11

Jennifer.
After a couple of days working with this arrogant, rude, possessive billionaire, I realized just how foolish I had been to think he was a caring man. No, he was anything but! He was mind-blowing! A crazy person! Every interaction felt like a test of my patience, and I seriously thought I might explode if things continued this way.
That particular day marked the end of the week. Finally, a weekend!
At the house-though calling it a house felt like an insult; it was a palace-I woke up early, as I always did, blissfully unaware that it was the weekend. I strolled through the vast first floor, glancing at my wristwatch, searching the expansive space with my eyes.
“Goodness, where is everybody?” I muttered to myself. There wasn’t a single sign of life! It felt as though everyone had vanished, which was impossible. The palace housed more than twenty maids, chefs, and a dozen guards. There was usually a bustling crowd, all working silently and efficiently.
Just then, one of the housekeepers approached me, a polite smile on her face.
“Good morning, Miss Jennifer. Are you looking for someone?” the housekeeper inquired.
I nodded, a little flustered. “Yes, please! Where are Mr. Tomas and Mr. Carl?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“This is the weekend, Miss Jennifer. Have you forgotten?” she replied, looking surprised.
I gasped, rubbing my forehead in realization. I had completely forgotten! “Oh yes, thank you for reminding me!” I grinned at her, a wave of relief washing over me.
Deciding to take advantage of the beautiful weather, I headed to the garden to breathe in the fresh morning air. The sun shone brightly, and I stretched my arms comfortably, reveling in the peacefulness of the moment.
However, my tranquility was short-lived. Mr. Carl hurried toward me, looking somewhat anxious.
“Jennifer!” he called out, urgency in his voice.
Feigning exacerbation, I replied, “What’s going on, Mr. Carl?”
“Mr. Tomas is in a hurry and wants you with him. You need to come with me immediately,” Mr. Carl informed me, his tone serious.
Before I could respond, I found Mr. Tomas standing before me, an odd expression on his face, as if he was trying to hide something.
Feeling awkward, I gazed between them. “What’s happening?” I asked Mr. Carl and Mr. Tomas.
Mr. Tomas, dressed in a disheveled robe with messy hair, looked far from his composed self. “The bitch is coming this evening, Jennifer!” he huffed, annoyance clear in his voice, his eyes fixed on me.
“What? Maya?” I asked, my heart racing.
“Yes, my ex-fucking life partner Maya is coming, and we need to meet her tomorrow morning!” Mr. Tomas groaned, sounding defeated.
I blinked, staring at him in confusion. “Okay, Mr. Tomas, regardless of whether she’s coming or not, I still can’t figure out why I need to accompany you and where we are going!” I asked, curiosity bubbling up.
“I’ll explain everything when we reach our destination,” Mr. Tomas replied casually, raising his eyebrows.
Could someone please tell this man that I was not his personal cow to drag around without explanation? He didn’t own me! I needed to know why and where he was taking me! It was a weekend, for heaven’s sake.
I turned to Mr. Carl, hoping he might provide some clarity. He was the only one who seemed like he’d give me a straightforward answer in this chaotic place.
“Mr. Carl, what is going on?” I asked, looking into his eyes, seeking reassurance.
Mr. Carl rubbed his chin, avoiding direct eye contact. “Jennifer, Mr. Tomas wants you to pretend to be his fiancee in front of Maya. He trusts you more than anyone else.”
I blinked in shock, almost losing my ability to speak. “What? Me? How? You said she is hot and cute! No, I can’t-” I stammered, stepping back a couple of paces, feigning exasperation as I turned to Mr. Tomas.
Mr. Tomas exhaled sharply. “Jennifer, listen to me. You are the main reason I was able to sign that partnership with Maya, so you need to help me. No-actually, you must help me. There’s no way back now. This arrangement will be temporary until I can find someone else,” he explained his ridiculous plan.
His words didn’t convince me at all. I was ugly! Well, at least I pretended to be. So how could I possibly pull off being a billionaire’s fiancee? My instincts screamed that this was a trap, but I couldn’t figure out why he’d want to ensnare me instead of his ex-fiancee.
I shook my head in disagreement. “Sir, listen to me. You’re rich, handsome, and elegant. You should hire a model or another businesswoman to play the role of your fiancee, not me. If you really want Maya to get jealous and believe you have a fiancee, you should pick someone else,” I urged him, desperate to change his mind.
He crossed his arms over his chest, a smirk spreading across his face. “No, Jennifer, I’ve chosen you. You are the one. End of discussion,” he said firmly, cutting off any further argument.
Without warning, Mr. Tomas pulled me close, dragging me back into the house. He pushed me gently but firmly onto the couch in the living room. “Now wait for me. I’ll change my clothes, and in a few minutes, we’ll head out,” he commanded.
Once he climbed the stairs, I turned to Mr. Carl, feeling more confused than ever.
“Mr. Carl, what am I supposed to do now?” I asked him in a whisper.
“You need to figure this out on your own, Jennifer,” Mr. Carl advised.
I gulped nervously. “Seriously, Mr. Carl?” I replied, my heart racing.
He stepped closer, patting my shoulder. “It’s your battle now. I believe you can handle it. You’re stubborn and smart,” he reassured me, his words a small comfort.
Still, his encouragement didn’t lessen the tension I felt. My mind was spinning with overthinking. How was I going to deal with this situation? I had no idea what the next step was! Mr. Tomas hadn’t revealed anything. To make me his fiancee meant he expected me to change my appearance into-oh, no! I realized with a sinking feeling that he wanted me to become a beautiful girl! God, I was doomed! If he found out how I really looked, he’d probably fire me on the spot!
Minutes later, Mr. Tomas returned downstairs.
“Now come with me, Jennifer,” he gestured impatiently.
I glanced back at Mr. Carl. “What? Aren’t you coming with us, Mr. Carl?” I asked.
Mr. Tomas frowned and replied in Mr. Carl’s stead, “No, Jennifer. Carl has important matters to attend to. Now come with me; we’re running out of time,” he snapped, shooting me an angry look. I gulped nervously, hesitating before following him.
We stormed out of the grand doors of the palace, and Mr. Tomas hopped into his sleek Ferrari, motioning for me to sit beside him in the passenger seat. I slid in slowly, too anxious to make a sound. The guards followed us in other vehicles, their presence a constant reminder of the situation I had found myself in.
As he drove at breakneck speed, I clutched the seatbelt tightly, feeling like I was in a high-stakes race. “Please, Mr. Tomas, slow down!” I begged, my heart pounding.
But as usual, he ignored my pleas, as if he were deaf to my voice.
Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes, screeching to a halt. “We’ve arrived, Jennifer. Now let’s go,” he said nonchalantly. My jaw dropped in shock.
I placed my hands on my cheeks, whispering to myself, “Oh my god, please help me.”
I didn’t have the courage to step out of the car. We were parked in front of a beauty salon, of all places!
He opened the door for me, pulling me out before slamming it shut. I jumped slightly, my heart racing. He narrowed his eyes at me, and I felt sweat trickle down my back. My heart nearly stopped, and I struggled to breathe. I wanted to tell him everything before we stepped inside that salon, but time was running out.
He dragged me into the salon, and I felt like I was dragging my feet. My heart raced as I thought I might faint at any moment.
The guards followed closely behind us.
“Mr. Tomas Charl! Welcome!” a man greeted him as we entered the salon.
“I need you to transform her completely,” Mr. Tomas commanded the man, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The man bowed his head slightly in respect to Mr. Tomas before turning to me, his gaze appraising. I felt exposed under his scrutiny.
“Oh my god!” he exclaimed, his eyes widening.
“What’s the matter?” Mr. Tomas asked, frowning at the man. It didn’t occur to me that someone could size me up so quickly. Okay, I’ll admit it; I was nervous.
“You’ll see, Mr. Tomas!” the man replied, his excitement palpable.
Suddenly, he yanked my fake hair, causing my long blonde locks to cascade down to my waist. Yes, it was indeed my blonde hair! When Mr. Carl met me, my hair had been dark, but this was the real me.
He also removed my fake eyeglasses, and I suddenly felt naked in front of Mr. Tomas. I didn’t know how he would react to the truth.
“Miss, could you please remove your fake eye contacts, or should I do it for you?” the man asked, looking deeply into my eyes, his tone both threatening and polite.
I cleared my throat, surrendering. I took out the fake contacts, my gaze fixed on the floor, avoiding Mr. Tomas’s eyes.
“What the hell, Jennifer?!” Mr. Tomas shouted, his surprise evident.
He raised his chin, his expression shifting to one of awe. “You’re so gorgeous! Why the hell were you hiding that beauty?” he said, stunned.
Before I could respond, he pulled my hand, leading me back to the car. During the ride, I stared out the window, not daring to glance at him. I had lied to him, and I was grateful he hadn’t fired me right away.
But I could sense he was simmering with anger. “I expect you to give me a reasonable explanation for this later, but not now. We don’t have time,” he said, his grip on the wheel tight with irritation.
He suddenly stopped in a shopping mall parking lot, looking at me with intensity.
Raising his brows, he shot me a death glare. “Now you owe me a favor. You need to do what I want without questioning me.”
I trembled. “What do you mean, Mr. Tomas?”
He smirked, his expression sly. “I mean you need to pretend to be my fake fiancee. Do what I ask if you want to keep your job.”
My eyes widened in disbelief. “Oh, Mr. Tomas, do I have any choice but to accept your offer?” I mumbled under my breath.
“No, you don’t. Take it or leave it, Jennifer! Actually, you can’t leave it because I won’t let you go!” he declared firmly, looking away from me.
“I want an explanation-” he started but then hesitated.
He trailed off, his voice lowering. “I don’t want to hear anything. Just come with me. We need to get you some brand-new clothes, dresses, outfits, and makeup. You can’t wear this junk any longer.”
With that, my world turned upside down.