LOGIN"I handled that issue like an absolute professional," I said out loud to the empty living room. I dropped my expensive handbag onto the white velvet sofa and kicked off my designer heels. They hit the smooth wooden floor with a loud thud."I am brilliant," I added, praising my own performance. "I am a total genius."I felt oddly proud of myself. The way I controlled Julian back in his office was completely perfect. I made him grovel. I made him punish his own staff just to please me. I ordered his busy assistants around like they were my personal servants. I walked into the large kitchen and poured myself a tall glass of cold water from the fridge."But who was that blonde woman?" I asked myself, taking a slow sip.I tried to think back on the past. I needed to know if I remembered Maya from anywhere. Her face looked somewhat familiar. Her bright blonde hair and shrill voice echoed loudly in my head. I paced across the kitchen floor, digging through my old memories, but I simply could
Veronica’s POV"Get your hands off me this exact second, Maya!" Julian roared loudly, his deep voice echoing violently off the expensive glass walls of the executive office.He shoved the petite blonde woman away from his chest with brutal force, making her stumble backward in her tall heels.Maya caught her balance and gasped loudly, her pink lips parting in pure shock. "Julian! What are you doing? Why are you pushing me like that? You told me to come see you today!""I told you to never come to my office again!" Julian yelled. His face turned bright red with intense irritation. "Are you deaf or just completely stupid?""But we had plans for tonight!" Maya cried out, her voice pitching up into a shrill whine. Tears quickly welled up in her bright blue eyes. "You said you missed me! You told me to wear this exact dress for you!""I never said that!" Julian denied instantly. He glanced over at me with pure panic flashing in his dark eyes. "You are delusional, Maya. Get out of here bef
"I am sorry, ma'am, but Mr. Vance is not expecting you today," the receptionist said, stepping quickly in front of the executive elevator to block my path. "You need an official appointment to go up to his floor."I clutched the expensive bottle of white wine in my hand and scoffed loudly, letting out a sharp, dramatic gasp that echoed through the marble lobby."Do you have any idea who I am?" I yelled, stamping my heel hard against the polished floor. "How dare you stand in my way like I am some common stranger off the street!""Ma'am, please lower your voice," the receptionist pleaded, her face flushing bright red as the security guards turned to stare. "I am just following company protocol.""I do not care about your stupid protocol!" I threw a complete tantrum, raising my voice even higher. "Call Julian down here this very second, or I will personally make sure you never work in this city again!"The heavy double doors of the private elevator slid open, and Julian stepped out, his
"Miss Veronica, these beautiful flowers just arrived for you at the main gate!" the young attendant chirped, holding up a massive bouquet of red roses. "They are from Mr. Julian Vance.""Are they really?" I asked, forcing a wide smile onto my face and letting out a fake gasp of delight. Deep down, I wanted to throw the entire bouquet into the nearest garbage can and set it on fire."Yes, the delivery man said they were explicitly ordered by him," she replied, smiling brightly."Oh, how wonderful," I said, putting a hand over my chest. "He is so thoughtful to think of me this early in the morning.""You are so blessed, Miss Veronica," another maid added, clasping her hands together and looking at the roses in pure admiration. "Mr. Vance is so incredibly romantic. He must really love you very much to send such an expensive arrangement.""Yes, he definitely does," I agreed in a haughty tone, lifting my chin slightly to match the rich persona they expected of me. "Take them to my room imm
"Touch me and I will bite your hand off!" I shrieked, scrambling backward across the cold concrete floor as Julian’s palm swung downward."You think you scare me, Julian?" I yelled, grabbing the edge of the heavy wooden table to steady myself. "You are nothing without your dirty money and your hired bodyguards!""I am the man who destroyed your pathetic life!" Julian laughed cruelly, his eyes wild with malice. "I took absolutely everything from you, Vivian! Your money, your reputation, your freedom! You have absolutely nothing left in this world!""I still have my mind!" I yelled back, refusing to break eye contact. "And I know the undeniable truth about what you did! The whole world is going to know the truth soon enough!""Nobody in their right mind is going to believe a convicted felon!" Julian mocked, pointing a sharp finger directly at my face. "They are going to look at you in that ugly orange suit and they are going to see exactly what I tell them to see!""You are a complete m
"Get up right now! We do not have time for you to sleep!" Ivan shouted, rudely shaking my shoulder to wake me up.I sat up on the bed, rubbing my groggy eyes. "What is going on, Ivan? Why are you barging into my room at this time of night?"Ivan completely ignored my question. He thrust a dark wig into my hands, along with a makeup kit and a set of plain, worn clothes."Put these on immediately," Ivan ordered, his tone cold and rigid. "We leave in two minutes."I hated this overwhelming feeling of control slipping out of my hands, but I had no choice. I went with the flow, stripping off my silk pajamas and transforming myself back into Vivian. Looking into the vanity mirror, I felt uneasy. The transformation felt barely convincing, especially after everything I had done, the surgeries, the voice training, and the posture changes, to become Veronica Vance."Are you going to stare at yourself all night?" Ivan snapped, grabbing my wrist to pull me away from the mirror. "Move your legs!"







