CHAPTER 1
Kira was on the phone with Shirk as she was going to the church in a wedding car.
"Tell me, this is just a freaking shitshow." She was gritting her teeth. The driver's eyes widened upon hearing her. He eyed her through the rearview mirror. She smiled at him and nodded. The sides of her lips had been straining for two months in training to get used to being Brianna Jenkin.
The real Brianna was comatose for a month prior when she received the contract. So, she was already three months still in a coma now. Her family wanted the wedding and everything to proceed as planned. They don't want to pass the opportunity to officially lock the bond with another influential family on their continent.
In the contract, she had to be Brianna as long as the real one woke up and would be able to return back on the life track. She'll receive the other half of the payment then. She was offered a billion. And another billion whenever the contract ended. It was really too good to be true. Such money was hard to pass. Well, Jenkins was halfway wealthy to hell. But then again, they were about to join the McIntyres. The most influential family on their side of the globe.
Kira pressed a button and raised the partition so the driver wouldn't be able to eavesdrop on her. But she couldn't entirely trust the limo she was in. She had to be extra careful not to get compromised. If that happens, not only was her life at stake, but also the necks of the Jenkins for pulling such a prank on the other family. She couldn't care less about their lives, though. It was the money that would turn into stone. It was the only reason she agreed to do the role of being the femme fatale in disguise.
Shirk got the contract from one of his connections all around the world. It was sent to him, knowing that he was the perfect contractor for it. For having her, who had the most resemblance with the client.
In her two months of training, she realized that it took a lot of effort to be a good person. More like, to act as one. She traveled across the world to live in the Jenkin mansion to be familiar with everything. Real Brianna's nanny was her instructor. They didn't like each other. But they had to make a truce for their own future.
She was under a strict exercise to smile sweetly, to talk politely, to act elegantly, and to be the perfect, fine lady as the real Brianna. She viewed it as a challenge then. It wasn't every day that she got to experience being pampered from clothes to shoes. Even her hair had gotten healthier.
They decided to make her appear as she was. After all, there were only slight differences in shades of their appearances. She had seen Brianna as she was brought to her side once. They hid her in one of the Jenkin's resthouses out of the country.
It was a bit strange, for it was as if she were seeing herself on the bed with the monitors and oxygen connected to the other woman's body.
Then there was Anthony Jenkin. Brianna's father. He was sweet and caring too. He was trying to make her comfortable in their acts by playing his part consistently. And every time, she felt her heart ache. She grew up with no father. So, it was all a strange encounter for her to have one even just for a play.
Kira had to memorize or at least familiarize herself with the rest of the family acquaintances. Only Anthony, Nana Amy, Brylle—the older brother, Dr. Pierce—the Jenkin's private doctor, and Shirk knew about her being the substitute.
They told her that if whatever act slipped past, she just had to say that it was due to the accident that could have changed her behavior. It was no hidden fact that something happened to Brianna Jenkin. What remained a secret was that she hadn't fully recovered yet. She was still lying unconscious with uncertainty when to wake up.
The most challenging would be facing her groom-to-be. None other than Dominick McIntyre. The said billionaire heir of the McIntyre business empire. He and Brianna were childhood sweethearts. She was said to be the light of his darkness. The two were total opposites. But she was the only woman in his life that he ever allowed to get in.
So, she was guessing that opposite really attracts. Though, she still doubt it.
And all the things like a goddamn fairytale. No one could imagine how cringe she felt when Nana Amy told her. She almost threw up in disgust. She wanted to dismiss the subject that time, but she had to wallow in it all to have every piece of information to adjust fully around him.
Dominick McIntyre and Brianna haven't been together for the past three years. She only visited him a couple of times in the military camp. Dom had to enter the military as what his ancestors had been doing in the past generations. It was their family tradition for the McIntyre men to serve the country for three years in their prime age. Or they wouldn't be considered getting anything from the family when the time comes. They wouldn't be included in the will and their legacy.
McIntyres came from old money. They were one of the aristocrats in the country.
Dom had been dismissed two weeks ago, but they haven't met yet. Though they talked on the phone and video-called each other a few times. He noticed some changes in her, but she reasoned it out with the background lighting, or it was just a long time that they hadn't been seeing each other in person that he may have forgotten some things about her. And about her voice, her alibi was that a tube was inserted into her throat, that her voice got affected and turned richer, deeper than the sweet, girly timbre of Brianna's. And that it would come back in time.
The man was caring though. Wasn't like any other playboy millionaire or billionaire heirs she knew. Well, considering that she just knew some, but all were total jackass. Even Shirk. Her contractor was a total hottie bachelor in his 30s. They were only friends. She considered him as the one she was closest to. And she was his best employee.
"I'm literally crying right now, Kira." Shirk sniffled from the other line. "I never thought, not even once in this lifetime that this day would come."
"Fuck you." She growled. She was wearing a princess like wedding dress. All had been ready before Brianna's accident. They were all just waiting for Dom's dismissal for the marriage to finally happen.
"Not now, sweetheart. Brianna would never cheat. Though I know you'd miss me."
She sucked in a sharp breath. Thinking about all the angels and saints that were displayed in one side of Brianna's room. Seriously, she had nothing against being religious. She wanted so much to strangle Vashirk if he was just within her range. But the bastard was at the other side of the world.
"Don't let me ever see you again after this contract, Shirk." She threatened. That was all she could do for now.
"Why don't you practice sweet and gentle to me?"
"Why? Is that your type? No wonder you didn't fall for me." She smugly retorted.
He gasped. "You want me to fall for you, sweetheart? You could have just said so. I wouldn't have let you marry—"
"—Shut up. You're crossing the line, Shrink. Fairytale isn't for us."
"Now. I'm done. I hate you for that. I could have proved to you that mine never shrink if not only for the employee and boss agreement." His voice sounded stern, gone were the mocking tone.
She snorted. "I'll pass. Whether it shrink or not, you're still my boss. Don't cry over my beliefs." She felt the limo stopped. She grumbled. "I'm already here. Don't ever wish me luck."
"Fine. Break a leg." Then he hung up.
The fucker still wished her freaking luck. That only meant that her life would start spiraling to all freaking sides.
She kept her phone to the shorts that she was wearing under the gown.
Anthony Jenkin changed some things in the wedding. He talked with the McIntyres that she doesn't want a lot of people around, to reduce the medias taking pictures. It was also better that she stayed away from a lot of people as possible for they might get suspicious that Brianna Jenkin was swapped. That she was an impostor.
The Vian Cathedral was the city's largest and most scenic church but it was closed for their private wedding. There were only a couple of photographers allowed inside.
The event committees opened the door for her and they arrange the gown around her feet. A bundle of rose was given to her. She had thoughts of being a runaway bride. Her hands were trembling as she stepped into the closed door of the cathedral. The outside was well guarded that there were no other people having a glimpse of her aside from security and some flashes of camera,
She smiled as what she was trained for. Though it was a bit strained but that was all she was willing to give.
Think about the billions.
That was what Shirk always said to her whenever she wanted to complain. That shut her up and a surge of motivation ran in her system.
"Are you ready, Ms. Brianna?" The girl said who had given her the flowers.
She smiled at her, now more naturally. "Yes."
Here's to my wedding play. At least she got to experience it even just for a job. It wasn't that bad. She got billions just to play a role. But if she failed… well, let's not go there.
Then she nodded to the men who was at the door. They opened them in unison and a wedding march started to play.