Just For Tonight

2: The Perfect Switch

"There she is!"

The moment Azienne stepped out of the restaurant, the paparazzi swarmed in like flies, cameras flashing as they tried to capture even the slightest crack in her perfect facade.

Azienne cut through the crowd, staring blankly and maintaining her calm composure.

But this only made them more determined to capture her every movement, even going as far as following her all the way to her car.

"Ms Azienne, are you okay—"

"Don't ask. Just drive. I want to go home," Azienne mumbled, massaging her temple as she cut off the worried probing of her secretary and driver.

The two just hesitantly glanced at each other before following her orders.

The entire ride home, no one dared to speak, and only the sound of the car's running engine filled the deafening silence.

"Ms, we're here. Are you sure you're okay?" Yumi finally broke the silence.

Azienne forced a smile, hiding her sweaty hands. "Of course, why wouldn't I be? Let's call it a day. I'm tired."

She didn't wait for what they were about to say next and just left.

The second she closed the door to her penthouse, her knees finally gave out, making her collapse to the floor. The lights were all off, and there she was, sitting alone in silence and darkness.

The noisy chatters of the crowd and the dreadful sound of clicking cameras still lingered in her ears. She could still feel the rapid racing of her heart and the cold sweats trickling down her forehead.

She clutched her chest in pain as she gasped for air, her hands trembling as she crawled to her room. Her tears forced themselves out of her eyes as she desperately reached for one of the drawers, pulling out a small bottle with a name that was hard to pronounce.

She forced the bottle open, pills scattering onto the floor. Luckily, a few pieces landed on her palm, and she hurriedly shoved those in her mouth.

One...

Two...

Three...

She counted the deep breaths she took until she lost count and finally calmed down. She let her body collapse to the floor, strength leaving her body as she just laid there staring at the ceiling.

Seconds turned into minutes as she lost track of time.

"How long do you plan to just lay there staring at nothing?"

She tiredly glanced at where the voice came from before closing her eyes and ignoring the woman standing next to the door frame, arms crossed. The woman looked exactly like her from head to toe, as if looking at her own reflection.

The woman scoffed, visibly annoyed. "You won't even greet me?"

"What are you doing here, Avery?" Azienne asked her twin sister, seemingly unbothered.

Avery furiously marched towards Azienne, pulling her up and shaking her shoulders. "You're seriously asking that? Do you even know how worried I was?! You wouldn't pick up any of my calls! You didn't even hear me come in! Now I find you lying here pathetically with your meds scattered everywhere, and you ask me what I'm doing here?! Do you even know what time it is?! You've been unreachable for hours! You had another panic attack, didn't you? Why didn't you call me? Why on earth are you doing this to yourself?! Are you crazy?!"

Azienne just rolled her eyes and slapped Avery's hand away. "Get your hands off me. You're so dramatic. It's not like I'm gonna die." She stood up and dusted off her clothes. She glanced at the tiny opening in the window and saw that it was already pitch black outside. She zoned out for so long, and yet she didn't even notice that the sun had already set.

Avery teased, trying to cheer her up. "Just be grateful that I'm concerned, you ungrateful brat."

Azienne finally let out a laugh. Soft, silent, but genuine. "Thank you,"

Avery’s expression softened the moment she saw Azienne laugh. "So, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, don't worry. There were just too many people. I guess it's been a while since I've been surrounded by paparazzi, so it triggered a panic attack," she explained as she threw herself on her bed.

Avery lay next to her and eyed her suspiciously. "That was your doing, wasn't it? You secretly leaked information about your location and date to attract paparazzi and crush that bastard."

Azienne blinked her eyes innocently, feigning ignorance. "Hmm? I have no idea what you're talking about— Ow! What was that for?!" She yelped in pain and glared at her sister after Avery flicked her forehead.

"Those puppy eyes of yours can fool anyone but me. I'm immune, you crazy b***h. You're the only person I know who's crazy enough to use their own phobias to gain the upper hand. But I'd give it to you, it surprisingly worked. You managed to ruin him in a matter of hours. The entire internet is cursing him, investors are already pulling out, and Dad’s losing his mind after he heard what happened."

"Did he send you here?"

Avery nodded. "Mhm. He wants you to have dinner back at home. Seems like he wanted to apologize."

She scoffed. "What a load of crap. If he really was sorry, he would've stopped his wife from setting up all those horrible dates long ago."

"Well, what can I say? He's surprisingly a simp for that woman. And that snake can't wait to sell you off to whoever."

"As if that would keep me away from the company and dad's inheritance. Ughh, just imagining her face and voice is already pissing me off. Do I really have to go? Just tell them I'm busy or something."

Avery laughed. "No can do, Celestine found out about your schedule, remember?"

"Ugh, that sly fox! Is there really no other way? I don't have the energy to play mind games with that two-faced woman."

Avery thought for a moment and glanced at the pills still scattered on the floor, then at her sister, who was finally lively again. She patted Azienne's head and smiled. "Fine, I'll go in your place and pretend to be you. I'm supposed to attend a party tonight, so you can go instead."

"Really?!"

"Yeah, it's been a while since we switched, so I think it would be fun."

Their lips curved into a mischievous grin as they both nodded at each other before getting ready. After a few minutes, the two sisters walked out together. Azienne wore a black, backless, strappy dress and her favorite black YSL heels. While Avery wore a white button-up blouse and khaki pants.

Avery glanced at Azienne, who was dressed as her. "Are your hangover pills ready, Avery?"

"Are your indigestion pills ready, Azienne?" She snapped back with a smirk.

They burst out laughing and tossed their car keys at each other. Before driving away in each other's car, clothes, and identity.