A Shrew's Revenge

Chapter 6

Nora didn't know what she was thinking.

How could she have let Stacey talk her into this?

Here she was, standing in a suite at the Waldorf, staring at a complete stranger in the mirror. It seemed like a dream- everything that had happened.

----

"No, Stacey, be realistic. What you're saying is crazy." Nora said as Stacey told her about her great idea.

"No, listen. It's perfect. You will show up on Monday, only you won't be you, you'll be someone else. They'll never know." Stacey said. Nora shook her head.

"What makes you think I'll get hired?" Nora said.

"That's easy. I'll write you a recommendation letter and you'll say you were my personal assistant for 2 years." Stacey said.

"That still doesn't guarantee I'll get the job." Nora said.

"Don't be so negative. Now, we'll have to change your clothes, and go get your contacts... asap. Before they close." Stacey said.

"They are so going to recognize me." Nora said.

"No, trust me they won't." Stacey said.

"And make him fall for me? It's Brian Carlton, he won't fall for anyone. Besides, I don't want that pathetic little worm anywhere near me." Nora said with disgust.

"Listen, we don't need him in love with you. All you have to do is be fun and aloof, seem distant. Flirt occasionally but don't let him near you. It'll be driving him crazy when you ignore him." Stacey said.

"Really?" Nora asked. She had exactly zero experience with men and wasn't sure that would work.

"Really. Men like him are used to getting everything they want. When he sees he can't have you, he'll become obsessed." Stacey said.

"And then what?" Nora asked.

"Then you crush him. Just wait for that perfect moment when you can say to him how little you want to do with him." Stacey said.

"Okay. So, you make it sound so simple- I dress up, flirt with him, crush his soul and pride... what if I actually get hired? I can't work under a fake name." Nora said. Stacey frowned. This was true.

"That's easy. You need a fake ID. I have a friend." Bea said suddenly pulling out her phone.

"But what about social security and all that?" Nora said.

"You're an assistant, you won't be on company payroll. At least mine have never been..." Stacey said. Nora nodded, noting this was usually true. Personal assistants were always paid by the family directly.

"Okay. Fred said he can get you an ID, we just need a picture we can send him and your address." Bea said, taking out her phone for a photo. Stacey took off Nora's glasses and adjusted her hair to make her look less like her.

The difference really was impressive.

"I don't have an address I can give." Nora said.

"Use mine. In fact, you can use my name too. Beatrice Kuhlmann." She said, snapping the photo.

"Your name?" Nora asked.

"Yes, they may ask you for a name and address and you can always put this one." Bea said.

"And why are you helping me?" Nora asked.

"I'm sympathetic to the cause." Bea said but Stacey raised her brow.

"how much?" She asked and Bea smiled.

"For my cooperation and absolute sworn silence... $250,000." She said. Nora rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Half now and half when it's over. And if you ever say anything to anyone, I'll make you suffer." Nora said in her usual crude manner. Bea gulped but Stacey just chuckled nervously.

"Deal."

-----

Nora picked up the ID from the table, it really was just like her actual driver's license. She looked in the mirror at the completed look. Stacey had gone out to buy a few things she would need, after all, Nora couldn't be seen shopping with her.

Nora had checked into the suite Saturday afternoon, where she and Stacey worked on all the things she needed to remember. She was a small town girl named Beatrice Kuhlmann, worked with Stacey for 2 years, lived in Brooklyn and was absolutely out of her mind to let Stacey talk her into this.

Nora shook her head, it was too late to change her mind now- her flight had left over two hours ago. Of course her father had insisted on taking her to the airport and watching her go through security but once he was gone, Stacey picked her up and they were off.

Now she sat hidden in a luxurious hotel suite, a room full of clothes she wasn't even sure how to wear and looking like someone she had never seen before.

----

"I've left a series of outfits in the closet, coordinated. Try not to stray." Stacey had said. Nora nodded. As she tried on the clothes, they had both realized how bad she was as coordinating any outfit.

"You look so great." Stacey said, staring at her appreciatively. It turned out that Nora had lost a lot more weight than her clothes revealed. Stacey had imagined her at least 20 pounds heavier. Seeing her dressed now, she couldn't imagine that any man wouldn't turn to look at her. Nora had long slender legs, and perfectly symmetrical curves. It was the kind of figure that most girls went under the knife for.

"You're just being nice." Nora mumbled, staring at herself. Her dark auburn hair was pulled into a nicer bun that Stacey had helped her learn.

"Do you work out?" Stacey asked suddenly, feeling a bit jealous. Nora shook her head.

"Not really... Well, I do a lot of yoga." She said, trying to find herself in the mirror. Stacey had done up her eyes to accentuate the deep blue and added a bit of color to her cheeks.

"I can't believe it, Nora. No one would ever guess." Stacey said, staring at her in awe.

"Is this really appropriate for an office job?" Nora asked, feeling as if the dress was a bit tight.

"Yes it's fine." Stacey reassured her. The dress was perfectly appropriate but Nora was only used to those grandma garments.

"Stacey, tell me again, this isn't crazy." Nora said.

"It's crazy alright."

-------

Brian was sitting on the edge of his bed in his apartment, overlooking Central park. It was a beautiful afternoon and he had just gone with Nicholas Lida to drop off his 'fiancee' at the airport.

He shuddered at the word. He couldn't fathom ever marrying that girl. It was strange that Nora had suddenly decided to go to London. She insisted that it was something she had planned for a while but it was still strange that she hadn't mentioned it to anyone.

When he asked where he could call her to, she said that she would call him. In retrospect, he should have asked for more details but all that mattered was that she was wearing his ring and when she got back, the merger would finally be under way. It was almost a relief to him not to have to deal with her. She had grown more and more intolerable that day, being more rude than usual.

Brian frowned, trying to shake that girl from his mind. It was strange- all he seemed to think about in the last week was her- her frumpy appearance, her lack of manners, her rude demeanor... If he thought about it her only two redeeming features were her hands and the way she always smelled like Vanilla.

A pair of long white arms suddenly crept up around him, followed by a pair of equally long legs.

"Come back to bed." A soft voice said, pulling him back. Brian chuckled.

"I am in bed." He said, enjoying the feel of the soft skin.

"No, I mean here... with me." the woman's voice repeated as her lips began to trail kisses along his neck. Brian closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation. The woman's perfume was thick and rich, filling the room as she pulled Brian back.

Brian savored in the moment- a perfect way to finally get that little troll off his mind.

-------

Nora climbed into bed, aware that she would be heading out tomorrow, not like Nora Lida but as Beatrice Kuhlmann, a cool, confidant woman and man eater. At least that was what Stacey told her to repeat to herself.

She tried to be calm, remembering everything she was going to need for the next day but the question was... could she really do this?