Used By My Billionaire Boss

chapter 9

New Identity

As Stephanie stands in Jake's tiny, disorganized apartment, gazing at the new identity Jake has just given her, the day seems unreal. The ink is fresh and the papers are crisp. Her name, birthdate, address, and a whole new life that she never imagined having to begin are all listed. With every second that goes by, her former life is disappearing, and every document solidifies the reality.

With a gentle yet firm tone, Jake declares, "You are now Elena Richards." Now that he hasn't betrayed her, he is the only person she can trust.

Stephanie examines the new identification she is holding. It is peculiar, nearly unthinkable. This goes beyond simply changing the name. She has lost her previous identity and everything she knew about her life. She is no longer the same person she was with all of her past.

It feels different now, the world outside the window. The people, the sky, and the streets all seem far away, as if she is observing them through a glass window. Stephanie Chase is no longer her. She’s Elena Richards, a woman with no past, and no ties.

“It’s real now,” she whispers to herself, her voice barely audible. She looks up at Jake, her eyes searching for some kind of reassurance. But Jake merely nods, his look opaque.

“From now on, you’re no one. You’re free,” he says, though his voice betrays the worry he feels for her. She can see it in his eyes....he knows how dangerous this all is. It’s one thing to leave everything behind, but it’s another to completely disappear. There’s no going back from this.

Stephanie doesn’t know how to feel. Grateful? Anxious? Scared? It’s a bizarre blend of all three. She takes a long breath, attempting to stabilize herself. Her hand trembles slightly as she slips the new ID into her wallet.

“Thank you, Jake,” she says quietly. Without him, she is unsure of what she would have done. Through all of this turmoil, he has kept her rooted, and now that she has a new identity, she feels as though she is entering an entirely different world. But, she is unsure if she is prepared for that.

Jake gives her a fleeting smile that stops short of his eyes. "Steph, you will succeed. You underestimate your strength.

She doesn't feel strong, though. She feels little, almost frail. Her bones ache from the weight of her decision to abandon her aspirations, her former life, and her past. She has been running for a long time, but now comes the actual work: adjusting to this new identity in a strange and unknown world.

Before putting the papers in her bag, she gives them one more glance. Now is the time to proceed. Now is the moment to embody Elena Richards.

Tucked away in a little hotel on the outskirts of town, Stephanie's new existence is peaceful. There isn't much about the hotel….old carpeting, shabby furnishings, and a tiny front desk where she serves as manager. Although it's safe, it's a far cry from the luxury she was used to. And that’s all that matters now.

At first, she experiences a sense of tranquility, a sensation of normalcy that’s soothing in its simplicity. She gets up every morning, works at the front desk, answers phone calls, checks in guests, and keeps the place running well. She even makes small chats with the guests, though she tries to avoid getting too intimate. The last thing she wants is somebody asking questions about her background.

But it feels like a balancing act every day. She is always on edge and conscious of her surroundings. Her heart skips a beat whenever someone stares at her for too long, even though she keeps her head down and tries to fit in.

With her mind racing, she asks herself, "Is it him?" She is powerless to stop it. She thinks about it constantly in the background. Was it possible Leon had already located her? Is he watching, someplace, anywhere? Her hands clench around the register as the old terror returns.

Inside her, there is a never-ending battle. There is always the fear of being discovered, the fear of being exposed, lying just below the surface. But, she is aware that this is not how she will live her life indefinitely. She must continue to work, continue to go forward and continue to go. There isn't another option.

But, for the time being, the hotel feels the safest she's been in a long time. It's easy. It is silent. It's also very different from the world she was used to.

Despite her best efforts to calm down, her heart never truly unwinds. Every new visitor and face that enters the room seems like a possible danger. She is constantly observing them, wondering if anyone will recognize her and if they will be able to see through the well-crafted façade she has put up.

She forces herself to keep thinking about Leon and her history by telling herself to "just keep moving." "This is your current life."

And she begins to believe it for the first time in weeks.

Stephanie begins to relax one calm evening after the last visitor has checked in and the lobby has cleared out. She is rummaging through a stack of documents behind the desk. The whisper of the outside world and the soft buzz of the fluorescent lights overhead seem strangely reassuring.

Until a man walks into the hotel.

Stephanie's breath catches in her throat as she looks up. The tall man has piercing eyes, a dark jacket, and hair that is a bit too long. She can't pinpoint it, but there's something about him that unnerves her.

His eyes linger on her for too long as he walks up to the front desk.

"You seem familiar," he remarks nonchalantly, yet his words carry weight. His speech sounds almost too silky as if he's trying to get her to do something.

Stephanie's spine tingles with coldness. She tries to maintain a neutral expression as a rush of panic swells in her chest.

She responds, "I don't think so," in a calm voice that sounds as if it were being taken from her. She tries to grin politely, but it's too tight and thin.

The man doesn’t move. He merely watches her, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly, as though he’s trying to locate her, trying to figure out why she feels so familiar.

Stephanie's heartbeat increases. She makes herself remain motionless in order to hide her uneasiness. But she's screaming inside.

Is he the one? Could someone have finally located her?

In an attempt to create some distance between herself and the man, she swiftly turns away from him and moves into the back office. But all the while, she senses his eyes on her. Her heart is racing as she continues to walk.

She hears footsteps behind her as she approaches the back office door.

The man yells, "Wait."

Stephanie feels nauseous. Although she is aware that she should remain composed, the fear nonetheless consumes her. With haste, she opens the door, enters, and shuts it behind her.

But, the man is standing there, holding the door open with his hand.

"Are you not who you claim to be?" He replies with a knowing gleam in his eyes and a low voice.

Her blood is icy.

Stephanie's breath catches as he approaches. Her thoughts are racing, trying to find a way out. Has anyone located her? Is this the start of something much worse, or is this the end of her new life?