Beauty in Deception

I look at Evie more closely. “Why are you showing me this?”

Her tone is clipped. “I wanted to see it before Nathan puts a ring on my finger.”

Touching her arm, I ask, “Why?”

“I wanted to see how much I’m worth.” She stares at the sharp angles of the perfect stone with a hateful expression. “This is the real reason why Nathan is marrying me.”

I drop my hand. “Don’t think like that. Mr. Warren chose you a husband who’s wealthy and powerful enough to protect you. Your father loves you.” When she turns her face to me quickly, I add, “In his own way. Why else would he employ someone like me?”

Her shoulders sag as she lets out a sigh. “Maybe I just want to defy Dad while I still can.”

I don’t have to ask why. Evie hates her father. She’s always been a pawn to him. Her unwanted engagement to Nathan is proof of that. Yet she’s powerless to prevent the marriage from happening. Bell doesn’t take no for an answer. He’ll kill for the simple reason of proving a point.

Footsteps sound in the hallway. My breathing spikes. We shouldn’t be here. I know all too well how Bell punishes disobedience. My muscles pull tight as the steps draw nearer. As if conjured by my thoughts, Bell Warren himself appears in the doorframe. He wears a white shirt and a black bowtie. A waistcoat stretches over his round stomach. Pausing inside the door, he takes in the scene.

I swallow.

“Evie?” he says, the fat layers around his eyes tightening.

“Yes?” Evie and I reply simultaneously.

Since working for Bell, everyone calls me Evie. I’ve been trained to react to the name.

His lips curve into a practiced smile that he directs at me as he walks toward us. “What are you ladies doing in here?”

Evie faces him with smooth features and a relaxed stance. “I wanted to show Christina the diamond.”

The smell of his cologne reaches my nostrils long before he stops in front of us. It makes me want to gag.

“The vault is off-limits.” He crosses his arms behind his back. “Don’t come here again unless I give you permission.”

He doesn’t wait for our agreement. It’s taken for granted. Dragging a gaze over me, he inspects the pink, glittery ballgown and the fake diamond necklace that matches Evie’s, except that hers is real.

Finally fixing his attention on my face, he says, “With the make-up, it’s impossible to tell you apart.” Approval marks his tone. “The stylist did a good job.”

Evie’s stylist cuts my hair and does my make-up. She’s a genius with a pair of scissors and a make-up brush. If you look carefully, you’ll see that the green of my eyes is lighter than Evie’s. My nose is thinner and my chin rounder, but no one will ever have to get that close. I’m just the decoy, Evie’s stunt girl, so to speak.

Addressing me, Bell asks, “What are the three rules?”

I recite them off the top of my head. “Don’t get caught. If caught, keep up the show.”

“And?”

“Play the part and win time until help arrives.”

“Good.” He pats my cheek. “Stick to the rules, and I’ll take care of you.”

Repulsion ripples over my skin.

His double chins quiver as he nods at Evie. “Let’s go. We don’t want to make a bad impression by being late.”

Evie takes the arm he offers, allowing him to escort her to the hallway while I follow a step behind. Her bodyguard waits in front of the elevator. She doesn’t acknowledge him as he holds the door for her to get in. Since Bell shot Geoff, she keeps her distance, never being too friendly with the staff. We’re not friends, but she does share more with me. It’s inevitable, seeing how much time we spend together.

Evie’s mom, Bella, is already in the foyer. Bell and the guard exit ahead of us. The housekeeper hands Evie and me our coats. It’s seven and dark outside. Like most winter days on the Highveld, the day was sunny, but the cold descends quickly at night.

When I’ve pulled on the faux fur, the housekeeper gives us our clutch bags. Mine will contain a new burner phone. Bell always destroys them at the end of every outing.

Bella fiddles with Evie’s collar. “You look beautiful, darling.”

Pushing her mom’s hands away, Evie turns to me. “Christina.” She hesitates and bites her lip.

Bella ignores me as if Evie hasn’t spoken my name. “We better go, Evie.”

To Bella, I’m staff, and staff are invisible. We’re supposed to stay on the outskirts in humble servitude. What a pair they make, Bell and Bella. Everyone jokes about their names behind their backs. Of course, Bell earned the nickname long before he married Bella.

Bella takes Evie’s shoulders and steers her to the door. Stopping in the frame, Evie gives me an uncertain look from over her shoulder.