making my shoulders drop. “Oh thank god. I was so worried.”
“Thank you for checking in on us, mija. Go back to your studies, okay? Don't worry about us here. I'll call you when we get home.”
“Okay, Layla. Give Leslie a hug for me.”
I ended the call and put the phone back in my pocket. I leaned against the stockroom wall, closing my eyes for a brief second.
Should I just accept the casino?
- Writer
