(Bexley)
The flashing lights from the cameras clicking in front of me blinded my vision, making me shut my eyes tight and raise my freshly manicured hand above my head, struggling to find where to even look.
"Over here Charlotte!"
"Smile for us, Mrs. Miller!"
"Give us a pose!"
The voices shouted towards me as my stomach began to tie into knots..I don't think I can do this..why the hell did I agree to this?!
Suddenly a muscular arm smoothly wrapped around my waist, causing me to relax as I felt his warm breath fan against my skin, making goosebumps prickle my flesh.
"Relax, it's only for an hour Darling." His words seeped into me as my heart began to race. I slowly turned my head, meeting those captivating green eyes as they peered down at me intently.
Gage Reed had to be the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on..not only was he good-looking and oozing with charm..but he was my sister's husband...well, soon-to-be ex-husband.
"Look into the camera, make them believe you are her as we agreed.." He whispered, his words neither kind nor playful, but rather cold and calculated...oh..did I forget to mention that I am pretending to be my sister Charlotte? Yeah..it gets worse..not only am I pretending to be my sister for her..but the man I have to spend all of my time with completely despises me..well, her..but in turn, he despises me as well.
"Gage." I began, wishing I could just push these feelings I felt for him away..that this frigid side of him was the only one I had seen... How much of a fool could I be..
"Don't...now do what we agreed to so I can get the hell out of here." He stated harshly, making me swallow down this lump in my throat and nod my head. Before I knew it I was being swept into his arms as he planted a firm kiss on my lips. The action made those butterflies I tried so hard to fight come flooding back through me.
Why the hell did I get myself into this mess? And what's worse..how the hell did I fall in love with my sister's husband?
Yep, I'm screwed..
***1 Month Earlier***
I quickly grabbed a stack of books that I just organized and made my way into the back. Today was a day I had been dreading for weeks. My mom called this morning to remind me about the dinner we were having tonight and I couldn't hang up fast enough..of course she was going on and on about my sister Charlotte. You would think they had forgotten about the past four years and how my sister pretty much ghosted all of us. Yeah there were a few phone calls here and there, but Charlotte Cassady no longer existed..she was now Charlotte Miller, the famous movie star.
After graduating high school, Charlotte took the first plane to LA and never came back. My parents would go to visit her the first year, but after that, she asked them to stop coming. You see, we grew up being not the wealthiest family..my dad worked in construction and my mom was a secretary at the high school we attended. We weren't necessarily poor but the lifestyle we lived was one Charlotte always looked down on, she wanted more..much much more.
Don't get me wrong, being twins, I always felt a bond with my sister..this need to make her happy and seek her approval, but I guess it was always one-sided..Charlotte had bigger dreams..and so did my parents. My mom knew Charlotte had talent and made sure to help that talent grow and blossom so her dreams could thrive.
I have lived in my sister's shadow since the moment we were born..even in pictures from that day my mom was holding Charlotte in her arms proudly as she gazed down lovingly at her firstborn daughter..by only seven minutes I might add..
But my dad held me next to her..and guess what..he was looking down at Charlotte too.. Out of my two parents, my mom is the one who favors Charlotte the most. She used to buy Charlotte the better toy, or get her the nicer clothes all so she could go to casting calls and make the best impression.
I would hang out with my dad and go to work with him or stay at the library after school. Things had always been like that..I was shy and quiet like my father, whereas Charlotte was loud and outgoing like my mom.
Once Charlotte's career began taking off, she totally distanced herself from us..I even read one article where she said she was a damn orphan..I swear, I'm not making this stuff up.
My mom just read it and laughed, saying Charlotte just didn't want her family to be bombarded by the media..
That's how delusional my mother is..she still worships the ground Charlotte walks on even though I have been there more for my mom than Charlotte ever was..I just can't fill those shoes. I might look slightly like Charlotte but I will never be her..
I personally haven't heard from my sister in over a year. I send a text now and then but get no response like usual. Once we saw on the news that Charlotte had gotten married to the famous actor Gage Reed, my mother sobbed for days..we didn't get an invite or anything..but what does she expect? Charlotte has moved on..so the fact that she is suddenly showing up out of the blue is more than suspicious.
I try not to read anything about her or even look her up..but my mom being the gossip that she is told me she thinks Charlotte is getting divorced and wants to come back home to her real family.
Well, at least that is what Mom is hoping.
I couldn't care less..I just picked up more hours at the library and am perfectly happy where I am..so I don't need my sister to come and rub her success and handsome husband in my face..yeah, definitely not looking forward to this dinner like I said.
"Bex, come on, you're going to be late." My best friend Kristi called out from the front, making me let out a sigh.
My car was currently in the shop and she had offered to drive me to and from work since she works in the building right across the street. She actually works for her dad who owns a law firm. She is studying to be a lawyer as well and will be a hell of a good one..well, if not a lawyer maybe a detective with her interrogation skills.
"Almost done!" I hollered back, knowing the library was pretty much empty considering it was a Wednesday night.
"I know you are stalling girl.." She stated as I walked out and brushed a strand of my chin-length black hair behind my ear.
"I'm coming..geez.." I muttered before reaching for my coat and purse.
"Bye Jim! See you tomorrow!" I waved towards my coworker. He was a sixty-year-old retired veteran who had worked at this library for at least twenty years. He and his wife Patsy were the ones checking out my books when I was a kid. They were partly why I wanted to be a librarian.
"Have a good night kiddo, tell your dad I said hi." Jim smiled before waving at me goobye.
I returned the gesture and walked outside. We lived in Great Falls Montana and the winter season was officially upon us.
I bundled into my jacket and ran with Kristi towards her car.
"f**k, my ass is freezing off." She cursed before cranking the heat up full blast.
"Kristi..I don't want to go..can't we just go down to Louise's and get drunk instead?" I smiled brightly at her..offering her an alternative she has been dying for me to say for the past year.
"Nice try..but I will remember that this weekend." She smiled at me before brushing her bleached blonde hair behind her shoulder. Kristi was gorgeous..she had caramel-colored skin and big pouty lips..she was a bombshell and everywhere we went I swear a guy asked for her number.
You would think she and my sister would get along more than we do..but they actually despise one another..they always have.
The last pictures I saw of my sister, she had long black hair that went down to her back and was as gorgeous as ever. Considering we do look a lot alike you would think people would know she is my sister..but where her eyes are green, mine are blue. My nose is a fraction bigger and I definitely have fuller curves..she has a freaking supermodel body whereas my shape is more curvy. Other than that and the short hair we are pretty similar...
"So, the wicked witch of the west is finally coming home..you think she ran out of money? Ohhh..or maybe she had a bad nose job or something and needs to hide out." Kristi said a little too excitedly as I rolled my eyes.
"Who knows..at least mom has been happy these past few weeks." I stated, feeling that usual hurt spiking up..it sucks feeling like you are never enough..but I have learned to live with it.
"When the hell are you going to move out of there Bex..seriously?" She asked before glancing over at me.
"I am just helping them get back on their feet. Dad missing work because of the injury has really set them back." I whispered, feeling like this would just start an argument like usual.
I know..being 22 and still living at home is lame..but I was about to move out..then Dad had the accident and I haven't been able to save up as much as I need..plus they have a lot of medical bills to worry about so I want to make sure they are stable before I leave.
"Weird..you would think their millionaire daughter could help with that..not the f*****g Librarian who makes 18 an hour.." She spat, and I just shrugged, not knowing why Charlotte hadn't offered to help them either...but, that's her own business and I try not to feed into that drama. I'm not going to be the one to ask..we don't need her..and apparently she doesn't need us either so it works out. She had made that very very clear.
"Well, looks like the rumors might be true...the b***h brought a friend...that is most certainly not Gage Reed" Kristi muttered, drawing my gaze towards my house as I saw Charlotte outside, making out with some random guy that had blonde hair and tan skin...that doesn't look like her husband to me either...so the question is..who the hell is that?